MMA Weekly has obtained the basic payout information for UFC 118 from the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission in which a total of $1.428 million was paid out to 20 fighters.
MAIN CARD FIGHTERS:
-Frankie Edgar: $96,000 (includes $48,000 win bonus) def. B.J. Penn: $150,000
-Randy Couture: $250,000 (no win bonus) def. James Toney: $500,000
-Demian Maia: $68,000 (includes $34,000 win bonus) def. Mario Miranda: $8,000
-Gray Maynard: $46,000 (includes $23,000 win bonus) def. Kenny Florian: $65,000
-Nate Diaz: $60,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus) def. Marcus Davis: $31,000
PRELIMINARY CARD (NON-TELEVISED) FIGHTERS:
-Joe Lauzon: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. Gabe Ruediger: $8,000
-Nik Lentz: $22,000 (includes $11,000 win bonus) def. Andre Winner: $10,000
-Dan Miller: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) def. John Salter: $8,000
-Greg Soto: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus) def. Nick Osipczak: $10,000
-Mike Pierce: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. Amilcar Alves: $6,000
UFC 118 DISCLOSED FIGHTER PAYROLL: $1,428,000
The UFC also paid out three disclosed fight night bonuses at UFC 118:
Fight of the Night: Nate Diaz vs. Marcus Davis ($60,000 each)
Submission of the Night: Joe Lauzon ($60,000)
Payout Perspective:
The normal disclaimers apply. These payouts do not represent the full sum of money paid to fighters; they often also receive discretionary bonuses and sponsorship money. The sport’s top draws often also receive a cut of the PPV revenue from the card upon which they headline.
Randy Couture and BJ Penn are both known recipients of PPV cuts, which means they both likely grossed over a million for the fight depending on how well it sold. James Toney may have also been cut in on the PPV sales.
Kelsey:
http://mmajunkie.com/news/20513/msac-ufc-118-draws-14168-spectators-for-2-8-million-live-gate.mma
UFC 118 Numbers: Total Attend:14,168, Paid Attend: 11,205, Comps: 2,963, Gate: $2.8 million
After ready the payout, does anybody see what’s wrong with this picture?
Let me break it down for you:
You pay a guy with NO MMA fights $500,000 bucks and guys that have been training and fighting for years don’t get paid shit.. That is BS!!
Brody,
If you were a Zuffa bigwig would you invest more money in fighters who do not have significant drawing power and do not bring in more money regardless of your investment? Think about it, WOULD YOU REALLY?
Sure they deserve it, but there are limited options for MMA fighters and market forces dictate what they are paid, just like any other occupation (without a union).
James Toney had drawing power in this case because of how the event was promoted, and because he is a well known boxer. He worked less than any other athlete on the card, and was paid the third most (reeeeeaaalllllly doubt he got a PPV cut, this was more of a desperate paycheck grab, and he got it with $500,000). It’s not “fair,” but neither is MMA in general. Like I said, MMA salaries are based on drawing power/marketability and success, in that order, and until (or if there ever) is a fighters union it’s the end of that story. Remember, no one HAS to be a fighter, people do because they love it. I love to paint but I realize I can’t make a living off it. If you’re not good enough to make it as an MMA fighter in the big leagues, it sucks if you love it but most of us don’t get to do what we really LOVE, and a lot of times people will do the things they love even if it means making a sub-standard income. Why should the fight game be any different?
If the salary structures of all private companies were made public, you would see this kind of “unfair” treatment is commonplace. It’s reality and reality sucks (I swear I’ve said that multiple times on this site, maybe I’m just a pessimist? Realist? Same thing?).
MV:
I believe Toney may have gotten a piece of the PPV (so did Couture) and is why he is rumored to have made somewhere between 750K and 1 million.