Robbie Lawler ($200k) tops UFC 173’s $1M payroll

Today the Nevada State Athletic Commission released the purse information for this past weekend’s UFC 173 which took place at the MGM Grand:

TJ Dillashaw: $36,000 ($18,000+$18,000)

Renan Barao: $74,000

Dan Henderson: $100,000

Daniel Cormier: $170,000 ($85,000+$85,000)

Jake Ellenberger: $68,000

Robbie Lawler: $200,000 ($100,000+$100,000)

Francisco Rivera: $15,000

Takeya Mizugaki: $58,000 ($29,000+$29,000)

James Krause: $20,000 ($10,000+$10,000)

Jamie Varner: $17,000

Francisco Trinaldo: $12,000

Michael Chiesa: $40,000 ($20,000+$20,000)

Katsunori Kikuno: $10,000

Anthony Ferguson: $40,000 ($20,000+$20,000)

Chico Camus: $12,000

Chris Holdsworth: $30,000 ($15,000+$15,000)

Mitchell Clarke: $20,000 ($10,000+$10,000)

Al Iaquinta: $14,000

Vinc Pichel: $16,000 ($8,000+$8,000)

Anthony Njokuani: $20,000

Aaron Phillips: $8,000

Sam Sicilia: $20,000 ($10,000+$10,000)

Jingliang Li: $16,000 ($8,000+$8,000)

David Michaud: $8,000

The above figures are the fighter salary information that promoters are required by Nevada law to submit to the state athletic commissions, including the winners’ bonuses.

The figures do not represent a full accounting of each fighter’s income.

Fighters bear significant costs including training expenses, a percentage to management, a percentage to the trainer, plus insurance, licenses, and taxes.

On the income side, sponsorship money can be a significant portion of the purse, although it is smaller particularly for the mid tier fighters than it was in the past. As well there are explicit ‘of the Night’ performance bonuses noted above, and less formal ‘locker room’ bonuses.

Main event PPV fighters can receive a percentage of the PPV gross, variously determined.

Lastly, many fighters earn income from teaching, from appearances, and in many cases from regular employment in the non-fighting space.