The Level Change Podcast · Combat Sports news variety show usually previewing or reviewing the latest UFC event while covering the latest news in combat sports.

Utah has a non-disclosure agreement with most fighters from UFC 291

·1 hr 4 min·4 clips

Ali Abdelaziz said fighters should never disclose pay, and Victor calls that “paying bullshit.”

1. The Level Change Podcast episode 257 focuses on UFC 291 fighter-pay disclosure in Utah. 2. Steffi Haines hosts with Victor Rodriguez, and both matter because they drive the pay and matchmaking arguments. 3. The episode asks whether hiding UFC purses helps fighters or helps the UFC negotiate lower pay. 4. Steffi reads Steven Morocco’s MMA Fighting report on Utah confidentiality agreements and the commission’s “trade secret” language. 5. The hosts say only four UFC 291 fighters allowed public disclosure: Kevin Holland, Bobby Green, Gabriel Bonfim, and C.J. Vergara. 6. Kevin Holland’s disclosed purse is 356,000, and Bobby Green’s is 300,000. 7. Gabriel Bonfim’s disclosed purse is 24,000, and C.J. Vergara’s is 60,000. 8. Victor says the UFC and its managers should not want secrecy if fighters are trying to reach fair market value. 9. The discussion contrasts UFC pay secrecy with boxing’s disclosure of site fees, concessions, and other financial information. 10. Steffi says Utah paid the UFC a site fee of about 7 to 7.5 million dollars to bring UFC 291 to Salt Lake City. 11. Victor recalls Benson Henderson publicly questioning Dana White after Eddie Alvarez reportedly made 100,000 in Bellator. 12. The hosts say that kind of public comparison helped Henderson get a raise. 13. Victor cites Ali Abdelaziz’s deposition claim that fighters should not disclose pay because they might get kidnapped. 14. The hosts reject that argument and call for fighters to approve disclosure when commissions ask. 15. Steffi says managers like Dominance MMA and Iridium Sports Agency may be serving their own percentage interests rather than each fighter’s leverage. 16. The episode then turns to UFC Nashville, where Dana White walked out on the Rob Font versus Cory Sandhagen main event. 17. Victor and Steffi say Sandhagen’s elbow injury mattered, but they also say Font contributed to the dull fight. 18. The tone shifts between anger, sarcasm, and fight-by-fight analysis, with repeated back-and-forth interruptions. 19. Listeners who follow MMA pay, UFC politics, and card breakdowns will get the most from this episode. 20. Listeners who want only polished fight recaps may skip the management and labor discussion.

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