(UFC on FOX 9 Phantom Cam highlights via Fox Sports.)
Before snuffing out Joseph Benavidez at UFC on FOX 9 last weekend, flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson proclaimed that he wasn’t fighting to be the best, but rather so “when I’m done fighting, I never have to work again.” Johnson doesn’t want Anderson Silva‘s record, he wants Anderson Silva money, one could say. “I want my son and my wife to have a good life and never have to worry about anything,” he continued. Ever the heel, that Mighty Mouse is.
Now that the UFC on FOX 9 salaries have been made available, it’d be hard to declare that Johnson isn’t well on his way to achieving the financial security he so desires. The flyweight champ might not be making “Anderson Silva money,” but he managed to bank $175,000 for just two minutes work on Saturday, which makes for a nice chunk of change when combined with that X-box One money he is surely making.
Now 4-0 in 2013 with three submission victories to his credit, Urijah Faber topped the $1,007,000 payroll, banking a cool $200,000 for his second round, SOTN-earning win over Michael McDonald. Dude is looking more and more like Vitor Belfort by the day, so let the year of the Rhino ”The California Kid” continue. Join us after the jump for the full list of disclosed salaries, as well as our thoughts on the payout.
Demetrious Johnson: $175,000 (includes $50,000 win bonus)
vs. Joseph Benavidez: $42,000
Urijah Faber: $200,000 (includes $100,000 win bonus)
vs. Michael McDonald: $17,000
Chad Mendes: $90,000 (includes $45,000 win bonus)
vs. Nick Lentz: $29,000
Joe Lauzon: $60,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus)
vs. Mac Danzig: $32,000
Ryan LaFlare: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
vs. Court McGee: $20,000)
Edson Barboza: $52,000 (includes $26,000 win bonus)
vs. Danny Castillo: $31,000
Bobby Green: $36,000 (includes $18,000 win bonus)
vs. Pat Healy: $25,000
Zach Makovsky: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
vs. Scott Jorgensen: $26,000
Sam Stout: $60,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus)
vs. Cody McKenzie: $12,000
Abel Trujillo: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
vs. Roger Bowling: $12,000
Alptekin Ozkilic: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)
vs. Darren Uyenoyama: $12,000
Of course, these figures are absent of any undisclosed bonuses, training fees, blah blah blah.
Overpaid: You kidding me, brah? I pay your mother better when I’m renting her out for the night.
Underpaid: Seven fights and five victories into his UFC career, Michael McDonald is barely making more than the average TUF grad.
Contrary to the Al Bundy gif I just posted, I do not approve of this. My concern for “Mayday,” however, is only overshadowed by my lack of surprise. Look, it’s hard to deny that McDonald is severely underpaid for his skill level (that he always puts on entertaining fights is another issue entirely), but at the same time, he’s a young kid with a bright future ahead of him. While a loss to Faber will halt his momentum a little bit, he’s got plenty of time to increase his value in the UFC. Or sign with One FC. Either or.
And we know he didn’t look great in his last bout with Michael Johnson, but how is Joe “Mr. Fight Night” Lauzon making less than Mac Danzig to show? Un-be-lie-va-ble.
So, Nation, do any of these salaries strike a chord with you? Give us a shout in the comments section.