Darren Until had a productive UFC run, however he wasn’t all the time a fan of the best way the promotion dealt with the enterprise aspect of issues.
It’s been virtually three years since Until final fought within the octagon, the place he grew to become a one-time title challenger at welterweight and established himself as a contender at middleweight. After being granted his launch in 2023, Until transitioned to boxing, the place he has discovered success together with a brutal knockout of fellow former UFC star Luke Rockhold in August.
Until appeared on the MightyCast to talk to host Demetrious Johnson concerning the variations between the worlds of boxing and MMA, with the subject of monetary compensation taking on a lot of the dialog.
“I don’t prefer to slander Dana an excessive amount of, he will get a number of warmth, however clearly I’ve to be a truthful man as properly. I all the time stand on enterprise with what I consider in as properly, however even whenever you’re within the UFC, it’s like, ‘We’re going to remove your sponsorship now. We’re going to place Venum in there or Reebok,’” Until stated. “I used to be like, ‘What the f*cks occurring now?’ So now the fighters aren’t even earning money exterior of it. It was really fairly merciless, a few of it. It was, it was merciless.
“That kind of stuff, 10 plus 10, after which your combat’s set in stone, f*ck all that, that doesn’t—For me now, I couldn’t be loving life extra, I’ll be trustworthy. I’ve simply made a shit-ton of cash.”
Until was referring to a landmark attire sponsorship deal between the UFC and Reebok in 2014, which noticed fighters assured a set amount of cash from the deal, but additionally forbid them from having another seen sponsors on combat night time. Many fighters later complained the compensation from the Reebok (and later Venum in 20202) deal didn’t make up for the misplaced sponsorship cash.
Now, Until calls his personal pictures, and he hopes the work he’s performed within the UFC and boxing so far put him in line for a large pay day with a high-profile opponent, whether or not it’s Jake Paul, Tommy Fury, or another person. And when it comes time to barter, Until isn’t going to make extra waves than essential.
“Oh, you wish to be the A-side and take 5 and I take three mil?” Until stated. “No downside. No downside in any respect. Go for it, be the A-side, you’re the very best, you’re all the things. I’m simply going to do me, I’m simply going to knuckle down, none of that ego shit.
“Subsequent combat once more, Jake Paul, you need 50 million, give me 10. … I don’t give a shit, take it, as a result of I’m going to knock you clear out and I’m simply going to maintain going increase increase increase.”
As a lot as Until is having fun with his foray into the boxing world, he acknowledged that there are extra politics concerned with regards to making huge fights because of the freedom boxers have to barter, particularly in comparison with life underneath a UFC contract.
Until understands that’s the give and take of the enterprise with regards to giving fighters what they deserve and satisfying followers.
“Whenever you’re within the UFC, it’s simply killers,” Until stated. “You’ve seen the prelims, the prelims are the higher than the principle card more often than not. Killers’ row. Then you definitely we have now to return and assume, dangle on although, that’s why the UFC is creeping up on boxing as a result of Dana does make the very best fights. I really feel like he’s let off currently, I feel his focus has been extra on boxing, but when we glance again on the fights he’s made and the very best have all the time fought.
“No. 1 fights No. 2, so are we keen to just accept lesser pay? That’s the issue as a result of there’s a lot lesser pay, so whenever you’re taking a look at it from the surface, the UFC’s all the time placing the very best with the very best.”
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