Former UFC fighter Chad Mendes says he's earning more in bare knuckle boxing than the $600k Francis

Its well established that boxing pays better than UFC at this point - generally speaking - but it appears as though bare knuckle boxing does too, according to Chad Mendes. Mendes, 36, is a former multiple time UFC title challenger at featherweight who also fought Conor McGregor during his time in the UFC. He departed

It’s well established that boxing pays better than UFC at this point - generally speaking - but it appears as though bare knuckle boxing does too, according to Chad Mendes.

Mendes, 36, is a former multiple time UFC title challenger at featherweight who also fought Conor McGregor during his time in the UFC. He departed the company after a loss to Alexander Volkanovski in 2018.

He’s now competing in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship’s Knucklemania II event on February 19. He’s scheduled to meet Joshuah Alvarez in a 155lb bout.

While BKFC isn’t half as big or mainstream as UFC, Mendes claims he’s going to be making more than what UFC’s heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, made at UFC 270.

“I’ll put it this way: I just saw what the UFC heavyweight champion of the world just got paid, and it’s gonna be more than that. It’s pretty crazy. I feel blessed for sure,” Mendes told MMA Junkie.

Mendes isn’t the only former UFC fighter to sing BKFC’s praises when it comes to the purses they receive. 

Paige VanZant, Mike Perry, Rachael Ostovich, Artem Lobov and Jason Knight have all claimed to have made more money in bare knuckle fighting than they did fighting in the Octagon for UFC.

Ngannou is currently embroiled in a contract dispute with UFC and president Dana White. The Cameroonian has stated he days of fighting for ‘$500,000, $600,000 are done’ and in not re-signing with UFC, he claims he’s left arond $7 million on the table.

White has blamed the ‘people around Ngannou’ who should know better for giving him poor advice during these negotiations. However, The Predator also wants to box Tyson Fury in a huge crossover bout that the Gypsy King has welcomed.

Problem is, Ngannou wants to remain with UFC and have them support his venture into boxing, but that’s proving to be ab obstacle. When Conor McGregor did the same to fight Floyd Mayweather, UFC reportedly took half of McGregor’s purse.

Had Ngannou lost to Cyril Gane at UFC 270 he’d be a free agent now, but the ‘champion’s clause’ in his UFC deal means he’ll remain with them through 2022.

Ngannou took home $600,000 from UFC 270 and it’s not a good look if Chad Mendes can take home more money elsewhere when, with all due respect, he hasn’t accomplished what Ngannou has nor does he have the same name value.

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