Nemkov: UFC Fighters Get 'Mere Pennies' From Revenue

Vadim Nemkov says he turned down the UFC in part because he believes the promotion pays its fighters "mere pennies" relative to the money it generates.

The PFL heavyweight champion laid out his thinking in blunt terms, describing a UFC event where he saw multiple retired fighters who looked, in his words, like they were struggling financially. Nemkov recalled seeing retired UFC fighters at an event whose appearance suggested to him that they were struggling financially, and said earning potential was a major reason he didn't sign with the UFC.

"The UFC is a huge money-making machine, so to speak," Nemkov told Ushatayka. "There are massive sums involved, and the fighters get paid mere pennies. Those who put on the show, those who make the fights happen, they should be earning much more because of the heavy toll on their health. It's very sad to look at fighters who have ended their career, fought in the UFC, and then can't find their way and live very meager lives. Because I was having a fight once, there were veterans of MMA; there were a lot of them and half of them looked like regular blue-collar workers in worn-out shirts."

Why Nemkov Chose PFL Money Over the UFC

Nemkov made clear the math, not just the principle, drove his decision. He said that for the most part, when you can earn roughly twice as much fighting elsewhere, if he fought once there he would have to fight three times in the UFC to make the same money. That's a notable number coming from a two-division PFL champion rather than a mid-card UFC roster filler, the exact kind of fighter the UFC would typically want to sign.

Nemkov, who holds a record of 20-2 with one no contest, has built his PFL run around title success rather than chasing a UFC contract, and his comments frame that choice as a financial calculation rather than any lack of interest in testing himself against the UFC's roster.

What's Next for Nemkov

Nemkov is set to headline PFL Dubai on Saturday, Nov. 14, defending his heavyweight title on a card that airs on the ESPN app. A heavyweight title fight headlines PFL Dubai on Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. ET on the ESPN app.

For bettors, the comments matter less for any single fight line and more for the bigger picture. Pay disputes like this one feed directly into how fighters value UFC contracts versus PFL's guaranteed-money model, and that calculus shapes who stays available for crossover or free-agency betting markets down the line. A champion publicly saying he can out-earn a UFC run by fighting less often is the kind of leverage point that could influence how other top free agents weigh their own offers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Vadim Nemkov say about UFC fighter pay?

Vadim Nemkov said UFC fighters get paid 'mere pennies' compared to the revenue the promotion generates, and pointed to retired fighters he saw struggling financially as a reason it influenced his own decision not to sign with the UFC.

Why did Vadim Nemkov sign with PFL instead of the UFC?

Vadim Nemkov said he can earn roughly twice as much per fight with PFL, meaning he would need to fight three times in the UFC to match what one fight in PFL pays him.

When does Vadim Nemkov fight next?

Vadim Nemkov headlines PFL Dubai on Saturday, Nov. 14, defending his heavyweight title on a card airing on the ESPN app.