Demetrious Johnson told ESPN that he wants a big PPV with T.J. Dillashaw on a “stacked card.” In the interview, he inadvertently revealed his PPV points bonus with the UFC.
Via ESPN:
“I’ve seen guys jump on [stacked] PPV cards and make $1.5 million, fighting an inferior opponent than who I’m about to fight. Me and TJ could fight on a smaller card and pull 275,000 buys, get an extra check for $75,000. My management told me, ‘You know what, we’ll hold out for a big event.’
Based on the quote, it would appear that Johnson would be making $1.00 for every buy above 200,000. This is a common scenario as revealed when Eddie Alvarez’s initial UFC contract was held up in litigation with Bellator.
Eddie Alvarez Contract re PPV upside by JASONCRUZ206 on Scribd
Payout Perspective:
It’s clear that Johnson understands his drawing power (which is marginal) and being on a card with other top fighters would maximize his potential for a good buy rate so that he could earn extra PPV money. He was the co-main event with Jon Jones for UFC 197 and on a card with Conor McGregor at UFC 178. 197 drew 322,000 buys while UFC 178 drew just 205,000 buys as the event was before all of the McGregor started. The balancing act for the UFC is to build cards to compensate 12 PPVs as well as the Fox events. Johnson-Dillashaw sounds like it would be built as the main event and not one of several. With the lack of premier fighters that can move the needle, this fight would seemingly be a stand-alone and not on a stacked card.
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