Just when the MMA world thought the UFC’s monumental $7.7 billion, seven-year broadcasting agreement with Paramount would herald a brand new era of fighter prosperity, Justin Gaethje arrived at UFC 324 media day able to shatter that illusion like considered one of his signature head kicks.
Justin Gaethje speaks his truth about bonuses and fighter pay before #UFC324.
“To have 14 bonuses and never equal to $1 million – it isn’t right. … I heard Daniel Cormier say that everyone seems to be going to receives a commission more on this card. I’m not getting one dollar more.” pic.twitter.com/kkhc6IJUOY
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) January 21, 2026
The Highlight made it abundantly clear: Despite the promotion’s astronomical windfall, his checking account hasn’t moved an inch.
“To have 14 bonuses and never equal as much as $1 million – it isn’t right,” Gaethje declared with unmistakable frustration. “It must be rather a lot greater than that. I should’ve had opportunities to do smarter things with my money, but I have not.”
What makes this damning indictment much more severe is that Gaethje holds the UFC record for performance bonuses with 14 post-fight awards across his 14 UFC fights. Thirteen of those bonuses netted him the usual $50,000—a pittance for peak athletic performance at combat sports’ highest level—while his epic war with Max Holloway at UFC 300 garnered him a special $300,000 bonus. His total? A measly $950,000 from bonuses alone, someway falling in need of the seven-figure milestone.
The actual kicker? Gaethje directly called out former UFC champion-turned-commentator Daniel Cormier, who recently claimed fighters would see increased compensation under the brand new broadcasting deal. Gaethje’s response was ice-cold: “I hear Daniel Cormier saying everybody goes to receives a commission more on this card. I’m not getting one dollar greater than if this deal hadn’t happened.”
This represents a devastating reality check for a complete roster. If the headliner of the UFC’s inaugural Paramount+ numbered event—a fighter whose electrifying style has made him one of the crucial entertaining athletes in MMA history—is not experiencing a pay increase, who exactly is benefiting from this supposed golden era of broadcasting revenue?
Dana White previously hinted that bonus structures would increase, yet no official announcement has materialized. Meanwhile, Gaethje headlines UFC 324 against rising star Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight belt on Saturday night, fighting for a title shot that many query he deserves, all while the UFC rakes in billions without proportionally rewarding the soldiers generating that content.
The uncomfortable truth? The Paramount deal looks suspiciously just like business as usual.