UFC boss Dana White didn’t have much to say when asked about Paige VanZant’s recent comments stating that she brought in more income from social media sponsorships than competing in a UFC fight.
VanZant, the UFC’s women’s flyweight star, has made it known publicly that she is on the final fight of her current promotional contract. She was approached about an extension but said she prefers to fight out her deal and enter the free agent market to find her true worth.
It’s not all that uncommon of a decision in the modern MMA landscape, but VanZant made no bones about how she feels that her compensation is lacking. She said she has greater financial upside focusing on other endeavors.
“With endorsements, I make way more money sitting at home posting pictures on Instagram than I do fighting,” VanZant said during an appearance on “Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show.” “With endorsement deals and everything I pull in from social media, I would actually be at a loss just taking a fight. If I were to stop everything I do outside of fighting and just fight, I would be at a loss unfortunately, by a long shot.”
In a media scrum following Tuesday’s episode of Dana White’s Contender Series, the UFC president was asked for a response to “12 Gauge.” He made it short and sweet.
“Good for her,” White told reporters, including MMA Junkie. “That’s awesome. If a fighter can make more money doing other things, good for her.”
