
(Photo courtesy of MMAWeekly.)
The UFC paid out a hearty $1,252,000 in disclosed salaries and bonuses for MMA Weekly. Keep in mind that these numbers don’t include any undisclosed "locker room bonuses" often given out to fighters for exciting performances, or cuts of the pay-per-view revenue, which Georges St. Pierre reportedly has in his new contract.
– Georges St. Pierre: $400,000 (includes $200,000 win bonus)
– Lyoto Machida $185,000 (includes $60,000 win bonus, $65,000 Knockout of the Night bonus)
– B.J. Penn: $125,000
– Clay Guida $105,000 (includes $20,000 win bonus, $65,000 Fight of the Night bonus)
– Nate Diaz $85,000 (includes $65,000 Fight of the Night bonus)
– Karo Parisyan $80,000 (includes $40,000 win bonus)
– Chris Wilson $80,000 (includes $65,000 Fight of the Night bonus)
– John Howard $71,000 (includes $3,000 win bonus, $65,000 Fight of the Night bonus)
– Jon Fitch $68,000 (includes $34,000 win bonus)
– Thiago Silva: $29,000
– Akihiro Gono: $28,000
– Thiago Tavares $26,000 (includes $13,000 win bonus)
– Dong Hyun Kim: $26,000
– Stephan Bonnar $22,000
– Dan Cramer $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)
– Jon Jones $14,000 (includes $7,000 win bonus)
– Manny Gamburyan: $14,000
– Matt Arroyo: $8,000
Underpaid: Jon "Bones" Jones. Just like in his UFC debut against Andre Gusmao last August, Jones gave the crowd three rounds of ridiculously unconventional striking and off-the-wall takedowns. In terms of sheer entertainment value, he was easily one of the best fighters of the night, and with better conditioning the 21-year-old up-and-comer may even develop into a serious contender one day. I can’t imagine the UFC not giving Bones a cash-filled envelope after the fight, because his efforts were worth a lot more than 14 grand. If it was up to me, I’d also give Akihiro Gono a little extra for bringin’ it with that gender-bending ring entrance. Too bad the dude has now dropped his second-straight decision in the UFC.
Overpaid: Clay Guida. Look, we’re all impressed with the Carpenter’s endless gas tank and tenacity. But giving him a $65,000 Fight of the Night bump only encourages his maddening lay-and-pray style, which has now derailed the far-more-exciting Mac Danzig and Nate Diaz from their paths to the top. Diaz ate his first loss in the UFC without absorbing any actual damage. I’d be throwing middle fingers too.


Ok, ok, I gave up. Quit. Got my ass handed to me and I didn’t answer the ref or doctor or my brother when they asked me if I wanted to continue. Yes I quit. I’m lazy, I don’t train hard, I’m a mama’s boy who grew up rich and I think I deserve everything I want without having to earn it. Like a welteweight title shot. And now a rematch. Since we’re at it I think I deserve a middle weight title shot against Anderson Silva too. I know I’ll win cause I’m a natural fighter. I’m a monster. I don’t train like a fighter, I’m just naturally gifted so I can say anything and beat anyone. By the time I’m done with Anderson, he’ll think I’m god. I know I can beat him cause I’m training with my brother JD. He’s a somebody. Plus he’ll make sure I’m on schedule, you know, for the “peaking phase”. Trust me.