Paddy Pimblett earned four times less than Molly McCann for their UFC London victories back in April.
The UFC pair both compete alongside each other at the Next Generation MMA in hometown Liverpool, and both fought on the UFC's recent return to domestic soil. Pimblett defeated Kazula Vargas with a first round submission to make a statement in just his second fight with the promotion, while McCann continued her progress with a sensational spinning backfist KO of Luana Carolina.
Pimblett earned a guaranteed purse of just $12,000 for his fight combined with another $12,000 winning bonus despite commanding huge interest in London. McCann has revealed she was paid significantly more having taken part in her eighth fight in the UFC under a third contract. “It’s mad, people wouldn’t believe it, but I got paid four times what he did for my last fight, because I’m on a third contract – it was my eighth fight," McCann explained on the Overlap with Gary Neville.
Pimblett later added: “I’m getting a new contract for this fight and I’ll be getting paid what I’m worth, because I’m being everything else in. I’m putting bums on seats. Years ago I was getting paid more fighting for Cage Warriors.
"I got that much money with Cage Warriors that I paid my mum’s mortgage off, that’s how good they were paying me. When I signed for the UFC I took a pay cut. But I knew it was going to [work out] because I know what I’m like. I’m just me. I’ve said for years I’m going to be in the UFC.”
Pimblett ended up earning significantly more for his fights after pocketing bonuses which took his overall pay to around $50,000. He is also earning well from his seven-figure deal with American company Barstool Sports.
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His next appearance will come against Jordan Leavitt, where he is once again considered a star attraction for fans alongside McCann and Tom Aspinall. Pimblett's manager Graham Boylan revealed to Mirror Fighting that Pimblett would be leaving behind his controversial contract and earning "big" money for his next appearance as his profile continues to grow.
Despite facing backlash from fans over his contract, Pimblett believes the money will come as his career continues to progress and compared his ambitions to UFC superstar Conor McGregor. “The only person who is going to beat that is ya boy,” Pimblett continued. “$5m will be chumps’ change in a few years! I’ll be wiping my a*** with £50 notes!
“People said to me after my last fight ‘You should be fighting for $12,000 and $12,000’ and I know, but I signed the contract. I can’t [rip it up]. But I’m getting a new contract for this fight. It’ll be a new four-fight deal – they’re not stupid! They don’t give you a one-fight deal! It’s like giving a player a one-year contract, it doesn’t happen.”
