WEC 50 payouts and salaries for 'Cruz vs Benavidez 2'

The official fighter purses for those who competed at WEC 50: "Cruz vs. Benavidez 2" tonight (Aug. 18, 2010) from the "The Pearl" at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, were released earlier today by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).

Defending bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz, was among the top breadwinners this evening, pocketing $22,000 for his split decision win -- and first successful title defense -- over Team Alpha Male product Joseph Benavidez.

The promotion's next most likely 135-pound contender, Scott Jorgensen, actually one-upped the division champion earlier on the main card, earning an event-leading payday ($25,000) for outpointing Brad Pickett on all three judges scorecards to score a very important victory.

Here is the complete list of WEC 50: "Cruz vs. Benavidez 2" payouts:

Dominick Cruz -- $22,000 ($11,000 to show, $11,000 to win)
Joseph Benavidez -- $17,500
Cruz defeated Benavidez via split decision

Anthony Pettis -- $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win)
Shane Roller -- $16,000
Pettis defeated Roller via submission (triangle choke) in round three

Bart Palaszewski -- $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 to win)
Zach Micklewright --$3,000
Palaszewski defeated Micklewright via technical knockout (strikes) in round two

Scott Jorgensen -- $25,000 ($12,500 to show, $12,500 to win)
Brad Pickett -- $5,000
Jorgensen defeated Pickett via unanimous decision

Chad Mendes -- $11,000 ($5,500 to show, $5,500 to win)
Cub Swanson -- $11,000
Mendes defeated Swanson via unanimous decision

Javier Vazquez -- $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 to win)
Mackens Semerzier -- $4,000
Vazquez defeated Semerzier via submission in round two

Ricardo Lamas -- $14,000 ($7,000 to show, $7,000 to win)
Dave Jansen -- $4,000
Lamas defeated Jansen via unanimous decision

Fredson Paixao -- $6,000 ($3,000 to show, $3,000 to win)
Bryan Caraway -- $4,000
Paixao defeated Caraway via split decision

Maciej Jewtuszko -- $6,000 ($3,000 to show, $3,000 to win)
Anthony Njokuani -- $7,000
Jewtuszko defeated Njokuani via technical knockout (strikes) in round one

Danny Castillo -- $19,000 ($9,500 to show, $9,500 to win)
Dustin Poirier -- $3,000
Castillo defeated Poirier 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 WEC hands out extra cash for "Fight of the Night," "Knockout of the Night" and "Submission of the Night." To check out these figures for WEC 50: "Cruz vs. Benavidez 2" stay glued to MMAmania.com.

The total base fighter payroll for this event was $221,500.

For complete results and coverage of "Cruz vs, Benavidez 2" click here and here.