As mixed martial arts prepares for its highly publicized Netflix debut this weekend — headlined by Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano — much of the conversation surrounding the event has focused on criticism of the UFC, fighter pay, and the broader economics of combat sports.
But according to UFC legend Georges St-Pierre, the conversation around fighter compensation and promotion is more nuanced than many fans make it out to be.
In an exclusive interview with Covers, the former welterweight and middleweight champion shared his belief that fighters should continue pushing for better long-term protections and compensation, while also crediting the UFC and its longtime president Dana White for transforming mixed martial arts into a global phenomenon.
“I have the life that I have today because of the UFC,” St-Pierre said. “They did incredible stuff for the sport.”
Paying respect
St-Pierre was especially complimentary of White, who has helped lead the UFC’s rise from a niche organization into one of the most recognizable brands in sports.
“I think Dana White is the best promoter in the world, of all sports combined,” St-Pierre said. “He's the GOAT promoter. The day that he leaves, I don't know what's going to happen to the UFC; he's so good at promoting the fights.”
At the same time, St-Pierre believes the growing number of opportunities in combat sports — including major streaming-backed events on massive platforms like Netflix — could ultimately benefit fighters through increased leverage and negotiating power.
“I think eventually there will come a time when there will be more options for the fighters,” he said. “I'm a former fighter, so I will always fight for the fighters' rights, and I think the fighters' conditions need to be improved, and when there are more options for the fighters, it's good for them because they have more power of negotiation.”
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Fighting for the future
While fighter pay is often the headline-grabbing issue in MMA, the Canadian sports icon also stressed that fighter compensation should extend far beyond immediate purses, pointing to retirement planning and healthcare as two critical issues facing athletes after their careers end.
“Money is the base of everything because it helps you prepare your retirement,” St-Pierre explained. “Money is number one; they need a solid retirement fund, and you need insurance.”
According to St-Pierre, many of the most serious health consequences fighters experience do not emerge until years later.
“A lot of the health problems fighters have happened later in their lives because of the damage they receive in their career,” he said.
“It's like rolling the dice, you never know. You're ok today, but maybe in ten years you could develop certain patterns and conditions. You never know — it has to do with genetics, the way you train, your lifestyle. There are so many factors that we don't know how to prevent, so insurance would be very helpful for the fighters.”
Despite the ongoing debates surrounding fighter pay and athlete treatment, St-Pierre believes the sport’s continued growth — particularly with major mainstream platforms now entering the space — could create a stronger future for fighters while continuing to expand MMA’s global reach.
