Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Matt Mitrione will become the latest combatant from the leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion to test free agency following the last contest on his current contract, which comes against the No. 6-ranked Travis Browne at UFC Fight Night 81 on Sun., Jan. 17, 2016.
Win or lose, "Meathead" is unlikely destined for Conor McGregor money and also believes that the revenue "Notorious" has brought his business partners at ZUFFA will not have an impact on his contract negotiations ... or any other fighter's for that matter.
Mitrione discusses McGregor's financial impact on the sport of MMA on the "Three Amigos Podcast" (via Bloody Elbow):
"I don't necessarily agree that it's going to have to force a trickle down to everybody else because they -- the UFC -- don't care. They're going to say, 'Yeah, Conor's making $100 million, so you're going to take 10 [thousand] and 10 and you're going to like it, or your just not going to fight and that's all there is to it. Like Paige [VanZant] and Sage [Northcutt], they get paid more than I do. I've had 13 fights in the UFC -- should've been 14 with [Stefan] Struve -- and Paige and Sage both get paid more than I do. That's ridiculous."
While other popular competitors are more optimistic about their chances of attaining a few extra shekels from UFC, Mitrione (9-4) just doesn't see it happening. As much of an exciting fighter and colorful personality as the 37-year-old Illinois native is, he's still not raking in that Sage Northcutt coin.
"Super" Sage has taken UFC by storm in just two Octagon appearances, turning back foes like Francisco Trevino and Cody Pfister in the last two months. For his latest dismissal of Pfister, the Texan took home $80,000.
Half of that amount was simply to show, which is still approximately $7,000 more than the last available check Mitrione pocketed.
"12 Gauge" was also awarded $40,000 to show when she took on Rose Namajunas in UFC Fight Night 80's headliner earlier in December.
As it stands, Mitrione has handled his own negotiations thus far, playing hard ball with CEO of UFC, Lorenzo Fertitta. After receiving a number, which was "less than" what he felt he was worth, Mitrione sent back a contract that was "structured differently" and it was rejected.
The breakdown in negotiations could prove either costly, or lucrative, when the Blackzilians representative hits the open market, depending on the outcome of his showdown with "Hapa" in "Beantown."
For more UFC Fight Night 81 news and notes click here.