​Former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt has urged the UFC to provide stronger support for fighters as they transition into retirement. Citing figures from state athletic commissions, the UFC pays entry-level fighters roughly $12,000 to $20,000, with a range that translates to about £8,960 to £14,900. In addition to win bonuses, fighters can earn $50,000 in performance bonuses. Yet competitors are classified as independent contractors, which means they typically do not receive benefits such as pensions or long-term health insurance. Garbrandt, who is 35, is nearing the end of his mixed martial arts career as he prepares for his 23rd fight at UFC 329 this Saturday. “I don’t know how many years I have left in the sport, but I pray that God lets me stay healthy, intact, and that I can leave on my own terms,” Garbrandt told MMA Junkie. “I think a lot of fighters don’t get that opportunity. They have to fight because they need the money. They have to fight injured. It’s tough. I wish the UFC did a little more in helping us out with that—healthcare, insurance, 401K (an employer-sponsored retirement plan in the US). It’s scary to leave something that’s secure and you’ve chased your whole life, and then it’s done and those paychecks don’t come in, those sponsorships don’t come in.” The reality remains that many MMA dreams do not come to fruition. Garbrandt pointed to Dustin Poirier, who retired from MMA last year after a long 16-year career and has faced difficulties adjusting to life after stepping away from the sport. Poirier has been candid about needing assistance, something Garbrandt says deserves more attention. “I feel for Dustin. I get choked up just thinking about it because he’s such a good dude,” Garbrandt said. “People are just ridiculing him in the media for one slip-up. This guy has done so many amazing things inside the sport, outside the sport, with the foundations he’s built and the people he’s helped in his life. Hey, man, you made a mistake. It happens. We’re humans. We’re not perfect. It’s tough to see because Dustin is such a good dude deep down. He had one little mistake.”