
(Careful, Clay. She’s just after the money. / Photo courtesy of the UFC on Versus Afterparty Pics gallery on CombatLifestyle.com)
The UFC paid out $913,000 in disclosed salaries and bonuses for last Sunday’s UFC on Versus: Vera vs. Jones show — a hefty total for a free-TV event — with Junior Dos Santos, Cheick Kongo, and Clay Guida cracking the six-figure mark. The numbers are below, courtesy of MMA Junkie. Keep in mind that they don’t include income from sponsorships and undisclosed "locker room bonuses," or deductions for taxes, insurance, licensing fees, and funny hats.
Jon Jones: $90,000 (includes $20,000 win bonus, $50,000 Knockout of the Night bonus)
def. Brandon Vera: $60,000
Junior Dos Santos: $120,000 (includes $35,000 win bonus, $50,000 Knockout of the Night bonus)
def. Gabriel Gonzaga: $67,000
Cheick Kongo: $110,000 (includes $55,000 win bonus)
def. Paul Buentello: $40,000
Alessio Sakara: $42,000 (includes $21,000 win bonus)
def. James Irvin: $20,000
Clay Guida: $100,000 (includes $25,000 win bonus, $50,000 Submission of the Night bonus)
def. Shannon Gugerty: $9,000
Vladimir Matyushenko: $56,000 (includes $28,000 win bonus)
def. Eliot Marshall: $10,000
Darren Elkins: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus)
def. Duane Ludwig: $12,000
John Howard: $76,000 (includes $13,000 win bonus, $50,000 Knockout of the Night bonus)
def. Daniel Roberts: $6,000
Brendan Schaub: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
def. Chase Gormley: $10,000
Mike Pierce: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)
def. Julio Paulino: $6,000
Jason Brilz: $18,000 (includes $9,000 win bonus)
def. Eric Schafer: $13,000
Underpaid: Jon Jones. He’s a star now, and he should be making star money. Hopefully this is the last time Bones gets the same to-show check as James Irvin.
Overpaid: Brandon Vera, Gabriel Gonzaga, and Cheick Kongo — three guys who were never champions and never will be, yet make over $50,000 in guaranteed money, usually to get their asses kicked by real contenders. Fuck that noise.


$20K to show for Jones is a load of shite. Like it’s been said, he’s a big star that a lot of people tune in to see so he should be near the top of that list in “to show” money.