Before the main card of UFC 324 at the end of January, Justin Gaethje made headlines for criticizing the UFC and its business practices. Gaethje, who is known for being honest and outspoken, shared his frustration with how the promotion handles fighters, especially when it comes to media deals and pay.
Gaethje suggested that the UFC makes huge amounts of money from partnerships and streaming deals, including deals with companies like Paramount, while fighters do not always see fair compensation. He pointed out that fighters take serious physical risks every time they step into the octagon, yet many of them still struggle financially once their careers end.
What made Gaethje’s comments important was the timing. Speaking out right before a major pay per view event brought more attention to the issue. Some fans supported him, saying fighters deserve a bigger share of the revenue. Others felt that criticizing the UFC publicly could hurt a fighter’s career.
The UFC has faced criticism like this before, but comments from a popular star like Gaethje carry more weight. As one of the most exciting fighters in the sport, his words reminded fans that behind the entertainment are athletes who put their health on the line.
In the end, Gaethje’s criticism sparked more conversation about fighter rights and pay in the UFC. Whether anything changes or not, his comments showed that some fighters are no longer afraid to speak up.
Gaethje won his match at UFC 324. Watch highlightes here: youtu.be/P87v5z9BZ80
Here are results from UFC 324 on 1/24/2026 : cbssports.com/ufc/news.
Here are results from UFC 325 on 1/31/2026: espn.com/mma/story
UFC 326 is on Saturday, March 7th in Las Vegas. Keep up to date here: ufc.com/event/ufc-326