UFC color commentator Joe Rogan publicly demanded that the mixed martial arts promotion eliminate its traditional show and win purse structure during a recent episode of his JRE MMA Show.
Rogan criticized the financial model amid intensifying athlete salary debates following the launch of the promotion's 7.7 billion dollar broadcast partnership with Paramount.
Under the current system, most UFC fighters receive half of their contracted purse for competing and the remaining half only upon winning the bout.
This framework has faced significant scrutiny from fans and athletes, particularly when controversial judging decisions impact fighter income.
Rogan expressed his strong opposition to the split payment format while discussing the consequences of official mistakes with guest John McCarthy.
He noted that commentator errors do not carry financial penalties for the broadcast team.
"If I make a bad call as a commentator, it's like, 'Oh, Joe's an idiot.' That doesn't mean anything.
Nobody loses money," said Rogan.
The commentator emphasized that athletes frequently lose half of their expected earnings due to judging errors.
He explicitly dislikes the format given that all competitors enter the cage with the intention of winning.
"Somebody could lose half their purse (if the judges make a mistake), which I hate, by the way.
I don't like the whole win bonus. Everybody's trying to win," said Rogan.
Rogan further argued that mixed martial artists are professional prize fighters who should receive guaranteed compensation for competing, rather than having their livelihoods tied directly to cageside decisions.
"I can't stand it," said Rogan.
He reiterated that fighter pay must be dependent on the athlete showing up and performing, rather than being contingent on external factors.
"You're a prize fighter. You should get paid to compete, this is the number," said Rogan.
The commentator questioned the necessity of the current incentive structure, maintaining that no professional fighter enters a contest intending to fail.
"It shouldn't be dependent upon judges' decisions.
It should be dependent upon you showed up, you fought your ass off, you're trying to win," said Rogan.
Rogan concluded his critique by emphasizing that the structure fails to align with the realities of professional combat sports.
"Nobody's trying to lose. What are we doing?"
said Rogan.
The debate surrounding UFC compensation has intensified recently, with former champion Ronda Rousey criticizing the business model ahead of her Netflix comeback.
Active fighters Sean Strickland and Colby Covington have also voiced complaints regarding the promotion's payment practices.
The public pushback follows the resolution of a long-standing legal battle, as the UFC settled an antitrust lawsuit in 2025 for 375 million dollars.
That settlement fund was distributed among fighters who competed under the promotional banner between 2010 and 2017.
