Dana White reveals highest amount paid to one UFC fighter ahead of 'Mayweather vs Canelo'

In what is undoubtedly boxing's biggest attraction of 2013, Floyd Mayweather Jr vs. Canelo Alvarez, which will take place this Saturday (Sept. 14, 2013) at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, is already looking like it will smash pay-per-view (PPV) buy records.

Even the eyes of mixed martial arts (MMA) fan, including those of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White, will be fixated on the blockbuster Showtime boxing special.

Today during his public Google+ Hangout chat, White was asked if an MMA fighter would ever potentially see the type of guaranteed purse Mayweather is receiving (in excess of 40 million) for a huge PPV event. He didn't shy away from the question, calling upon nearby Lorenzo Fertitta to help give an accurate answer.

Here it is:

"We paid a guy $5 million for a fight before, [but] we didn't start making money until 2007. That was six years ago. So boxing's been around for a 100 years, they've been doing big events since way back when. Pretty amazing what we have done in short amount of time. I don't think a lot of people look at that way and break it down for what it really is."

After revealing the $5 million figure, White quickly shuffled Fertitta from the room as the conversation turned to who the fighter was that received the payout. Unfortunately, he didn't let the cat out of the bag, but former Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, current Welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and maybe even retired Light Heavyweight kingpin Chuck Liddell spring to mind.

Regardless, White -- who admitted that he will be ringside this weekend to take in "Mayweather vs. Canelo," doesn't appear interested in comparing his sport to the Sweet Science. In fact, White actually hopes boxing breaks the PPV record because, apparently, a rising tide lifts all combat sports boats.

His sentiments:

@danrafaelespn I love to see boxing kill it like this. I hope they break the PPV record too. It shows how many people will Buy right fight

— Dana White (@danawhite) September 5, 2013

@danrafaelespn we have been here for 13 years started making $ in 2007 continue to grow in the US and globally so I would have to say yes.

— Dana White (@danawhite) September 5, 2013

Bottom line: UFC has no beef with boxing doing well, especially when Bob Arum is not involved, because it only raises the collective earning bar for the promotion and its most talented fighters.

Let the speculation on who that someone was -- and will be moving forward -- begin.

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