Demetrious Johnson didn’t make a king’s ransom from the EA UFC video games, however he’s proud of what he obtained.
A seemingly ever-present matter of dialog within the MMA world is the subject of fighter pay within the UFC. However whereas that dialog primarily focuses on fighters’ present cash, win cash, bonuses, and pay-per-view factors, there are different cases that don’t instantly bounce to thoughts, like likeness rights. And whereas UFC is primarily a battle promotion, the corporate additionally has a longstanding licensing cope with EA Video games to supply the UFC online game sequence. So how does that work for the fighters?
Properly, Johnson not too long ago described the whole factor on his YouTube channel.
“At some point I’m at dwelling, I’m enjoying video video games, and I get an e-mail stating that, ‘Hey, since your likeness is getting used so much within the online game, we’re sending you a examine,’” Johnson mentioned. “Now, the very first examine I bought for being within the UFC online game was $25,000. Quite a lot of you guys are like, ‘That was it?’ Guys, take into consideration this, $25,000 to simply be in a online game. I don’t suppose Ryu [or] Ken has ever gotten a examine for $25,000. [It’s] $25,000 for not getting punched within the face, $25,000 for simply being in a online game since you individuals love utilizing me as a personality. So I used to be ecstatic.
“How do they dictate how a lot cash you’re going to receives a commission? I can’t dictate it. You guys really dictate how a lot I receives a commission by how typically you guys use me within the recreation. Once you log onto your recreation, let’s say you’re enjoying offline mode otherwise you’re enjoying on-line mode, every character you choose, it does a bit tick and sends the information to the mainframe laptop. That’s how they maintain monitor of it. … They do it for all of the video games on the market as a result of they need to see what characters are being performed probably the most and what recreation modes you want probably the most. They’re at all times monitoring your information and retaining all of the analytics.
“I feel that’s truthful. It’s primarily based in your recognition within the recreation. So if everyone and their mother retains enjoying me, I’ll get an even bigger examine.”
Johnson is extensively thought of to be one of many biggest fighters in UFC historical past, so it’s not shocking that he’s a preferred character selection for followers. Actually, Johnson was so widespread that he additionally served as the duvet athlete for a specialty version of EA UFC 3, which “Mighty Mouse” defined got here with a bit more money for him.
“So let’s quick ahead: The subsequent one which got here out was UFC 3, and for this dangerous boy, the following examine that I ended up getting was $12,500,” Johnson mentioned. “Now, it’s a bit bit decrease, however I used to be OK with that as a result of the timeframe of the checks was coming yearly or quarter. I wasn’t too apprehensive about it, as a result of as soon as once more, it’s free cash simply coming to me.
“Now, after I did one thing, after my Ray Borg battle, they supplied me the chance to be on the entrance cowl. That’s once they got here out with the Icon Version with me on the entrance. … So to ensure that me to be on the duvet, I signed an settlement to be on the entrance cowl and with me signing, I bought a whopping $10,000 — $10,000 to be on the entrance cowl and it’s fairly dope. I like each little bit of it.”
There are presently 5 iterations of the EA Sports activities UFC titles, with the newest launched this previous October. Johnson has been in all of them other than the primary, even after leaving the promotion in 2018. Johnson mentioned he has but to obtain his examine from the most recent version, however for the three model of the sport he has been in, together with his time as a canopy athlete, “Mighty Mouse” revealed his grand whole of payouts comes to simply beneath $75,000.
“Let’s quick ahead: UFC 4 comes out,” Johnson mentioned. “I depart the UFC, I’m not a part of the corporate anymore, however my character remains to be within the recreation and also you guys are enjoying as my character. The subsequent examine I get within the mail is one other whopping $25,000. For being in a recreation! And it’s completely wonderful, as a result of to me, it’s one thing the place your likeness is getting used, and I feel it’s cool the place the UFC or EA retains on paying the athletes for his or her likeness, and that individuals are utilizing me.
“Now, in any case that, from the primary iteration of me being within the recreation in 2014 all the best way to 2024, the whole cash I’ve made is a whopping $72,500. I feel it’s completely wonderful for me to make that kind of cash with out getting punched within the face.
“Now, I’ve not gotten a examine but for UFC 5, which, I’m within the recreation. … Clearly, once you guys use me as a personality and my recognition remains to be good, I will even obtain one other examine from EA or Zuffa or whoever the hell is in control of the UFC now. So I feel it’s fairly cool.”
Likeness rights in sports activities video video games may be wide-ranging. For example, the NFL Gamers Affiliation struck a cope with the Madden franchise that reportedly paid the gamers $500 million over a five-year extension, whereas the NBA 2K deal was reportedly for $1.1 billion over seven years. Conversely, EA Sports activities School Soccer 25 will reportedly solely provide athletes featured within the recreation $600 and a duplicate of the sport.
