UFC Fighter salaries in perspective

There are two facts that always need be addressed when we discuss top-level salaries in the UFC.

First, is the PPV percentages that top fighters receive. These are unknown to us in the MMA blogosphere and none of the MMA reporters have been able to get any details regarding which fighters have them and for how much. But they do exist and we can assume that certain fighters like Chuck Liddell and George St. Pierre are privy to them.

The second item we must consider is sponsorships. All fighters have sponsors that pay them a sizable chunk of change to appear like a NASCAR racer before fights.

Despite PPV percentages and sponsorships top MMA fighters base salaries are not the most impressive salaries when compared to MLB, NFL or the NBA. That fact is not a shock to any outside observer. What will be a shock though is that a Major League Soccer player gets paid more than top UFC fighters. Oh, and his name isn't David Beckham it's Guillermo Barros Schelotto of the Columbus Crew.

Schelotto is the MLS reigning MVP and has an annual salary of $775,000. Not bad for an old Argentinean soccer player who only has 10 caps (appearances) for the national football team.

The fact that a top MLS player is getting paid more than top UFC fighters is a bucket of cold water in the face. Especially considering that MLS is consider to be one of the bottom feeders of the U.S. sports scene. 

Here are some of the salaries of top earners within the UFC for comparison. 

• Quinton Jackson at UFC 96: $325,000 (includes $100,000 win bonus).
  
• George St. Pierre at UFC 94: $400,000 (includes $200,000 win bonus).
  
• B.J. Penn at UFC 94: $125,000. 
  
• Forrest Griffin at UFC 92: $210,000 ($150,000 to show and $60,000 "Fight Night" bonus; would have earned an additional $100,000 had he won).    
  
• Lyoto Machida at UFC 98: $200,000 (including $70,000 win bonus, $60,000 knockout bonus).   
  
• Matt Hughes at UFC 98: $260,000 (including $100,000 win bonus, $60,000 fight of night bonus).    
  
• Rashad Evans at UFC 98: $200,000.     
  
• Chuck Liddell at UFC 88: $500,000.

Many top fighters in the UFC fight once or twice a year. So these salaries could reflect the annual earning or could only be 50% of annual earnings. This depends on the UFC fight calendar, injuries and coaches for The Ultimate Fighter. 

Even if one assumes that all fighters would fight twice a year, and win, the only two who make more than Schelotto in base salary are  Chuck Liddell and George St. Pierre.

Wow.