UFC on ESPN 41 salaries: Marlon Vera leads the way with $300,000 payday in San Diego

Salaries for UFC on ESPN 41 are out, thanks to the California State Athletic Commission, one of the only commissions still releasing them.

Many commissions no longer release fighter pay to the public, but the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) is one of them.

With UFC on ESPN 41 in the books, MMA Junkie acquired a list of disclosed payouts from CSAC executive director Andy Foster. Five fighters received six-figure paydays, including headliners [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] and [autotag]Dominick Cruz[/autotag].

Other fighters who received six-figure paydays included [autotag]Gabriel Benitez[/autotag], [autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag], and [autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag].

Check out the full list of UFC on ESPN 41 salaries below. It’s important to note the figures are disclosed payouts only, and do not include performance bonuses, discretionary bonuses, or sponsor pay.

Azamat Murzakanov def. Devin Clark at UFC on ESPN 41: Best photos

Check out these photos from Azamat Murzakanov vs. Devin Clark at UFC on ESPN 41 in San Diego.

Check out these photos from Azamat Murzakanov’s TKO victory over Devin Clark at UFC on ESPN 41 in San Diego. (Photos by Joe Camporeale, USA TODAY Sports)

UFC on ESPN 41’s Azamat Murzakanov: ‘Nothing impressed me’ from Devin Clark’s past performances

Azamat Murzakanov doesn’t feel too threatened by Devin Clark ahead of their fight at UFC on ESPN 41 in San Diego.

SAN DIEGO – [autotag]Azamat Murzakanov[/autotag] doesn’t feel too threatened by Devin Clark.

Murzakanov (11-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) meets Clark (13-6 MMA, 7-6 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 41 main card at Pechanga Arena in San Diego. The card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

Clark has fought tough competition throughout his UFC tenure, picking up solid wins over the likes of Alonzo Menifield and William Knight in his most recent outing at heavyweight. But Murzakanov’s opinion of Clark isn’t a strong one.

“To be honest with you, I watched a couple of his fights and I didn’t see anything impressive,” Murzakanov said Wednesday at UFC on ESPN 41 media day. “Nothing impressed me from his performance.”

The undefeated light heavyweight has finished his past three opponents, including a flying knee knockout of Tafon Nchukwi in his UFC debut. He expects another stoppage win against Clark.

“I think the fight is not going to go to a decision,” Murzakanov said. “This is what I think.

“I don’t think about my record as much as I think more about not disappointing my fanbase, my team and my coaches.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 41.

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UFC on ESPN 41 predictions: Five blowout picks, but what’s our one iffy fight?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC on ESPN 41 main card in San Diego, featuring ex-champ Dominick Cruz vs. Marlon Vera.

Cruz
vs.
Vera
Landwehr
vs.
Onama
Jauregui
vs.
Lucindo
Clark
vs.
Murzakanov
Cachoeira
vs.
Lipski
Meerschaert
vs.
Silva
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
131-79
vera2022
Vera
(58%)
onama2022
Onama
(77%)
jauregui2022
Jauregui
(84%)
murzakanov2022
Murzakanov
(79%)
lipski2022
Lipski
(74%)
silva2022
Silva
(76%)
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
143-72
trophy copy 2018 Champion
vera2022
Vera
onama2022
Onama
jauregui2022
Jauregui
murzakanov2022
Murzakanov
cachoeira2022
Cachoeira
silva2022
Silva
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
139-76
cruz2022
Cruz
onama2022
Onama
jauregui2022
Jauregui
murzakanov2022
Murzakanov
lipski2022
Lipski
silva2022
Silva
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
137-78
trophy copy 2014 Champion
cruz2022
Cruz
onama2022
Onama
jauregui2022
Jauregui
murzakanov2022
Murzakanov
lipski2022
Lipski
silva2022
Silva
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
135-80
vera2022
Vera
onama2022
Onama
jauregui2022
Jauregui
murzakanov2022
Murzakanov
lipski2022
Lipski
silva2022
Silva
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
132-83
cruz2022
Cruz
onama2022
Onama
jauregui2022
Jauregui
murzakanov2022
Murzakanov
lipski2022
Lipski
silva2022
Silva
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
131-84
vera2022
Vera
onama2022
Onama
jauregui2022
Jauregui
murzakanov2022
Murzakanov
lipski2022
Lipski
silva2022
Silva
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
130-85
vera2022
Vera
onama2022
Onama
jauregui2022
Jauregui
murzakanov2022
Murzakanov
lipski2022
Lipski
silva2022
Silva
Nolan King
@mma_kings
127-88
vera2022
Vera
onama2022
Onama
jauregui2022
Jauregui
clark2022
Clark
lipski2022
Lipski
silva2022
Silva
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
126-89
trophy copy 2017 Champion
cruz2022
Cruz
onama2022
Onama
jauregui2022
Jauregui
murzakanov2022
Murzakanov
lipski2022
Lipski
silva2022
Silva
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
117-98
vera2022
Vera
landwehr2022
Landwehr
jauregui2022
Jauregui
murzakanov2022
Murzakanov
lipski2022
Lipski
meerschaert2022
Meerschaert
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
104-111
vera2022
Vera
onama2022
Onama
jauregui2022
Jauregui
murzakanov2022
Murzakanov
lipski2022
Lipski
silva2022
Silva

The UFC is in Southern California this week with a key bantamweight fight atop the card.

UFC on ESPN 41 takes place Saturday at Pechanga Arena in San Diego. The card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, former bantamweight champion [autotag]Dominick Cruz[/autotag] (24-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] (21-7-1 MMA, 13-6 UFC). Vera is a sizable -250 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Cruz is +190. But it’s not a blowout with our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, who are siding with Vera at a 7-4 clip.

In the co-main event, [autotag]Nate Landwehr[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) meets [autotag]David Onama[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) at featherweight. Onama is the biggest favorite on the main card at -320, and he’s a near-unanimous pick from our staff members at 10-1.

The only unanimous pick on the main card is [autotag]Yazmin Jauregui[/autotag] (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in her promotional debut against fellow debtante [autotag]Iasmin Lucindo[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC). Jauregui is more than a 2-1 favorite in the women’s strawweight bout and has an 11-0 shutout in the picks.

The closest fight from a betting perspective is between [autotag]Devin Clark[/autotag] (13-6 MMA, 7-6 UFC) and [autotag]Azamat Murzakanov[/autotag] (11-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at light heavyweight. Murzakanov is just a -155 favorite, but he’s a near-unanimous pick at 10-1.

Another near-unanimous choice is [autotag]Ariane Lipski[/autotag] (14-7 MMA, 3-4 UFC) in her women’s flyweight bout against [autotag]Priscila Cachoeira[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 3-4 UFC). Lipski is a -210 favorite and has a 10-1 blowout in the picks.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag] (34-15 MMA, 9-7 UFC) is a heavy underdog at middleweight against [autotag]Bruno Silva[/autotag] (22-7 MMA, 3-1 UFC), who is a 3-1 favorite and has a 10-1 near shutout from our staff members.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Vera (58 percent), Onama (77 percent), Jauregui (84 percent), Murzakanov (79 percent), Lipski (74 percent) and Silva (76 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 41.

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UFC adds Azamat Murzakanov vs. Devin Clark to Aug. 13 event

Devin Clark will look to bounce another rising contender from the ranks of the unbeaten when he meets Azamat Murzakanov.

[autotag]Devin Clark[/autotag] will look to bounce another rising contender from the ranks of the unbeaten.

Clark (13-6 MMA, 7-6 UFC) is set to take on [autotag]Azamat Murzakanov[/autotag] (11-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) in a light heavyweight bout Aug. 13 at UFC Fight Night, which doesn’t yet have a publicly known venue or location.

Two people with knowledge of the booking confirmed the matchup to MMA Junkie on Tuesday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Hosheh MMA was first to report the news.

Winner of three of his past five, Clark was able to snap a two-fight losing skid when he finished William Knight in a heavyweight bout last month at UFC on ESPN 34.

Unbeaten Murzakanov punched his ticket to the UFC with a finish on Dana White’s Contender Series in August 2021. He followed that up with an impressive flying-knee knockout of Tafon Nchukwi in his promotional debut in March at UFC Fight Night 203.

With the addition, the Aug. 13 lineup includes:

  • Bruno Silva vs. Gerald Meerschaert
  • Devin Clark vs. Azamat Murzakanov

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Azamat Murzakanov took ‘do or die’ approach before landing flying knee knockout at UFC Fight Night 203

Azamat Murzakanov knew he needed to finish Tafon Nchukwi.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Azamat Murzakanov[/autotag] knew he needed to finish [autotag]Tafon Nchukwi[/autotag].

With one judge scoring the first two rounds for Nchukwi this past Saturday at UFC Fight Night 203, Murzakanov (11-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) came into Round 3 with a sense of urgency.

Just 44 seconds into the final frame, Murzakanov landed a flying knee knockout that took out Nchukwi and earned him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.

“In the second round, it wasn’t going my way, and I knew I lost maybe that round,” Murzakanov told reporters at the post-fight news conference. “And for the third round, I came out with the thought, with the plan, ‘Do or die in this cage. I’m going to give all,’ and this is what happened.

“From the start, it wasn’t going according to plan. He was an awkward opponent for me. It was difficult. I couldn’t find the rhythm. Also, he was stronger physically than I expected. But for me, the most important is the final result – the finish.”

Watch Murzakanov talk about his victory and more in the video above.

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UFC Fight Night 203 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total passes $7.5 million

The UFC paid out just shy of $200,000 to the athletes at UFC Fight Night 203 under its Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay program.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 203 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $198,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC Fight Night 203 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 203 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Marlon Moraes[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Sodiq Yusuff[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Alex Caceres[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Karl Roberson[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Drew Dober[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Terrance McKinney[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Bruno Silva[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Matthew Semelsberger[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]A.J. Fletcher[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]JJ Aldrich[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Gillian Robertson[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Javid Basharat[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Trevin Jones[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Damon Jackson[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Kamuela Kirk[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Miranda Maverick[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Sabina Mazo[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Cody Brundage[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Dalcha Lungiambula[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Guido Cannetti[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Kris Moutinho[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Azamat Murzakanov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Tafon Nchukwi[/autotag]: $4,500

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2037 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2031 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2022 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $1,528,000
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $7,695,500

UFC Fight Night 203 bonuses: Yadong, Rountree among four total winners

The UFC issued four Performance of the Night bonuses after UFC Fight Night 203.

UFC returned to action on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and the card produced a number of bonus-worthy moments.

UFC Fight Night 203 saw eight finishes in total, and among them was an incredible finish of Marlon Moraes by Song Yadong in the co-main event. The Chinese bantamweight took out the former title challenger with a vicious punching combination in the first round to extend his win streak to three. He was one of four Performance of the Night winners, as the promotion did not award a Fight of the Night Bonus for this event.

Check out who all took home a bonus for their performance below.

UFC Fight Night 203 video: Azamat Murzakanov flattens Tafon Nchukwi with sick flying knee

Azamat Murzakanov opened UFC Fight Night 203 with an electric flying-knee knockout of Tafon Nchukwi.

[autotag]Azamat Murzakanov[/autotag] opened UFC Fight Night 203 with an electric knockout of [autotag]Tafon Nchukwi[/autotag].

Murzakanov (11-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) added to his unbeaten record Saturday when he landed a flying knee in the third round of the light heavyweight bout to knock out Nchukwi (6-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

After controlling the action for the first and second round, Murzakanov came out looking to close out in the third. He did just that, leaping into a flying knee that instantly put Nchukwi out 44 seconds into the round.

Check out the replay below (via Twitter):

After the fight, Murzakanov said he was pleased with the way his UFC debut came to an end.

“Thank you to the opponent for taking this fight,” Murzakanov said through an interpreter during his interview with Paul Felder. “It wasn’t easy. It was a tough fight. We train for any situation, but it’s key to, before the end of the fight, to find the key to the victory.”

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Jared Vanderaa vs. Azamat Murzakanov scrapped from UFC on ESPN 31

The heavyweight fight between Azamat Murzakanov and Jared Vanderaa was going to be interesting Saturday night. Now it’s not happening.

The heavyweight fight between [autotag]Azamat Murzakanov[/autotag] and [autotag]Jared Vanderaa[/autotag] was going to be interesting Saturday night.

Now it’s not happening.

Promotion officials announced just after the end of Friday’s official weigh-ins for UFC on ESPNS 31 that the preliminary card bout had been scrapped after Vanderaa was not medically cleared for the bout, despite weighing in.

Murzakanov (10-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and Vanderaa (12-6 MMA, 1-2 UFC) both weighed in during the proceedings, and what was going to make their tilt, which was slated for the second fight on the card, particularly noteworthy was their big weight discrepancy.

Vanderaa was right at the top of the heavyweight limit at 265 pounds. But Murzakanov was nearly 50 pounds less than that at 216.5.

Murzakanov is a career light heavyweight who got into the UFC in that division through Dana White’s Contenders Series. After a 205-pound fight with Marcin Prachnio was scrapped in November, Murzakanov took the fight with Vanderaa at heavyweight, meaning he didn’t have to worry about a weight cut.

But now his official UFC debut is on hold. It’s not yet known if the fight will remain intact and move to a later event, or if both fighters will get new opponents down the road.

The updated UFC on ESPN 31 lineup now includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Rob Font vs. Jose Aldo
  • Rafael Fiziev vs. Brad Riddell
  • Jimmy Crute vs. Jamahal Hill
  • Clay Guida vs. Leonardo Santos
  • Brendan Allen vs. Chris Curtis
  • Mickey Gall vs. Alex Morono

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Maki Pitolo vs. Dusko Todorovic
  • Manel Kape vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov
  • Bryan Barberena vs. Darian Weeks
  • Jake Matthews vs. Jeremiah Wells
  • Mallory Martin vs. Cheyanne Vlismas
  • William Knight vs. Alonzo Menifield
  • Chris Gruetzemacher vs. Claudio Puelles
  • Vince Morales vs. Louis Smolka