UFC 203 payroll breaks $3,000,000, with $500,000 going to CM Punk
CM Punk makes ridiculous amount of money at UFC 203
Fighter purses for UFC 203 have been released by the Ohio Athletic Commission. The event was a little weird, and there were some weird payouts. Highest paid fighter was Alistair Overeem, who lost, with $800,000. Next up was UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, who beat ‘Reem, but still made 25% less, with $600,000.
And in third place, one stripe white belt CM Punk, with $500,000. So of the $3,056,000 payroll, $1,900,000 went to just three fighters, two of whom lost.
In defense of the payroll structure, CM Punk undoubtedly drove $500,000 worth of publicity to the event, based on the audience he built up in the WWE. Still, it would be hard to argue that he was underpaid, given his performance.
A think is in the end worth what someone will pay for it, but still …
UFC 203 Payroll
Stipe Miocic: $600,000 (no win bonus)
beat Alistair Overeem: $800,000
Fabricio Werdum: $375,000 (includes $125,000 win bonus)
beat Travis Browne: $120,000
Mickey Gall: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus)
beat Phil ‘CM Punk’ Brooks: $500,000
Jimmie Rivera: $48,000 (includes $24,000 win bonus)
beat Urijah Faber: $160,000
Jessica Andrade: $46,000 (includes $23,000 win bonus)
beat Joanne Calderwood: $25,000
Bethe Correia: $50,000 (includes $25,000 win bonus)
beat Jessica Eye: $25,000
Brad Tavares: $56,000 (includes $28,000 win bonus)
beat Caio Magalhaes: $20,000
Nik Lentz: $76,000 (includes $38,000 win bonus)
beat Michael McBride: $12,000
Yancy Medeiros: $48,000 (includes $24,000 win bonus)
beat Sean Spencer: $17,000
Drew Dober: $38,000 (includes $19,000 win bonus)
beat Jason Gonzales: $10,000
The above figures are the fighter payout information that promoters are required by State law to submit to the state athletic commissions; they 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, fighters earned sponsorship of between $2,500 and $50,000 for wearing Reebok apparel in the Octagon, and for the week before it. Out-of-event sponsorship money too can be a significant, although it is smaller for many fighters than it was in the past. In addition, four $50,000 ‘of the Night’ Performance Bonuses, are awarded.
Further, main event PPV fighters receive a percentage of the PPV gross, as contracted, generally at a rate that escalates with increased PPV buys.
Lastly, many fighters earn income from teaching, from appearances, and in many cases from regular employment in the non-fighting space.