Tyron Woodley outlines path to higher paydays in UFC's $7.7B Paramount+ era

UFC will soon have a new home!

Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley has offered his perspective on how fighters can maximize their earnings as the promotion heads into its new broadcast era with Paramount+. Earlier this month, the UFC announced a $7.7 billion, seven-year deal that will see events streamed exclusively on the platform beginning in 2026.

While the blockbuster agreement means UFC will pocket hundreds of millions more annually, questions remain over whether that revenue will trickle down to athletes.

Dana White was vague when asked about fighter pay increases, sparking debate across the MMA world. For Woodley, the path to a bigger paycheck comes down to understanding how the UFC operates.

“This is their league” – Tyron Woodley on UFC negotiations

Reflecting on his own career, Tyron Woodley admitted he could have taken a different approach to securing better contracts.

“Looking back, one thing that I could change about my approach with the UFC and the brass… This is their league, right?” Woodley told MMA Knockout via action network. “I’ve given them a lot of opportunity to show them the best. I should not be making anything less than anybody I beat, right? And if somebody on an equal level with an equal amount of title defenses, I should be at least parallel.”

Woodley emphasized that pay is often tied not just to winning but to how you win. “I feel like it’s all about the way you win in the UFC. They’re going to give you additional money based upon you knocking people out, winning, being ready to fight, and being easier to deal with. Rather than you coming in there and forcing them to give you a bigger deal.”

Young fighters will accept “half the cost”

The former champ also pointed to a structural issue: younger fighters entering the UFC are often willing to fight for far less.

“Too many younger fighters are happy just to have a phone call from Dana White,” Woodley said. “You’re so happy to be in the UFC. They’ll do what they’re made to do for half the cost. And the UFC always has that in their back pocket.”

Still, Woodley believes fighters who prove they are must-see attractions can break through. “I would show the company that I’m the type of fighter that you want to put out… When you put on a card, I’m one of the fighters you got to put on this card. If you can do that, then I think the money will work itself out.”

The UFC’s Paramount+ era begins in 2026, and while the promotion’s financial future looks brighter than ever, the same cannot yet be said for its roster of athletes.

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