(Robbie’s body may have been in the Octagon at that moment, but in his mind, he was already making it rain at Little Darlings. / Photo via Getty Images)
According to figures released by the Washington State Department of Licensing, the UFC paid out $1,050,000 in disclosed salaries and bonuses to the 24 fighters who competed at UFC on FOX 8: Johnson vs. Moraga on Saturday, led by main card slugger Robbie Lawler, who took in $156,000 including his win bonus and Knockout of the Night bonus. Three other fighters broke into six-figure territory thanks to their end-of-night bonuses, including Melvin Guillard, Ed Herman, and flyweight headliner Demetrious Johnson.
Check out the full salary list below, courtesy of MMAJunkie. Keep in mind that the figures don’t include additional revenue from sponsorships or undisclosed “locker room bonuses.”
Demetrious Johnson: $108,000 (includes $29,000 win bonus, $50,000 Submission of the Night bonus)
def. John Moraga: $17,000
Rory MacDonald: $48,000 (includes $24,000 win bonus)
def. Jake Ellenberger: $52,000
Robbie Lawler: $156,000 (includes $78,000 win bonus)
def. Bobby Voelker: $12,000
Liz Carmouche: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus)
def. Jessica Andrade: $8,000
Jorge Masvidal: $66,000 (includes $33,000 win bonus)
def. Michael Chiesa: $15,000
Danny Castillo: $58,000 (includes $29,000 win bonus)
def. Tim Means: $12,000
Melvin Guillard: $134,000 (includes $42,000 win bonus, $50,000 Knockout of the Night bonus)
def. Mac Danzig: $30,000
Daron Cruickshank: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
def. Yves Edwards: $21,000
Ed Herman: $124,000 (includes $37,000 win bonus, $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus)
def. Trevor Smith: $58,000 (includes $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus)
Germaine de Randamie: $18,000 (includes $9,000 win bonus)
def. Julie Kedzie: $9,000
Justin Salas: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)
def. Aaron Riley: $14,000
Yaotzin Meza: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
def. John Albert: $10,000
Underpaid: The end of a pioneering 16-year career, and Aaron Riley only made $14,000 to show. Jesus. We hope he was able to save some of his career earnings, instead of spending it all on ramen noodles. As for Michael Chiesa‘s $15,000 purse, well…it’s comforting to know that The Ultimate Fighter‘s wonderful “six-figure contract” hasn’t changed since season one.
Overpaid: Jake Ellenberger put in overtime hyping his fight against Rory MacDonald, but in terms of effort exerted in the Octagon, no, he didn’t earn that $52,000. And if we’re just going by merit, then Tim Means — who’s best known for losing a fight to a sauna and missing weight by five pounds — should probably be the lowest-paid fighter on this card, instead of Jessica Andrade, who flew halfway around the world just to get her ass kicked.