Strikeforce Barnett vs. Cormier: Fighter Salaries and Suspensions

The Strikeforce World Heavyweight Grand Prix came to its long-awaited conclusion on Saturday night when Daniel Cormier bested Josh Barnett in a five-round battle that saw both fighters leave the cage with suspected broken hands.In the evening’s c…

The Strikeforce World Heavyweight Grand Prix came to its long-awaited conclusion on Saturday night when Daniel Cormier bested Josh Barnett in a five-round battle that saw both fighters leave the cage with suspected broken hands.

In the evening’s co-main event, Gilbert Melendez defeated Josh Thomson via a split decision to retain his lightweight crown. Today, the salaries as well as the medical suspensions from the fight card were released.

The gate for the fight card was $226,005, which is just a bit above what Barnett, the highest paid fighter, was paid for his efforts in San Jose. As far as Cormier, his $100,000 pay put him behind Gilbert Melendez’s $175,000.

The suspensions were plentiful with many fighters, including both main-event participants receiving six-month suspensions. After the fight, both Cormier and Barnett mentioned that they thought they broke their hands in the first round—a fact that Barnett confirmed when he tweeted his x-ray, which can be seen below.

 

Fighter Salaries:

Daniel Cormier: $100,000 (includes $ 50,000 win bonus) vs. Josh Barnett: $200,000

Gilbert Melendez: $175,000 vs. Josh Thomson: $90,000

Rafael Cavalcante: $66,000 (includes $33,000 win bonus) vs. Mike Kyle: $25,000

Chris Spang: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus) vs. Nah-Shon Burrell: $7,000

Isaac Vallie–Flagg: $6,000 (includes $3,000 win bonus) vs. Gesias Cavalcante: $18,000

Carlos Inocente: $4,000 (includes $2,000 win bonus) vs. Virgil Zwicker: $3,000

Gian Villante: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) vs. Derrick Mehman: $3,000

Quinn Mulhern: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus) vs. Yuri Villefort: $2,500

Bobby Green: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus) vs. James Terry: $9,000

 

Fighter Suspensions:

Daniel Cormier: suspended for 180 days for possible right second-finger fracture, but can be cleared early by a physician. Also suspended for 60 days for left eyelid laceration, but can be cleared early by a physician.

Josh Barnett: suspended for 180 days for possible left-hand fracture, but can be cleared early by a physician. Also suspended for 60 days for multiple facial lacerations, but can be cleared early by a physician.

Josh Thomson: suspended for 180 days for possible fractures in left knee and right hand, but can be cleared early by physician.

Isaac Valle-Flagg: suspended for 60 days for a laceration to his right south orbital area, but can be cleared early by a physician.

Gesias Cavalcante: suspended for 180 days for possible left shoulder ligament injury, but can be cleared early by a physician.

Virgil Zwicker: Suspended for 30 days. Also suspended for 180 days for possible left middle-finger fracture, but can be cleared early by a physician.

Yuri Villefort: suspended for 180 days for possible right knee ligament injury. but can be cleared early by a physician.

Bobby Green: suspended for 180 days for possible third finger fracture on left hand, but can be cleared early by a physician.

James Terry: suspended for 60 days for possible nasal fracture and laceration, but can be cleared early by a physician.

*fighter salaries provided to BR MMA via email from the California State Athletic Commission, fighter suspensions via MMAWeekly.

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