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Last Saturday (Nov. 12, 2011), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) went head-to-head with professional boxing.
Well, sort of.
UFC on FOX 1 took place from the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., on the same night that boxing's "Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez 3" occupied Las Vegas.
However, the fight cards did not occur simultaneously. UFC on FOX was all wrapped up by the time the boxing pay-per-view (PPV) was even started.
There was no competition. Not really.
"Mixed martial arts (MMA) vs. boxing" is a topic that has become more and more popular in the combat sports community. But at this point, is there really a comparison?
"It's all about "the Benjamins," but you knew that already. What it really comes down to is: Who's getting paid? After the jump, we'll take a look at the difference in payouts received by the UFC's big winner on Nov. 12 contrasted against that of professional boxing's Manny Pacquiao.
The reports are indicating that World Boxing Association (WBO) welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao received somewhere in the neighborhood of $22 million.
Or as Bob Arum calls it, "burying" the UFC.
To receive this cool settlement, "Pac Man" had to win a grueling 12-round decision victory (a decision which some questioned as being the right one).
"JDS" earned his paycheck for one minute and four seconds of work that ended with Cain Velasquez face down on the canvas and "Cigano's" hand raised in the air.
That said, time in the ring or cage shouldn't be the measuring stick with which we equate monetary value. If so, "Iron" Mike Tyson would owe a lot of people a lot of money. (Wait -- Tyson does owe a lot of people a lot of money. Nevermind.)
Comparing dos Santos to Pacquiao at this point in their respective careers is not accurate. That's a given. Also, a free card on FOX can't really be gauged against a professional boxing PPV that has been built up for months.
Regardless, the numbers show that athletes in the sport of MMA have a long way to go in terms of catching up to boxers, in reference to how much of the "door" they are bringing home.
How do you Maniacs feel about those numbers? Are MMA fighters getting a fair deal? Could boxers possibly be overpaid? Where do you weigh in?
Sound off!
For complete UFC on FOX payouts and salaries click here. For "Pacquiao vs Marquez 3" fight video, results, highlights and reactions click here.
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