Diaz Tops Strikeforce Payouts with $150K

Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz walked out of the cage with his belt, a sore leg and a $150,000 paycheck.

Diaz (Pictured) survived a stinging leg kick attack from Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos and submitted the Brazilian with a late second-round armbar to retain his welterweight crown in the Strikeforce “Diaz vs. Cyborg” main event on Saturday at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. According to figures released by the California State Athletic Commission, Diaz’s $150,000 haul was the highest among the event’s 20 competitors. Santos, by comparison, pocketed $20,000. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Cesar Gracie, Diaz has won nine bouts in a row and cemented his place among the world’s top welterweights.

Meanwhile, Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza banked $85,000, a $15,000 win bonus included, in his third-round submission victory over Robbie Lawler in the co-main event. Lawler earned $65,000 in defeat, his third in five fights.

Finally, 1982 Heisman Trophy winner and two-time NFL All-Pro Herschel Walker took home $5,000 in his second professional MMA bout, as he stopped Scott Carson on first-round punches. Carson walked out with a matching $5,000 paycheck. Walker, who turns 49 in March, trains out of the same American Kickboxing Academy camp that launched UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and top welterweight contenders Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck and Mike Swick.

Strikeforce ‘Diaz vs. Cyborg’ Payouts

Jenna Castillo -- $3,000
(Includes $1,500 win bonus)
def.
Charlene Gellner -- $1,000

James Terry -- $3,000
(Includes $1,500 win bonus)
def.
Lucas Gamaza -- $1,500

Germaine de Randamie -- $3,000
(Includes $1,000 win bonus)
def.
Stephanie Webber -- $1,000

Ron Keslar -- $3,000
(Includes $1,500 win bonus)
def.
Eric Lawson -- $1,500

Isaiah Hill -- $3,000
(Includes $1,500 win bonus)
def.
Bobby Stack -- $1,500

Nate Moore -- $4,000
(Includes $2,000 win bonus)
def.
Nathan Coy -- $3,000

Roger Gracie -- $75,000
def.
Trevor Prangley -- $30,000

Herschel Walker -- $5,000
def.
Scott Carson -- $5,000

Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza -- $85,000
(Includes $15,000 win bonus)
def.
Robbie Lawler -- $65,000

Nick Diaz -- $150,000
def.
Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos -- $20,000

These numbers, sent to Sherdog by the California State Athletic Commission, are disclosed pay only. They do not include additional bonuses or percentages of other revenue.