UFC Fighter Salary: John Makdessi reveals shocking deductions on pay

15 September 2023

Canadian MMA veteran John Makdessi has voiced his dissatisfaction with the payout he received for his recent appearance at UFC 293. The 20-fight UFC veteran took to social media to share an earnings breakdown of his fight against Jamie Mullarkey, where he suffered a unanimous decision loss at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.

In the posted invoice from the UFC, Makdessi's initial show purse of $58,000 underwent various deductions, including taxes, medical fees, airfare, and other expenses, ultimately resulting in a total take-home amount of just $28,461.65.

The most significant deduction from Makdessi's earnings was attributed to the Australian government, which claimed a substantial 45 percent ($21,600) of the 38-year-old fighter's show purse.

Expressing his frustration on Twitter, Makdessi lamented, "I sacrificed my whole life for this sport and put everything on the line. Damn Australian government and the judges robbed me pretty badly."

Makdessi holds the distinction of being the most experienced UFC fighter among the 24 athletes who participated in UFC 293. Since joining the promotion in 2010, he has amassed an 11-9 record in the highly competitive lightweight division.

Unfortunately, Makdessi's loss to Mullarkey marked his second consecutive defeat and brought his record to 1-3 in his last four bouts, leaving the fighter seeking a more favourable outcome in his future endeavours.

You can see the complete deductions below. What do you think of the same? Let us know in the comments below.

John Makdessi has shared details regarding his pay for #UFC293

Australian tax is toughhhhhh ???? pic.twitter.com/pXZjKBu4rO

— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) September 14, 2023