It’s no news that the UFC and its president Dana White have faced backlash from fighters for their mistreatment within the promotion and the outside world.

It all unfolded when social media star Jake Paul in a public row with Dana White, centered his rants on the unfair treatment received by UFC fighters and demanded better long-term health care and a salary increase.

Paul has also previously stated that he has received numerous accolades from fighters in the promotion who support his claims while keeping their names private.

Within months of his claims, several fighters have come out of their shells to throw shade at the division over their unfair treatment. Currently sidelined with an injury, Francis Ngannou, who has always been in a row with the promotion, was the first in a long series not to hold his thoughts, especially after his victory in defense of the title against Cyril Gane.

Fighters reveal their displeasure with unfair treatment from the UFC

Ahead of UFC 274, the latest fighters to call out the promotion are a trio of Tony Ferguson, Paddy Pimblett and Anderson Silva, with famed journalist Ariel Helwani also dropping his views on the abysmal treatment received from the promotion.

UFC veteran Ferguson suffered abuse from Dana White and in a previous press conference accused Micheal Chandler, who will be his opponent this weekend, of taking advantage of “Dana White privilege”. In the build-up to his fight this weekend, the American took to the media to reiterate his claims while lambasting the UFC chief.

“But what I did was I felt good about my business, I wanted to be the man, I wanted to make sure everyone knew I could do this stuff without help. from nobody else. So it’s kind of a chip on my shoulder, to keep coming here and smiling and being used on the poster and having this great value. When I saw that the UFC didn’t think my value was so high, I had to increase it in other ways, including through social media. ”- said Ferguson at a conference.

Ferguson, like Ngannou, also pointed to promotions’ restriction on competition in other sports as a setback, and Ariel Helwani sided with the veteran in a public rant.

“When you start hearing more stories it’s heartbreaking. And I don’t know how you can feel any different. I don’t know how you can ignore that when you see a guy like Tony Ferguson who has given so much to the sport, which has been roughed up a few times over the years and is kind, feeling like that towards the end of its run, that’s not how it should be. And it’s becoming a lot more the norm than that It shouldn’t be, it’s not an anomaly, it’s not an anomaly and it pisses me off“- Helwani said on MMA HOUR.

Arguably one of the best fighters to ever grace the promotion, Anderson Silva also lambasted the promotion for its lack of respect, poor pay structure, and the way they dealt with him after he was past his prime.

He revealed his biggest purse came in his exhibition boxing debut in 2021 and was also furious at the UFC’s willingness to destroy fighters’ profiles after they were eliminated despite their commitment during their period of promotion.

“That’s the problem for people in this sport, especially the UFC because the UFC doesn’t respect the legacy of the fighters. They try to use you and kick you out, and when you’re out they try to destroy your career. [so] you are not fighting anywhere. It happened [to] many fighters. People don’t think about that. I had good times in the UFC, and bad times too. The bad moment for me is the experience I have behind the scenes. But inside the cage, inside the fight, I’m doing my best. It’s the only time I have control. Outside, I have no control. – Anderson Silva said as reported by Sportsnaut

Paddy ‘The Baddy’ prioritizes money over UFC legacy

All the ongoing drama in the UFC seems to have hurt the rising stars as future prospect Paddy Pimblett has revealed his disinterest in taking on bigger fights and higher ranked names in the UFC if it doesn’t come with a hand. ‘a salary increase.

“I make more money outside of the octagon and it makes me laugh when people comment on my stuff and things saying, ‘He’s not active enough. He doesn’t fight enough. He should fight four times a year,” Pimblett said on food truck notebooks. “Why? Why should I fight four times a year? Give me a reason when I win more outside the cage than inside.

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