Image by Anton Tabuena
The Nevada State Athletic Commission has released the salary information for UFC 143, and there aren't a lot of surprises. Nick Diaz was the top earner, making 200k to show. Meanwhile, the man that beat him earned 110k, and that was with a 55k win bonus. Next on the list was Josh Koscheck who earned 146k. Fabricio Werdum was the only other fighter to break 6 digits with a 100k payday.The total payout was $880,500.
On a side note, It is immensely saddening that Matt Riddle makes more than Roy Nelson, Mike Pierce, and two top 10 bantamweights. Here is the full list:
Carlos Condit: $110,000 (includes $55,000 win bonus)
def. Nick Diaz: $200,000Fabricio Werdum: $100,000 (no win bonus)
def. Roy Nelson: $20,000Josh Koscheck: $146,000 ($73,000 win bonus)
Mike Pierce: $20,000Renan Barao: $22,000 ($11,000 win bonus)
Scott Jorgensen: $20,500Ed Herman: $62,000 ($31,000 win bonus)
Clifford Starks: $8,000Dustin Poirier: $24,000 ($12,000 win bonus)
Max Holloway: $6,000Edwin Figueroa: $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus)
Alex Caceres: $8,000Matt Brown: $30,000 ($15,000 win bonus)
Chris Cope: $8,000Matt Riddle: $30,000 ($15,000 win bonus)
Henry Martinez: $6,000Rafael Natal: $20,000 ($10,000 win bonus)
Michael Kuiper: $6,000Stephen Thompson: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus)
Dan Stittgen: $5,000
0 recs | 131 comments
Does Nick's deal include a taste of the PPV?
Dave Strummer - February 6, 2012
The rumour amongst the media guys seemed to be that Diaz was getting nearer a million for this one.
sheikybaby - February 6, 2012
poor nick diaz
Only 200k? How will he ever live off those measly table scraps? He can only afford to live in the ghetto in Stockton.
_TheDreadedMarco - February 6, 2012 via mobile
that is most of the town
Elstriko - February 6, 2012 via Android app
I'm sure it was near that
He was the entire story for this PPV.
You could have inserted anyone in Carlos’ place and we would have all tuned in to see what crazy shit Nick did.
That and he said “You guys pay me way too much.” I’m sure that wasn’t a reference to the 200k he’s used to.
Dana said Nick could fight a couple more years and live comfortably for the rest of his life.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
I’m not totally sure but if I think he made more than this for the BJ fight and he was complaining about his pay and Dana was basically like uhhhhhh, I don"t how much houses cost in stockton but he might want to move if he can’t afford it with what we’re paying him
TheDreadedMarco - February 6, 2012 via mobile
Well this was just said
By both of them over the weekend.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
i dont understand
he has never been a big draw at all in the past. If the PPV did well in buys, the credit goes to Condit just as much as it does to Diaz seeing as his fight with Bj Penn did less then 300k buys.
benten20 - February 6, 2012
Condit created 0% of the buzz for that event
There’s a reason his listed salary is a quarter of Diaz’s.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
And what on earth makes a fight exciting??
Diaz didnt do much in terms of selling this fight in any way shape or form. No trash talking of any kind. This card was dependent on both of these guys reputations as killers thats it! Plus Diaz has shown in the past to have no drawing power! He fought on of the all-time greats in Penn and drew under 300k! Oh and 110k isnt a quarter of his listed salary its actually more then half.
benten20 - February 6, 2012
Diaz put up huge numbers on Showtime
You’re cute
He’s only been on one, 1, uno, PPV in the past 5 years.
Everyone was really excited about this fight because of Diaz. Simple and plain. When has the ever been a buzz around a Carlos Condit fight.
Carlos’ base salary was 55k, Nick’s was 200k.
That is about 25%.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
didnt see the includes and carlos deserves much more then that
And the second this card was changed from GSP and diaz to condit diaz everyone bugged out because of the change being made to CONDIT. no denying it this fight was special because of WHO diaz was fighting not that he was fighting and u totally disregard my “cute” statement when its a perfectly valid point. He couldn’t draw over 300k buys against Penn. That’s not someone who’s a big draw.
benten20 - February 6, 2012 via mobile
It is not valid at all
I meant to quote more.
He’s been on one UFC card in 5 years. You can’t draw any conclusion on that at all.
Diaz/GSP was the entire story. That’s what everyone wanted to see.
This had nothing to do with Carlos.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
really? cuz i distinctly remember when this fight was announced everyone going on and on about how awesome this fight will be
And yes you can draw a conclusion from this. Showtime had a limited viewing threshold to begin with so obviously their best fighters will draw the bigger numbers then the less known ones but the numbers he drew on showtime don’t compare to the big draws in the ufc at all. Based on his inability to draw for the bj fight, he def isn’t a draw as of now and if this card drew well then the credit goes to condit as much as diaz
benten20 - February 6, 2012 via mobile
One fight
One. Hold on to that argument because its all you have.
Are you kidding me?
If you believe people were more excited about Condit than GSP this conversation is over. This shows how far off base you are.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
i distinctly remember one comment but not word for word
Every casual fan just cried no while every hardcore is in heaven. Dude your right people wanted GSP diaz but everyone went nuts when this fight was announced
benten20 - February 6, 2012 via mobile
Right....
GSP would have sold way less than Condit.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
i did not once say anything about sales dumbass
I said the fight itself had more potential for an amazing war. And GSP is the one who draws the numbers not diaz.
benten20 - February 6, 2012 via mobile
Dumbass?
You’ve said some really stupid shit and I didn’t resort to name calling.
Shows how solid your argument is.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
read below comment im just having fun with this now not being serious anymore
benten20 - February 6, 2012 via mobile
Well
You just through me for a loop.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
no the original conversation was serious we have opposing viewpoints but figured i could spice it up a little bit
benten20 - February 6, 2012 via mobile
Ah
Misread.
We’re never gonna agree.
We’ll just have to wait and see.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
And you are cute
You use way too many exclamation points and base you’re entire argument on the BJ Penn fight. Which was his first fight back the UFC in 5 years. And happen to occur during a serious lull in PPV buys.
You completely write off the fact that he was a very big draw on Showtime and currently one of the most popular and intriguing fighters in the sport.
Not to mention, you should have known I was obviously talking about Carlos’ base salary which is in fact roughly 25% of Nick’s.
Or we could talk about how the only reason Carlos even got the fight was an injury to GSP.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
your using straw man falacies
All of this is irrelevant because its simple facts. If he’s such a large draw before coming back to the ufc then why didn’t he draw big on the bj fight? I apologize for my mistake but I don’t think diaz deserves a 1m payout while condit gets 110k. Condit being as good a fighter as he is and reputation made this fight so exciting on paper.
benten20 - February 6, 2012 via mobile
You have no other point
at all.
Carlos was never even a main event level fighter.
This conversation is over. Think what you like, we’ll see how much buzz Condit has in his next fight,
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
just like a diaz nuthugger quit when your beaten:)
Oh and I will enjoy the NEW INTERIM WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLDS NEXT FIGHT AND HIS NAME IS CARLOS CONDIT:)
benten20 - February 6, 2012 via mobile
I didn't see it that way at all
Its just getting really repetitive.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
i was just having fun with that
benten20 - February 6, 2012 via mobile
Also
Why so many exclamation points?
Are you that excited?
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
i like yelling!
benten20 - February 6, 2012 via mobile
Unless you're saying Nick is crazy
Because he is.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
Fair ’nuff
TheDreadedMarco - February 6, 2012 via mobile
You’re going to call out Riddle for making $15k base, but say nothing about Matt Brown (also $15k base) or Ed Herman ($31k base)?
Niles - February 6, 2012
Brown and Herman have been in the UFC since 08 and 07
With the amount of fights taken it wouldn’t be surprising if they are on their second contract now. You stick around in the UFC you get paid.
MaZZacare - February 6, 2012
Well if you go that way, Riddle and Brown were on the same season on TUF.
Sweet Scientist - February 6, 2012
Then again they both suck, and are lucky to even be in the UFC
Horselover Fat - February 6, 2012
I think this has something to do with it.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
Yes.
Tim Burke - February 6, 2012
Only counting UFC fights, Riddle is 6-3, Brown is 6-5 and Herman is 7-5. None of them has a victory over a quality opponent. There’s nothing to justify singling Riddle out amongst those three as being un-deserving of his salary.
Niles - February 6, 2012
Watch his fight with Sean Pierson. That’s enough for me.
And Herman has been a bunch of quality opponents.
Tim Burke - February 6, 2012
Herman has payed his dues, and I feel that he gets paid the right amount. Matt Brown, at the very least, has shown to have a role in the UFC as a low level gatekeeper and a guy who takes fights on short notice (which is becoming much more valuable as fighters drop out of fights much more due to injury). I don’t really see what Riddle brings to the table to be honest.
chrisbboy82 - February 7, 2012
where did kevin lole get that diaz was making a million?
or is that after all the behind the scenes bologna?
gxc - February 6, 2012
roy gets shit
for a guy who won TUF 10 and has been fighting nothing but top guys
mir,dos santos,werdum,cro cop
P86 - February 6, 2012
That is kind of surprising
I would have figured him to be more of 40/40 guy.
Dave Strummer - February 6, 2012
Still on his TUF contract.
Tim Burke - February 6, 2012
Yep
He’s screwed. The losses won’t help his case any with his next contract either.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
Looks like somebodys getting Anderson Silva money
AfroSamurai - February 6, 2012
HHahah
TheDreadedMarco - February 6, 2012 via mobile
Looks like some of these guys need to renegotiate.I'm taken aback a little.
kentmurr410 - February 6, 2012
what do you mean?
if someone wanted to pay me 5000 to shit my pants on facebook, I’d do it in a heartbeat!
some schmuck in texas - February 6, 2012
On the other hand
Holloway almost got his arm ripped off for 6k.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
"almost"?
horseshoes and hand grenades!
some schmuck in texas - February 6, 2012
And ligament tears
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
He was called to fight a few feeks ago max
6K isn’t bad for a few weeks work.
YPG - February 6, 2012
It is to me
Considering the amount of time he put in and the risk involved.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
it isn’t to his, and his opinion counts more than yours.
Phildo - February 6, 2012
Very much so
He probably needs the money more than I do, too.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
Renan Barao definitely needs a new contract he’s 1 fight away from a title shot in my eyes.
OptimusPiss - February 6, 2012
55k win bonus for Condit
That’s worth doing whatever it takes to get the W especially with wife and baby at home. F the haters.
Kid Kimura - February 6, 2012
this.
gspmademegay - February 6, 2012
That's basically "there's no way we think you win this fight" money right there.
menckenstein - February 6, 2012
or the standard way they design contracts
Phildo - February 6, 2012
fighters decide whether they get one lump sum to show or or a show/win bonus.
Harley hooper - February 6, 2012
He's got a bigger pay day coming up too...
When he faces GSP.
jcbrewer - February 6, 2012
Can we stop using the word haters?
I hate people talking about how haters make them strong or how the haters suck. Can we just stop using the word haters?
discoandherpes - February 6, 2012
Spoken like a true hater.
Kyle Overeem - February 7, 2012
Devil’s advocate: If he fought his usual fight he’d have won a FOTN bonus, received a large bonus backstage, made a ton of new fans and still could have won that $55K win bonus.
rabrown - February 7, 2012
cesar gracie just accused condit of greasing...
his corner apparently poured water over carlos to make him slippery, this is so entertaining.
carmine99 - February 6, 2012
He's also talking nonsense about boxing pay days.
Sweet Scientist - February 6, 2012
cesar is one enlightened human being.
nick would be better off going to a different camp, there is so much B.S coming out of this guy.
carmine99 - February 6, 2012
i dunno
Look where Cesar has gotten him so far.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
he was missing from his corner on fight night.
and his just bleed attitude is further emphasizing why diaz has such one dimensional approach towards fighting, his insistence to avoid gameplanning is moronic at best. he is also voicing nick’s attitude that the whole world is out to get him, not a good influence to have around imo.
carmine99 - February 6, 2012
Nick barely lost that fight
for the UFC title.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
that's one perspective.
carmine99 - February 6, 2012
That's reality
Nick is extremely successful.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
not denying that.
but a lot of ppl thought carlos won. that said, cesar is feeding B.S into nick, rejecting any sort of gameplanning, always pointing fingers at others, making him feel like the whole world is out to get him, when it’s not true, not a healthy outlook. mental health is as important in competitive sports as physical health.
carmine99 - February 6, 2012
I'm just saying
Look at where Nick is right now.
Cesar is a huge part of that.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
Look where BJ is at now
That’s Nick’s future if he hangs around with Yes Men and excuse makers
bmilo - February 6, 2012
I don't think that's what he's doing....
BJ Penn has bever belong to a camp full of champions and title contenders.
You guys are crazy./
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
If you don't see the parallels between BJ and Nick...
then you are blind. Yeah, BJ doesn’t have the cardio but his attitude is identical. Nick got beat in very much the same way BJ did in his first fight with Edgar. They are both sore losers. They both “retire” after losses. How can you not see this? Everyone looks at BJ and wonder what could have been. Same will happen with Nick.
bmilo - February 6, 2012
If you don't see the differences
you are blind.
Nick is an extremely hard worker surrounded by world class fighters that work just as hard.
BJ is extremely lazy, surrounded by yes man and inferior training partners.
I don’t see how Nick ‘retiring’ says anything about his camp or Cesar.
Cesar is likely angling for a rematch.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
He was in nick's corner.
Harley hooper - February 6, 2012
Hahha man, the shit that comes out of that camp is just…..amazing.
TheDreadedMarco - February 6, 2012 via mobile
Werdum scored a nice contract
good thing he performed!
As for Roy.. is that the old tuf contract still?
elmojo - February 6, 2012
Yeah. At least he walked away with $65 K for fight of the night.
kreally - February 6, 2012
The only give that Riddle “makes” more than that you mentioned is Barao. He made more this pay-per-view than Nelson, Jorgensen and Pierce but that’s only because he won and they all lost. His base salary is less than all of theirs.
hoohoofred - February 6, 2012
Logged in to say this.
Glad I read the comments before posting!
TorQus - February 6, 2012 via mobile
Yeah but a losing Nelson should still be making more than a winning Riddle. I mean, it’s not an issue that has anybody up in arms. It’s even called a “side note” in the post.
James Brady - February 6, 2012
If Mike Pierce or Roy Nelson had won their fights....
…they would have made more than Matt Riddle. So I think it’s a little disengenous to point out that he reportedly made more than they did.
Personally, I’d be surprised if Nelson and Pierce didn’t get nice performance bonuses that took them over what Riddle got.
It is a crime that Roy Nelson is getting just $20,000 per fight, when you consider his opponents.
Luke Nelson - February 6, 2012
JDS, Mir, Werdum.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
Riddle fought a lightweight. And barely beat him. Pierce and Nelson were fighting top 5 fighters.
Tim Burke - February 6, 2012
That's...
What he said?
TorQus - February 6, 2012 via mobile
Yeah...
…the win bonus was not my idea.
Their base pay is what matters to your point, and Riddle is making less in base pay per fight than Nelson and Pierce….As far as I can tell, the UFC doesn’t take opponents you may face due to late notice into account when they negotiate base pay.
Luke Nelson - February 6, 2012
If you don’t think they take your level of opponent you may take into account when they’re giving you your salary, I don’t even know what to tell you. They didn’t re-sign Riddle at 15k/15k thinking he was going to be fighting top 5 guys anywhere along the way in that deal.
Tim Burke - February 6, 2012
Somebody call the popo on herb dean
He robbed Bruce leeroy out of a victory and 8 g’s.. that fight looked like a handicap match
psychoblack - February 6, 2012 via mobile
the first part is false, the second part is true
You don’t like losing decisions based on foul penalties, maybe you should keep your foot out of your opponent’s daddy zone.
some schmuck in texas - February 6, 2012
Was the 2 point deduction right?
I’ve seen nut shots and a guy get warned then later deducted, but never 2 points. I honestly have never seen a 2 pointer before.
DSAhawker - February 6, 2012
me neither, but I've never seen someone have to take the full five for two separate dong-smashes either
some schmuck in texas - February 6, 2012
despite all of which, Figueroa landed the most legal damage of the fight
headkick after the first dong-smash.
some schmuck in texas - February 6, 2012
Caceres threatened longer
Caceres dominated large parts of that fight.
discoandherpes - February 6, 2012
Hmmm....
Makes you wonder….
I have no doubt the landed, well two of them, but he clearly faked at least one and seemed to be playing it up. A lot.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
I was drinking a lot of Shiner Bock
But it definitely seemed like Bruce Leroy had the distance figured out and was landing at will on Figueroa, so Figgy took the opportunity to rest. I was seriously worried he was not going to come back, that Caceres was going to lose by DQ.
I had Caceres winning the last two rounds easily, losing the first, so 9-10, 10-8, 10-8, even with two points deducted he should have won.
And I’ve NEVER seen two points deducted right away like that. What did they take from Bisping? One point? For what was clearly intentional, yet Caceres was landing accidentally. It seems odd to take away that many points after a “hard warning” or whatever Herb called it.
Figgy moves up, undeservedly, while Bruce Leroy moves down, also undeservedly.
Joe Rogan has made the point multiple times that Muay Thai fighters wear a superior cup that prevents nut damage and pain. I know fighters are not supposed to hit there, but it happens often enough, by accident, that I sort of blame fighters for not protecting themselves better.
RobtWeaver - February 6, 2012
Never seen 2 points but agreed with it
He could have dq’d him for a second offense, or deducted one per foul, with the same result
Arca MMA - February 7, 2012 via mobile
It was the stances
Alex is a southpaw and Figueroa had his nuts aimed directly at his foot.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
Caceres still won every round.
discoandherpes - February 6, 2012
He handicapped Figueroa with those repeated dick kicks, yes. And he deserved to lose because of that
Horselover Fat - February 6, 2012
Then why no DQ?
Doesn’t make sense.
Either take the DQ win or shut up, IMO.
2 points is completely unheard of. Caceres landed two illegal kicks and Ed clearly faked being hit once.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
I have a hard time sympathizing with a blatant fouler. I’m not interested in the rules and regulations discussion.
Also I just saw this tweet from Figueroa:
https://twitter.com/#!/EdwinElFeroz/status/166224993104039937
Horselover Fat - February 6, 2012
So fuck that facts right?
He’s hardly a blatant fouler.
It was two accidental kicks.
I have a hard time sympathizing with a man who fake’s low blows, too.
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
Eh, if you want to defend Caceres and his dick kicks that’s up to you. I tend to side with the one getting injured from said fouls. Definitely did not see any faking there.
Horselover Fat - February 6, 2012
Well he did fake one
And deducting two points has no precedence in MMA.
Not to mention, if he was that badly hurt, why was it not a DQ?
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
You don't remember
He grab his balls after a low kick and Herb said “No. That was clean.”
TheFilt - February 6, 2012
No I don’t remember that actually, but my memory is generally not to be trusted. So you’re probably right.
Horselover Fat - February 6, 2012
This
discoandherpes - February 6, 2012
He still lost every round
And lets not act like he had any reason to hit him in the nuts again.
discoandherpes - February 6, 2012
I agree a dq would have been the better solution
some schmuck in texas - February 6, 2012
Glad to see nobody making under 5k
ElliotMatheny - February 6, 2012
I know hopefully those days are gone for good
Harley hooper - February 6, 2012
If even Dan Stittgen made 5k for being HL reel fodder,
then I think it’s safe to say that 5 grand is around the baseline.
ElliotMatheny - February 6, 2012
"If"
Stittgen’s last fight before this weekend was a majority decision win over a guy who was 2-3 going in.
some schmuck in texas - February 6, 2012
How can Nick complain not two years ago that he was broke and now all of a sudden he's getting payed too much and he's going to retire?
If he’s making 200k to just show up and fight, why not stick around?
kreally - February 6, 2012
c'mon now...
Diaz ain’t goin nowhere. intentional or not, Diaz is a marketing jedi.
Kid Kimura - February 6, 2012
yup
I place the odds of him not fighting in the ufc again by year end about the same as his next youtube video not including the word ‘fuck’
some schmuck in texas - February 6, 2012
nelson is getting paid much less then i thought
chum - February 6, 2012
It makes me sad to see that Koscheck’s lame ass makes that much more than Big Roy.
Redconsensus - February 6, 2012
Nelson gets paid shit, good thing he spends his face to get that “FOTN” bonus.
Kind of bothers me Condit won the fight and Diaz got paid way more. Something about it gets me, Idk. Winner should make more.
thirdparty - February 6, 2012
I disagree that winners should make more. Diaz draws more eyeballs than Condit.
James Brady - February 6, 2012
Yeah, that is left up to Ufc brass and fighter’s managers as it should be. They are the ones who know each fighters relevancy to the organization.
Harley hooper - February 6, 2012
I mean, I get that part. It’s a business and that’s the way it is. it just irks me that you can be the better fighter and get less reward.
thirdparty - February 7, 2012
lmfao.
Starks making 8k is so ridiculous.
lukustra - February 6, 2012 via mobile
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