THE CANADIAN PRESS
UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva collected US$260,000 for beating Dan Henderson at UFC 82 while Henderson, the former Pride title-holder, collected a purse of $100,000.
The Ohio Athletic Commission said Silva’s basic purse was $140,000, including a $70,000 win bonus. The 32-year-old Brazilian picked up another $120,000 from the UFC for winning bonuses for fight of the night and submission of the night.
The 37-year-old Henderson, who would have netted a $150,000 win bonus, was choked out by Silva four minutes 52 seconds into the second round Saturday night before 16,431 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
The commission purse figures do not take into account any other bonuses contained in fighter contracts or awarded by the UFC, which does not release such details.
Former heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski collected $170,000, including a $65,000 win bonus, for defeating (Irish) Jake O’Brien on the undercard. O’Brien made $11,000.
The fight was the last on Arlovski’s current UFC contract.
Heavyweight Heath Herring made $140,000, including a $70,000 win bonus, for his decision over France’s Cheick Kongo, who picked up $30,000.
Middleweight Chris Leben earned $110,000 ($50,000 plus a $60,000 knockout of the night bonus for stopping Alessio Sakara ($17,000).
Other fighters on the main card made as follows:
— Yushin Okami ($28,000) for knocking out former middleweight champion Evan Tanner ($25,000)
— Welterweight contender Jon Fitch ($60,000) for a unanimous decision over Chris Wilson ($12,000)
Elsewhere on the undercard:
— Welterweight Diego Sanchez ($60,000) for a TKO win over Sweden’s David Bielkheden ($8,000).
— Welterweight Josh Koscheck ($20,000) for a TKO of Dustin Hazelett ($12,000). The fight was also the last on Koscheck’s current deal, which dates back to his stint on "The Ultimate Fighter" reality TV show.
— Welterweight Luigi Fioravanti ($16,000) for a unanimous decision over Luke Cummo ($16,000).
— Lightweight Jorge Gurgel ($14,000) for a unanimous decision over John Halverson ($3,000).
Total gate for the card was $2.2 million, according to the UFC. Total purse, not counting special fight bonuses, totalled $932,000.
The UFC does not reveal pay-per-view revenue or audience figures.
NOTES — The gate for Friday’s International Fight League card at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas was $102,120, according to the Nevada State Athletic Commision. There were 1,606 tickets sold and 2,674 given away.
