WSOF 23 salaries: Champs Justin Gaethje, David Branch cash $100,000 paydays

As always, it pays to be champion. World Series of Fighting titleholders Justin Gaethje and David Branch handily led the reported payroll at WSOF 23, each securing $100,000 purses for their respective title defenses, according to figures released Monday by the Arizona Boxing and MMA Commission.

Fighting in a rematch against Luis Palomino, lightweight champion Gaethje put on another ‘Fight of the Year' performance en route to a brutal second-round knockout win.

Branch, meanwhile, made easy work of Teddy Holder to lay claim to the vacant light heavyweight strap and become WSOF's first two-division champion.

WSOF 23 took place Sept. 18 at the Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, AZ. The night's main card aired live on NBC Sports Network.

A complete breakdown of WSOF 23's salaries can be seen below, although these figures do not represent a fighter's total earnings, as sponsorship money is not publicly disclosed.

Main card (NBC Sports Network)
Justin Gaethje ($50,000 + $50,000 = $100,000) def. Luis Palomino ($20,000)
David Branch ($50,000 + $50,000 = $100,000) def. Teddy Holder ($12,000)
Timur Valiev ($14,000 + $14,000 = $28,000) def. Tito Jones ($3,000)
Ben "Phoenix Jones" Fodor ($10,000 + $10,000 = $20,000) def. Roberto Yong ($2,000)
Brian Foster ($7,000 + $7,000 = $14,000) def. LaRue Burley ($4,000)

Preliminary card (MMAFighting.com)
Vagab Vagabov ($6,000 + $6,000 = $12,000) def. Brian Grinnell ($1,500)
Clifford Starks ($6,000 + $6,000 = $12,000) def. Krasimir Mladenov ($3,000)
Matthew Frincu ($2,000 + $2,000 = $4,000) def. Danny Davis Jr. ($3,000)
David Nuzzo ($1,000 + $1,000 = $2,000) def. Andres Ponce ($1,000)
Joey Miolla ($1,500 + $1,500 = $3,000) def. Randy Steinke ($1,500)
Benny Madrid ($1,000 + $1,000 = $2,000) def. Jeff Fletcher ($1,000)