Rich Franklin is transitioning from being an MMA star to a full-time juicer and spokesman for the sport he loves, and while he still has one fight in the bag, it’s interesting to get the perspective of one of MMA’s true pioneers and stars on the business of MMA. We were lucky enough to have an in-depth interview with the former middleweight champion about many, many taboo subjects.
Click the video below, and get Rich Franklin’s thoughts on fighter pay in MMA, Dana White as a boss, his financial stability as a fighter headed to retirement and his plan for the future. It’s a great interview, don’t miss it.
“From a business standpoint, I get it. It’s your job to negotiate that money. It is difficult because they are the only player on the block. This is the analogy I used: In the NFL I can negotiate my contract with a team, if not I have 31 other teams to negotiate with. I know it’s not that easy, but there are other places to go. I’m not one to talk fighter pay, and there are guys out there that make way more than I do. I’m not going to complain if someone were to add another decimal place to my paycheck, but you have to remember that I was a highschool teacher, and I transitioned to MMA. I’ve made way more money fighting in MMA than teaching highschool.
“I see fighters now coming in, they have better endorsement opportunities and the Gatorades aren’t there, that was after my time. The UFC always treated me well and have always done for me what they said they’d do.”
