Tag: unexpected generosity

The UFC’s New Strawweights Are Getting a Surprisingly Large Paycheck to Compete on TUF


(With Felice Herrig in the cast, TUF 20 promises to be riveting entertainment. Jesus Christ. Is this really the life I’ve chosen for myself? / Photo via Esther Lin, Invicta FC)

Though the arrival of female strawweights on The Ultimate Fighter is exciting news in itself, we figured that the new 115-pounders would be working for the kind of money that all TUF castmembers tend to receive — i.e., peanuts, basically, until they work their way up to title contention. But as part of the new deal bringing them over from Invicta, the UFC is actually giving the ladies some decent walking-around money in advance:

Financial information has emerged in the wake of promotion president Dana White’s announcement and quite frankly, the women are coming out of the deal on top. During Wednesday’s late edition of Fox Sports Live, it was revealed that fighters will be paid at least $32,000 each prior to stepping foot inside the Octagon. Invicta’s current champ Carla Esparza is the exception, as she will nab a cool $40k herself before ever throwing a punch.

It’s safe to say all the fighters are getting raises, as some were said to be making as little as $1,000 to show and $1,000 to win. Not to mention 10 of the women will grab an $8000/$8000 split (twice) before ever stepping foot inside TUF 20 house…32 Gs to stay healthy and prepare for the show.

Since Rose, Felice, Carla, etc. won’t get a chance to officially compete in the Octagon until late 2014, that’s an awfully humane gesture by the UFC, and we have to give them props for it. As long as nobody gets injured from now until May, the strawweights have all found themselves in an enviable situation.

Oh God. I’ve cursed all of them, haven’t I.


(With Felice Herrig in the cast, TUF 20 promises to be riveting entertainment. Jesus Christ. Is this really the life I’ve chosen for myself? / Photo via Esther Lin, Invicta FC)

Though the arrival of female strawweights on The Ultimate Fighter is exciting news in itself, we figured that the new 115-pounders would be working for the kind of money that all TUF castmembers tend to receive — i.e., peanuts, basically, until they work their way up to title contention. But as part of the new deal bringing them over from Invicta, the UFC is actually giving the ladies some decent walking-around money in advance:

Financial information has emerged in the wake of promotion president Dana White’s announcement and quite frankly, the women are coming out of the deal on top. During Wednesday’s late edition of Fox Sports Live, it was revealed that fighters will be paid at least $32,000 each prior to stepping foot inside the Octagon. Invicta’s current champ Carla Esparza is the exception, as she will nab a cool $40k herself before ever throwing a punch.

It’s safe to say all the fighters are getting raises, as some were said to be making as little as $1,000 to show and $1,000 to win. Not to mention 10 of the women will grab an $8000/$8000 split (twice) before ever stepping foot inside TUF 20 house…32 Gs to stay healthy and prepare for the show.

Since Rose, Felice, Carla, etc. won’t get a chance to officially compete in the Octagon until late 2014, that’s an awfully humane gesture by the UFC, and we have to give them props for it. As long as nobody gets injured from now until May, the strawweights have all found themselves in an enviable situation.

Oh God. I’ve cursed all of them, haven’t I.