UFC 62 salaries.......

[rar1015]

UFC 62 took place on Saturday, August 26th at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada and aired on pay-per-view. The following figures are from the fighter salary information that the UFC is required by law to submit to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Any additional bonuses or non-disclosed money that the UFC pays its fighters are not included in the figures below.

Zuffa president Dana White has said in numerous interviews over the years that he would prefer for the UFC's fighter salary information to not be publicly available, and White said just this week in a Canadian Press article about UFC fighter salaries, "When people know what you make, it causes a lot of problems in your life."

Unfortunately for White or anyone else who shares his position on the matter, that is simply not how it works with any major sport. Athletes' salaries are public knowledge in the National Football League, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, and every other major sport.

By talking in various interviews about secret bonuses without revealing the specific amounts (including the following quotes from the Canadian Press article: "Our fighters make a lot of money, a lot of money... we're thrilled, thrilled that these guys are able to make what they're making"), the UFC has essentially taken the position that the salaries of UFC fighters are secret.

This is unlike any other major sport and is a lot closer to World Wrestling Entertainment's position on its performers' salaries, which makes it very surprising for White to have taken this position publicly. One would think that anything which might invite comparisons to WWE's business model for paying talent would be avoided.

There is one other way in which the UFC is similar to WWE and different from the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB. Like pro wrestlers and unlike any of the athletes in any of the aforementioned sports, mixed martial arts do not have a union or any form of collective bargaining.

Again, this makes it surprising for the UFC to have taken a secretive, WWE-like approach to talent salaries, because it only invites more WWE comparisons.

Without further ado, here are the disclosed fighter salaries for UFC 62 from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Regarding the "known event revenue" that is listed below the disclosed fighter payroll, the live gate for this event was $3,040,880, but the PPV revenue information is not yet available.

UFC 62 Fighter Salaries

Event took place on August 26, 2006 and aired on pay-per-view

-Chuck Liddell: $250,000 (defeated Renato "Babalu" Sobral in co-main event)

-Forrest Griffin: $32,000 (defeated Stephan Bonnar in co-main event)

-Renato "Babalu" Sobral: $21,000 (lost to Chuck Liddell in co-main event)

-Nick Diaz: $20,000 (defeated Josh Neer)

-Stephan Bonnar: $16,000 (lost to Forrest Griffin in co-main event)

-Cheick Kongo: $12,000 (defeated Christian Wellisch)

-Hermes Franca: $12,000 (defeated Jamie Varner)

-Yushin Okami: $8,000 (defeated Alan Belcher)

-Josh Neer: $6,000 (lost to Nick Diaz)

-Rob MacDonald: $5,000 (lost to Eric Schafer)

-David Heath: $4,000 (defeated Cory Walmsley)

-Eric Schafer: $4,000 (defeated Rob MacDonald)

-Wilson Gouveia: $4,000 (defeated Wes Combs)

-Alan Belcher: $3,000 (lost to Yushin Okami)

-Christian Wellisch: $3,000 (lost to Cheick Kongo)

-Jamie Varner: $3,000 (lost to Hermes Franca)

-Wes Combs: $2,000 (lost to Wilson Gouveia)

-Cory Walmsley: $2,000 (lost to David Heath)

-Disclosed Fighter Payroll: $407,000

-Event Revenue: Live gate was $3,040,880; PPV revenue not yet available

[spencer]

i'd fight liddell for 20k lol

[rar1015]

I would to but if i was considered the number 1 contender to go up against Liddell like Babalu was, i wouldnt fight $21,000.

[GQ-Bouncer]

i would like to see the salary comparison for fighter of PRIDE

sounds like most UFC fighters really arent making that much money

[rar1015]

Im sure pride pays a lot more than the ufc does.

[MMA]

win bonus usually equals the "show money". champs make good money, but a first time UFC fighter often starts at 2/2 (2 grand to show, 2 more to win).

[rar1015]

Exactly!

[twosocks40]

Dana is going to have to fork out the cash if pride ever comes full force to the states. Otherwise, I see a lot of fighters leaving. Aren't they already having a problem with fighters leaving for other venues?

[rar1015]

Dana is going to have to fork out the cash if pride ever comes full force to the states. Otherwise, I see a lot of fighters leaving. Aren't they already having a problem with fighters leaving for other venues?

From what ive heard yes they are starting to have problems with that.

[Hunter]

Guys it is hard being a fighter and making a living. But if you look at this payament compared to years ago its a ton better mma is not mainstream yet but is steadly gaining recognition in the states and as soon as its mainstream you will see what fighters getting paid go through the roof

[MMA]

the NFL players all held regular jobs in the off season, until the league got big. same will happen in MMA. billionaires like calvin ayres of bodog.com are trying to get in on the ground floor of the new hot sport, and that will create competition and money.

[sonar1234]

MMA futur looks bright, its getting big, and UFC has well.

[Tedbear981]

They need a union like any other major sport(NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, Ect) then you will see the salaries go up

[rar1015]

The future of mma is growing very fast and it wont stop anytime soon IMO.

[BgMc31]

Boxing doesn't have a union and I don't see MMA having one either. Promoters (Zuffa, etc.) will never have that. I see fighters purses getting larger, but a union... I don't think so.

[Coop77]

I think Pride salaries may not be as high as people think. I saw Wanderlei's house in a documentary and I was really surprised at how modest it was, considering he's the biggest star in MMA.

[rar1015]

Ya never know man. Some of those guys may make millions and they are the type of people of dont like to show off how much money they have ya know.

[NOREGRETS]

For the most part these guys are not rich, especially if you compare it to other sports.

[vermin]

As a general rule "stars" in Japan (be they business, actors, or sports) do not get the huge compensations common in the west. Big househld name TV personalities tend to make 6 figures, not the 7 or 8 (or more) here.

[Dr. Knockboot]

I would stomp... Lidell's ass flat

[RA]

Your moms nickname lidell?

[Dr. Knockboot]

What? Your sister's yurrr Cuzin???

[D-Bo Dre]

I would to but if i was considered the number 1 contender to go up against Liddell like Babalu was, i wouldnt fight $21,000.

yeah, thats just ridiculous! $21,000 is not even 10% of what Liddell got. Although $250,000 is'nt that much neither, being the main attraction, and star that Liddell is. Xyience better be dishing out some dough though.. He's practically the spokesperson..

[NO LIMITS]

What is Matt Hughs making?

[D-Bo Dre]

What is Matt Hughs making?

Matt gets paid with corn biscuits.. Country ass..
Any predictions on his future fight??