The Real Reason Mike Tyson Would Have Avoided the UFC at His Peak
Years after officially retiring from professional boxing, the legendary Mike Tyson shocked the world by unexpectedly returning to the ring. Last year, Tyson faced YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a bout, ultimately losing the match by unanimous decision.
At the age of 59 years old, Tyson’s comeback generated major headlines as he reportedly earned a massive $20 million payday from the boxing match. Despite being way out of his prime, Tyson still earned way more than top UFC superstars in their prime, which clearly shows the difference between boxing and UFC fight purses.
Mike Tyson wouldn’t have fought in the UFC
Mike Tyson, in his prime, was an unstoppable force inside the boxing ring, finishing 44 opponents through brutal knockouts. He constantly grabbed worldwide headlines for his dominance and delivered some of the biggest pay-per-view numbers during his championship reign. Tyson still holds the record as the youngest heavyweight champion ever and was truly considered a destructive machine.
In a recent interview, he was asked whether he would have fought in the UFC in his prime, to which the legend strongly denied. “No, because listen: five of the biggest UFC fighters combined couldn’t match my pay. I want to be the biggest fighter, the biggest purse. I want all that stuff. When Mike Tyson fights, he shuts everything down, “ said Mike Tyson.
Currently, ‘Iron Mike’ is expected to face undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather in a highly anticipated exhibition bout scheduled for next year. Both fighters share a long-standing rivalry that dates back several years, and fans are excited to witness these icons finally collide. The two superstars are reportedly set to earn millions of dollars each from this blockbuster boxing spectacle.
Boxing vs. UFC fighters’ pay
Top boxers have historically earned far more than UFC fighters, particularly at the elite level where pay-per-view numbers truly matter. For instance, Floyd Mayweather has accumulated over $1 billion in career earnings, surpassing every MMA fighter in history by a massive margin. In comparison, Conor McGregor, the UFC’s highest earner, has made less than $200 million solely from his fighting career.
SHOP: Ultimate T8 Boxing Gloves
Boxing’s fragmented promotional system allows fighters to negotiate directly with multiple promoters and sponsors for larger portions of event revenue. Stars like Canelo Alvarez or Tyson Fury often secure higher percentages from pay-per-view, ticket sales, and international broadcasting deals worldwide. Conversely, UFC operates under a single-organization model, controlling fighter contracts and sponsorship distribution for maximum corporate profitability and long-term control.
The difference in revenue distribution between UFC and boxing
The centralized control in UFC significantly limits a large percentage of total event earnings that go to even the top superstars. While UFC provides better minimum pay for undercard athletes, most of the boxing event revenue heavily favors headline fighters with massive draws. The main reason for this difference lies in earnings distribution, as UFC keeps around 80 percent of the total event revenue generated.
Meanwhile, boxing’s open-market competition between promoters ensures more money flows to the sport’s biggest names at the very top. That’s why many elite boxers avoid UFC contracts, and numerous retired UFC fighters eagerly transition to boxing whenever an opportunity arises.
READ MORE: UFC Rio: Charles Oliveira vs. Mateusz Gamrot Main Event Prediction
Recent posts
