LAS VEGAS – On Saturday, Feb. 6, 2009, “UFC 109: Relentless” took place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev. On Sunday, Pro MMA Now (www.prommanow.com) requested the UFC 109 official fighter salaries from the Nevada State Athletic Commission, and recieved the information today.
Earning over $40,000 per minute inside the Octagon, main event victor, Randy “The Natural” Couture was also the big money winner on the card. His second round submission of veteran, Mark “The Hammer” Coleman earned “The Natural” a quarter of a million dollars pay day.
With no win bonus, Couture would have made the same pay, win or lose. In addition, it is also likely Couture receives a percentage of the pay-per-view buys, but that information is not made public.
The low man on the totem pole for UFC 109 was Ronys Torres, who lost a unanimous decision to Melvin Guillard. Torres took home $4,000 for his troubles.
The total disclosed fighter payroll for UFC 109 adds up to $944,000. 10,687 people attended the event in Las Vegas, for a reported live gate of $2.27 million.
UFC 109 fighter salaries:
- Randy Couture: $250,000 (no win bonus listed) def. Mark Coleman: $60,000
- Chael Sonnen: $64,000 (includes $32,000 win bonus) def. Nate Marquardt: $45,000
- Paulo Thiago: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) def. Mike Swick: $43,000
- Demian Maia: $62,000 (includes $31,000 win bonus) def. Dan Miller: $15,000
- Matt Serra: $150,000 (includes $75,000 win bonus) def. Frank Trigg: $30,000
- Mac Danzig: $40,000 (includes $20,000 win bonus) def. Justin Buchholz: $8,000
- Melvin Guillard: $28,000 (includes $14,000 win bonus) def. Ronys Torres: $4,000
- Rob Emerson: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. Phillipe Nover: $10,000
- Phil Davis: $10,000 (includes $5,000 win bonus) def. Brian Stann: $17,000
- Chris Tuchscherer: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Tim Hague: $7000
- Joey Beltran: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus) def. Rolles Gracie: $15,000
Disclaimer: The above fighter salaries do not include the “fight-night” bonuses, sponsorship money, or other income fighters may earn. It also does not reflect costs fighters incur for taxes, licensing, etc.