Former UFC fighter Demetrious Johnson has revealed that he has earned nearly $75,000 from his likeness being used in EA Sports’ UFC video games, with payments based on how often players choose his character.
Demetrious Johnson didn’t exactly hit the jackpot with the EA UFC games. But hey, he’s not complaining about the dough he raked in.
Talk of fighter pay in the UFC is like a broken record in the MMA world. Most of the chatter revolves around show money, win money, bonuses, and pay-per-view points. But there’s more to it than meets the eye, like likeness rights.
UFC isn’t just about fight promotion. They’ve got a sweet licensing deal with EA Games for the UFC video game series. Ever wondered how that translates to the fighters’ pockets?
Johnson spilled the beans on his YouTube channel. Picture this: he’s chilling at home, gaming, when an email pops up. It’s a notification that a check is on its way because his likeness is a hit in the video game.
The first check he got? A cool $25,000. You might think, “That’s it?” But think about it. $25,000 for not getting punched in the face. $25,000 for being a character in a video game. Johnson was over the moon.
So, how do they decide the payout? Johnson can’t call the shots. It’s the gamers who determine his pay by how often they use him in the game. Every time a character is picked, it sends data to the mainframe computer. They’re tracking your every move, keeping tabs on the most popular characters and game modes.
Johnson thinks it’s a fair deal. It’s all about popularity. If he’s the go-to character for everyone and their mom, he gets a fatter check.
Johnson is a big deal in UFC history, so it’s no shocker that he’s a fan favorite. He was so popular that he even graced the cover of a special edition of EA UFC 3. That gig came with some extra green.
Fast forward to UFC 3. Johnson’s next check was $12,500. A bit less, but he was cool with it. The checks were rolling in yearly or quarterly. It was like free money.
After his fight with Ray Borg, he got a chance to be on the front cover. He signed the agreement and bagged an extra $10,000. He was stoked.
There are five EA Sports UFC titles so far. Johnson has been in all but the first one, even after he left the promotion in 2018. He’s still waiting for his check from the latest edition. But so far, he’s made just under $75,000 from the three games he’s been in, including his stint as a cover athlete.
UFC 4 rolls out, and Johnson leaves the UFC. But his character is still in the game. The next check he gets is another $25,000. He thinks it’s awesome that UFC or EA keeps paying the athletes for their likeness.
From his first appearance in the game in 2014 to 2024, he’s made a whopping $72,500. He thinks it’s amazing to make that kind of money without getting punched in the face.
He hasn’t gotten his check for UFC 5 yet, but he’s in the game. If his popularity holds up, he’ll get another check from EA or Zuffa or whoever’s running the UFC show.
Likeness rights in sports video games can vary a lot. The NFL Players Association reportedly made a $500 million deal with the Madden franchise over five years. The NBA 2K deal was reportedly for $1.1 billion over seven years. On the flip side, EA Sports College Football 25 will reportedly only offer athletes $600 and a copy of the game.