John Makdessi is not satisfied with the salary he received for UFC 293. In fact, he complains about the particularly high taxes.
The 20-fight UFC veteran posted a photo on social media this week of his earnings breakdown from his recent fight against Jamie Mullarkey. Makdessi lost by unanimous decision at UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. Find the results here. Pictured in an invoice sent by the UFC, Makdessi’s initial $58,000 purse is reduced by taxes, medical bills, plane tickets and other expenses until it reaches a total amount of $28,461.65.
The largest deduction from Makdessi’s earnings is made by the Australian government, which takes 45 percent ($21,600) of the 38-year-old fighter’s purse.
The problem: UFC or taxes?
Take a closer look at the pay slip:
UFC pay slip
“I sacrificed my whole life for this sport and put everything on the line,” Makdessi wrote on Twitter. “This damn Australian government and the judges have robbed me badly.”
Makdessi is the longest-tenured UFC fighter among the 24 athletes who competed on the UFC 293 card. On that card, Sean Strickland shocked the world by defeating Israel Adesanya. Since signing with the UFC in 2010, Makdessi has compiled an 11-9 record in the UFC lightweight division. Makdessi’s loss to Mullarkey marked his second straight loss and put him at 1-3 over his last four fights.
This is not the first time that a fighter has complained about the taxes he suffers during clashes abroad or in certain states of the USA. The question of money is still an issue within the UFC.
