The aftermath of the highly debated (and often criticized) sponsorship deal between Reebok and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is in full swing -- for better or for worse -- after launching back on July 1, 2015.
From cutmen getting... well, "cut" for speaking out against the dynamics of the partnership, to actual fighters -- past and present -- clowning the now-required "Fight Kit" uniform, the backlash has been hot and heavy.
But it all pales in comparison to the negativity the payout structure received, as many prominent combatants under the UFC umbrella scoffed at the paltry funds they would be generating, claiming they could be losing up to $60,000 per fight in sponsorship dollars alone.
So, how exactly is the money dived up?
MMA Junkie's John Morgan has a list of the Reebok payouts for those fighters participating in last Saturday night's (July 25, 2015) UFC on FOX 16 event in Chicago, Illinois. Not Surprisingly, UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw took home the majority of the cash, going home with an extra $40,000, while opponent Renan Barao took home $30,000.
Here's what the rest of the card earned:
Champ T.J. Dillashaw ($40,000)
def. Renan Barao ($30,000)Miesha Tate ($5,000)
def. Jessica Eye ($2,500)Edson Barboza ($10,000)
def. Paul Felder ($2,500)Joe Lauzon ($15,000)
def. Takanori Gomi ($5,000)Tom Lawlor ($5,000)
def. Gian Villante ($5,000)Jim Miller ($15,000)
def. Danny Castillo ($20,000)Ben Saunders ($5,000)
def. Kenny Robertson ($5,000)Bryan Caraway ($5,000)
def. Eddie Wineland ($10,000)James Krause ($5,000)
def. Daron Cruickshank ($10,000)Andrew Holbrook ($2,500)
def. Ramsey Nijem ($5,000)Elizabeth Phillips ($2,500)
def. Jessamyn Duke ($2,500)Zak Cummings ($2,500)
def. Antonio Braga Neto ($2,500)
Why did lightweight veterans Danny Castillo and Jim Miller receive such a high amount?
Because according to the revamped payout structure (see it), the more fights you have combined with UFC and the now-defunct World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and Strikeforce promotions, the more coin you have for your combat sports piggy bank.
And the less fights you have under the ZUFFA banner... well, see Paul Felder's take-home pay.
According to the report, fighters will also receive royalty and payments up to 20-30 percent of any UFC-related merchandise sold that bears his or her likeness. That's a great way for the Internet "morons" to help the cause.
For much more on how the new Reebok sponsorship works click here and here. For complete results and live play-by-play from UFC on FOX 16 click here.