Affliction Fighters Out-Earn Counterparts

Combat sports was alive and kicking over the Jan. 24-25 weekend in California, as events promoted by Affliction Entertainment, Zuffa LLC and Golden Boy-Top Rank all seemed to draw audiences during tough economic times. However, the promotions doled out varying price tags for the fighters they needed to get seats filled.

Affliction M-1 Global “Day of Reckoning,” held on Jan. 24 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., drew 13,318 spectators, according to final tallies released on Tuesday by the California State Athletic Commission. That resulted in a net gate total of $1,429,557 (paid and comped attendance figures were not immediately available for any of the three events). Affliction’s first event had 14,382 (3,590 comped) in attendance for $2,085,510 in gross receipts.

Affliction’s listed payroll totaled $3,318,660, according to CSAC figures, with Belarusian Andrei Arlovski earning the lion’s share from a whopping $1.5 million purse. Fedor Emelianenko, who knocked out Arlovski in the first round with a jarring overhand right at 3:14, took home $300,000, according to the paperwork. “Day of Reckoning” was also offered as a pay-per-view event.

A co-promoted Golden Boy and Top Rank event on the same night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles attracted 20,820 spectators with a comparatively smaller net gate of $1,258,707. The promotional duo shelled out $3,371,450 in purses, though, mostly to headliners Antonio Margarito ($2,300,000) and “Sugar” Shane Mosley ($1,000,000). No bonuses were listed for the 16 boxers on the card, which aired live on HBO.

World Extreme Cagefighting, promoted by the UFC outfit, rounded out the weekend that Sunday with a strong 10,201 in attendance at the San Diego Sports Arena for a $486,324 net gate. Zuffa was the only promotion to earn enough from its ticket sales to cover its talent payroll, dishing out $217,000 to the 20 fighters that competed for the Versus Network-broadcasted event.

Affliction “Day of Reckoning” Payouts

Fedor Emelianenko -- $300,000 (no win bonus listed) def. Andrei Arlovski -- $1,500,000

Josh Barnett -- $500,000 (no win bonus listed) def. Gilbert Yvel –- $30,000

Vitor Belfort -- $200,000 (including $80,000 bonus) def. Matt Lindland –- Not listed (MMAWeekly.com reported as $225,000)

Renato “Babalu” Sobral -- $90,000 (including $30,000 bonus) def. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou -- $50,000

Dan Lauzon -- $23,160 (including $11,160 bonus) def. Bobby Green -- $4,000

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira -- $150,000 (including $30,000 bonus) def. Vladimir Matyushenko -- $50,000

Paul Buentello -- $90,000 (including $20,000 bonus) def. Kiril Sidelnikov -- $10,000

Jay Hieron -- $45,000 (including $25,000 bonus) def. Jason High -- $10,000

L.C. Davis -- $13,500 (including $6,500 bonus) def. Bao Quach -- $7,000

Albert Rios -- $6,000 (including $3,000 bonus) def. Antonio Duarte -- $3,000

Brett Cooper -- $10,000 (including $5,000 win bonus) def. Patrick Speight -- $2,000

WEC 38 “Varner vs. Cerrone” Payouts

Jamie Varner -- $34,000 (including $17,000 bonus) def. Donald Cerrone -- $9,000

Urijah Faber -- $48,000 (including $24,000 bonus) def. Jens Pulver –- $35,000

Danillo Villefort -- $8,000 (including $4,000 bonus) def. Mike Campbell –- $3,000

Jose Aldo -- $10,000 (including $5,000 bonus) def. Rolando Perez -- $3,000

Benson Henderson -- $5,000 (including $2,000 bonus) def. Anthony Njokuani -- $2,000

Edgar Garcia -- $6,000 (including $3,000 bonus) def. Hiromitsu Miura -- $6,000

Dominic Cruz -- $8,000 (including $4,000 bonus) def. Ian McCall -- $3,000

Scott Jorgensen -- $8,000 (including $4,000 bonus) def. Frank Gomez -- $2,000

Jesse Lennox -- $4,000 (including $2,000 bonus) def. Blas Avena -- $7,000

Charlie Valencia -- $14,000 (including $7,000 bonus) def. Seth Dikun -- $2,000

Note: These numbers, sent to Sherdog.com by the California State Athletic Commission, are disclosed pay only.