UFC 104 Gate and Fighter Salaries

by Kid Nate on Oct 27, 2009 5:59 PM EDT in Events Comment 79 comments

The California State Athletic Commission has released the payroll and gate information for UFC 104:

Lyoto Machida $200,000 (no win bonus) def. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua $155,000
Cain Velasquez $70,000 (includes $35,000 win bonus) def. Ben Rothwell $50,000
Gleison Tibau $38,000 (includes $19,000 win bonus) def. Josh Neer $14,000
Joe Stevenson $94,000 (includes $47,000 win bonus) def. Spencer Fisher $26,000
Anthony Johnson $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus)* def. Yoshiyuki Yoshida $12,000
*Johnson forfeited 20-percent of his $15,000 show money to Yoshida for missing weight
Ryan Bader $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) def. Eric Schafer $13,000
Pat Barry $134,000 (includes $7,000 win, $60,000 Knock Out of the Night and $60,000 Fight of the Night bonus) def. Antoni Hardonk $76,000 (includes $60,000 Fight of the Night Bonus)
*Barry earned added $60,000 bonuses for Fight and Knockout of the Night
Hardonk earned an added $60,000 bonus for Fight of the Night
Chael Sonnen $54,000 (includes $27,000 win bonus) def. Yushin Okami $18,000
Jorge Rivera $36,000 (includes $18,000 win bonus) def. Rob Kimmons $9,000
Kyle Kingsbury $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) def. Razak Al-Hassan $3,000
Stefan Struve $74,000 (includes $7,000 win and $60,000 Submission of the Night bonus) def. Chase Gormley $10,000

The official attendance at the Staples Center was 14,892 with gross receipts of $1,913,093.62 and a net gate of $1,762,549.

The only real X factor out thereabout how much the UFC profited off this event is whether or not champion Lyoto Machida got a % of the PPV buy. But that comes out of the PPV receipts anyway. Even with a relatively poorly selling event, the UFC is likely in the black from gate receipts plus the money made at the concession and souvenir stands.

Per MMA Payout, the SPIKE TV airing of two preliminary fights drew 1.4 milliion viewers for 1.1 rating. MMA Payout also projects a PPV buy number of 398,000. This would be down slightly from UFC 103's surprisingly strong number. Payout's projection method is untested so just consider it an informed speculation until we get better numbers.

Regardless, the moral of the story is the same, the UFC continues to thrive in very tough economic times, even with a less than ideal headliner in their formerly marquee division.

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pat barry raked it in. aj is like “damn! that coulda been my 60k!”

by bdw on Oct 27, 2009 6:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So a pound of flesh is worth $10k.

A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.

by iiowyn on Oct 27, 2009 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So Machida’s contract has no win bonus in it? Does he get a piece of the PPV revenue?

Giving Shogun his props. I had the fight 48-47 Machida but Shogun put up a monumental performance and I am honored to have seen it in person.

by Day Man on Oct 27, 2009 6:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Most likely. If there isn’t a win bonus then they must be getting a chunk of change from PPV.

by ChiCubs23 on Oct 27, 2009 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That seems to be the way it’s worked in the past.

by Phildo on Oct 27, 2009 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I feel bad seeing these salaries. It would be hard to live off being a mixed martial artist. If you don’t win, you aren’t getting paid ****. The Major League Baseball minimum salary is like $450,000.

by ChiCubs23 on Oct 27, 2009 6:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ugh

another ufc comparison to other big time sport leagues that have only been around like a century before mma. i feel sad for you. :(

by bdw on Oct 27, 2009 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m just trying to point out that fighters dedicate large amounts of their lives to this sport, and aren’t paid very well compared to athletes who do similar amount of work. I know they might eventually get there, but until that happens, they are being paid ****.

And at the start of the 20th century, average baseball players could make a living off the sport. In ten years, we will see if an average fighter will need a second job.

by ChiCubs23 on Oct 27, 2009 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

“And at the start of the 20th century, average baseball players could make a living off the sport”

wrong

by ufc4 on Oct 27, 2009 6:17 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Average baseball players couldn’t make a living off the sport until they won the right of free agency.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Oct 27, 2009 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thank you

And that was after what, 80+ years of pro baseball? How long has MMA been around?

by ufc4 on Oct 27, 2009 7:20 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

1974

The MLBPA first negotiated a higher minum salary in 1968, raising it from $6,000 to $10,000, which was arguably enough to support a single ballplayer without needing a second job (though if he had to support a family, that probably wouldn’t have been enough).

Professional baseball began in 1869. So either 99 years or 105 years, depending how you count.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Oct 27, 2009 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Players were working winter jobs up into the 1970s.

"That feeling after you win and they raise your hand... it's like you have this energy that releases from your body, and it's like you mingle with the cosmos, and you feel omnipotent"

by woomikee on Oct 27, 2009 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

they’ve come a long long way

Machida is a god
I now drink my urine daily

by orcus on Oct 27, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We also don't know how much some fighters make off of endorsements.

by Razreshat on Oct 27, 2009 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Name another professional sport where the owners profits are at least five times as much as the pay of the participants?

by nottheface on Oct 27, 2009 6:20 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

College football.

"It would appear that the strain was more than he could bear".- Doc Holliday

by MyFistYourFace on Oct 27, 2009 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True, but please don’t get me started on college football.

by nottheface on Oct 27, 2009 6:46 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

BCS?

by ZombieWamma on Oct 27, 2009 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Best team sport evah!

Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 27, 2009 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

When did you get a chance to look at Zuffa’s books? That must have been very interesting.

by ufc4 on Oct 27, 2009 7:13 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

It doesn’t take much to come up with an educated guess. In fact it’s a discussion we had here on Bloody Elbow. Here’s Michael Rome’s estimate:

I’ve done a lot of research into sports overhead, my guess is the UFC is probably spending between $3 and $4 million in overhead costs for the average event not including salaries.
They spend $500,000 on the countdown show, a six figure fee for the arena, between 500 and a million to broadcast in-house, then you have a very high cost of hotels and flights for all their staff and all the fighters, and finally all the money they spend on ad spots.

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/10/23/1097480/400000-buys-and-a-nearly-two

So total expenses are $4 mil without salaries. To be conservative I’ll throw in an extra $1 mil. Now add the $1 mil in salary. Being conservative I’ll also throw in a bonus for Rua, equal to what his winner’s purse would have been, and give Machida a ppv cut based on Couture’s published contract (even though there is no evidence that he makes that much).

So expenses are what? No more than $7 mil. And what is their revenue? At least $3.6 million in tickets, concessions, and merchandise. Add another $11 in ppv. So we are looking at atleast $6 or 7 million in profits. And that doesn’t even include auxiliary sources like sponsors, foreign rights, future spike broadcasts an dvds, etc.

Le’ts stop pretending that they’re still a struggling company and admit they’re making a killing.

by nottheface on Oct 27, 2009 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They certainly know what they’re doing, no denying that.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba

by Blackout612 on Oct 27, 2009 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And it also ignores a ton of other expenses that they have.

by Phildo on Oct 27, 2009 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Such as? They probably have a full time staff of no more than 100. I can’t believe they’re paying them more than $10 mil a year in total salaries. Add in hotel and travel expenses, and other misc. stuff I don’t see how it adds more than $1 mil a card onto the budget. What other expenses am I missing? Dana’s salary? Never mind that they’re probably making a lot of that back with TUF, foreign tv contracts, merchandizing (t-shirt and video games seem to be doing good) endorsement deals involving the UFC logo., and who knows what else they can make a buck off.

by nottheface on Oct 27, 2009 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You only included 2 fighter bonuses when there are multiple stories that many people are taken care off after the fact.

Nothing for flying anyone into show, nothing for lobbying various politicians to legalize the sport.

It’s just a little tiring seeing armchair accounting of people who don’t have access to a majority of the numbers complaining that the company that pays out more to fighters than anyone else is making a buck.

by Phildo on Oct 27, 2009 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I added a million for bonuses. That’s above the $400,000 above what Machida’s ppv cut and Rua’s winning bonus would have been (it easier to round to the next million and I wanted to be conservative).
Also

Add in hotel and travel expenses, and other misc. stuff I don’t see how it adds more than $1 mil a card onto the budget

But don’t go off what I say:
Forbes magazine estimated their 2008 sales at $250 million:
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2008/0505/080_3.html

While Metzer projected their 2007 their profit margin at 50%. Which would mean $125 mil in profit. Even it was 35% it would be $87.5 mil – last year. This year is much bigger.

Come on Phildo, we can discuss fighter compensation later, but you have to admit they are making massive profits.

by nottheface on Oct 27, 2009 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They’re making money, but so are tons of companies in the world. I’m not going to cry for the company that pays out more than everyone else to pay more. I’m just tired of bullshit math when most of the numbers are unknown or estimates.

by Phildo on Oct 27, 2009 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Accordingly the company’s EBITDA margin (EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; an EBITDA margin is akin to a profit margin) more than doubled from the mid-teens in 2005 to more than 40 percent of gross revenues in 2006. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that Zuffa is believed to have grossed $190 million last year and posted a before-tax profit of $76 million.

http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/behind-the-curtain-zuffas-finances-come-into-focus-9528

That was in 2006!

by nottheface on Oct 27, 2009 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A corporation making money? Absurd!

by cyph on Oct 27, 2009 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

2 cents

They probably even reinvest some of that profit back into the company, and even into lobbying efforts to get the sport legalized. Somebody call somebody!

But in all seriousness, if they invested some of this money into lifelong health care for fighters who’ve been there for more than 2 years and retire it’d probably go a long way to making the sport a better place.

Maybe even raise the base salary to a solid living wage? And setting up an actual farm league for upcoming talent would quell the “Hungry” counter argument. So that getting to the UFC isn’t a tryout thing, its the place for tested fighters to earn a living fighting the best. At least to alleviate the Joe Stevenson types of situations. This is really gonna kill the sport’s mainstream acceptance if things don’t change in the next year or two and this stuff gets public.

by asa on Oct 28, 2009 4:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Your saying ‘that was 2006’ like the economy has improved since then.

Since 2006, we have seen the Fertitta’s primary business go in the shitter and the Zuffas bond rating get downgraded due to all the debt they are carrying. While they might be breaking revenue records in 2009, the rest of their financial position is nowhere near as solid as it was three years ago.

by Steve4192 on Oct 28, 2009 8:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

From Kid Nate

the UFC continues to thrive in very tough economic times

Since 2006 their sales have only gone up, $190 gross in 2006, to $250 million in 2007, to a bigger 2008, to this years record setting pace. At the same time it seems their profit margins have grown.

Any problems they are having have nothing to do with Zuffa, Inc’s performance. Zuffa’s bond rating was downgraded because they had to make a $100 mil loan to Station Casinos – a separate company.
http://www.watchkalibrun.com/2009/10/2/1066010/zuffa-takes-out-a-100-million-loan

by nottheface on Oct 28, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cain needs a raise. He’s a co-main eventer soon to be main eventer and the guy he demolished gets more to show? Horsepoo!

[Shogun beat the piss outta Machida then got robbed from his UFC LHW Title.]

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Oct 27, 2009 6:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rothwell probably has an inflated number because of coming over from affliction

by Phildo on Oct 27, 2009 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Rothwell earned every penny.

by nottheface on Oct 27, 2009 6:52 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

By fighting like a can? Stojnic made Cain work harder.

[Shogun beat the piss outta Machida then got robbed from his UFC LHW Title.]

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Oct 27, 2009 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha… Yeah, Cain looked like he was churning butter in both of those fights.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba

by Blackout612 on Oct 27, 2009 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

By getting a beating I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

OK maybe my worst, but not my fourth or lower.

by nottheface on Oct 27, 2009 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What they didn’t release was the paid attendance and comp’ed tickets.
I believe they comp’ed somwhere between 4k-5K of tickets, so the paid attendance may have not broken 10K.

This was an interesting quote from MMAJunkie:

The UFC last visited Los Angeles in May 2006 for “UFC 60: Hughes vs. Gracie.” That event drew 127 fewer attendees, though the live gate surpassed that of UFC 104 by $1 million.

Although their PPV buys and gate has been dropping since UFC 102, they are still obviously doing very well for the year and Jan 2nd will most likely be their next “big” event.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 27, 2009 6:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

UFC 107 should get some good numbers also.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 27, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Their gate number is probably right though, they don’t count those numbers in the gate.

by Phildo on Oct 27, 2009 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yup. Usually comp’ed tickets are released by the CSAC though. Kinda odd they didn’t here.
The gate for UFC 60 was 2.9 million in Los Angeles in 2006, which was pretty damn good for an event in Los Angeles.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 27, 2009 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That was also the most hyped show in
UFC history at the time.

by ufc4 on Oct 27, 2009 7:18 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

With a horrible match up as the main event. I don’t even recall Royce landing one punch or even attempting a submission. Must be horrible to see the FightMetric on that fight.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 27, 2009 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I imagine it would look a lot like the Fedor-Rogers FightMetric will look like.

by Jahbulon on Oct 27, 2009 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am pretty sure Rogers will at least throw a wild haymaker. Timmy didn’t get the chance because he was trying to jab…LOL.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 27, 2009 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What does that have to do with my statement?Kimbo vs. Chuck would be a horrible ME too, it would still break a million buys.

by ufc4 on Oct 27, 2009 7:42 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

He’s probably just having flashbacks to what a horrible ME that was. I know I did.

by nottheface on Oct 27, 2009 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ditto. Very upsetting and I watched it live.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 27, 2009 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did you go to 104?

by ufc4 on Oct 27, 2009 8:42 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Nope. Couldn’t go.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 27, 2009 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The UFC might want to think about lowering their ticket prices. When you look at their core audience, young men, you notice it is also the demographic doing the worst in this recession. The PPVs are still comparatively affordable (4 guys splitting the ppv, beer, and pizza is probably no more than $25 a head) so those aren’t going to take such a hit. But compare that to going to an event. Even in the cheap seats, with a couple of beers, parking, and a hot dog, you’re looking at a $100+ night.

If they see more 102s and 104s, it’s something they should think about.

by nottheface on Oct 27, 2009 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Dana has already said that’s something they are looking at doing.

by ufc4 on Oct 27, 2009 7:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

I think they did lower the ticket prices a bit when it was getting close to Saturday, but was too late. The initial ticket prices threw off a bunch of people initially. They also didn’t take into account that Oregon and California were two states that were hit REALLY hard during the recession.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 27, 2009 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I actually have friends in the Illinois area (which I moved out of not long ago) who are skipping attending the Strikeforce show because they think ticket prices are too high for a second tier promotion. I think there are many reasons why people don’t attend certain shows.

Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 27, 2009 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah. I’ve heard that as well. Their cheap tickets are $37 dollars and there’s not a bad seat in the house (small venue) from what I heard.
=)

by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 27, 2009 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder if the UFC will get to the point where they almost don’t care about the gate.

Giving away even 50% of the tickets probably still covers the fighter salaries and since the PPV brings in 10 times that much 8,000 “Goodwill” tickets is money well spent.

by MMA_Messiah on Oct 27, 2009 7:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Giving away tickets also allows you to recoup some money in concessions sales.

by nottheface on Oct 27, 2009 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For sure.

They could treat the live event like a Fan Expo…build brand awareness….charge a minimal amount and Dana can bask in the “Charitable” glow.

by MMA_Messiah on Oct 27, 2009 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I read a post recently from CNBC’s sports blogger about how Drag Racing revenues went through the roof when they stopped selling tickets and started giving away 100% of the tickets.

I don’t see the UFC ever going that far, but they’re not losing money on any tickets they give away.

by Phildo on Oct 27, 2009 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting...

I suppose people would be more willing to buy UFC shirts and crap if they didn’t just drop 500 bucks on a ticket.

by MMA_Messiah on Oct 27, 2009 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Very true I didn’t really think about this before but when I went to UFC 90 in Chicago I only got one beer b/c I paid $600 for my two tickets.

Yes, time flies. And where did it leave you? Old too soon...smart too late. - Mike Tyson

by lovingmma25 on Oct 28, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

$9 beer goes a long way.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Oct 27, 2009 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...

that’s why pro wrestling, boxing, mma, etc always paper arenas. A seat with a ass in it at least has a wallet to spend some cash on concession and merch. An empty seat gives you nothing.

Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 27, 2009 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No just ask Supremacy he’ll tell you how horrible it is. Well unless Affliction does it.

by ufc4 on Oct 27, 2009 8:39 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

When did I say it was horrible? Its always been the case for combat sports. Such is life.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 27, 2009 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

They sort of don’t, because they don’t depend on it to profit, but of course they would like to profit from every source available. However, they show a willingness to thank their fans and a complete lack of shame by giving away tickets on Dana’s Vlogs and advertising it on Twitter.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba

by Blackout612 on Oct 27, 2009 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dang

Pat Barry was most likely on the verge of being cut. Now he’s laughing all the way to the bank

by nastyem on Oct 27, 2009 7:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So Struve was paid $7,000, plus a $7,000 win bonus, plus the $60,000 submission of the night bonus.

With only $7,000 guaranteed, I wonder if he had to cover his own travel costs.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Oct 27, 2009 7:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The UFC pays for travel costs for a few people for each fighter.

by Phildo on Oct 27, 2009 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I believe it’s three per fighter.

by nottheface on Oct 27, 2009 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pat Barry made as much as Machida!

by J_Maddux on Oct 27, 2009 9:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

no

no he didn’t.

by roccotuna on Oct 27, 2009 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

$200,000=$134,000?

by ufc4 on Oct 27, 2009 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and like any company that thus directly is the result of its employees……they should compensate their workers. there’s no 401k in mma, no back-up plan for guys that get a detached retina, or develop pugilistica dimentia down the road…..when white and fertitas are sitting in their mansions flying on private planes. mma’s a new sport….read about the history of boxing and wrestlers and such…..not a pleasant read. also, other major sports have unions. BIG difference. training camp is provided, etc.

Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei.
http://theworldsoldestsport.blogspot.com/

by theworldsoldestsport on Oct 27, 2009 11:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

then which mma/fight organization does better by their fighters than the UFC, pray tell? if you can’t answer that, then your “white and fertittas sitting in their mansions” statement is B.S.!

by bdw on Oct 28, 2009 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs