In a sea of fighters concerned about their financial well-being, yet afraid to put voice to those concerns, Aljamain Sterling has been making waves by speaking out about these serious issues amidst his own ongoing contract negotiations with the UFC. The Three Amigos caught up with Sterling to go in depth with the Number 5 ranked bantamweight about the financial downside of fighting for the world's premiere MMA organization.
This 51-minute interview is a "Must Listen," with Sterling providing excellent insight on the struggle many fighters are facing in trying to be compensated on a level consistent with other professional athletes. This is a stand-alone, bonus episode, so the interview kicks right off at the beginning. A brief summary of bullet points is provided below. As always, we hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording.
- How much he attributes low pay to being in one of the lighter weight classes
- If he feels that fighters are low-balled at the negotiation table because not enough of them speak up about the UFC's pay standards
- If the UFC has come back with a better offer than the $20K/$20K we last heard about
- If his $6K discretionary bonus is on par with the bonuses other fighters are making
- If he feels contracts should be redesigned to incorporate guaranteed finish bonuses
- Thoughts on the recent fines issued to Donald Cerrone and two other athletes for Reebok uniform violations
- If the UFC should provide financial help to fighters during layoffs due to injuries incurred in the Octagon or in fight camps in preparation for a fight
- If he's financially prepared for "rainy day" circumstances with long periods of fight inactivity
- How many offers he's fielded from external organizations since going public about fighter pay problems
- If he's noticed any changes due to the "trickle-down effect" that stars like Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey supposedly provide to others on the roster by setting a new standard for fighter pay
- If he's been admonished by UFC brass for going public with his concerns about fighter pay
- How he feels about Dana White's advice to Stipe Miocic to get more popular if he wanted a title shot
- Analysis of how he feels Dillashaw/Cruz will go down
- What he thinks of Cruz' claims that Dillashaw isn't helping advance the cause of the lighter weight classes due to his refusal and/or inability to actively promote his fights better
- If he will continue to be the voice for those too timid or afraid to speak up on fighter pay issues after he secures a better contract for himself