UFC's payslips for the card in Atlanta on Saturday night and the earnings for former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman have caused a major stir.
UFC made its fifth visit to Atlanta at the weekend for the Fight Night Card on ESPN at the State Farm Arena, with Usman headlining the card with a bout against Joaquin Buckley.
Former UFC welterweight champion Usman came into the fight on a three-fight losing streak, with his last win coming against Colby Covington in New York.
After suffering a defeat to Khamzat Chimaev in his middleweight debut in October 2023, the Nigerian Nightmare dropped back down to welterweight and got back to winning ways with an unanimous decision victory over Buckley.
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But despite being in the main event with a win that might just put him back in title contention, Usman did not take home the biggest pay packet from the show.
The Georgia Athletic & Entertainment Commission, as per MMA Fighting, posted the full salaries for all fighters who competed, with Usman having to settle for second place.
The 38-year-old was paid $300,000 by Dana White, with no win bonus in his contract. However, both and he and Buckley, who made $150,000, were given a bonus fee of $50,000 for delivering the 'Fight of the Night'.
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Cody Garbrandt earned $275,000 for his loss to Raoni Barcelos and Michael Chiesa got $300,000 - but it was Rose Namajunas who ended up being the highest-paid fighter on the bill.
Her terms were an initial payment of $250,000, plus the same sum for winning her contest against Miranda Maverick - totalling a whopping $500,000.
UFC fighter payslips excluding bonuses
Kamaru Usman: $300,000, no win bonus
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Joaquin Buckley: $150,000
Rose Namajunas: $500,000 — $250,000 to show, $250,000 to win
Miranda Maverick: $125,000
Edmen Shahbazyan: $186,000 — $93,000 to show, $93,000 to win
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Andre Petroski: $100,000
Raoni Barcelos: $102,000 — $51,000 to show, $51,000 to win
Cody Garbrandt: $275,000
Mansur Abdul-Malik: $28,000 — $14,000 to show, $14,000 to win
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Cody Brundage: $65,000
Alonzo Menifield: $250,000 — $125,000 to show, $125,000 to win
Oumar Sy: $26,000
Rodolfo Bellato: $12,000
Paul Craig: $125,000
Michael Chiesa: $300,000 — $150,000 to show, $150,000 to win
Court McGee: $83,000
Malcolm Wellmaker: $24,000 — $12,000 to show, $12,000 to win
Kris Moutinho: $14,000
Jose Ochoa: $20,000 — $10,000 to show, $10,000 to win
Cody Durden: $63,000
Ricky Simon: $166,000 — $83,000 to show, $83,000 to win
Cameron Smotherman: $14,000
Phil Rowe: $110,000 — $55,000 to show, $55,000 to win
Ange Loosa: $30,000
Jamey-Lyn Horth: $50,000 — $25,000 to show, $25,000 to win
Vanessa Demopoulos: $65,000
One fan wrote on X: "Given Usman's status in UFC, many fans voiced their disapproval with what he was paid by the company.
A second said: "Usman only 300K he needs a better agent for sure, especially if rose is making 500K."
A third added: "Damn…how did Rose get a better deal than Usman?"
A final user stated: "Usman making the same as Chiesa and less than Rose is criminal."
Topics: Kamaru Usman, UFC, Fan Reactions
Josh Lawless