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Strikeforce Salaries: Nick Diaz Top Earner With $175K Payday

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The California State Athletic Commission released the Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley salaries on Wednesday (via MMAMania.com). The Event took place at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego with co-headliners Nick Diaz and Gilbert Melendez, along with Gegard Mousasi, going home as the top earners:

Nick Diaz $175,000 (no win bonus) def. Paul Daley $65,000
Gilbert Melendez $150,000 (no win bonus) def. Tatsuya Kawajiri $97,612.50
Gegard Mousasi $150,000 drew Keith Jardine $25,000
Shinya Aoki $73,637.50 (no win bonus) def. Lyle Beerbohm $10,000

Robert Peralta $4,000 ($2,000 win bonus) def. Hiroyuki Takaya $2,740
Virgil Zwicker $3,000 ($1,000 win bonus) def. Brett Albee $1,000
Joe Duarte $2,000 ($1,000 win bonus) def. Saad Awad $1,500
Herman Terrado $1,500 ($500 win bonus) def. A.J. Matthews $1,000
Rolando Perez $3,000 ($1,000 win bonus) def. Tom Peterson $1,000
Casey Ryan $2,000 ($1,000 win bonus) def. Paul Song $750
BE Reader nottheface comments:
"It is interesting to note that Nick Diaz has apparently the highest reported salary of any welterweight not named Georges St. Pierre, Matt Hughes, or B.J. Penn, and that Gilbert Melendez is now apparently the highest paid lightweight under the Zuffa umbrella."

Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley coverage

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HA!
HE NEEDS TO COACH TUF JUST FOR THE FREE WHIP.

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by Sergio Hernandez on Apr 14, 2011 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions  

whoa

paul daleys paycheck is surprising to me

Jonny Bench called.

by Sterling Archer on Apr 14, 2011 10:28 AM EDT reply actions  

Dang, good point

Even if he was getting paid a flat fee and not a win bonus, that’s nearly twice what his pay was to fight Hazelett with a win bonus.

by Tedd Welch on Apr 14, 2011 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions  

Makes you wonder what UFC fighters are really getting in unreported bonuses

Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.

by Dave Strummer on Apr 14, 2011 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions  

I remember after Shogun/Machida 1 there was an article about an exchange Dana and Shogun had directly after the fight. Dana told his accountants to “pay the taxes”, which they understood to mean “double Shogun’s paycheck.” The way it all went down made me think it wasn’t too uncommon for something like that to happen.

by Tedd Welch on Apr 14, 2011 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions  

"pay the taxes" meant "pay the taxes"

but the taxes where apparently very high due to Shogun being a foreign national living on foreign soil, from what I understand.

by ecost on Apr 14, 2011 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions  

which is generally why the foreign fighters reported salaries are so low

they kinda use some legal loopholes to get away with not having to pay those absurd taxes

"I have smoked weed with alot of UFC champions" - Joe Rogan
"Você ta fudido. Se vai levar muita porrada, ta ligado?" - Anderson Silva

by milk72 on Apr 14, 2011 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions  

He paid Shogun’s win bonus with enough extra to offset the tax burden

"You should work for 15 minutes to knock your opponent out, submit him, or improve your position to give yourself the best chance of doing either." - Dan Hardy

by Day Man on Apr 14, 2011 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions  

That was an extreme case

Contributor at cagepages.com Come check us out.
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by Neil Manich on Apr 14, 2011 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions  

Every time one of us says this people get pissed off and insist we’re lying. But from asking around, those bonuses are not nearly as common as fans act like they are.

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

by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 14, 2011 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions  

Poor...

…Paul Song. I make more DJing. And I don’t get beat up (much).

by INGO B on Apr 14, 2011 10:29 AM EDT reply actions  

i have heard you Dj.......

Its only a matter of time before somebody beats you up for song choices. ;-)

I keed. I keed!

"True strength is not always shown through victory. Stand up, try again and display strength of heart." - Rickson Gracie

"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com

by the-gentle-way on Apr 14, 2011 10:34 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions   1 recs

No Win bonus...

wow, i thought that would change after the forza llc acquisition.

http://fightdrinker.blogspot.com

by some schmuck in texas on Apr 14, 2011 10:33 AM EDT reply actions  

yes, zuffa’s purchase should have immediately rewritten all the contracts, what the hell.

by Phildo on Apr 14, 2011 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions  

hmmm

I thought win bonuses were discretionary, not contractual. Could be I’m confusing them with the fabled under-the-table bonuses.

http://fightdrinker.blogspot.com

by some schmuck in texas on Apr 14, 2011 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions  

you are, win bonuses that appear on these reports are guaranteed. The only things you see on these reports are what is written on the fight agreement submitted to the commission (sometimes the sites add in the “x of the night bonus”) but any other payment from the promoter (or network or whatever) to the fighter is unreported.

by Phildo on Apr 14, 2011 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions  

Another thing that's probably influencing my impression here

when the Zoof-Brass didn’t award “KO of the Night” to Mir when he got the only KO of the Night, since the rest of the match was kind of like watching “The Weather Channel” on a really nice day.

http://fightdrinker.blogspot.com

by some schmuck in texas on Apr 14, 2011 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions  

If that’s the case, Google is saying Aoki got paid ¥6,135,476.50 and Kawajiri got ¥8,133,073.50

by Tedd Welch on Apr 14, 2011 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions  

Fuckin A

Learn JiuJitsu, it's fun.

by RolloTomasi on Apr 14, 2011 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions  

Some nice numbers here! Good on them to get proper payed.

The thing that suprises me the most though is Mousasi at 150 000. Can that be right? Seems quite high.

by Horselover Fat on Apr 14, 2011 10:37 AM EDT reply actions  

When they signed Mousasi he was considered one of the best prospects in the world and one of, if not the, best fighter out there not under contract with Zuffa

"You should work for 15 minutes to knock your opponent out, submit him, or improve your position to give yourself the best chance of doing either." - Dan Hardy

by Day Man on Apr 14, 2011 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions  

Good point. Also he was their LHW champion for a little while. I can’t help but to wonder if this high pay scale for a non-draw fighter might have contributed to him having a year between fights in SF. Hope to see him in action in the US more frequently.

by Horselover Fat on Apr 14, 2011 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions  

No FOTN, KO or Sub bonuses were given then? Nick could have bought 2 sweet Hondas with one $65,000 bonus!

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 Apr 14, 2011 10:40 AM EDT reply actions  

TRUE THAT

I saw that and was happy that at least somebody got that fight right…. not on the score cards but on the pay stubs.

"I like a man who grins when he fights - Winston Churchill"
BJJ in MMA - a site about brazilian jiu jitsu as applied in mixed martial arts.

by jw1487 on Apr 14, 2011 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions  

Nick Diaz needs to chill with all the underpaid crap. $175,000 for, I think he said he trained for a month and a five minute fight. People work every day for a whole year and make way way less than that.

Dude made $175,000 in one month and he whines about no being paid enough. Dude GTFO

by Wormwood on Apr 14, 2011 10:55 AM EDT reply actions  

Something tells me those people who work every day for a whole year

aren’t losing brain cells by the handful because Paul Daley shows up at their job and starches them twice.

"Unless you can’t think of something intelligent to say, don’t reply and make the world as dumb as you are appearing to be." - mabel4life

by lowellthehammer on Apr 14, 2011 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

not even mentioning advertisment money

and if any backroom bonuses were given, seeing DFW there makes me assume his checkbook went with his as well

"I have smoked weed with alot of UFC champions" - Joe Rogan
"Você ta fudido. Se vai levar muita porrada, ta ligado?" - Anderson Silva

by milk72 on Apr 14, 2011 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions  

Hey man that is BEFORE tax, deduct that and training expenses, i reckon he’s taken home nearer $70,000. For taking on a guy half the writers on BE were saying was gonna stretch him. It still makes me sick Diaz and Daley didn’t get FOTN bonuses, that was the most intense single round since Abbott vs Frye!

by sheikybaby on Apr 14, 2011 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions  

When you can’t drum up a little groaning about a guy making $175,000 you know the recession is officially over,lol

by Wormwood on Apr 14, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions  

I figure he paid close to $20,000 in taxes. And I dont know how much training sessions cost, but I dont think they are anywhere near $80,000. I might be wrong, but if he is paying that much to train then that is crazy money

by Wormwood on Apr 14, 2011 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions  

10% tax?

Wormwood i hope you get into government one day!

by sheikybaby on Apr 14, 2011 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions  

lol I was just guessing. Turbo Tax has me spoiled, I just put in the numbers and pay what they tell me to pay

by Wormwood on Apr 14, 2011 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions  

That Honda rant

Was before his new contract kicked in, for whatever it’s worth.

Contributor at cagepages.com Come check us out.
Head Kick Legend

by Neil Manich on Apr 14, 2011 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions  

you have to remember

Fighters have limited window. It’s part of why pro athletes in general get paid so much. They can’t work until they’re 65 like average joes do. They also don’t have a pension. So that money is doubling as salary (for probably twice as long as it has to for joe 9-5 as athletes work typically half as long for a good career) and then some of it has to be saved to cover his retirement (which athletes are notoriously not good at). Some people might be able to pick up a career when they’re done fighting, others will have irreparable damages to their body and mind and be unable.

So while $175k does sound great to me, I can understand why a fighter might talk about it not being enough.

Especially one with such a big weed budget.

by Confucius on Apr 14, 2011 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

750 bucks?! Ridiculous.

Are our bones not dust?
Is our Blood not Poison?
On my knees in the black light
Praying for Salvation, bitter Redemption
So throw your dice and cast your shadow
You may look away
But your children will not...

by ProfessorBLove on Apr 14, 2011 10:59 AM EDT via mobile reply actions  

oh sh*t, that made me lol so hard. That joke made my brain reboot

by Wormwood on Apr 14, 2011 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions  

I liked it! It was like…a grandpa joke.

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

by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 14, 2011 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions  

WOW

I’m really surprised at these salaries. Makes me think SF was forced to pay these guys big amounts to keep them from going to the UFC. It makes sense, if they lost Diaz, Melendez, and Gegard…they would have nothing to sell to the UFC.

Now, before people say “OMG, they make more than UFC fighters”, let’s not forget that the UFC is notorious for locker room bonuses, PPV bonuses, and event bonuses. I guarantee you Frankie Edgar isn’t making what the report says.

by Bob Loblaw TX on Apr 14, 2011 11:19 AM EDT reply actions  

pretty much shows that zuffa beat them

they inflated their top guys salaries to the extent that strikeforce’s management wasnt comfortable with a future with their product

pretty damn impressive in a business point of view how dominant and shrewd zuffa is

"I have smoked weed with alot of UFC champions" - Joe Rogan
"Você ta fudido. Se vai levar muita porrada, ta ligado?" - Anderson Silva

by milk72 on Apr 14, 2011 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions  

Stop ruining people’s delusions and get back to your law blog!

by BJJDenver on Apr 14, 2011 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions  

Quite the pay disparity

between the main event winners and the undercard winners.

by High Knee Destroyer on Apr 14, 2011 11:40 AM EDT reply actions  

Probably because most of the undercard fighters are contracted through a different promotion altogether.

by nastyem on Apr 14, 2011 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions  

Tatsuya Kawajiri $97,612.50

Shinya Aoki $73,637.50

lol .. i know it probably has to do with the yen conversion
but that shit looks funny
the 2 Japananese fighters get 50 cents reported

THATS RACIST!!
somehow …. maybe not
idk
w/e

by FLOJO on Apr 14, 2011 11:49 AM EDT reply actions  

wow nick is seriously complaining about his pay?

by taylormaio on Apr 14, 2011 12:00 PM EDT reply actions  

Aren’t Nick and Gil both on the first fight of a new deal?

Still a Beer Monster.

http://www.instrength.com

by Tim Burke on Apr 14, 2011 12:00 PM EDT reply actions  

Nick is now 2 fights into his new deal

Gil had his first fight under the new deal

by KOQ24 on Apr 14, 2011 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions  

Weird to me that Crusher gets paid more than Aoki

Maybe that was a one time contracted fee or Crusher gets a championship bonus or something. You would think Aoki would have the richer contract.

Contributor at cagepages.com Come check us out.
Head Kick Legend

by Neil Manich on Apr 14, 2011 12:09 PM EDT reply actions  

wtf

Paul Song $750

After the fight, they passed a collection plate for his bus fare.

Por isso eu tomo ópio / é um remédio / sou um convalescente do momento / moro no rés-do-chão do pensamento / e ver passar a vida faz-me tédio

by Gremio on Apr 14, 2011 12:11 PM EDT reply actions   1 recs

I wonder how Nate feels

knowing that, despite the fact that they are both fighters, his brother makes more money, is more articulate, is better at triathlons, and has a deeper voice?

by Gideon Jay on Apr 14, 2011 12:47 PM EDT reply actions  

more articulate

what

'cause the heart that betrays itself willingly, Is like a nation that trades freedom for stability, its so seductive to be cold and corrupted and isolated and try to be an independent republic, But liberty to be loved on the surface is worthless, The sacrifice of revolution with no purpose

by ImmortalTechnique92 on Apr 14, 2011 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

Thats right… get paid Nick, he deserves it, he has been putting on really good fights.

"I'm Feel Good"

-Wandi

by *thriive* on Apr 14, 2011 12:52 PM EDT reply actions  

Good for Nick

but stop whining about your honda, you earned enough to buy several Hummers in less than 5 minutes

by ThGrinch on Apr 14, 2011 3:23 PM EDT reply actions  

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