Jared Cannonier has goals of financial “independence” and “sovereignty,” and believes his new six-figure UFC contract will help towards reaching that pursuit.
Cannonier (15-5) is one of the best middleweight fighters on the planet. He is ranked second in the UFC divisional rankings and looks to be in line to face division king Israel Adesanya in his next bout. Continued success is his goal as an athlete, but as a man, he also wants to give himself and his family financial security for years to come.
“The Gorilla” believes he is finally achieving that end with a new contract that will net him six-figure paydays per fight. It is a relief because he wants his family to live comfortably off of the sacrifices he makes as a fighter. But he also wants to have fighting be his only income focus and does not want to pursue other revenue streams because his fight pay does not give him the life he wants.
Jared Cannonier has goal to be ‘more rich’ than he is famous
“I’ve always been comfortable,” Cannonier said during an appearance on The MMA Hour. “Again, the thing is we only get paid when we fight. So you’ve got other guys out there doing all kinds of things, they’re a part of the rat race scrambling for money. They call it hustling, but I call it you’re on a hamster wheel. So it’s about perspective. I look at things differently than most other people. The only thing I’m doing is training and fighting. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. I could do other things and I have plans for my future, but at this point in time, all I’m doing is training to fight. That’s all I want to do and I’m able to take care of my family through that alone.”
All though he is now competing under a more lucrative deal — which began with his UFC 271 win over Derek Brunson — he is not completely satisfied. Cannonier says he is in a good place with the organization, but for a man who feels UFC athletes should be paid on the level of NFL and NBA stars, he still has big goals to be richer than he is famous. A situation he says he is not currently in.
“This is the whole reason why I quit my six-figure job in Alaska because I’m getting six figures here in the UFC. I don’t want people thinking, ‘He’s not getting paid.’ People hear that six-figure number and they start seeing dollar signs and Louis [Vuitton] bags and dumb sh*t like that, but that’s not what it’s about for me,” he explained. “It’s all about being able to take care of myself, take care of my family. I’m trying to attain sovereignty, independence, and all that kind of good stuff. I’m in a good place as far as my contract and my standing with the UFC. I would like to be rich. I’m more famous than I am rich. I would like to be more rich than I am famous. So that’s where I want to get to.”
Cannonier has earned an 8-5 record competing in three different divisions in the UFC, since his debut in 2015.
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