For all the speak about a “new era,” Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighters may be seeing the same previous paychecks.
With the Paramount+ period formally set to kick off at UFC 324 this weekend (Sat., Jan. 24, 2026) inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, questions about fighter pay are once again entrance and heart — particularly after the promotion finalized a $7.7 billion broadcast deal with the streaming giant.
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Despite optimism that the huge deal would finally translate into higher pay for the roster, UFC 324 headliner Justin Gaethje says nothing has modified — at least not for him.
Not even a greenback.
Last month, former two-division champion and UFC broadcaster Daniel Cormier instructed fighters were “already getting more money” under the new settlement. But Gaethje, who headlines the first occasion of the Paramount+ partnership, flatly shut that down during UFC 324 media day (watch here).
“To have 14 bonuses and not equal to $1 million — it’s not right,” Gaethje said. “It should be a lot more than that, and I should have the opportunity to do smarter things with my money — but I don’t, and I haven’t.”
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“I heard Daniel Cormier say that everyone is going to get paid more on this card,” he added. “I’m not getting one dollar more than I would have if this deal didn’t happen. I’m happy with what I’ve achieved, and the best thing I probably did was invest in a commercial property.”
It’s fairly concerning that the headliner of the first Paramount+ occasion isn’t receiving a raise, and it raises uncomfortable questions about how — or if — the new broadcast money will trickle down to the athletes really risking their health inside the Octagon.
To be truthful, Gaethje is still competing under a contract signed before the Paramount+ deal was finalized, which could clarify the lack of speedy modifications. Still, UFC CEO Dana White beforehand hinted that bonus constructions would increase under the new partnership — something that has yet to materialize publicly.
For now, the “new era” appears to be like a lot like the previous one.
And if the face of UFC 324 isn’t seeing a bump, it’s laborious to think about the relaxation of the roster is either….for now.
To checkout the newest and biggest UFC 324 information and notes click on here.
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