UFC 216 Salaries: Tony Ferguson Takes $500K, Mark Godbeer Makes $30K Without Fighting

Tony Ferguson is at least half million dollars richer after his Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight title win. On the other hand, he actually had to fight to get it.

The official payouts for UFC 216 released by the Nevada Athletic Commission show that “El Cucuy” made $500,000 — $250,000 to show and the same figure to win — for his third-round triangle choke over Kevin Lee, while Lee made $250,000. UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson set the consecutive UFC title defense record in the co-headliner, taking his 11th straight title fight win over Ray Borg. For his “Submission of the Year” shoo-in, “Mighty Mouse” earned a reported $370,000 flat with no win bonus. Borg’s pay was $100,000.

UFC 216 took place Oct. 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The interesting parts of the UFC 216 payout ledger lay elsewhere. The card featured two lightweight bouts ending in draws — Beneil Dariush-Evan Dunham and the “Fight of the Night” between Bobby Green and Lando Vannata — meaning that all four 155-pounders walked away with just their show money. Dariush and Dunham earned $48,000 and $40,000 respectively, while Green and Vannatta took home $24,000 and $25,000, their performance bonuses excluded.

Most interestingly, the NAC confirmed on Monday that British heavyweight Mark Godbeer had been paid $30,000 — $15,000 to show and the same to win — despite his scheduled fight with Walt Harris being canceled on fight night when Harris filled in for an injured Derrick Lewis versus Fabricio Werdum. A 155-pound contest between Will Brooks and Nik Lentz was also scheduled for the card and canceled on weigh-in day due to a Lentz illness but neither man appears on the payout ledger, likely as a result of the UFC seeking to rebook the contest within a 30-day window. Brooks was set to make $53,000 to show and the same to win, while Lentz was on the books for $41,000 to show and double for a win.

Note: The disclosed purses reported by state athletic commissions do not include any performance-based or discretionary bonuses that may be awarded to a fighter by the promotion. Additionally, the reported figures do not reflect any deductions made by the commission for taxes, insurance, etc., and do not include any sponsorship money that a fighter may acquire for their performance.

UFC 216 “Ferguson vs. Lee” Salaries:

Tony Ferguson: $500,000 (includes $250,000 win bonus)
Kevin Lee: $250,000

Demetrious Johnson: $370,000
Ray Borg: $100,000

Fabricio Werdum: $400,000 (includes $125,000 win bonus)
Walt Harris: $28,000

Mara Romero Borella: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus)
Kalindra Faria: $12,000

Beneil Dariush: $48,000
Evan Dunham: $40,000

Cody Stamann: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus)
Tom Duquesnoy: $23,000

Bobby Green: $24,000
Lando Vannata: $25,000

Poliana Botelho: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
Pearl Gonzalez: $10,000

Matt Schnell: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
Marco Beltran: $14,000

John Moraga: $68,000 (includes $34,000 win bonus)
Magomed Bibulatov: $17,000

Brad Tavares: $74,000 (includes $37,000 win bonus)
Thales Leites: $57,000

Mark Godbeer: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus)