Tony Ferguson Tops UFC 216 Payroll Over Demetrious Johnson's Record-Setting Win
There was nothing ordinary about UFC 216: Ferguson vs. Lee, not even the fighter payroll.
The event took place on the heels of the largest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, a shooting that took place in the UFC 216 host city. Contrasting the pall that hovered over the lead-up to the event and the event itself, was the record-setting performance of Demetrious Johnson and Tony Ferguson capturing the interim lightweight title in the main event.
As is frequently the case for a main event fighter, Ferguson led the charge on the UFC 216 payroll, earning half a million dollars for his victory over Ray Borg.
Though former heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum was second on the list, Johnson netted $370,000 in disclosed pay for becoming the first fighter in history to defend his title 11 times.
There were several major changes leading up to UFC 216, however. A fight between Nik Lentz and Will Brooks was canceled, when Lentz fell ill before the weigh-in. Then, just hours before fight time, Derrick Lewis had to withdraw from his fight with Werdum due to a back injury that flared up.
With Lewis off the card, prelim fighter Walt Harris was removed from his bout with Marc Godbeer and instead fought Werdum.
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Godbeer was paid his disclosed show money of $15,000, according to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Lentz, Brooks, and Lewis were not paid via the athletic commission, and the UFC has not commented on the status of any possible payment to them.
The figures below represent the disclosed payroll as managed by the NSAC. Any other discretionary bonuses, pay-per-view points, etc., are not disclosed to the athletic commission.
UFC 216: Ferguson vs. Lee took place on Saturday, Oct. 7, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
UFC 216: Ferguson vs. Lee Fighter Salaries
Tony Ferguson: $500,000 (includes $250,000 win bonus) vs. Kevin Lee: $250,000
Demetrious Johnson: $370,000 (no win bonus) def. Ray Borg: $100,000
Fabricio Werdum: $400,000 (includes $125,000 win bonus) def. Walt Harris: $28,000
Mara Romero Borella: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. Kalindra Faria: $12,000
Beneil Dariush: $48,000 drew with Evan Dunham: $40,000
Cody Stamann: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. Tom Duquesnoy: $23,000
Lando Vannata: $25,000 drew with Bobby Green: $24,000
Poliana Botelho: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Pearl Gonzalez: $10,000
Matt Schnell: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Marco Beltran: $14,000
John Moraga: $68,000 (includes $34,000 win bonus) def. Magomed Bibulatov: $17,000
Brad Tavares: $74,000 (includes $37,000 win bonus) def. Thales Leites: $57,000
Marc Godbeer: $15,000*
*Fight was canceled.
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