IS Nick Diaz right to complain about how much money UFC Fighters make?

[Radical Plato]

The full UFC 137 fighter salaries are as follows:
 Nick Diaz: $200,000 (no win bonus) def. B.J. Penn: $150,000
 Cheick Kongo: $140,000 (includes $70,000 win bonus) def. Matt Mitrione: $10,000
 Roy Nelson: $40,000 (includes $20,000 win bonus) def. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic: $75,000
 Scott Jorgensen: $33,000 (includes $16,500 win bonus) def. Jeff Curran: $8,000
 Hatsu Hioki: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) def. George Roop: $8,000
 Donald Cerrone: $54,000 (includes $27,000 win bonus) def. Dennis Siver: $27,000
 Bart Palaszewski: $28,500 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Tyson Griffin: $25,500*
 Brandon Vera: $120,000 (includes $60,000 win bonus) def. Eliot Marshall: $15,000
 Ramsey Nijem: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Danny Downes: $4,000
 Francis Carmont: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus) def. Chris Carmozzi: $8,000
 Clifford Starks: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus) def. Dustin Jacoby: $6,000
 
* Because Tyson Griffin missed weight, 25% ($8,500) of his original purse ($34,000) went to his opponent Bart Palaszewski.

Disclaimer: The UFC 137 fighter salaries listed above do not include the money fighters may have to pay out in taxes, airfare or other expenses. They also do not represent extra money fighters may earn through sponsorships, fight night bonuses or otherwise.

[Stavios]

200k is more than enough

athletes are WAY overpaid

[apply85]

athlete arent overpaid, dana and the ufc are fucking overpaid, give it some time salaries will go up

[Radical Plato]

200k is more than enough

athletes are WAY overpaid

Still making way more than bodybuilders.

[Borracho]

I think they are underpaid considering the risk they take every time they get in the ring. These guys should be making as much if not more than boxers.

[hazbin]

i could see him failing the drug test after that speech.

[suckmymuscle]

The full UFC 137 fighter salaries are as follows:
 Nick Diaz: $200,000 (no win bonus) def. B.J. Penn: $150,000
 Cheick Kongo: $140,000 (includes $70,000 win bonus) def. Matt Mitrione: $10,000
 Roy Nelson: $40,000 (includes $20,000 win bonus) def. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic: $75,000
 Scott Jorgensen: $33,000 (includes $16,500 win bonus) def. Jeff Curran: $8,000
 Hatsu Hioki: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) def. George Roop: $8,000
 Donald Cerrone: $54,000 (includes $27,000 win bonus) def. Dennis Siver: $27,000
 Bart Palaszewski: $28,500 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Tyson Griffin: $25,500*
 Brandon Vera: $120,000 (includes $60,000 win bonus) def. Eliot Marshall: $15,000
 Ramsey Nijem: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Danny Downes: $4,000
 Francis Carmont: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus) def. Chris Carmozzi: $8,000
 Clifford Starks: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus) def. Dustin Jacoby: $6,000
 
* Because Tyson Griffin missed weight, 25% ($8,500) of his original purse ($34,000) went to his opponent Bart Palaszewski.

Disclaimer: The UFC 137 fighter salaries listed above do not include the money fighters may have to pay out in taxes, airfare or other expenses. They also do not represent extra money fighters may earn through sponsorships, fight night bonuses or otherwise.

  Ok, what is the price you put on neurons you will never get back? Diaz probably lost a few millions with the huge punches he took from BJ Penn. It is amazing that this son of a bithc, Dana White, who never risks his neck himself, keep over 90% of the revenue for himself and the Fertitas and pays crumbles to the fighters. The fighters are the ones who should keep over 90% of the revenues since they are the ones who bleed and get brain damage and then are left with nothing to pay for their disabilities when they are old.

SUCKMYMUSCLE

[Coach is Back!]

What's 10% of $210k again:)))??

[Radical Plato]

I think they are underpaid considering the risk they take every time they get in the ring. These guys should be making as much if not more than boxers.

Agreed, I think the dangers are greater for a wider variety of injuries, it will only be a matter of time before the UFC fighters get what they are worth.  But I think Nick Diaz has shown remarkable strength in standing up to Dana and the UFC to get the public know what these guys go through.  The documentary The Smashing Machine with Mark Kerr is a good watch to get a handle on what these guys go through.

[Borracho]

Agreed, I think the dangers are greater for a wider variety of injuries, it will only be a matter of time before the UFC fighters get what they are worth.  But I think Nick Diaz has shown remarkable strength in standing up to Dana and the UFC to get the public know what these guys go through.  The documentary The Smashing Machine with Mark Kerr is a good watch to get a handle on what these guys go through.

Gonna check out that vid, thanks.

[Radical Plato]

Gonna check out that vid, thanks.

You can watch it right here on getbig - here is the youtube vid

[apply85]

an athlete can not be over paid btw, his bosses make money from the sport and then they pay the athletes their salary, how can they be over paid. If all I do is stack matches but a billion people watch me do it once a week, and advertisers and merchandise sells accordingly, why shouldn't I make a billion dollars.

[bike nut]

Who the hell is a scrub like Brandon Vera blowing to pull down that kind of coin on the undercard?

[Radical Plato]

Who the hell is a scrub like Brandon Vera blowing to pull down that kind of coin on the undercard?

I know, especially since his opponent Eliot Marshall only got $15000 - Crazy go figure

[Radical Plato]

an athlete can not be over paid btw, his bosses make money from the sport and then they pay the athletes their salary, how can they be over paid. If all I do is stack matches but a billion people watch me do it once a week, and advertisers and merchandise sells accordingly, why shouldn't I make a billion dollars.

because, you would  just be a humble matchstacker.   

[hazbin]

Who the hell is a scrub like Brandon Vera blowing to pull down that kind of coin on the undercard?

he probably secured a multi fight contract with money set right after his fight with Randy Couture.

[Kwon_2]

After everything is paid, partners and Cesar Gracie hoggs his share, Nick is left with 10k

Of course he complains.

[Nomad]

Most fighters dont bank $200g a fight, hell on average even UFC main event fighters dont clear 100g.

To get to UFC it takes fighters a couple of years, dozen of local mma fights and lots of injuries / trauma. Probably on par with bodybuilding in terms of being a low money return sport atm.

[King Shizzo]

I agree that they should pay a little more to some of these guys.  These guys (especially the top tier) make good money through bonuses and sponsers on top of the per fight contract.  Nick Diaz could be pulling in a Million a year (2+ fights@ 200k each + sponsers and bonuses)The top guys like GSP, Silva, Lesnar, and Rampage make a few million each a year.  The incentive is to try to get to main event status.  I think that they should make the lowest fighters get a 30K minimum purse though.

[dustin]

Most fighters dont bank $200g a fight, hell on average even UFC main event fighters dont clear 100g.

To get to UFC it takes fighters a couple of years, dozen of local mma fights and lots of injuries / trauma. Probably on par with bodybuilding in terms of being a low money return sport atm.

Precisely!

I know a couple of up and coming fighters who've got a few professional wins and it's brutal, especially here in Canada where there's no money whatsoever. People don't realize that these dudes are only fighting a few times a year at best. They've got their training camp, gym equipment and tons of other overhead costs. I'm sure The Coach probably knows a lot more about this.

I think that these guys deserve a lot more. With so many PPV events and deals with networks like Spike, Versus and Fox they've got to start allocating more funds to the fighters. Sponsorships are fine and dandy, but when you see a dude struggling to get his sponsor's t-shirt on after a fight and slamming an empty can of Xyience it's pretty depressing.

[GraniteCityDon]

Lets be honest about this, nobody will be truly satisfied until the elite are making 5 - 10 million per fight in purses a'la boxing. This debate has raged for years, i remember when then mw champ Rich Franklin was tied to a contract which saw him only earn 32K per fight yet he didnt complain - i believe Dana was quoted as saying he owned alot of land & was financially stable.

Zuffa have continually increased salaries & FOTN bonus awards, however they are still  establishing the brand globally and it is STILL too early to commit to seven figure purses. That day is coming, all we need to do is wait a little longer. Hell i remember when Ken Shamrock & Tank Abbott (a supposed UFc legend no less) ere among the first 2 to be paid 100K for a fight and everyone went nuts over it.

[Gab]

these numbers dont include ppv % which most headliners get.
I would assume that Diaz got piece of that. at least after his and Bjs fight got made the main event after gsp got injured.
I can promise you that BJ made alot more than what is listed there tho. Over 1 million $ for sure.
and Nick probably got a cut of the ppv % aswell.

[_bruce_]

Nobody forces them to fight.
If they want more job opportunities Mc Donalds invites them with open arms.

[MAXX]

why the fuck are the lightweights payed more than the heavyweights?

light and middleweights is just sideshow. fuck that! Matt Mitrione getting 10k? he could make more flippin burgers and not get his face caved in.

how it should be is that; if the lighter weightclasses wants to make as much as the heavyweights they should step up their weightclass want to make as much. this is stupid...

heavyweights are the best of them all thats why there are weightclasses...

[Krankenstein]

Nobody forces them to fight.
If they want more job opportunities Mc Donalds invites them with open arms.

..and if they did get a job at McD's....can you imagine the video of someone jumping the counter then?