Author Topic: Do UFC fighters get paid the same or worse than pro bodybuilding? (Read 7719 times)

mogulgangi · « **on:** April 13, 2009, 02:03:09 PM »

is this true...i read on several post that some fighters just get 2,000 -5,000 per fight...the same amount additional if you win..3 fights per year..ucf can terminate your contract if you lose 1 fight....

only money made is in sponsorships...

Method101 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 13, 2009, 02:04:05 PM »

Quote from: mogulgangi on April 13, 2009, 02:03:09 PM

is this true...i read on several post that some fighters just get 2,000 -5,000 per fight...the same amount additional if you win..3 fights per year..ucf can terminate your contract if you lose 1 fight....

only money made is in sponsorships...

Think about it. Is Brock Lesnar going to go from WWE to such a shitty paycheck?

The fighters making shit money are on the same level as guys placing last in bb contest but still making more.

The Showstoppa · « **Reply #2 on:** April 13, 2009, 02:04:19 PM »

That's why I retired from the cagefighting game....that and the whole business has changed. I worry about the kids.

mogulgangi · « **Reply #3 on:** April 13, 2009, 02:06:38 PM »

abiously the top dogs make cash, just like in the ifbb, just anyone who isnt a big time game, from what i read, your making anywhere from 20,000 a year to 40,000 max... i heard ufc contracts are a joke

MB_722 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 13, 2009, 02:07:39 PM »

Quote from: The Showstoppa on April 13, 2009, 02:04:19 PM

That's why I retired from the cagefighting game....that and the whole business has changed. I worry about the kids.

ROFLMAO

240 is Back · « **Reply #5 on:** April 13, 2009, 02:25:22 PM »

40k a year to fight.

that's not great, but what does the job entail? Fighting 8 or 10 times a year? Spending 2 hours a day training, and relaxing the rest of the day.

wes mantooth · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2009, 02:28:09 PM »

go to the MMA board. every post fight pay out is usually posted a few days after a PPV

Thin Lizzy · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2009, 02:38:10 PM »

Quote from: wes mantooth on April 13, 2009, 02:28:09 PM

go to the MMA board. every post fight pay out is usually posted a few days after a PPV

While very few MMA fighters are getting rich, a good number are grinding out a living in smaller shows, whereas, the only place a bodybuilder can earn prize $$ is the IFBB (Correct me if I'm wrong)

This is UFC 94

– Georges St. Pierre $400,000 (includes $200,000 win bonus) def. B.J. Penn $125,000 (win bonus would have been $125,000)

– Lyoto Machida $120,000 (includes $60,000 win bonus) def. Thiago Silva $29,000 (win bonus would have been $29,000)

– Jon Jones $14,000 (includes $7,000 win bonus) def. Stephan Bonnar $22,000 (win bonus would have been $22,000)

– Karo Parisyan $80,000 (includes $40,000 win bonus) def. Dong Hyun Kim $26,000 (win bonus would have been $26,000)

– Clay Guida $40,000 (includes $20,000 win bonus) def. Nate Diaz $20,000 (win bonus would have been $20,000)

– Jon Fitch $68,000 (includes $34,000 win bonus) def. Akihiro Gono $28,000 (win bonus would have been $28,000)

– Thiago Tavares $26,000 (includes $13,000 win bonus) def. Manny Gamburyan $14,000 (win bonus would have been $14,000)

– John Howard $6,000 (includes $3,000 win bonus) def. Chris Wilson $15,000 (win bonus would have been $15,000)

– Dan Cramer $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) def. Matt Arroyo $8,000 (win bonus would have been $8,000)

Total Disclosed Payroll: $1,057,000

MMA Junkie reports that Dana White announced attendance of 14,885 attendees for a live gate of approximately $4.3 million, making it the sixth highest UFC gate ever.

hazbin · « **Reply #8 on:** April 13, 2009, 02:41:16 PM »

Quote from: Thin Lizzy on April 13, 2009, 02:38:10 PM

While very few MMA fighters are getting rich, a good number are grinding out a living in smaller shows, whereas, the only place a bodybuilder can earn prize $$ is the IFBB (Correct me if I'm wrong)

This is UFC 94

– Georges St. Pierre $400,000 (includes $200,000 win bonus) def. B.J. Penn $125,000 (win bonus would have been $125,000)

– Lyoto Machida $120,000 (includes $60,000 win bonus) def. Thiago Silva $29,000 (win bonus would have been $29,000)

– Jon Jones $14,000 (includes $7,000 win bonus) def. Stephan Bonnar $22,000 (win bonus would have been $22,000)

– Karo Parisyan $80,000 (includes $40,000 win bonus) def. Dong Hyun Kim $26,000 (win bonus would have been $26,000)

– Clay Guida $40,000 (includes $20,000 win bonus) def. Nate Diaz $20,000 (win bonus would have been $20,000)

– Jon Fitch $68,000 (includes $34,000 win bonus) def. Akihiro Gono $28,000 (win bonus would have been $28,000)

– Thiago Tavares $26,000 (includes $13,000 win bonus) def. Manny Gamburyan $14,000 (win bonus would have been $14,000)

– John Howard $6,000 (includes $3,000 win bonus) def. Chris Wilson $15,000 (win bonus would have been $15,000)

– Dan Cramer $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) def. Matt Arroyo $8,000 (win bonus would have been $8,000)

Total Disclosed Payroll: $1,057,000

MMA Junkie reports that Dana White announced attendance of 14,885 attendees for a live gate of approximately $4.3 million, making it the sixth highest UFC gate ever.

any idea what the ppv take was?

Thin Lizzy · « **Reply #9 on:** April 13, 2009, 02:45:30 PM »

Quote from: hazbin on April 13, 2009, 02:41:16 PM

any idea what the ppv take was?

That one did 1.3 million buys

Here are some more:

UFC 67 - Silva v. Lutter - 400,000
UFC 68 - Slyvia v. Couture - 540,000
UFC 69 - St. Pierre v. Serra - 400,000
UFC 71 - Liddell v. Jackson II - 675,000
UFC 72 - Franklin v. Okami - 200,000
UFC 73 - Ortiz v. Evans - 425,000
UFC 74 - Couture v. Gonzaga - 520,000
UFC 76 - Liddell v. Jardine - 475,000
UFC 77 - Franklin v. Silva II - 325,000
UFC 78 - Evans v. Bisbing - 325,000
UFC 79 - Liddell v. Silva - 600,000

Here are all the confirmed UFCs from 2008

UFC 80 - Penn v Stevenson - 225,000
UFC 81 - Lesnar v Mir - 650,000
UFC 82 - Silva v Henderson - 325,000
UFC 83 - St. Pierre v Serra 2 - 525,000
UFC 84 - Penn v Sherk - 475,000
UFC 85 - Hughes v Alves - 225,000
UFC 86 - Jackson v Griffin - 520,000
UFC 87 - Lesnar v Herring/GSP v Fitch - 625,000
UFC 88 - Liddell v Evans - No official numbers ever released
UFC 90 - Silva v Cote - 300,000 (total not in yet)
UFC 91 - Lesnar v Couture - 750,000-800,000 (total not in yet)

hazbin · « **Reply #10 on:** April 13, 2009, 02:47:48 PM »

Quote from: Thin Lizzy on April 13, 2009, 02:45:30 PM

That one did 1.3 million buys

Here are some more:

UFC 67 - Silva v. Lutter - 400,000
UFC 68 - Slyvia v. Couture - 540,000
UFC 69 - St. Pierre v. Serra - 400,000
UFC 71 - Liddell v. Jackson II - 675,000
UFC 72 - Franklin v. Okami - 200,000
UFC 73 - Ortiz v. Evans - 425,000
UFC 74 - Couture v. Gonzaga - 520,000
UFC 76 - Liddell v. Jardine - 475,000
UFC 77 - Franklin v. Silva II - 325,000
UFC 78 - Evans v. Bisbing - 325,000
UFC 79 - Liddell v. Silva - 600,000

Here are all the confirmed UFCs from 2008

UFC 80 - Penn v Stevenson - 225,000
UFC 81 - Lesnar v Mir - 650,000
UFC 82 - Silva v Henderson - 325,000
UFC 83 - St. Pierre v Serra 2 - 525,000
UFC 84 - Penn v Sherk - 475,000
UFC 85 - Hughes v Alves - 225,000
UFC 86 - Jackson v Griffin - 520,000
UFC 87 - Lesnar v Herring/GSP v Fitch - 625,000
UFC 88 - Liddell v Evans - No official numbers ever released
UFC 90 - Silva v Cote - 300,000 (total not in yet)
UFC 91 - Lesnar v Couture - 750,000-800,000 (total not in yet)

x how much per? $40? that's some crazy revenue. way more than the Tyson/Holyfield/Foreman fights that were paying out 10's of millions.

Thin Lizzy · « **Reply #11 on:** April 13, 2009, 02:55:49 PM »

Quote from: hazbin on April 13, 2009, 02:47:48 PM

x how much per? $40? that's some crazy revenue. way more than the Tyson/Holyfield/Foreman fights that were paying out 10's of millions.

The problem for the fighters is that very few are draws by themselves and don't have much of an option outside of the UFC.

hazbin · « **Reply #12 on:** April 13, 2009, 03:06:55 PM »

Quote from: Thin Lizzy on April 13, 2009, 02:55:49 PM

The problem for the fighters is that very few are draws by themselves and don't have much of an option outside of the UFC.

very true! one or two fighters always fill 95% of the seats.

MindSpin · « **Reply #13 on:** April 13, 2009, 03:11:03 PM »

Bodybuilding is at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to compensation. The only way most of these roid addicts are able to compete, is to supplement their income with "posing sessions" for schmoes. Take that part of the income out of the equation, and 99.99% of bodybuilders actually spend more on their habit than they earn from it.

Croatch · « **Reply #14 on:** April 13, 2009, 03:39:41 PM »

I'd say most of their doctor/drug bills, top 15k, easily.
I'd rather be a mediocre MLB player making 1 million a year.

The_Hammer · « **Reply #15 on:** April 13, 2009, 03:50:48 PM »

I trained under Alex Steibling back when he fought in Pride over in Japan and I can confirm he made $40K per fight in cash which was undeclared when he reentered the U.S.

Also, the UFC pays all your medical bills and gives out $60K bonuses if your fight earns Fight of the Night, Knock Out of the Night, or Submission of the Night.

Dana White is notorious for giving bonuses under the table and expensive gifts. For instance I heard he bought GSP a house and a nice car. It was also revealed in an interview with Fedor's former manager that since he was on a 1 fight deal that Pride would give him huge payments under the table so he wouldn't jump to K-1.

Both the UFC and Pride are/were run by the mafia.

Kegdrainer · « **Reply #16 on:** April 13, 2009, 05:32:30 PM »

The organization makes all the money. Guys fight to get laid by dumb vegas plastic hotties. They make all their money off t-shirt sales and "private training sessions" just like pro bodybuilders that do "private photo shoots"
Only the top guys make decent enough money to not have to work a real job 9-5

just_a_pilgrim · « **Reply #17 on:** April 13, 2009, 09:11:29 PM »

There's a massive difference between the two.

In MMA you get paid to get your ass beat up.

In bodybuilding....um...... .....

oldman · « **Reply #18 on:** April 13, 2009, 09:24:47 PM »

we are bodybuilders for one reason, all those athletes can come and go anywhere without getting anyones attention. all we have to do is enter a store, mall, building dressed any way and boom, everyone notices how big we are. we are asked immediately if we train, how big we are etc. It gets better with age guys, I am 53 and nobodys guesses my age, the women love me-all the women. The younger kids want to know how I train, what I eat, and the supplements I take. They love to see us. MMA, football, it doesnt matter. We are the ones they want to see, with and without clothes. Thats why we train...

Ron · « **Reply #19 on:** April 13, 2009, 09:29:29 PM »

Those are the top of the top fighters, with a huge PPV and a 15,000+ audience at the fights.

Now, take the myriad of other organizations, or the path to get to the televised fights, and that is where the lower cash per fight comes from.

benchthis · « **Reply #20 on:** April 13, 2009, 09:42:00 PM »

read this guys

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Practice_squad

LATS · « **Reply #21 on:** April 13, 2009, 09:58:52 PM »

IF you goggle "ufc payouts" you get the last couple of fights and see how bad some of these guys are paid.. jardine was averaging 15000 on some fights and just 40,000 on others.. but, they do not have big paydays unless you are jackson ect.. hell silvia (tim) when he was the champ was getting only 100,000 a fight

IronMagazine.com · « **Reply #22 on:** April 13, 2009, 10:03:30 PM »

also, the UFC is now handing out $100k/year contracts to winners of big fights.

The Coach · « **Reply #23 on:** April 13, 2009, 10:06:00 PM »

Rampage was the first to negotiate his contract to get a percentage of the PPV. Like Liddell, he averages about $750-$1mil per fight.

big L dawg · « **Reply #24 on:** April 13, 2009, 10:13:01 PM »

Quote from: Method101 on April 13, 2009, 02:04:05 PM

Think about it. Is Brock Lesnar going to go from WWE to such a shitty paycheck?
The fighters making shit money are on the same level as guys placing last in bb contest but still making more.

actually...yes.Brock took a sizeable pay cut to go to the UFC.

Author Topic: Do UFC fighters get paid the same or worse than pro bodybuilding? (Read 7719 times)

The Coach