“If one guy gets paid 15 million and the other guy gets 15 million, that’s a big difference,” Aspinall said.
UFC fighters compete under long-term promotional contracts that dictate purses and bonuses, while boxers often negotiate their pay for each fight depending on the event.
A big pay-per-view event or high-profile match can dramatically increase what a boxer earns for a single night in the ring. Fighters across both sports are aware of how those systems produce vastly different financial results.
Aspinall said athletes understand the agreements they sign, even when pay later becomes a talking point among fighters and supporters.
“A lot of MMA fighters, UFC fighters, UFC champions, they like to complain about the money we get paid,” Aspinall said. “But that’s the contract we all signed. We’re not going to get any more than that.”
The British heavyweight recently agreed to work with Matchroom’s new athlete representation agency. The arrangement is intended to develop commercial opportunities away from fights, including sponsorships, appearances and media work that can increase a fighter’s earnings outside of competition.
“I want to make as much money outside the Octagon as I possibly can,” Aspinall said. “Commercially, there is a lot that needs to be done for my profile.”
Aspinall is recovering from multiple surgeries and said his return to the cage will depend on medical clearance. His comments reflect a comparison fighters often make when discussing combat sports earnings, especially when big boxing purses circulate widely on social media and in fight coverage.
