10 Legendary MMA Fighters You've Probably Never Heard Of

Velasquez and Lauzon Lead UFC Fight Night 17 Salary List


(There’s gotta be an easier way to earn five grand. Photo courtesy of UFC.com.)

$424,000 in official salaries and bonuses were paid out to the fighters who competed at Saturday night’s UFC Fight Night event in Tampa, Florida — a pittance compared to what the guys on pay-per-view cards tend to get, but when you consider that the live gate was only $428,000 it seems downright charitable. The numbers are below. Keep in mind that these figures don’t include income from sponsorships or undisclosed "locker room bonuses."

Cain Velasquez: $60,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus and $30,000 “Knockout of the Night” bonus)
Joe Lauzon: $50,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus and $30,000 “Submission of the Night” bonus)
Josh Neer: $48,000 (includes $9,000 win bonus and $30,000 “Fight of the Night” bonus)
Mac Danzig: $45,000 (includes $30,000 “Fight of the Night” bonus)
Kurt Pellegrino: $32,000 (includes $16,000 win bonus)
Anthony Johnson: $26,000 (includes $13,000 win bonus)
Gleison Tibau: $26,000 (includes $13,000 win bonus)
Rich Clementi: $23,000
Dan Miller: $18,000 (includes $9,000 win bonus)
Matthew Riddle: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)

Luigi Fioravanti: $13,000
Jake Rosholt: $13,000
Rob Emerson: $10,000
Jeremy Stephens: $10,000
Steve Bruno: $7,000
Matt Grice: $7,000
Nick Catone: $6,000 (includes $3,000 win bonus)
Matt Veach: $6,000 (includes $3,000 win bonus)
Denis Stojnic: $5,000
Derek Downey: $3,000 

Underpaid: Joe Lauzon. Even though he made up for it in bonuses, it’s surprising to hear that one of the UFC’s more popular lightweights — who holds a 5-1 Octagon record, no less — is still getting only $10,000 to show; we’re guessing that he hasn’t been able to re-negotiate his post-TUF contract yet, which is unfortunate. Also, Josh Neer‘s not even getting five figures, despite completing his eighth fight in the UFC.

Even more underpaid: Nick Catone. $3k to show, and $3k to win. And thanks to Amir Sadollah, this has been the first time he’s been able to fight since last June. I tell ya, it’s a rough business…

Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,

Post your comment

Showing 1-25 of comments

comments
Sort by : Show hidden comments
Krazy Kracker- February 11, 2009 at 10:02 pm
So that's why Rich Clementi got cut. He was the highest base-paid fighter on the card. The UFC is no nonsense. Apparently they will give you change if you produce, yet the moment you stop you better be willing to take a pay cut or pack your shit. I promise if Chuck doesn't win this next fight you will see him get cut. He's one of those fighters who gets paid $50k+ to show, a legend who still feel he has drawing power and will not be thrilled about working for peanuts.
0 0 Reply
Anonymous- February 11, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Grice should get $7000 more for getting fucked!!
0 0 Reply
DAN THE VIKING- February 11, 2009 at 6:42 am
Hey Rust, Joe Lauzon would tool your pot-belly having ass on PRIMETIME WHOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! LEGGO MY EGGO'S MOTHERwhAT WHOOOO
0 0 Reply
Bill C.- February 10, 2009 at 6:40 pm
How the hell did Velasquez get a KO of the Night, when it took him nearly two rounds to "finish" Stojnic, who didn't even look all that finished when the ref stopped it???

Rumble deserved that KO of the Night bonus. He got robbed.
0 0 Reply
Rust- February 10, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Joe lauzon is popular?

dude looks like a 10 year old stuck to will smith's ears
0 0 Reply
tallkitchenbags- February 10, 2009 at 1:54 pm
i used to have to pay to fight. only when i came with 5K could i step into the ring. my opponents, typically clad in the chartreuse gaps and gowns associated with gender studies, would only begin to assail me when their corner ATMs registered the deposits. not once did i complain. my trainers, cut men and assorted hangers on also needed to be paid, fed and sheltered as did their salukis and cattle dogs. my manager, who insisted on being paid in livestock, attempted to buy my way into a title match one day with a third mortgage, but my sister's water broke and the rest, as they say, is history. good times.
0 0 Reply
Skippybob- February 10, 2009 at 1:52 pm
I don't know anyone, anywhere that will say that they make the right amount of money. The money I will accept is in direct proportion to the amount of bullshit I have to put up with. The more crap, the more green. These guys get paid plenty or they wouldn't do it. Or is it not about the money and about being a fuckin fighter? I don't give a shit. Just put more on free t.v. I don't have enough money for PPV. BITCHES!
0 0 Reply
TUF Guy- February 10, 2009 at 1:36 pm
mayhem420 Says:
Tue, 02/10/2009 - 13:03
"...I work 50 - 60 hours a week and I only make $40 grand a year...who's fault is that? Not my employeer, me... "

***************************************

Plus tips for shooting ping pong balls out of your butt
0 0 Reply
TUF Guy- February 10, 2009 at 1:16 pm
From a person that has vistited Bosnia before let me tell you this, with $5,000 Denis Stojnic can retire like a king. Considering that, $500 would have made him more than happy.

0 0 Reply
vajomach- February 10, 2009 at 1:10 pm
British people suck. I wrestled 2 off season exhibitions there in college.
The brit wrestlers were all dicks. They smelled rank and they were weaklings.
I like french canadiens way better. Way better girls. Girls in england dont
take care of themselves.
0 0 Reply
mayhem420- February 10, 2009 at 1:03 pm
I dont get this underpaid crap..... its not like anyone is forcing these guys to fight for a living.... most of these guys have college degrees and had good paying jobs before doing this. If they dont like what they are paid then dont fight, do something else. If your underpaid then who is at fault for that?
Not the UFC.... that blame would fall on your or your managments shoulders.
Feel like you deserve more money??? Win fights by stoppage... ooh and ahh the crowd.... just like in ROME.... if you were a shitty Gladiator then you got the thumbs down... if you were exciting then they would give you the thumbs up and bring you back for more. Just so sick of hearing about guys who get paid 3,000$ for 15 mins of fighting... I work 50 - 60 hours a week and I only make $40 grand a year...who's fault is that? Not my employeer, me... if I want more money then I should be looking for a better paying job. Not bitching about it.....
0 0 Reply
tcby- February 10, 2009 at 1:02 pm
fourteenth!!!

when i was fighting "undisclosed locker room bonuses" meant getting oral pleasure from the local priest.
0 0 Reply
lilpo0ts- February 10, 2009 at 1:01 pm
when i fight i dont get bonus money..i usually get threatened with legal action and or have a tough time finding my car :-(

sad world
0 0 Reply
NeW jErSeY-nEw JeRsEy- February 10, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Can anyone tell us what kind of sponsorship money they get?

I mean...it's got to cost a lot to train. Joe Lauzon made 50K, and that's great for 2 months of training and 1 night of fighting. But had he lost, and not recieved a bonus...sh&t, 10K is nothing.
0 0 Reply
Ouch! That hurts- February 10, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Iron helps us play,

he was crying on the inside
0 0 Reply
TheRandomKnowledgableGuy- February 10, 2009 at 12:26 pm
See the UFC can off that kind of money because they are giving you the chance to fight in the big show which equals to bigger sponsorship money. Its not all that bad if you think about it. I mean I also think they should get paid a bit better but if your manager doesnt do his job you will get shafted. I got paid 2 and 2 at a small show in the LA area (when I say small I mean tiny) but no one would kick down any sponsorship money because of the size of the show. My next fight im gonna be making 3 and 3 but i will bet you i will not make a dime in sponsorship money.
0 0 Reply
armfarmer- February 10, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Hate you first bastards btw... glad anonymous ruined your day.. tool
0 0 Reply
Machete for hands- February 10, 2009 at 12:22 pm
i guess Cain Velasquez got the knockout of the night cuz of the way it ended. pretty lame. but he fights pretty good.
0 0 Reply
iron helps us play- February 10, 2009 at 12:19 pm
denis stojnic took a lot of hits for $5000. at least he didn't look like he was in any pain.
0 0 Reply
TUF COON- February 10, 2009 at 12:18 pm
FIRST
0 0 Reply
Derekrva- February 10, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Sheds more light on why Clementi got cut. $23,000 to show isn't exactly chump change for a guy who isn't really making moves in the division. Still sad to see him go.
0 0 Reply
DAN THE VIKING- February 10, 2009 at 12:17 pm
For some reason junkies and potatoes numbers are different. Either way, Lauzon was under-paid. Although I feel this time he under-performed. And I feel under-dressed, but its un-deniable yet under-standable.
0 0 Reply
armfarmer- February 10, 2009 at 12:11 pm
He should never have been a main event to begin with.
0 0 Reply
CanProduce- February 10, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Yeah, these fighters are still getting the shaft. You should get at least $25, 000 to show. If the UFC wants you to fight "in the superbowl of MMA" than you should at least get half of a decent years salary.

Bullshite...this is why Kalib Starnes did what he did.....yet now he gets flamed on.
0 0 Reply
Clozer- February 10, 2009 at 12:09 pm
A main event that he wasn't scheduled to headline. Yeah it sucks but the sad UFC truth!
0 0 Reply

Sign in

Registration complete. Please check your e-mail.

ERROR: Invalid username. Lost your password?

Register For This Site

Registration complete. Please check your e-mail.

ERROR: Invalid username. Lost your password?
CagePotatoMMA
cage potato

Copyright © 2002-2011 CagePotato. All rights reserved

Break Media

Copyright © 2011 Break Media. All Rights Reserved.