“Took a little bit of damage, but I’m not broken,” Jared Cannonier declared following a unanimous decision win against Kelvin Gastelum in the UFC Vegas 34 main event.
He also declared he was broke.
Cannonier (14-5), 37, was up against a game Gastelum on Saturday night, with the fight being a hard-fought affair that was closer than the scorecards made it seem. Speaking during the event’s post-fight press conference, Cannonier said it’s either “the title or contender” for him next. “A contender. If they give me a name, you win, you get the shot, okay.”
But immediately after the fight, his focus was on getting paid. “I’m broke so I need to fight,” Cannonier said in his post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier. “Hopefully I get that title shot. The right name might make me say yes.”
Champ Israel Adesanya, however, appears locked in for a fight with Robert Whittaker, potentially in early 2022. That’s a long time to wait for a fighter in need of cash, and backstage on Saturday, Cannonier appeared open to a bout with Paulo Costa. When fighting the winner of the upcoming Derek Brunson vs. Darren Till fight was brought up, the middleweight had one question. “Is that a contender’s fight?” Assured that it would be, “Well, then yeah,” Cannonier replied.
Jared Cannonier’s talk of being broke is the latest in a series of comments from fighters regarding their financial situations, despite fighting for the largest mixed martial arts promotion on the planet. Comments that have been rather embarrassing for the UFC. Earlier this summer, Cheyanne Buys revealed she’d been broke her “entire life” due to competing in MMA. While she was in just her second UFC fight, Cannonier is a 12-fight veteran of the promotion.
Dana White’s excuse when Cheyanne Buys said she was broke:
“Only her second UFC fight”
Well uhh Dana let’s hear the explanation for this one? #UFCVegas34
— Joe McDonagh (@Joe_mcdonagh6) August 22, 2021
Just days ago, Miesha Tate revealed she had spent nearly her entire purse preparing for her comeback fight — although she later clarified that the decision was made out of her desire to claim gold for the second time.
Regardless, it’s not a good look for the promotion, who had a booming year again in 2020 — but who keep the lion’s share of revenue generated, in comparison to what is paid out to athletes in other sports.
