Tag: Henry Cejudo

Official guaranteed minimum fight purses for tonight’s UFC 298 card in Anaheim, California have been obtained from the state’s athletic commission, with fans questioning the purse of former undisputed bantamweight and flyweight champion, Henry Cejudo, who is guaranteed just $150,000 for tonight’s main card title eliminator with Merab Dvalishvili.

Returning to the Honda Center tonight for the first time in two years, the Octagon lands in Anaheim with a championship headliner taking curtain-closing honors in California.

Headlining tonight’s UFC 298 card; an undisputed featherweight title fight between incumbent gold holder, Alexander Volkanovski, and incoming title challenger, Ilia Topuria – with the Spaniard attempting to capture gold and improve on his blistering unbeaten record.

UFC 298 fight purse minimums revealed

And in the night’s co-headliner, former undisputed middleweight kingpin, Robert Whittaker takes on the returning Brazilian challenger, Paulo Costa in a high-stakes clash to boot.

As per guaranteed minimum pursues filed with the California State Athletic Commission, as obtained by reporter, Manouk Akopyan, defending champion, Volkanovski is set to receive a flat purse of $750,000 – while challenge, Topuria is set to land $350,000.

I obtained the guaranteed minimum purses and bonuses for #UFC298, as filed with the CSAC.

Alexander Volkanovski: $750,000
Ilia Topuria: $350,000

Here's the earnings recap for the rest of the 11-fight card. pic.twitter.com/w9rOJQ52fY

— Manouk Akopyan (@ManoukAkopyan) February 17, 2024

?Making his comeback tonight in a high-stakes, expected championship eliminator against Georgian force, Dvalishvili, Olympic gold medal winner, Cejudo’s purse has been called into question by fans – who have asked how the former two-weight champion is earning a minimum of $150,000.

Below, find the entire minimum guaranteed fight purses for UFC 298 obtained from CSAC – including both show purses and win bonuses:

Andrea Lee: $70,000 + $70,000 

Miranda Maverick: $75,000 + $75,000

Oban Elliott: $10,000 + $10,000

Valentine Woodburn: $15,000 + $15,000

Josh Quinlan: $12,000 + $12,000

Danny Barlow: $10,000 + $10,000

Zhang Minyang: $10,000 + $10,000

Brendson Ribeiro: $10,000 + $10,000

Rinya Nakamura: $23,000 + $23,000

Carlos Vera: $12,000 + $12,000 

Marcos Rogerio de Lima: $100,000 + $100,000 

Pascall Saumani: $23,000 + $23,000

Amanda Lemos: $80,000 + $80,000

Mackenzie Dern: $200,000 + $200,000 

Anthony Hernandez: $66,000 + $66,000

Roman Kopylov: $80,000 + $80,000

Merab Dvalishvili: $105,000 + $105,000

Henry Cejudo: $150,000 + $150,000

Geoff Neal: $108,000 + $108,000

Ian Garry: $55,000 + $55,000

Robert Whittaker: $300,000 + $100,000

Paulo Costa: $250,000 + $100,000

Alexander Volkanovski: $750,000 flat

Ilia Topuria: $350,000 flat

Former two-division champion, Henry Cejudo has admitted that if he fails in his next attempt to land the undisputed bantamweight crown for the second time ahead of his comeback at UFC 298 – he will likely hang up his glimmering gloves once again.

Cejudo, the current number three ranked bantamweight contender, former divisional champion and prior flyweight best, has been sidelined since he headlined UFC 288 back in May of last year, dropping a split decision loss to former undisputed titleholder, Aljamain Sterling in New Jersey.

And making his return to competition this weekend in a high-profile main card fight at UFC 298 in Anaheim, Cejudo – an Olympic gold medal winner to boot, takes on surging Georgian contender, Merab Dvalishvili in a potential championship eliminator at the bantamweight limit.

Henry Cejudo weighs up retirement after UFC 298

With an eye firmly placed on the outcome of next month’s UFC 299 headliner between incumbent gold holder, Sean O’Malley, and incoming title chaser, Marlon Vera, Cejudo boldly claimed that if he misses out on striking gold at the weight class in the future, his retirement will be a definite one.

“That being said, I either want it all or you can have everything,” Henry Cejudo told UFC.com during a recent interview. “I’m either going to get the world title or that’s it for me. I’m not here to be a fighter, just sign posters, to be cool. I’m here to obtain what’s mine. Or you can have it.” 

“I will go down as the greatest combat [athlete] of all time,” Henry Cejudo explained. “I’m not just cherry-picking [fights], I fought the consensus number one in the world in Aljamain (Sterling), now I’m going against the number one contender in the world. Like, there’s not easy shortcuts for me. And I challenged.” (H/T MMA Mania)

And ahead of UFC 298, Cejudo appeared to cut ties with long-time head coach, Eric Albarracin for his fight with Tbilisi native, Dvalishvili, however, later in the week, the Los Angeles-born fighter later doubled back – claiming the entire conversation between the two was part of a joke devised. 

henry cejudo got us good pic.twitter.com/krh6cFp0nH

— Dovy (@DovySimuMMA) February 14, 2024