While several fighters turn to holding other jobs and crowdfunding programs to step inside the most successful mixed martial arts (MMA) organization in the world, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) president Dana White still defends fighters' pay.

The issue was brought forward once again when middleweight legend Wanderlei Silva recently retired following a suspension the Nevada Athletic Commission bestowed on him for running away from a drug test.

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Afterwards, Silva turned to the internet and released a video that blasted how the UFC does not pay the fighters well enough. He even added that the UFC does not respect the fighters as athletes and only pays them crumbs.

White spoke up after and told the media that in Silva's time in the UFC - even fighting six fights over five years - he had made US $9.7 million. He continued to question what Silva was saying about everybody getting rich except the fighters.

While White did specify a large amount, there is in fact no proof as to the validity of his claim since the UFC does not reveal everything that is paid to a fighter.

Even more is the fact that several fighters need to find other jobs or turn to crowdfunding programs to keep fighting; a feat that has not been replicated in other professional organizations like the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB.

For instance, Roman Salazar is a bantamweight fighter who recently fought in the UFC card in Halifax against Mitch Gagnon.

Several times during the fight, commentators Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg stated that apart from fighting, Salazar is also a cable guy who works six days a week.

Nina Ansaroff is set to make her UFC debut in November, but needed to turn to crowdfunding sites in order to raise US $5,000 to pay for her medicals.

Several fighters have also advertised on crowdfunding sites, needing money to bring in sparring partners and even corner men for their fights in the UFC.

Perhaps the UFC can borrow from the other major sporting organizations and reveal what they exactly pay the fighters. This will certainly paint a clearer picture for the situation. 

TagsUFC, dana white, Pay, wanderlei silva, Roman Slazar, Nina Ansaroff