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Chris Leben Is Top Earner at UFN 20

Image via Dave Mandel at Sherdog

MMA Junkie has the salary numbers from Monday's UFN 20: Maynard vs. Diaz, and in a bit of a surprise, Chris "The Crippler" Leben went from the brink of being fired, to the night's top earner with his dominant unanimous decision victory over Jay Silva.  Leben earned $30,000 in base salary plus a win bonus that doubled that amount.  The night's second highest-paid fighter was Aaron Simpson who took home $52,000($11,000 base +$11,000 win bonus +$30,000 fight-of-the-night bonus).

Full payout info after the jump.

Star-divide

Gray Maynard: $40,000 ($20,000 win bonus)
def. Nate Diaz: $24,000

Evan Dunham: $18,000 ($9,000 win bonus) + $30,000 submission of the night
def. Efrain Escudero: $15,000

Aaron Simpson: $22,000 ($11,000 win bonus) + $30,000 fight of the night
def. Tom Lawlor: $10,000 + $30,000 fight of the night

Amir Sadollah: $30,000 ($15,000 win bonus)
def. Brad Blackburn: $13,000

Chris Leben: $60,000 ($30,000 win bonus)
def. Jay Silva: $6,000

Rick Story: $10,000 ($5,000 win bonus)
def. Jesse Lennox: $7,000

Thiago Tavares: $15,000*
vs. Nick Lentz: $7,000*

Rory MacDonald: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus)
def. Mike "Joker" Guymon: $6,000

Rafael dos Anjos: $16000 ($8,000 win bonus)
def. Kyle Bradley: $8,000

Gerald Harris: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus) + $30,000 knockout of the night
def. John Salter: $6,000

Nick Catone: $14,000 ($7,000 win bonus)
def. Jesse Forbes: $6,000

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Via SHERDOG

Nate Diaz = 48 Gs, wondering which is the correct number?

by jesuslovesyoumma on Jan 13, 2010 6:14 PM EST reply actions  

I wouldn’t count this is a victory as much as he’s the only UFC veteran not worth keeping for a better card.
Excluding Nate, it takes a minimum of three other main event fighters to equal the UFC experience Leben has.

by Simco on Jan 13, 2010 6:17 PM EST reply actions  

Leben needs the money to finish up them tattoos.

by pop_gun_war on Jan 13, 2010 6:25 PM EST reply actions  

in that case they shouldn't have paid him

We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.

by Anthony Pace on Jan 13, 2010 6:44 PM EST up reply actions  

Wow... super low overhead

The UFC made some serious cash for the coffers monday night!

by SimplePsych on Jan 13, 2010 7:47 PM EST reply actions  

Based on the talent level for this event, some of the paydays are actually beyond what they probably need to be….

by Timmy B on Jan 13, 2010 8:15 PM EST reply actions  

Look at Lebans kicking leg, wierd! Its all floppy around the thigh.

by Kefka on Jan 14, 2010 12:24 AM EST reply actions  

Good for Leben, but.....

I like Leben, but the guy is just floundering in the Middleweight Division especially for how much he’s getting paid. I know that there is favoritism for the TUF 1 alumni, so he is lucky to be in that group. However, with other mid-tier Middleweights like Ed Herman and Nate Quarry, Leben is just kind of there as a gatekeeper who is getting paid a good amount of coin.

by chrisbboy82 on Jan 14, 2010 4:33 AM EST reply actions  

For being so all over the place as far as performing, he gets paid a lot. The UFC built his star and thats a double edged sword. Now they have to pay him to a certain level because he is worth that much as a name. I am sure the competition would love to have him.

Some people think I am a dumb, ugly human being, but really I am a beautiful ape, with exceptional verbal skills.

by szucconi on Jan 14, 2010 3:03 PM EST up reply actions  

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