Anthony Johnson: ”I think we should be getting paid, no matter who you fight for”

Anthony Johnson is ready to ‘Rumble’ as he returns to Bellator Friday night for his long awaited return to the cage. Before his Light Heavyweight Grand Prix opener with Jose Augusto (formerly Yoel Romero), ‘Rumble’ spoke with Sky Sports and made a point about his opinions towards MMA fighter pay.

“Speaking on all of it in general, I think we, as MMA fighters, should be getting paid just as well as the NBA players, the NFL players and Major League Baseball, hockey as well”. Johnson continued, “But I think we should be getting paid, no matter who you fight for, the same way because we put our lives on the line.”

Fighter pay is a long argued topic amongst fighters and the MMA community, with regular reports citing pay as a reason for fights falling through. A recent and high profile example of this is the current Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou fight. The super-fight between Jones and Ngannou is one fans and fighters alike were highly anticipating but has seemingly fell through due to pay issues.

Anthony Johnson had this to say regarding the situation: ”If those two gentlemen want to fight each other, let them fight. They are the best in the world. The UFC knows what it’s worth. If these guys are asking for a few million give it to them because you’ve already made your millions.”.

It seems to be a reoccurring story of fighters feeling they are unfairly paid and one that should not be ignored considering the risks they take for our entertainment. What’s your thoughts on the matter? Let us know in the comments below!