[Demetrious Johnson was pleasantly surprised by the amount he made from appearing in the EA UFC games. While fighter pay in the UFC is often a matter of concern, Johnson highlighted another avenue of income for fighters – the use of their likeness in video games. He mentioned receiving a $25,000 payment for his portrayal in the UFC video game, which he saw as a nice bonus for simply being part of the game. The money he received depended on the popularity of his character in the game, leading to larger payments due to his fan following.
Even after his departure from the UFC, Johnson’s character continued to feature in the games, resulting in further earnings for him. His total income from appearing in the game since 2014 was close to $75,000. Johnson expressed gratitude for the additional money he made from his image being used in the game, highlighting that it was earned without enduring physical blows.
The compensation for likeness rights in sports video games can differ widely, as evidenced by agreements between other sports organizations and video game developers. For instance, the NFL Players Association reportedly secured $500 million over a five-year extension for their players appearing in the Madden franchise, while the NBA 2K deal was worth $1.1 billion over seven years. In contrast, athletes featured in EA Sports College Football 25 are rumored to receive only $600 and a copy of the game.
