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)