Lashley, Nelson Lead ‘March Badness’ Paydays

Former World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Bobby Lashley pocketed an event-high $40,000 for mixed martial artists at Square Ring Promotions “March Badness” on Saturday at the Pensacola Civic Center in Pensacola, Fla., according to figures released by the State of Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Lashley, a decorated collegiate wrestler who built his name during a tour in the WWE, defeated journeyman Jason Guida by unanimous decision at the hybrid show, which featured boxing and MMA. Training at American Top Team, the muscular 32-year-old smothered Guida in the clinch and on the ground, landed nearly all of the significant strikes and settled for a nod from the judges.

Guida -- who accepted the match on short notice after Ken Shamrock, Lashley’s original opponent, tested positive for steroids in California -- banked $15,000 for his troubles. He threatened Lashley with a third-round guillotine choke but could not finish.

One-time International Fight League heavyweight champion Roy Nelson followed Lashley in the payday pecking order, as he earned $30,000 in a unanimous decision loss to Jeff Monson. The 38-year-old Monson left with $25,000, including a $10,000 win bonus.

Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr., who headlined the show in a bout with Omar Sheika, will receive two-thirds of the net profits from the event.

Square Ring Promotions “March Badness” Pay Scale

Mixed Martial Arts
Bobby Lashley - $40,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
Roy Nelson - $30,000
Jeff Monson - $25,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
Jason Guida - $15,000
Din Thomas - $10,000
Dennis Hallman - $6,000 (includes $3,000 win bonus)
Gabe Lemley - $5,500
Danny Ruiz - $2,000
James Freeman - $600 (includes $300 win bonus)
John Mowry - $300

Boxing
Omar Sheika - $50,000
B.J. Flores - $12,500
Jose Luis Herrera - $12,500
Robert Daluz - $1,800
Kelvin Price - $1,500
Kevin Howard - $1,500
Kieyon Bussey - $1,200
Richmond Dalphone - $800
Eric Clinton - $800