Veteran heavyweight Josh Barnett topped the disclosed payroll for last Saturday’s Strikeforce finale, pocketing $250,000 for his main card victory over Nandor Guelmino, according to figures released to MMAFighting.com by the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission.
Barnett was among four fighters to earn a purse north of six figures. Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix champion Daniel Cormier ($120,000), and former champions Gegard Mousasi ($175,000) and Ronaldo Souza ($100,500) also cleared the six-figure mark on the strength of lopsided victories during the Showtime broadcast.
Undercard fighters Roger Gracie and Tim Kennedy led the remaining payroll. Gracie took home $94,000 for a second-round submission victory over Anthony Smith ($10,000), while Kennedy pocketed $80,000 en route to a third-round submission win over Trevor Smith ($8,000).
Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine took place January 12, 2013 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena Oklahoma City, OK. The entire Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine payroll can be seen below, however these figures do not represent a fighter’s total earnings, as sponsorship money and discretionary post-fight bonuses are not publicly disclosed.
Main Card
Tarec Saffiedine ($19,500 + $19,500 = $39,000) def. Nate Marquardt ($40,000)
Daniel Cormier ($60,000 + $60,000 = $120,000) def. Dion Staring ($8,000)
Josh Barnett ($250,000 + no win bonus = $250,000) def. Nandor Guelmino ($12,000)
Gegard Mousasi ($175,000 + no win bonus = $175,000) def. Mike Kyle ($25,000)
Ronaldo Souza ($72,500 + $28,000 = $100,500) def. Ed Herman ($34,000)
Preliminary Card
Ryan Couture ($15,000 + $7,000 = $22,000) def. KJ Noons ($41,000)
Tim Kennedy ($55,000 + $25,000 = $80,000) def. Trevor Smith ($8,000)
Pat Healy ($27,000 + $15,000 = $42,000) def. Kurt Holobaugh ($9,000)
Roger Gracie ($47,000 + $47,000 = $94,000) def. Anthony Smith ($10,000)
Adriano Martins ($8,000 + $8,000 = $16,000) def. Jorge Gurgel ($10,000)
Estevan Payan ($6,000 + $6,000 = $12,000) def. Michael Bravo ($6,000)