Arizona and Florida joined Nevada as notable states that will no longer disclose fight purses. The reason for the move stems from the alleged belief that purses are “trade secrets.”
The issue of fighter pay continued in 2022 with Jake Paul taking up the talking point this year in an ongoing social media battle with Dana White. While Paul’s attacks on White subsided over 2022, questions still remain regarding fighter pay. The public disclosure of purses creates a check for promoters for the public to see the fighter pay. While fighters might be able to disclose the information, their relationship with the promoter may be damaged.
The release of fighter pay is not just for the curious but also helps fighters and their representatives when negotiating future deals. It also helps one understand the market for a fighter when determining the question of ‘what is fair’ to be paid. Also, it has helped with understanding how much portion of an event’s fight revenues go to the fighters versus the promoter.
One may believe that promoters and its partners have leveraged its influence to ensure that fighter pay remains mysterious with details. Nondisclosure allows the promoter talking point that fighters are getting paid and if there’s not a third party check, no one can argue with them.
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