UFC 178 purses range from 10k to 183k

UFC 178 total disclosed purses

Demetrious Johnson: $183,000 (includes $54,000 win bonus)

def. Chris Cariaso: $24,000

Donald Cerrone: $126,000 (includes $63,000 win bonus)

def. Eddie Alvarez: $100,000

Conor McGregor: $150,000 (includes $75,000 win bonus)

def. Dustin Poirier: $34,000

Yoel Romero: $58,000 (includes $29,000 win bonus)

def. Tim Kennedy: $70,000

Cat Zingano: $18,000 (includes $9,000 win bonus)

def. Amanda Nunes: $15,000

Dominick Cruz: $100,000 (includes $50,000 win bonus)

def. Takeya Mizugaki: $32,000

Jorge Masvidal: $90,000 (includes $45,000 win bonus)

def. James Krause: $15,000

Stephen Thompson: $32,000 (includes $16,000 win bonus)

def. Patrick Cote: $33,000

Brian Ebersole: $42,000 (includes $21,000 win bonus)

def. John Howard: $21,000

Kevin Lee: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)

def. Jon Tuck: $10,000

Manny Gamburyan: $50,000 (includes $25,000 win bonus)

def. Cody Gibson: $10,000

The total disclosed payroll: $1,233,000.

Source: MMAJunkie

In addition, $50,000 performance bonuses went out to Yoel Romero,Tim Kennedy,

Dominick Cruz, and Conor McGregor

The figures are up hugely from UFC 177, where the total disclosed payroll was $420,000. Further, it is nice to see the winner even on the very first fight on the card take home $50,000.

The above figures are the fighter payout information that promoters are required by State 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 than it was in the past, particularly for the mid tier fighters. As well there are explicit ‘of the Night’ performance bonuses noted above, and less formal ‘locker room’ bonuses that are mailed to fighters after the event.

Main event PPV fighters can receive a percentage of the PPV gross, as contracted.

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