Affiliate Marketing Secrets

Meaning, if the UFC is affiliated with Musclepharm Supplements, can say, Jon Jones accept a sponsor from a company who competes against musclepharm, such as Optimum Nutrition?

TNA World Hvt. champion Kurt Angle, 42, says he’s not completely ruling out a transition to MMA, and how he fares trying out for the 2012 Olympics could determine his future.
“That remains to be seen. Depending on how good I do, I can’t say no. Obviously, it’s going to raise Dana White’s eyebrows,” Angle said on the Yahoo-affiliated MMAWeekly radio show this week promoting the “Warrior” MMA-themed movie.
“My goal is to make the team…Let’s see what happens, and I’m not counting out Bellator either. They’re going to be on Spike soon and you never know what’s going to happen with that company.”
Angle also recalled being in contact with UFC president Dana White in 2009 when he was considering leaving TNA due to personal issues with Jeff Jarrett and his ex-wife, now Karen Jarrett. Angle claims his health wasn’t the issue. Rather, not being able to work out the schedule for Angle’s debut fight.
“I contacted Dana White again after the movie (in 2009), I was thinking about dropping out of Impact Wrestling, and there were some personal problems with my marriage and everything. I just wanted to get away and I contacted Dana White, I flew out, and he had me take the UFC physical. I passed it, thank God, and he gave me the offer. The terms weren’t good – not for me and not for him,” Angle said.
For the majority of the interview, Angle talked in-depth about his acting aspirations. He said he’s hopeful his recent roles in “Dylan Dog” and now in “Warrior” will open up the door for more important roles in future movies.

I don’t get how Boxers get paid 15M+ for fights and top MMA fighters never break 500k. At the last UFC event according to this link:
http://mmajunkie.com/news/21951/ufc-125-salaries-thiago-silva-and-frankie-edgar-top-872k-fighter-payroll.mma
The main event fighter (Who is a Belt holder) only made 102k, and that’s including his win bonus too.
At first I thought maybe way more people go to Boxing live events and they fill 100k stadiums, but then I figured, the last UFC with GSP headlining had 23k and they still didn’t come close to a boxing payroll. Then I logically thought way more people must watch Boxing PPV’s, however at the GSP vs Koshcheck II post-fight press conference Dana White mention how the UFC is “In half a billion homes worldwide”.
So what is it exactly that allows Boxers to be paid so much more? I can’t imagine, even if it’s more popular than the UFC that it can be THAT much popular. For it to make sense in that way, they would have to be in 5 billion homes worldwide and selling out 800k stadiums, it’s just not logical.
So anyone know the secret to this advance boxing marketing?

I love Mixed Martial Arts and am wondering what some general thoughts are on it. Do you see it growing or shrinking? Is it only a niche sport?