Shane Burgos, a seasoned fighter with 11 fights over almost six years in the UFC, took a gamble on himself by testing free agency towards the end of his last contract. He wanted to know how much he was worth on the open market, given that multiple promoters were expanding their rosters. He signed with the PFL and has no regrets about his decision.

More so, Burgos is puzzled that many fighters don’t even bother testing free agency. Burgos is also an advocate for fighters, urging them to consider their options and fight out their contracts, even if they’re not ranked. Burgos hopes that this will force the UFC to offer better pay and benefits to its fighters, thus maximizing their potential to earn the most money possible.

Burgos advocates for competition, saying that it’s healthy for the fighters and the promoters. He cites former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou’s lucrative deal with the PFL as evidence that free agency can be advantageous for fighters. Ngannou couldn’t come to terms with the UFC on a new deal, so he tested the market, signed with the PFL, and got the opportunity to pursue boxing matches and bring MMA to Africa.

Burgos is excited that Ngannou has joined his team, and he hopes that the PFL will continue to grow and compete with the UFC. He believes that fighters should value money over Instagram followers and that the pay for fighters across the board should increase. The flat pay for fighters is too low, and Burgos wants to see that change. He wants Francis’s pay to be the norm rather than the exception.