UFC: Jose Aldo Feeling Underpaid In MMA

UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo is feeling undervalued by the UFC and believes he should be earning more money, according to an interview with ESPN Brazil in his homeland. Aldo is regarded as the number two ranked pound for pound fighter in the world today according to UFC rankings. He has won 17 fights in row and has defended the UFC/WEC featherweight championship eight times in a row. The Brazilian will look to extend that streak as he faces Chad Mendes in a rematch at UFC 176 on August 2 in Los Angeles, California. Given his high profile in MMA, it is surprising to hear him so vocal on the issue of pay from his employer. He explicitly tells ESPN Brazil that he feels he should be getting more money. "Certainly, I feel underpaid," Aldo stated. "Talking in numbers is difficult. A fighter dreams of reaching a level where he makes good money. Today I have other thoughts, I have been around the world, I have great insight into this. At the same time that they give business to us, they could improve . We bring millions to the organization's events. I'm a very marketable fighter, and everyone likes to see me fight." For his last fight against Ricardo Lamas at UFC 169 in February, Aldo was paid $240,000. A $120,000 was his show money and the other $120,000 was his win bonus for beating Lamas. Aldo feels that the UFC pay structure is all over the place and should be more structured to where you are in the sport. "We see a lightweight being paid the same as a beginner. We see a heavyweight non-champion and non-title challenger earning a lot more than us. This situation makes us a little sad, but I have to keep fighting, we can't lose our focus." When asked by ESPN Brazil on how he could the change the UFC's mind on how to pay him more money, Aldo isn't too sure. "I do not know, man. We kill ourselves in training, we give the best of us to get out there and give a great show, break records for the UFC. We give the maximum, but do not have that due recognition. Now, I do not know what to do, do I need to get inside the cage and kill my opponent? I do not know." In analysing this, Aldo has a very valid point as he wasn't even the highest paid fighter at UFC 169. Frank Mir made $200,000 to show in his loss to Alistair Overeem and Mir had lost three straight fights going into the show. The fighters who are champions should be making more money than guys who are on losing streaks like Mir is on. For a guy who has defended the UFC featherweight championship eight straight times, Aldo should be making $200-250,000 to show per fight. All he can do is keep winning fights, and improve his English to make himself more notable in the United States. That way Aldo could possibly make up the money he isn't getting in the UFC, benefiting from cash in sponsorships and commercials.