The official document that we received right here earlier this morning for the UFC 82: "Pride of a Champion" fighter payroll was INACCURATE.
We emailed and spoke with Ohio Athletic Commission (OAC) Executive Director, Bernie Profato, about our concerns that the document was incorrect. At the time, he was adamant that the figures were correct.
However, he has since RETRACTED that claim:
"To All I apologize. I had my Inspector read me the contract amounts ovewr the phone so I could get the numbers for you as soon as possible and he gave the numbers backwards. ALL FEES SHOULD BE REVERSED. Thanks to you that caught this and again I apologize and will get you the updated copy soon. They ALL just need to be reversed."
Therefore, here are the CORRECT figures:
Anderson Silva -- $140,000 ($70,000 to show, $70,000 to win)
Dan Henderson -- $100,000
Silva defeated Henderson via submission (rear naked choke) in round two
Heath Herring -- $140,000 ($70,000 to show, $70,000 to win)
Cheick Kongo -- $30,000
Herring defeated Kongo via split decision
Chris Leben -- $50,000 ( $25,000 to show, $25,000 to win)
Alessio Sakara -- $17,000
Leben defeated Sakara via technical knockout (strikes) in round one
Yushin Okami -- $28,000 ($14,000 to show, $14,000 to win)
Evan Tanner -- $25,000
Okami defeated Tanner via technical knockout (knee) in round two
Jon Fitch -- $60,000 ($30,000 to show, $30,000 to win)
Chris Wilson -- $12,000
Fitch defeated Wilson via unanimous decision
Andrei Arlovski -- $170,000 ($105,000 to show, $65,000 to win)
Jake O'Brien -- $11,000
Arlovski defeated O'Brien via technical knockout (strikes) in round two
Luigi Fioravanti -- $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 to win)
Luke Cummo -- $16,000
Fioravanti defeated Cummo via unanimous decision
Josh Koscheck -- $20,000 ($10,000 to show, $10,000 to win)
Dustin Hazelett -- $12,000
Koscheck defeated Hazelett via technical knockout (strikes) in round two
Diego Sanchez -- $60,000 ($30,000 to show, $30,000 to win)
David Bielkheden -- $8,000
Sanchez defeated Bielkheden via submission (verbal tapout because of strikes) in round one
Jorge Gurgel -- $14,000 ($7,000 to show, $7,000 to win)
John Halverson -- $3,000
Gurgel defeated Halverson via unanimous decision
Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc.
For example, the UFC often hands out extra cash -- also known as locker room bonuses -- for "Fight of the Night," "Knockout of the Night" and "Submission of the Night." In fact, Silva and Henderson pocketed an additional $60,000 each for the fight of the night. Furthermore, "The Spider" got another $60,000 for submission of the night.
Not a bad deal for less than 10 minutes of work (excluding all that training leading up to the bout, of course).
Leben also took home an extra $60,000 for the knockout of the night.
For complete results and coverage of the "Pride of a Champion" click here and here.