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ATLANTA, GA – APRIL 13: Dustin Poirier is interviewed after defeating Max Holloway in their interim lightweight championship bout during the UFC 236 event at State Farm Arena on April 13, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
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ATLANTA, GA – APRIL 13: Dustin Poirier is interviewed after defeating Max Holloway in their interim lightweight championship bout during the UFC 236 event at State Farm Arena on April 13, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier sat down with Patrick Bet-David from Valuetainment and spoke about the early days of his UFC career. ‘The Diamond’ truly has a rags to riches story in MMA and his rise through the ranks is well documented. Not too long ago, Poirier was looked at as merely a fringe gatekeeper, however, he’s now set to fight for UFC gold again.
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Poirier shed some light on the earnings he drew from his first career loss that coincidently came on the biggest stage of his career up until that point. Poirier’s first defeat came to Danny Castillo back in 2010 at WEC and he explained the financial setback he suffered. It’s evident that his early career financial hardships were moments of great reflection.
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ATLANTA, GA – APRIL 11: Dustin Poirier interacts with the media during the UFC 236 Ultimate Media Day at Hyatt Regency Atlanta on April 11, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
The world of WEC was a big organization, it was on TV. The championships were respected… I get out there and I lose, I get the check and I thought I was going to make it, life’s about to change now and then medicals are deducted from my check, my coaches’ flights are deducted from my check.”
“Can’t survive on this when I got my check. I was making more money fighting locally. It was a heartbreaking moment for me… That was a heartbreaker for me, my first loss as a professional.”
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A different time in the world of MMA?
Even though it’s been over a decade since Poirier’s first pro loss, the pay system in MMA continues to be outlined as a ‘show-win’ system. Poirier explained in depth how such a pay system adversely affects the career of budding talent.
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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JANUARY 23: Dustin Poirier prepares to fight Conor McGregor of Ireland in a lightweight fight during the UFC 257 event inside Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 23, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
“I think I was making”$4,000 to show up. The way fighting worked with MMA, at the beginning you get a show and a win. If you win, you get the other half of your purse.”
“I was making $3,000-$4,000, I lost so I wasn’t making the other half and then everything was deducted… so I get my check and it’s like $1,200 bucks… I didn’t even have money to get the hotel room. That was my first loss as a professional.”
Poirier’s comments on his early career pay are unfortunately a reflection of the current system that exists in MMA today. Fighters just starting out are contracted for similar amounts of money as Poirier back in the day. However, the visibility of the sport has undoubtedly reached new highs in recent years and there are a lot of opportunities to make more money.
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