Tag: Payouts

Since we can only post so many “U Mad?” GIFs in one day, this will have to suffice.

The UFC paid out a total of $1,518,000 in disclosed salaries and end of the night bonuses to the fighters on last night’s UFC on Fox 7, according to the California State Athletic Commission. Both former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir and current UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson took home $200,000 for their performances last night, making them the two highest paid fighters on the card. Former Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez took home the evening’s third-highest disclosed salary at $175,000.

The entire disclosed payroll is below, via MMA Junkie. Keep in mind that the following figures account for neither sponsorships and undisclosed “locker room bonuses,” nor do they include deductions for taxes, insurance, and licensing fees. Also, since there were no submissions on the card, two fighters took home a Knockout of the Night bonus.

Benson Henderson: $200,000 (includes $100,000 win bonus)
def. Gilbert Melendez: $175,000

Daniel Cormier: $126,000 (includes $63,000 win bonus)
def. Frank Mir: $200,000

Josh Thomson: $145,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus and $50,000 Knockout of the Night bonus)
def. Nate Diaz: $15,000

Matt Brown: $110,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus and $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus)
def. Jordan Mein: $66,000 (includes $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus)

Chad Mendes: $56,000 (includes $28,000 win bonus)
def. Darren Elkins: $24,000

Francis Carmont: $38,000 (includes $19,000 win bonus)
def. Lorenz Larkin: $23,000

Myles Jury: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)
def. Ramsey Nijem: $14,000

Joseph Benavidez: $66,000 (includes $33,000 win bonus)
def. Darren Uyenoyama: $12,000

T.J. Dillashaw: $28,000 (includes $14,000 win bonus)
def. Hugo Viana: $8,000

Jorge Masvidal: $60,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus)
def. Tim Means: $10,000

Anthony Njorkuani: $36,000 (includes $18,000 win bonus)
def. Roger Bowling: $12,000

Yoel Romero: $70,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus and $50,000 Knockout of the Night bonus)
def. Clifford Starks: $8,000

Underpaid: I’d like to believe that Nate Diaz only taking home $15,000 in show money was due to him looking out for teammate Gilbert Melendez. Melendez has been trapped in Strikeforce for the majority of his career, missing out on the exposure and big paydays that come along with being one of the UFC’s top fighters. I’m just going to assume that Diaz took a substantial pay-cut in order to ensure that Melendez made bank; a move that should put him the running for literally every one of these awards. If I’m wrong, then maybe Nate might want to send Cesar Gracie a fruit basket or something.

Overpaid: There’s something a bit off about Strikeforce prospect Jorge Masvidal being paid twice as much money as Nate Diaz to show last night, and three times as much as his opponent – who entered the bout 2-0 in the UFC. And of course, Frank Mir being paid twice as much show money as Benson Henderson in 2013 is preposterous. His age + his salary + his two fight losing streak = either a new “And Now He’s Fired” or an update to our handy “Will You Be Fired?” flowchart will be necessary by the end of the week.

@SethFalvo