How much does an MMA fighter get paid

crosstrainer1

MMA has changed alot over the past 10 years . How much would a fighter get paid starting from a first amateur to someone topping a local or national bill

jimmii

crosstrainer1 wrote: »

MMA has changed alot over the past 10 years . How much would a fighter get paid starting from a first amateur to someone topping a local or national bill

First amateur fight you're probably paying to get in some times fighters have to pay the same as spectators. For pros at a national level it's going to vary as fighters are normally on commission from ticket sales they make. Even selling a ton of tickets it's not going to work out much though a few thousand probably.

Blackthorn Fight School

Amateur if your lucky a free t-shirt unless you sell some tickets for the show then you might get a % of that. With the new rules coming in amateur fighters will basically have to pay to fight due to medical and various other expenses.

Once pro you may get paid but still not that much if your very lucky a few hundred if you manage to get sponsors maybe some free merch or if your very lucky. As to national events you can look up the earnings for many UFC events I have no idea what any individual shows give out as it is down to the promoter the fighters popularity their contract etc.

Here is a breakdown of what world class and current and former champions got paid in salary and via sponsorship for UFC 198

Salary

Jon Jones: $500,000 (no win bonus)
Ovince Saint Preux: $55,000
Jones def. Saint Preux by unanimous decision

Demetrious Johnson: $195,000 (includes $60,000 win bonus)
Henry Cejudo: $60,000
Johnson def. Cejudo by technical knockout

Edson Barboza: $88,000 (includes $44,000 win bonus)
Anthony Pettis: $80,000
Barboza def. Pettis by unanimous decision

Robert Whittaker: $60,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus)
Rafael Natal: $41,000
Whittaker def. Natal by unanimous decision

Yair Rodriguez: $42,000 (includes $21,000 win bonus)
Andre Fili: $18,000
Rodriguez def. Fili by knockout

Sergio Pettis: $48,000 (includes $24,000 win bonus)
Chris Kelades: $12,000
Pettis def. Kelades by unanimous decision

Danny Roberts: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus)
Dominique Steele: $12,000
Roberts def. Steele by unanimous decision

Carla Esparza: $60,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus)
Juliana Lima: $14,000
Esparza def. Lima by unanimous decision

James Vick: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus)
Glaico Franca: $17,000
Vick def. Franca by unanimous decision

Walt Harris: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
Cody East: $10,000
Harris def. East by technical knockout

Marcos Rogerio de Lima: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus)
Clint Hester: $12,000
Rogerio de Lima def. Hester by submission

Kevin Lee: $48,000 (includes $24,000 win bonus)
Efrain Escudero: $18,000
Lee def. Escudero by unanimous decision

Sponsorship
Jon Jones: $30,000 def. Ovince Saint Preux: $30,000
Demetrious Johnson: $40,000 def. Henry Cejudo: $30,000
Edson Barboza: $10,000 def. Anthony Pettis: $10,000
Robert Whittaker: $5,000 def. Rafael Natal: $10,000
Yair Rodriguez: $2,500 def. Andre Fili: $5,000
Sergio Pettis: $5,000 def. Chris Kelades: $2,500
Danny Roberts: $2,500 def. Dominique Steele: $2,500
Carla Esparza: $2,500 def. Juliana Lima: $2,500
James Vick: $2,500 def. Glaico Franca: $2,500
Walt Harris: $2,500 def. Cody East: $2,500
Marcos Rogerio de Lima: $2,500 def. Clint Hester: $5,000
Kevin Lee: $5,000 def. Efrain Escudero: $10,000

Now this is what top tier UFC fighters are making and its still not a lot yes if you have a huge name like Jon Jones but even Mighty Mouse a world champ only walked away with 235k and he is a world champ. People think fighters are rolling in money due to CMG but he is very much the exception even among the elite if you want to make money fighting is not the game for you. Look at the guys lower down the card once you include expenses, travel, you camp, transporting your team and paying them etc the take home pay for those outside the top ten is tiny and with 3-4 fights a year if lucky there is not much money to be had. Especially with the current Reebok deal in the UFC.

arybvtcw0eolkf

OP want me to move this to the MMA forum?.. But it might get swamped with a lot of UFC talk and I've a feeling you might be talking about domestic (Irish) fighters on the local scene?.

This would be my answer to your question too;

First amateur fight you're probably paying to get in some times fighters have to pay the same as spectators. For pros at a national level it's going to vary as fighters are normally on commission from ticket sales they make. Even selling a ton of tickets it's not going to work out much though a few thousand probably.

Certainly amateurs don't get paid, 'nor should they expect to.

jimmii

Was just listening to MMA hour and Woodley (I think it was him) was saying even in strikeforce he was having to sell 200 tickets to get on the card initially.

Also while amateurs obviously don't get a fee there are tournaments that pay the winner that are amateur not so long ago there was an 8 man MT tourney that paid €1k so you can get chances to make some money every now and then before turning Pro.

darced

This post has been deleted.

jimmii

Yeh seen it a couple of times I think it was just for starter fighters seem to remember it was 20 for spectators 10 for fighters.

Mellor

jimmii wrote: »

Yeh seen it a couple of times I think it was just for starter fighters seem to remember it was 20 for spectators 10 for fighters.

Christ. That's cheap.
Find it hard to believe also. Not saying is isn't true, just that it's unbelievable.

My events here give ammy fights a cut of the tickets they sell. Not sure what the payscale is for pro's however. Two training partners of mine are pro (one on minor local shows, the other on a larger international promotion). I'm sure they'd tell me if I asked, but don't think it's my place.

jimmii

Mellor wrote: »

Christ. That's cheap.
Find it hard to believe also. Not saying is isn't true, just that it's unbelievable.

My events here give ammy fights a cut of the tickets they sell. Not sure what the payscale is for pro's however. Two training partners of mine are pro (one on minor local shows, the other on a larger international promotion). I'm sure they'd tell me if I asked, but don't think it's my place.

Yeh it's pretty scabby alright! When they posted it on Facebook it didn't get a great response so it's possible they changed it. There was an inter-club the other day where everyone has to pay a fiver but that's a bit different I guess.

Nathan G

Depends on the fighter and competition. I know a few fighters who make ok money off of it and others who make none.