UFC president Dana White not planning fighter raises - 'These guys get paid what they're supposed to get paid'

UFC president Dana White says fighter pay in the organization won't change dramatically while he is in his current position, telling GQ in a video published Thursday that he believes fighters «get paid what they're supposed to get paid.»

The topic of fighter pay has been a hot-button issue in MMA for years and was thrust further into the spotlight by YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in recent months. White has said that he believes high-profile boxers are overpaid and reiterated in the GQ interview that he believes UFC fighters are paid more reasonably.

«Boxing has absolutely been destroyed, because of money and all the things that go on,» White said. «It's never gonna happen while I'm here. Believe me, these guys get paid what they're supposed to get paid. They eat what they kill. They get a percentage of the pay-per-view buys. And the money is spread out amongst all the fighters.»

UFC pays fighters around 20% of its revenue, according to data unearthed during the ongoing antitrust lawsuit brought by some former fighters against the promotion. Other major sports leagues, such as the NFL, NBA and MLB, share around half of their revenue with players, but those leagues are unionized and athletes are able to collectively bargain via players' associations. MMA fighters, and UFC fighters specifically, don't have anything similar at this time.

UFC fighters are classified as independent contractors, which could make collective bargaining difficult legally. Several attempts at unionizing UFC fighters have failed in the past 10 years, including one by former baseball agent Jeff Borris.

«There aren't too many things you can talk s--- about the UFC about,» White told GQ. «If you look at what we've done with the business the last 22