MMA Junkie reports the salaries as provided by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Cain Velasquez made $200K while the former champ, Junior dos Santos made $400K.
Via MMA Junkie:
Champ Cain Velasquez: $200,000 (includes $100,000 win bonus)
def. Junior Dos Santos: $400,000
Jim Miller: $82,000 (includes $41,000 win bonus)
def. Joe Lauzon: $27,000
Constantinos Philippou: $36,000 (includes $18,000 win bonus)
def. Tim Boetsch: $37,000
Yushin Okami: $84,000 (includes $42,000 win bonus)
def. Alan Belcher: $37,000
Derek Brunson: $30,000 (includes $17,000 win bonus)
def. Chris Leben: $51,000
Eddie Wineland: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus)
def. Brad Pickett: $17,000
Erik Perez: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
def. Bryon Bloodworth $6,000
Jamie Varner: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus)
def. Melvin Guillard: $42,000
Myles Jury: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)
def. Michael Johnson $14,000
Todd Duffee: $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus)
def. Phil De Fries: $14,000
Max Holloway: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus)
def. Leonard Garcia: $20,000
John Moraga: $22,000 (includes $11,000 win bonus)
def. Chris Cariaso: $12,000
As always, the reported salaries do not include any locker room or sponsor bonuses.
Payout Perspective:
Jim Miller was the only other fighter outside of the main event that hit six figures on Saturday night with his fight of the night bonus to earn a reported $147,000. Joe Lauzon made $92,000. As expected, the top of the card made the most with JDS earning three times (excluding Cain’s win bonus) more than Cain. According to MMA Junkie, the reported total payroll was $1.261 million.
I have to say the UFC is really good about hyping their fights and putting out good signage to promote it.
No money in mma.geez Ida should just do boxing
JDs I mean
GSP said in an interview with a French (France) magazine that he made 4 to 5 million a fight. (excluding sponsors)
Look at his reported salary and compare.
The UFC often pays fighters with good performances more than the reported amount–but they do not publicize these private bonuses.
The bottom line is: Since the UFC/Zuffa is a privately owned company, they don’t have to make public what they pay their fighters.
Curiously, few fighters have come forward to say how much they make. We find out only through court documents–like the million dollar signing bonus for Alister Overeem or the million plus Randy Couture received as stated in court documents also.
Of course, both JDS and Cain will receive PPV cuts.
codemaster = brainsmasher = dana white
Sampson = Culinary Union Rep.
so the best fighter in MMA makes 4-5 mil a fight and the best boxer makes 30 mil a fight. Seems like the sports are equal lol
The bottom line is: Since the UFC/Zuffa is a privately owned company, they don’t have to make public what they pay their fighters. They can also straight up lie about any numbers they want and there is nothing illegal about that.
Lets do the math, and this goes for boxing or any other sport as well. Say a fighter makes 5 mil a fight, thats a gross number. Management and agent fees are taken right off the top of the gross, not the net. So lets say 30% off the top before anything. Then take half out for taxes. So now its 1.75 mil before any training expenses, travel, special medical bills etc. Get hurt and miss a fight and you are out of pocket even more. Add in accounting, lawyers, publicists, assistants, massage therapists and you maybe will see a million if you are lucky. Some managers are 50/50 split with clients so that even more. And if you live in Canada your taxes might be much higher.