Salary Report: Former Champ, JDS Tops UFC 155 Payroll

[boomertx]

Don't forget the PPV. Every nickel of that 55 bucks a buy goes right into Dana's bank account from what i understand..

Satellite feed for nothing too, eh? Damn, this is going to be a good year for me. Never knew there was all this free stuff out there.

 

[boomertx]

Cant believe how these pro fighters are making such sh*t money compare to how much the UFC and DW makes. With this rate, MMA will never be mainstream as top athletic talents make tens of millions in their 20s participating in soccer, boxing, basketball, tennis, golf, nfl, baseball, etc (not to mention the sponsor $$ in these mainstream sports also dwarf MMA endorsements). And combat sport career life span can be real short and painful...

May want to double check the salaries of those sports. Lots of low paid athletes at the lower levels. Did you know Adrian Peterson doesn't have a shoe contract? What does that tell you about the viability of earning through endorsements even if you are the best at what you do in a major sport?

 

[Saskatoonmike**]

Not all fighters get $20,000 pay checks for starters, you're starting off here with a broad stroke when it only applies to x percentage of fighters. And when you're elite enough to get $20,000 checks, you're not doing it alone. These guys have gyms, trainers, nutritionist, sparring partners etc. all of whom have bills which need to be paid too. And thats not even factoring in traditional living expenses, which add up my nooby friend.

A lot of these fighters are being completely taken advantage of, yet with prevailing attitudes such as this one above it serves only those who look to profit as much as possible off of fighters who are all to often paid as little as possible.

I think fighters need to unionize, and the sooner, the better. Guys shouldnt be stuck with huge medical bills for competing to give us a highlight reel fight where for sure somebody is going to the hospital and will likely be called a chump, can and worse on the internet for weeks and years to come. Paying them a few thousand bucks, which seems to vanish pretty quickly when you factor training and living expenses in just aint cutting it.

This is a hard sport, you do not become successful by taking it easy in the gym. You've got to work your ass off, and pay the price of experience in pain. Its easy to say these cats are doing alright, but the truth is, most of these guys are being taken advantage of to a degree which simply should not be acceptable. Getting hit in the head does not make you any smarter, and over time those blows at up. Pugilistic dementia is not something to easily write off, and what these guys are doing out there deserves the utmost respect. A long career in combat sports could have very serious and life altering consequences. As a result, I fully support better fighter treatment and pay.

I am not going to address all of your post but want to point out that the guys making $20k do have 'bills to pay' as you point out but they also would make money from that same gym, trainer etc as many are part of the gyms they train at. One they have marquee to their name all sorts of other income opportunities open up to them.

 

[straight6]

May want to double check the salaries of those sports. Lots of low paid athletes at the lower levels. Did you know Adrian Peterson doesn't have a shoe contract? What does that tell you about the viability of earning through endorsements even if you are the best at what you do in a major sport?

I have, been a big sports fan forever. MMA athletes make peanuts compare to mainstream sports. Top MMA stars make peanuts compare to mainstream sport stars (Kobe, Lebron, Tiger, A Rod, Jeter, F1 drivers, Ronaldo, Pacman, Floyd and too many to list) can all spend more money in one wild weekend then most top MMA fighter can make in a yr for himself.

Mainstream sport top athletes also make the big bucks young..in the 20s with mutil million/yr contact (i.e 30 mil for 3 yrs). These just the disclosed salary pay, with mainstream endorsement money, you know Tiger Woods is worth couple hundred mil right? You know Floyd makes 30+ mil a fight right? Kobe gets how many million a seaon from lakers along (not even include his nike contract and other sponsors)...

 

[Calvin42]

well......at least he got paid for that beating

 

[straight6]

Lauzon a UFC veteran and definitely not a no name guy. USD 27k pre tax and pre expenses is pretty sad (better than 8/8, but 8k to show is just a joke). Its not like any fighter in UFC fights more than 3x a yr (most guys just 2-3x max). But oh well, as long as DW and UFC are making a fortune forthemselves, the Zuffa fans are happy.

Duffee is 8/8k, UFC still has this type of contract? 8k (prepared 2-3 months for a fight) after taxes and expenses, training/mgmt fee, etc. is like sh*t. Its not like any of these guys can fight every other week..or have a career of 30 yrs like other normal jobs.

 

[boomertx]

I have, been a big sports fan forever. MMA athletes make peanuts compare to mainstream sports. Top MMA stars make peanuts compare to mainstream sport stars (Kobe, Lebron, Tiger, A Rod, Jeter, F1 drivers, Ronaldo, Pacman, Floyd and too many to list) can all spend more money in one wild weekend then most top MMA fighter can make in a yr for himself.

Mainstream sport top athletes also make the big bucks young..in the 20s with mutil million/yr contact (i.e 30 mil for 3 yrs). These just the disclosed salary pay, with mainstream endorsement money, you know Tiger Woods is worth couple hundred mil right? You know Floyd makes 30+ mil a fight right? Kobe gets how many million a seaon from lakers along (not even include his nike contract and other sponsors)...

That's not the point of my post. What do single A baseball players make? D League basketball players? A boxer fighting in a small event in an obscure town? MLS bench players? Those athletes are comparable to the UFC fighters on the undercard. The UFC has no minor league. The undercards are the minor league and those guys don't make much. All those major sports you mention have multi billion dollar TV contracts and major sponsors along with merchandise rights. The UFC has none of that at the level of those sports so you can't compare the pay scale.

 

[CC27]

Of course thats all they got, forget the countless fighters who have said they get more than is reported guys like Fabio M saying he got more money in the Glover fight than he would have had he won. or McCorkle saying he got an extra 50 percent of what he was set to receive in his contract.

We also no GSP only makes 400k a fight and SIlva only makes 200k and nobody gets PPV money even though.

Its embarrassing reading comments in these pay threads, either people are so uninformed or they are just talking shit for the hell of it.

 

[CC27]

Lauzon a UFC veteran and definitely not a no name guy. USD 27k pre tax and pre expenses is pretty sad (better than 8/8, but 8k to show is just a joke). Its not like any fighter in UFC fights more than 3x a yr (most guys just 2-3x max). But oh well, as long as DW and UFC are making a fortune forthemselves, the Zuffa fans are happy.

Duffee is 8/8k, UFC still has this type of contract? 8k (prepared 2-3 months for a fight) after taxes and expenses, training/mgmt fee, etc. is like sh*t. Its not like any of these guys can fight every other week..or have a career of 30 yrs like other normal jobs.

If they dont like it they dont have to sign, Duffee had 2 UFC fights, left on not great terms, fought 2 times in like 2 years and went 1-1 and was lucky to come back.

he got a standard prospect contract, if he doesnt like it he didnt have to take it, funny though he jumped at the chance since he wasnt getting fights anywhere else.

 

[straight6]

That's not the point of my post. What do single A baseball players make? D League basketball players? A boxer fighting in a small event in an obscure town? MLS bench players? Those athletes are comparable to the UFC fighters on the undercard. The UFC has no minor league. The undercards are the minor league and those guys don't make much. All those major sports you mention have multi billion dollar TV contracts and major sponsors along with merchandise rights. The UFC has none of that at the level of those sports so you can't compare the pay scale.

UFC is not a small event or minor league. UFC is THE biggest MMA promotion/stage in the world. Why not compare avg. salary to avg salary of UFC fighters to mainstream sport athlete? You know NBA, NFL, Major league, NHL, etc. all have min. pay in hundred of thousands a yr right? Whats the UFC avg with the current roster...a fraction of that at best. MMA pays peanuts compare to mainstream sport...that was the pt.

 

[straight6]

If they dont like it they dont have to sign, Duffee had 2 UFC fights, left on not great terms, fought 2 times in like 2 years and went 1-1 and was lucky to come back.

he got a standard prospect contract, if he doesnt like it he didnt have to take it, funny though he jumped at the chance since he wasnt getting fights anywhere else.

Thanks. This is exactly the type of attitude why MMA will never become a mainstream sport and will never attract top athletic talent (too much money elsewhere for top athletic talents in mainstream sports).

Especially when DW and super rich and UFC/Zuffa is making serious money...but i guess most people here are fan of Zuffa, rather than the fighters...as along Zuffa is making the big $$$, its all good.

 

[boomertx]

UFC is not a small event or minor league. UFC is THE biggest MMA promotion/stage in the world. Why not compare avg. salary to avg salary of UFC fighters to mainstream sport athlete? You know NBA, NFL, Major league, NHL, etc. all have min. pay in hundred of thousands a yr right? Whats the UFC avg with the current roster...a fraction of that at best. MMA pays peanuts compare to mainstream sport...that was the pt.

I clearly answered your question...it's called economics. Reread my post.

As to the undercard those fighters are comparable to minor league athletes. If they were as talented as the stars they would headline the event. They aren't so they don't get paid as well.

 

[boomertx]

Thanks. This is exactly the type of attitude why MMA will never become a mainstream sport and will never attract top athletic talent (too much money elsewhere for top athletic talents in mainstream sports).

Especially when DW and super rich and UFC/Zuffa is making serious money...but i guess most people here are fan of Zuffa, rather than the fighters...as along Zuffa is making the big $$$, its all good.

This isn't some socialist commune where everyone shares in things equally. The Fertitta's and Dana took all the financial risk and it's their's to decide what to do. The fighters have a choice to participate or not. I seriously doubt some kid is picking up a basketball or football because the money in the UFC is 'bad'. They are picking up a basketball because they like it better.

 

[straight6]

I clearly answered your question...it's called economics. Reread my post.

As to the undercard those fighters are comparable to minor league athletes. If they were as talented as the stars they would headline the event. They aren't so they don't get paid as well.

That wasnt the question i was asking. I was making a point of MMA fighters pay v.s mainstream sport pay and the huge gap that it is.

 

[straight6]

This isn't some socialist commune where everyone shares in things equally. The Fertitta's and Dana took all the financial risk and it's their's to decide what to do. The fighters have a choice to participate or not. I seriously doubt some kid is picking up a basketball or football because the money in the UFC is 'bad'. They are picking up a basketball because they like it better.

Which owners and/or promoters dont take financial risk? The yankees, or the lakers dont take financial risk? You think boxing promoters dont take on financial risk putting on a bout?

And yes, people these days ESPECIALLY talented prospects for pro sports definitely think of the $$$ b4 devoting themselve to a sport. We are not talking about recreation or for fun. For serious athletic talents, of course it matters to which sport they can make the most out of. Its not a socialist commune.

 

[zomb]

Would they prefer the 40 grand i made last year before taxes??

don't be mad cause you're poor

 

[GrindingANARCHY]

Dana paid Cigano extra to lose so the UFC could profit off the rubber match. He was supposed to get a million if Cain finished him but ol pillow fists couldn't do it.

 

[dclikewah]

I think Pacman only got 6 million for his last fight. And he has a 200 man entourage that he has to feed.

Anderson made more than that against Chael.

*chooses recklessly* to feed. dude is gonna be a sad story one day, I see a Tyson or MC Hammer like story with him real soon

 

[dclikewah]

What you do for $40K a year, whatever it is, someone else can do it. A lot of people could.

What JDS or any high-level MMA fighter gets paid for, nobody else can do it. UFC can't fire JDS then put an ad in the paper looking to hire someone with his same skillset.

And JDS just got paid more for 25 minutes of work than 99% of Americans do in a year.

 

[darthbotox**]

I think Pacman only got 6 million for his last fight. And he has a 200 man entourage that he has to feed.

Anderson made more than that against Chael.

lol