UFC 202 Salaries

[Wild]

Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz continue to break records. The two welterweight rivals became the first pair of headliners in UFC history to both cash seven-figure purses on Saturday, with McGregor earning a UFC record $3 million purse and Diaz a $2 million purse for their much-anticipated rematch at UFC 202, according to figures released to MMA Fighting by the Nevada Athletic Commission.

Main Card (Pay-per-view)
Conor McGregor ($3 million + no win bonus = $3 million) def. Nate Diaz ($2 million)
Anthony Johnson ($135,000 + $135,000 = $270,000) def. Glover Teixeira ($65,000)
Donald Cerrone ($85,000 + $85,000 = $170,000) def. Rick Story ($41,000)
Mike Perry ($10,000 + $10,000 = $20,000) def. Hyun Gyu Lim ($18,000)
Tim Means ($31,000 + $31,000 = $62,000) def. Sabah Homasi ($12,000)

Preliminary Card (FOX Sports 1)
Cody Garbrandt ($27,000 + $27,000 = $54,000) def. Takeya Mizugaki ($39,000)
Raquel Pennington ($23,000 + $23,000 = $46,000) def. Elizabeth Phillips ($12,000)
Artem Lobov ($13,000 + $13,000 = $26,000) def. Chris Avila ($10,000)
Cortney Casey ($20,000 + $20,000 = $40,000) def. Randa Markos ($14,000)

Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)
Lorenz Larkin ($39,000 + $39,000 = $78,000) def. Neil Magny ($47,000)
Colby Covington ($21,000 + $21,000 = $42,000) def. Max Griffin ($10,000)
Marvin Vettori ($10,000 + $10,000 = $20,000) def. Alberto Uda ($10,000)

UFC 202 salaries: McGregor, Diaz handily lead payroll

 

[Stillmatic]

These salaries always confuse the fuck out of me.

 

[Robbie Hart]

These salaries always confuse the fuck out of me.

 

[Left Hook Larry]

damn Conor really did change his bum life. 2 mil is a damn good payday

 

[Wintermute]

Most expensive (and worth it) headliner in UFC history?

 

[Yossarian]

In that all telling picture: "lets do this again..."

 

[Lukewarm Carl]

Most expensive (and worth it) headliner in UFC history?

From a base pay standpoint? Definitely and it's not even close.

 

[tang]

Good for Nate!!

 

[Atto]

Happy for Diaz that he made 2 million. I hope more fighters can start making millions .

 

[Megatron Robinson]

Getting 18, 12 or 10 to show while on the main card is absolutely ridiculous to me.

 

[Atto]

damn Conor really did change his bum life. 2 mil is a damn good payday

do u mean that Connor changed Nate's bum life?

 

[Kingtony87]

Looking a bit more like a boxing card.

 

[Wild]

Nate cleared about $1.1 million after taxes. Good for him. That's life changing money.

 

[bully4me]

Nate cleared about $1.1 million after taxes. Good for him. That's life changing money.

That's one hell of a lot of taxes on 2mil. Being self employed how would that even be figured out at this point? Is the money being taken off by the UFC to make sure fighters are paying the IRS ? Also, in a lot of companies that have bonuses, (let's say comparable to PPV expected profit shares) they will take off that expected taxable amount from the bonus off the "salary". If that's the case it would explain why the tax percentage is so high.

 

[Wild]

That's one hell of a lot of taxes on 2mil. Being self employed how would that even be figured out at this point? Is the money being taken off by the UFC to make sure fighters are paying the IRS ? Also, in a lot of companies that have bonuses, (let's say comparable to PPV expected profit shares) they will take off that expected taxable amount from the bonus off the "salary". If that's the case it would explain why the tax percentage is so high.

I'm just estimating. I think if you get up over $250k, the federal and state income brackets are pretty steep. I'm guessing 40-45% but I could be completely wrong. I dont think the UFC does anything with regards to counseling the fighters on taxes. I think the fighters just get a check and its their responsibility to figure out what goes to the IRS.

 

[member 603]

So in two fights, Conor has made 4 million (1 million for 196, 3 million for 202), and Nate 2.5 million ($500,000 for 196, 2 million for 202)......... And people ask why they should fight a third time..... There is NO OTHER FIGHT that will earn them this kind of cash.

Not gonna lie, if I were Conor I'd give away that FW title and just look for the trilogy (he mentioned that he only wanted to fight two more years).... And Nate is my boy, I completely understand if he decides to sit and wait for Conor. I know that people say that Conor changed Nate's life, and he did.... But you need a worthy foe to make that kind of money with, Conor knows that Nate is the only big money fight for him.

 

[BrunoMcGyver]

Good to see Rumble getting some solid 6-figures. Hopefully that continues to go up. I don't care if more ppl know who Sage Northcutt is than Rumble (not saying that's true, but wouldn't surprise me tbh) but Rumble should have the same following Conor as if not more. Guy always brings it, has nuclear bombs for punches and is always professional in the octagon.

Hopefully Cerrone's pay goes up with a new contract and hopefully Garbrandt's base bay triples in his next fight.

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

"Conor is bad for the sport."

 

[Papi Chingon]

I'm just estimating. I think if you get up over $250k, the federal and state income brackets are pretty steep. I'm guessing 40-45% but I could be completely wrong. I dont think the UFC does anything with regards to counseling the fighters on taxes. I think the fighters just get a check and its their responsibility to figure out what goes to the IRS.

He will be taxed 39.4% by the feds than an additional 13.3% by the lovely state of california (highest in the US).

 

[benjo0101]

The imbalance in pay is just insane. Glover... What the fuck? $70k and under for the number 2 contender? Give him a bonus for getting uppercut into outer space for our entertainment... Fuck that's depressing.

Headliners good. Much everyone else. Bad.

 

[SongExotic2]

Nate cleared about $1.1 million after taxes. Good for him. That's life changing money.

A question. Does his camp take a fixed percentage of that?

For some reason I wanna think they get 20%


Thats a lit when it comes to big money

 

[Yossarian]

Conor knows that Nate is the only big money fight for him.

Conor is the only big money fight for Nate you mean.

As for Conor, there are plenty of fights that are going to make him that money. Especially after this win.

 

[member 603]

Conor is the only big money fight for Nate you mean.

As for Conor, there are plenty of fights that are going to make him that money. Especially after this win.

I disagree.... He won't make half of that facing Aldo, there is no FW or LW that will command that kind of money (even if they did a champ vs champ thing against the LW champ).

Conor had that unbeatable aura, then 196 happened.... He got that rematch, and people tuned in to see if he could either regain form, or get beaten again. With the public sentiment being divided on the outcome, the masses want to see the trilogy... This is what will earn him that kind of cash again.

 

[Zeph]

McGregor drew 1.2mil against Aldo the first time. He'll draw well over a million against whoever he fights next. If you let the trilogy simmer it can become something bigger than it would be. Just look at Manny vs Mayweather, they left that to simmer for 5 years and it turned into 4mil ppv. Time to see if Nate can draw against someone else.

 

[Yossarian]

I disagree.... He won't make half of that facing Aldo, there is no FW or LW that will command that kind of money (even if they did a champ vs champ thing against the LW champ).

Conor had that unbeatable aura, then 196 happened.... He got that rematch, and people tuned in to see if he could either regain form, or get beaten again. With the public sentiment being divided on the outcome, the masses want to see the trilogy... This is what will earn him that kind of cash again.

But what does Nate make without Conor? Before that fight he was paid 20/20 by the UFC. I am glad those numbers have changed for him, but let's not pretend that everybody wants to fight Nate because they'll have red panty night. Lets hope he's now part of the big earners in the UFC, but I have my reservations knowing Dana and co.