Mike Tyson Says He Would’ve Avoided The UFC At His Peak For One Reason


Mike Tyson (Image Credits: Imagn)
When people talk about combat sports, the first names that come to mind are always the all-time greats. In his prime, Mike Tyson was a beast who often won fights before even stepping into the ring, purely through fear. Recently, the boxing legend admitted that he would never have joined the UFC, not because of the level of competition, but simply due to financial reasons.

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The former champion broke it down in simple terms during a recent conversation. He pointed out that even the combined paychecks of five of the biggest names in UFC history still wouldn’t come close to what he earned for a single fight. Even to this day, when he fought against Jake Paul, he pocketed over $20 million, an amount far beyond what any active UFC fighter takes home in one match.

In his words, “Listen, five of the biggest UFC fighters combined couldn’t match my pay. I want to be the biggest fighter, the biggest purse. I want all that stuff. When Mike Tyson fights, he shuts everything down.”

Tyson emerged in an era when boxing still dominated the combat sports world. Pay-per-view numbers for his fights would break records. Casinos bid against each other for the right to host. The whole world stopped when he stepped into the ring. That level of attention translated directly into his bank account. Meanwhile, Dana White has explained why the boxing and UFC purse has such a big gap.

Dana White Explained The Difference Between Boxing And The UFC

UFC Star Retires From Dana White PromotionDana White (Image Credits: Imagn)

White explained the difference between boxing and the UFC. He pointed out that only a few boxers ever make the huge sums seen in top fights, while in the UFC, the money is spread across all fighters. Success comes from drawing attention and selling pay-per-views. Fighters like Conor McGregor or Ronda Rousey have proven they can generate massive interest, and in the UFC, athletes earn based on the impact they create.

Now, after becoming the biggest name in the MMA world, Dana White has entered the boxing business. His plan is to develop new stars and then have his boxing partner, Turki Alalshikh, sign them, with their pay determined based on their marketability and success.