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Conor McGregor turned heads with his first round stoppage of Dustin Poirier at UFC 178, but it was his $150,000 disclosed salary that made some of his colleagues do a double take.
Quite a few fighters wondered aloud why a relative newcomer was earning a higher purse than established, 15 UFC-fight veteran Donald Cerrone. Cerrone, who served as the co-main event at UFC 178, earned a base salary of $63,000 with an additional $63,000 win bonus for a total of $126,000. With show and win money slotted at $75,000, McGregor earned an additional performance bonus of $50,000 giving him a $200,000 payday.
UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta addressed McGregor's success in an appearance on Wednesday evening's FOX Sports Live.
"At the end of the day, it's a business," said Fertitta. "[The] guy can literally drive numbers from an entire country. When Conor fights the entire country of Ireland shuts down. We get like a 60 share of the TV market there. Over 11 percent of the tickets sold in Las Vegas were from Ireland. He moves the needle on Pay-Per-View. He headlined his first event in Ireland, did a $1.4 million gate."
Although official figures for international Fight Night events aren't typically released by the UFC, McGregor reportedly earned base salaries of $8,000 to show in Stockholm Sweden, $12,000 to show in Boston Massachusetts and $16,000 to show in Dublin, Ireland.
"Of course, we're going to reward guys that are successful in the Octagon and have a lot of wins and things like that, but if you can be like a [Georges St-Pierre] or be like a Brock Lesnar, who people are now comparing Conor to with the excitement that he's bringing, then you're going to have the ability to potentially drive a little bit harder of a negotiating bargain because you do bring that to the UFC."
Fertitta can credit McGregor's comparisons to St-Pierre and Lesnar to UFC president Dana White, who originally drew the parallel in a post-fight interview with FOX Sports' Ariel Helwani.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
'He tried to cheat me out of a lot.' Not wanting to kick Cung Le while he's down, Michael Bisping says he'd be much more upset over his former opponent's failed drug test if he had lost the fight.
How to win (or lose) a one-night MMA tournament. Shaun Al-Shatti collects the thoughts and experiences of several fighters who braved the bracket and (occasionally) emerged victorious.
Chat Wrap. Luke Thomas discusses the storylines coming out of UFC 178, Conor McGregor's rise, Cung Le testing positive for HGH and previews this weekend's UFC Fight Nights in Stockholm and Halifax in this week's live chat.
Not so fast. Georges St-Pierre refutes report claiming he is returning to fighting.
Jacare. Ronaldo Souza will undergo a second surgery on his elbow. 'We will schedule surgery for next week. We expect Jacare to be ready to fight again in January/February.'
MEDIA STEW
More from the Tim Kennedy and Yoel Romero backstage confrontation.
Open workout from Fight Night Stockholm.
Carla Esparza vs. Angela Hill from TUF.
Meta and creepy, Chael Sonnen and Jim Ross watching their own TTTHS.
Inside MMA's viewer submissions.
A look at plans for the new Jackson Winkeljohn facility.
People that don't love Forrest Griffin made Forrest Griffin put on hockey gear and do hockey things.
Long watches.
UFC Double Header Sweden + Canada Care/Don't Care Preview
...
TeamAlphaMaleRadio - 2014.09.30 [Lot of Cruz talk]
TWEETS
Who the hell knows.
I am fighting @DiegoSanchezUFC in Mexico, November 15th. He spoke a big game. Now he will pay with his career. VIVA LA EIRE!!!
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 2, 2014
I guess I'm going to Mexico
— Coach Kavanagh (@John_Kavanagh) October 2, 2014
Dana White on Conor in Mexico: That kid is nuts. No he's not. He wants to but he's not.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) October 2, 2014
Damn.
Getting my next @ufc fight confirmed. I want to give YOU what you want to see. Who do u want me to fight in Jan? @danawhite @lorenzofertitta
— Myles Jury (@FuryJury) October 1, 2014
Yo @FuryJury don't try and start Twitter shit! You had the paper for dec. you turned it down! Don't come out now and say your ready
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) October 1, 2014
All they guys want to say they'll fight! Super easy call Dana and sign the dotted fucking line. It will be just under my already signed name
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) October 1, 2014
Dana had himself a day.
Who said I couldn't sign Fedor ;) #fedorisback http://t.co/M7kXqbF0zZ
— Dana White (@danawhite) October 2, 2014
If anyone was wondering what happened to @tikighosn he is doing 3 shows a week in Vegas. :) http://t.co/hz6rcqp2rn
— Dana White (@danawhite) October 2, 2014
Get well soon.
Getting some bone stimulating on the hand before getting a little madden in. http://t.co/EyqPG94haW
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) October 2, 2014
Have to miss oct fight I'm afraid. Pretty banged up from all the training so need a little break. I'll be fighting the winner newton/vassel
— liam mcgeary (@liam_mcgeary) October 1, 2014
Congrats.
Well, I'm going to be a dad! http://t.co/lCCfqQYuMc pic.twitter.com/CgSTAGFUpT
— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) October 1, 2014
Great photobomb.
@Sugarashadevans all up in my grill at the @MonsterEnergy after party n Vegas last night. Stand down dude pic.twitter.com/Fordne8wjD
— Quinton Jackson (@Rampage4real) October 1, 2014
The struggle.
Where would you like to see me fight next?
— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) October 2, 2014
First time getting a hand job by Stitch, at UFC178 http://t.co/05UMJruMWP pic.twitter.com/ATNCQlyxXj
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) October 1, 2014
My dinner compared to @chrisfieldsmma's dinner. #WeightCut http://t.co/fdgHPphblC pic.twitter.com/kLqyCZ1mWx
— Cathal Pendred (@PendredMMA) October 1, 2014
Never knew my name was that hard to spell.... http://t.co/uErrW0xbnH pic.twitter.com/IeQDCj7gOo
— Phil Davis (@PhilMrWonderful) September 30, 2014
Can't even judge...I love ice cream too. http://t.co/R5eCPNXG2l pic.twitter.com/YZ0uiksZ7a
— Phil Davis (@PhilMrWonderful) October 1, 2014
This list is all speculation and I shouldn't be anywhere on it load of garbage remove my broke ass from this... http://t.co/73d0Ayriea
— mark richard hunt (@markhunt1974) October 1, 2014
Nickel beer night at the beauty bar in downtown Las Vegas. AKA carb loading http://t.co/h2Nyyzi4XA pic.twitter.com/uox806dyFl
— Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) October 1, 2014
The most Diego Sanchez video ever.
Diego "The Nightmare" Sanchez - Building Up Murder http://t.co/0uJDiVRVRH via @youtube #fearnot
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) October 2, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Oct. 1 2014)
Charlie Brenneman vs. Leandro Silva at UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Dollaway
Rashid Magomedov vs. Elias Silverio at UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Dollaway
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via MMAtylander.
The Division of Dynasties: An Examination of its History & the Champions that Ruled it
Champions have existed for as long as human beings have felt their instinctual desire to compete. From the time of their initial emergence on the ancient battlefield, mankind's champions have been made up of the most physically and mentally gifted amongst us. Just like thousands of years ago, the would be champions of today are forced to prove their worth by trial under fire. Also like their ancient counterparts, once their tribulations are completed, the adulation and praise of the less capable is theirs for the taking .
Even the title of "Champion" itself is meant to recognize and reward the talent and dedication possessed by those bestowed with the honor. In other words, it is a position meant to and used to enhance the reputation and credibility of its owner. Acquiring the title of champion, therefore, is a benchmark moment in a competitors life. What happens, though, when a champion achieves more than what even his title suggests? What happens when the roles are reversed, and the fighter is the one enhancing the title? What happens when it is time for a champion to become a king?
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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