UFC veteran John Makdessi expressed dissatisfaction with his final payout for UFC 293, which, after deductions including a 45% tax by the Australian government, was reduced from his initial $58,000 show purse to a take-home amount of just $28,461.65.
John Makdessi, the 20-fight UFC veteran, publicly expressed disappointment with his final payout for the UFC 293 event. He recently lost to Jamie Mullarkey via unanimous decision at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. In reaction, Makdessi shared on social media a photo of an invoice sent by the UFC showing his earnings breakdown for the recent bout. The break-down revealed that his original payout of $58,000 was substantially reduced by taxes, medical, airfare, and other expenses, leaving him with a take-home amount of only $28,461.65.
A significant portion of Makdessi’s earnings was claimed by the Australian government, which deducted 45 percent ($21,600) of the 38-year-old’s show purse. Consequently, this left the veteran fighter rather displeased. He conveyed his frustration on Twitter, stating, “I sacrificed my whole life for this sport and put everything on the line. Damn Australian government and the judges robbed me pretty badly.”
Notably, Makdessi was the most tenured UFC fighter among the 24 athletes who participated in the UFC 293 card. After signing with the UFC in 2010, he managed to compile a record of 11-9 in the UFC’s lightweight division. However, his loss to Mullarkey was his second consecutive defeat, putting him at a 1-3 record over his last four bouts.