UFC Pay Days

[Gonzo Customs]

After an impressive knockout win over longtime rival Wanderlei Silva, former UFC light-heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson also received the highest reported payday at this past weekend's "UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008" event with a $325,000 fight purse.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today requested and received the list of official salaries from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Other top earners include Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira ($250,000), Wanderlei Silva ($200,000) and new light-heavyweight champion Rashad Evans ($130,000). The total disclosed payroll for the event was a hefty $1,381,000.

The event took place this past Saturday, Dec. 27, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and aired live on pay per view.

The full list of salaries included:

Rashad Evans: $130,000 (includes $65,000 win bonus)
def. Forrest Griffin: $100,000

Frank Mir: $90,000 (includes $45,000 win bonus)
def. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira: $250,000

Quinton Jackson: $325,000 (includes $100,000 win bonus)
def. Wanderlei Silva: $200,000

C.B. Dollaway: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
def. Mike Massenzio: $5,000

Cheick Kongo: $90,000 (includes $45,000 win bonus)
def: Mostapha Al Turk: $7,000

Yushin Okami: $32,000 (includes $16,000 win bonus)
def. Dean Lister: $19,000

Antoni Hardonk: $28,000 (includes $14,000 win bonus)
def. Mike Wessel: $4,000

Matt Hamill: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
def. Reese Andy: $15,000

Brad Blackburn: $14,000 (includes $7,000 win bonus)
vs. Ryo Chonan: $18,000

Patrick Barry: $10,000 (includes $5,000 win bonus)
Dan Evensen: $4,000

Now, the usual disclaimer: the figures do not include deductions for items such as insurance, licenses and taxes. Additionally, the figures do not include money paid by sponsors, which can oftentimes be a substantial portion of a fighter's income. They also do not include any other "locker room" or special bonuses the UFC oftentimes pays.

In other words, these are simply base salaries reported to the commission and do not reflect entire compensation packages for the event.

mmajunkie.com/news/13593/ufc-92-salaries-quinton-rampage-jackson-top-earner-with-325k.mma

[Deleted]

Mir gets like, nothing

[PdW2kX]

Damn, Mir got hosed big-time when compared to Nog. I guess nobody in the UFC thought he had a chance either.

[NYdream™]

Well in his contract he probably agreed to that salary for every figght on the contract. You can agree for 6 fights at a certain ammount and in those 6 fights become a champion and a main draw and if you still have fights but are the champion now they dont have to raise your salary..... NOG probably signed a big contract when he came to UFC... Rampage made the most of anyone! He is ballin, haha

[johnnymalloy]

It's the Keith Jardine vs. Chuck pay day debate in the form of Mir vs. Nog.

Who knows how much Mir actually made after sponsorships and bonuses and whatever. He'll probably get a pay raise now, so hey, that's something eh.

[Patrick Bateman (original)]

You have to remember Mir signed his contract after the accident. So he was just happy to get his job back. I think he has 1 or 2 more fights on this contract then he get's to renegotiate.

[k5]

it's wild how much their salaries vary, but i suppose that just reflects market value

[Codesters]

Jan 2, 2009 1:46:10 GMT -5 Patrick Bateman (original) said:

You have to remember Mir signed his contract after the accident. So he was just happy to get his job back. I think he has 1 or 2 more fights on this contract then he get's to renegotiate.

Very True. After his accident Mir Sucked ass for a while there so he should be happy with what he got

[Gonzo Customs]

You also have to remember, many of these guys make more than double their UFC salary on endorsements.

[spawnsyxx9]

Those seem like pretty reasonable purses to me.