Sal Everett made a big splash on Contender Series a few weeks ago, finishing Ozzy Martin in the second round and earning a UFC contract. His performance wasn’t what made headlines, though. The headlines came well before he fought.
Everett’s inclusion on Contender Series is one of the more interesting choices made on that show. That’s because Everett was already drawing a paycheck from ZUFFA/TKO. He’s been working for UFC since 2019, starting in the mail room and working his way up to being Dana White’s personal gopher.
Among Everett’s duties are running personal errands for White and stocking the company fridge.
“Sal, we’ve had title fights in here, and I don’t know if it’s ever been as loud as it was tonight,” White said. “Everybody at the UFC loves you, you’re a great kid. Forget fighting and the contract, you’re a great human being. This could not happen to a better person. You have worked your way from the bottom up. You could not have won more impressively. It’s kind of weird because you’re already at the UFC, but Sal, welcome to the UFC!”
Despite now being on the UFC roster, as a fighter, Everett has not quit his day job.
He told TMZ this week he’s still keeping White’s fridge filled with goodies.
”I’ve been working,” he said. “I worked yesterday and I worked today. I’m at work right now, actually. I love my job, so it’s not like I was working so hard to get away from stocking Dana’s fridge.”
Everett might actually have the best deal of any fighter in the UFC. As an employee at TKO he may very well have things like medical coverage and retirement contributions, along with a steady paycheck. It would be hard for anyone to give that up for a guaranteed $10,000 in show money once or twice a year. Also, doing a run for diet cokes sounds a lot easier than getting punched in the face.
Everett getting the contract and keeping his job is the opposite of what happened to Alivia Bierley, who competed on the same episode as Everett. She infamously quit a six-figure corporate job to pursue her goal of getting to the UFC. After winning a decision over Summer Onley she had to sit in the folding chair and hear White tell her she wasn’t good enough to get the deal (before handing one out to Everett and all the other winners).
It’s unclear when Everett will make his proper UFC debut. Hopefully he’s banked enough PTO get a proper camp in.