Chris Lytle made $70,000 for his submission of Dan Hardy in his retirement bout on Sunday – and then another $130,000 in bonus money.
Lytle made $35,000 to show and an additional $35,000 for his win bonus at the UFC on Versus 5 card in Milwaukee. Lytle was the card’s biggest earner. Hardy made $25,000 in the loss to Lytle in the night’s main event.
The salary figures were released to MMA Fighting on Tuesday by Wisconsin’s Department of Safety and Professional Services.
Lytle announced the night before the fight that it would be his last, retiring after more than 50 career fights. After 14 minutes of standing and trading with Hardy, Lytle caught Hardy in a guillotine defending a takedown attempt. Hardy tapped out, and Lytle was given a $65,000 Submission of the Night bonus as well as one for Fight of the Night. After 20 career fights in the UFC, Lytle finished just 10-10 – but with a record 10 fight night bonus awards.
The night’s second biggest earner was Ed Herman, who made $52,000 for his submission win over Kyle Noke. Herman caught Noke in a heel hook, forcing Noke to tap – and doing what appeared to be severe damage to his knee. Herman was likely a lock for Submission of the Night and another $65,000 before Hardy shot on Lytle.
The other biggest payouts on the card, which was the UFC’s debut in Wisconsin, were Donald Cerrone, who made $44,000 for his TKO of Charles Oliveira and another $65,000 for Knockout of the Night; Joseph Benavidez, who pocketed $43,000 for a unanimous decision win over Eddie Wineland; Jim Miller, who made $35,000 in his loss to Ben Henderson; and Henderson and Cole Miller, who each made $34,000 for their wins.
The purses (show money/win bonus) are listed below. They do not include post-fight bonus totals, non-disclosed “locker room” bonuses or any sponsorship monies.
Edwin Figueroa: $6,000 ($6,000 win bonus) def. Jason Reinhardt: $6,000
Jacob Volkmann: $14,000 ($14,000 win bonus) def. Danny Castillo: $17,000
Cole Miler: $17,000 ($17,000 win bonus) def. T.J. O’Brien: $6,000
Jim Hettes: $6,000 ($6,000 win bonus) def. Alex Caceres: $8,000
Ronny Markes: $8,000 ($8,000 win bonus) def. Karlos Vemola: $10,000
Ed Herman: $26,000 ($26,000 win bonus) def. Kyle Noke: $8,000
Joseph Benavidez: $21,500 ($21,500 win bonus) def. Eddie Wineland: $10,000
Jared Hamman: $12,000 ($12,000 win bonus) def. CB Dollaway: $20,000
Duane Ludwig: $16,000 ($16,000 win bonus) def. Amir Sadollah: $20,000
Donald Cerrone: $22,000 ($22,000 win bonus) def. Charles Oliveira: $12,000
Ben Henderson: $17,000 ($17,000 win bonus) def. Jim Miller: $35,000
Chris Lytle: $35,000 ($35,000 win bonus) def. Dan Hardy: $25,000