The Great Divide is a recurring feature here at MMA Fighting in which two of our staff debate a topic in the world of MMA — whether it’s news, a fight, a crazy thing somebody did, a crazy thing somebody didn’t do, or some moral dilemma threatening the very foundation of the sport — and try to figure out a resolution. We’d love for you to join in the discussion in the comments below.
Fighter pay has always been a hot-button issue in MMA, but over the past few weeks, it’s taken center stage as UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and Jorge Masvidal have directly challenged the promotion’s compensation practices, setting in motion a standoff that potentially could spark a movement to organize fighters — or reinforce the promotion’s power over talent.