Mike Tyson says the pay in the UFC is the reason he would never have considered a switch from boxing to MMA.Tyson is currently gearing up to meet Floyd Mayweather Jr in an exhibition boxing match in Spring 2026.Tyson dominated the boxing scene, but has no interest in expanding his career into the UFCBut one thing that he is certain that he would not have ever considered, is an appearance in the UFC.Even if the company’s peak had matched up with his hey day, Tyson claims they wouldn’t have been able to afford him anyway.The heavyweight legend is said to have earned around $430million (£337.5m) across his career that spanned over 20 years.During an interview with Hard Rock Bet, he explained why: “Five of the biggest UFC fighters combined couldn’t match my pay.“I want to be the biggest fighter, the biggest purse, I want all that stuff. “When Mike Tyson fights, he shuts everything down.”When Tyson fought Jake Paul, he was paid a mammoth $20m for their eight-round clash.His best payday came when he finally faced off with his long-term rival, Lennox Lewis, in 2002 and took home a staggering $35m.But, aside from Conor McGregor, UFC contenders are not as handsomely paid. What financial issues in the UFC is Mike Tyson referring to?Last year, the UFC settled an antitrust lawsuit for $375m.White recently announced that Paramount and CBS will be the new home for all UFC events in the United States in 2026GettyDue to being underpaid for their activities from 2010 to 2017, 1,067 fighters were compensated.The salary of mixed martial arts fighters has also been a hot topic of conversation over the years.Especially when it comes to those who are signed to White’s UFC.The fighters are believed to take home around 20 per cent of the yearly revenue that the promotion generates.In 2006 White implemented performance bonuses, which have remained at $50,000 since their implementation.While new signings typically earn between $10,000 and $30,000 a fight, some champions never touch seven figures.But, the UFC CEO recently gave two of the promotion’s new signings a $25,000 bonus for the first time since the lawsuits.