A privately held company, the UFC does not divulge fighter pay. Organizations like the Nevada State Athletic Commission release purse information but that does not include fight bonuses or pay-per-view percentages that elite fighters may have negotiated in their contracts.
The commission cited a purse of $500,000 for Liddell's last fight and $250,000 for Couture.
While White said he respected Couture as a fighter and person, he said he did not understand Couture's dissatisfaction with his contract and noted that the UFC had torn up Couture's old deal to do a new one when he came out of retirement earlier this year.
"He just signed a new contract that he was thrilled with, eight months ago ... and now apparently he's not happy with it."
White, no fan of talking money, said Couture will have to deal with the UFC if he wants to fight again.
"Oh he definitely belongs to me, he's under contract to me. No doubt about it."
"I'll tell you right now, there isn't anyone in this industry that takes care of their fighters better than we do," he added. "Sometimes it takes leaving to realize that."
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Source: The Canadian Press
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