UFC heavyweight brand Perisic has made headlines for not only his devastating first-round knockout debut in UFC Perth, but also for his harsh revelation that exposes the harsh financial reality faced by fighters pursuing their dreams of martial arts. After flattening Elisha Ellison on a ground strike at 1:55 in the opening round, the Australian Croatian fighter jet revealed that they had received a $100,000 loan to allow the UFC debut.
Mild Peric
“Brother, I’m a gym sleeping in my car. This is my life. No one beats me tonight. Hey, I took a 100 grand loan to come to work for this company.
The 31-year-old heavyweight admission highlights the substantial financial burdens that will be faced when pursuing a career in professional MMA. The Perisic, known as the “Valcan Bear,” moved from South Australia to New Zealand three years ago, where he trained at the world-renowned urban kickboxing gym along with former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and other elite fighters. The relocation and preparation for the extended training camp required significant investments that ultimately forced him into substantial debt.
Brando Pericic won a night bonus performance at UFC Perth. He was one of four fighters who received a $50,000 bonus for his first round knockout victory over Elisha Ellison. The UFC awarded four night bonus performances at UFC Fight Night 260. The winners of the bonus were Carlos Wolberg, Jimmy Crute, Tom Nolan and Perisic. The $50,000 performance of the night bonus helps him pay off about half of his loan, as he hoped.
Training Camp Economics drives fighter jets to extremes
The financial pressures Pericic explains are not unique in sports. Training camp costs for UFC-level fighters usually range from $8,000 to $30,000, depending on the level of preparation. These expenses include gym fees, coaching salaries, sparring partner fees, medical expenses, nutritionist fees, supplements, and travel accommodation for coaches and training partners.
Former UFC fighter John Cholish previously broke the hidden costs of competing at the highest level of the sport. For a typical 8-week training camp, fighters can expect to spend between $8,000 and $12,000 just for preparation. These costs come directly from the fighter’s pockets, as the UFC only covers basic travel for fighters and one horns.
The UFC Featherweight Miles judges provided a detailed breakdown showing how quickly a fight wallet disappears after the cost. The fighter who totaled $20,000 ($10,000 show money and $10,000 victory bonus) will leave a gym fee of $2,000, $4,000 for administrators, $6,000 for taxes, $500 for medical requirements, $1,000 for coaching, $1,000 for other expenses, and just $5,500 for actual profits.
Peric Story: The Year’s Struggle Behind Spotlight
The heavyweight started his professional MMA career in 2019, but he fought only once before moving on to kickboxing because it was difficult to secure his opponent. His record is 5-1, but this modest number belays years of training and preparation that have been interrupted by opponent drawers and cancelled matches.
“I’ve always wondered how payments for those involved in preparing for fight camps actually work,” reflecting the broader issues facing the MMA community about sustainable fighter compensation. At City Kickboxing, Pericic was trained alongside some of the sport’s biggest names, but even elite coaching and access to facilities came with substantial costs that ultimately required external funding.
The fighter’s revelation of sleeping in cars and gyms for over eight years highlights the lengths athletes go to pursue their UFC dreams. Despite the difficulties, Perisic’s investment appears to be paying dividends following his impressive debut performance.
Financial challenges across the industry
Industry analysis shows that entry-level UFC fighters often struggle to break even after taking into account training costs, taxes and management fees. The UFC wage structure offers a base salary of around $10,000 to win and $10,000 to win, but these amounts often fail to cover the true cost of competition at the highest level of sports.
Another young UFC fighter, Chase Hooper, documented how fighters lose up to 60% of their revenues through management fees, taxes and training costs. The high-performance environment required for the UFC competition requires annual training, professional coaching, and heavy financial investments, where many fighters struggle to maintain without external funding.
The shift to promotional monopoly unified deals eliminated traditional sponsorship opportunities that previously helped fighters supplement their revenues. This change put additional financial pressure on athletes who have to rely primarily on fighting wallets and performance bonuses for their livelihoods.
Pericic’s story serves as both inspirational and attentional stories about the financial reality of pursuing a career in the UFC.