Bisping tops estimated UFC 159 salaries at $425k
The New Jersey Athletic Commission doesn’t release fighter purse info, so the below salary data is NOT OFFICIAL. However, you…
The New Jersey Athletic Commission doesn’t release fighter purse info, so the below salary data is NOT OFFICIAL. However, you can get a fairly accurate picture of a fighter’s pay based on official purse info released from past fights. MMA-manifesto.com estimated the pay breakdown for the 22 fighters at UFC 159.
Please not, this is only an estimate, not official info, especially for any fighters that made their UFC debuts at the event. For Strikeforce fighters that made their UFC debut, MMA-Manfiesto used their most recent Strikeforce pay level as their estimate.
Michael Bisping: $425,000 ($275,000 to show, $150,000 win bonus)
Jon Jones: $400,000
Pat Healy: $152,500 ($17,500 to show, $5,000 win bonus, $65,000 Fight of the Night bonus, $65,000 Submission of the Night bonus)
Roy Nelson: $113,000 ($24,000 to show, $24,000 win bonus, $65,000 Knockout of the Night bonus)
Jim Miller: $106,000 ($41,000 to show, $65,000 Fight of the Night bonus)
Cheick Kongo: $70,000
Phil Davis: $60,000 ($30,000 to show, $30,000 win bonus)
Chael Sonnen: $50,000
Alan Belcher: $37,000
Ovince St. Preux: $34,000 ($17,000 to show, $17,000 win bonus)
Cody McKenzie: $20,000 ($10,000 to show, $10,000 win bonus)
Leonard Garcia: $20,000
Rustam Khabilov: $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 win bonus)
Bryan Caraway: $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 win bonus)
Steven Siler: $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 win bonus)
Sara McMann: $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 win bonus)
Gian Villante: $12,000
Vinny Magalhaes: $8,000
Johnny Bedford: $8,000
Yancy Medeiros: $6,000
Sheila Gaff: $6,000
Kurt Holobaugh: $6,000
These estimated figures do not represent an accurate assessment of each fighter’s income.
Fighters bear significant costs including training expenses, a percentage to management, a percentage to the trainer, insurance, licenses, and taxes.
On the income side, sponsorship money can be substantial, although they have dropped markedly over the past couple of years. Further, the UFC often gives out undisclosed “locker room” bonuses for exceptional performance. In addition there are publicly announced ‘of the Night’ bonuses noted at top.
Lastly, many fighters earn income from teaching, from appearances, and in many cases from regular employment in the non fighting space.