UFC 278 salaries: Kamaru Usman, Jose Aldo top list of disclosed payouts

Former champions Kamaru Usman and Jose Aldo lead the way with six-figure paydays in Utah.

UFC 278 payouts have been released by the overseeing commissioning body.

Wednesday, MMA Junkie received a list of disclosed earnings from Pete Suazo Utah Athletic Commission head Scott Bowler, which oversaw the Aug. 20 pay-per-view event in Salt Lake City.

Atop the list of payouts is former UFC welterweight champion [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag], who pocketed $500,000 for his head kick knockout loss to [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag]. Edwards earned $350,000 with his upset victory.

Co-headliner winner [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] earned $130,000 for his win over [autotag]Luke Rockhold[/autotag], who earned $200,000. Rockhold openly criticized fighter pay in the lead-up to the bout.

Former UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag] took home $400,000 for a loss to [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag], who earned $198,000.

Heavyweight [autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag] also pocketed $240,000 for his win over [autotag]Alexandr Romanov[/autotag] ($36,000) on the prelims.

Scroll below to see a full list of payouts. It’s important to note the figures only represent the disclosed pursues. Performance bonuses, locker room bonuses, and additional compliance bonuses are not included.

UFC 278 post-event facts: Leon Edwards’ last-minute knockout enters record book

Leon Edwards’ knockout of Kamaru Usman was one of the latest finishes in the history of UFC championship fights.

The UFC’s ninth pay-per-view event of the year took place Saturday with UFC 278 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City.

The main event saw a new champion crowd, with [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] (19-3 MMA, 11-2 UFC) scoring a fifth-round knockout of [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] (20-2 MMA, 15-1 UFC) to claim the welterweight title, making history in the process.

For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC 278.

UFC 278 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Luke Rockhold nets $11,000 in farewell fight

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 278 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $226,000.

SALT LAKE CITY – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 278 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $226,000.

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 278 took place at Vivint Arena. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and ESPN+.

The full UFC 278 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag]: $42,000

[autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Luke Rockhold[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili [/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Lucie Pudilova[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Wu Yanan[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Tyson Pedro[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Harry Hunsucker[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Alexandr Romanov[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Jared Gordon[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Leonardo Santos[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Sean Woodson[/autotag]: $4,500
vs. [autotag]Luis Saldana[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Ange Loosa[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]A.J. Fletcher[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Francisco Figueiredo[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Aori Qileng[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Jay Perrin[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Victor Altamirano[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Daniel da Silva[/autotag]: $4,000

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 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 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: $5,814,000
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $11,981,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 278.

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Amir Albazi def. Francisco Figueiredo at UFC 278: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Amir Albazi’s first-round submission win over Francisco Figueiredo at UFC 278 in Salt Lake City.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag]’s first-round submission win over [autotag]Francisco Figueiredo[/autotag] at UFC 278 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. (Photos by Jeffrey Swinger, USA TODAY Sports)

UFC 278 video: Amir Albazi taps out Francisco Figueiredo, brother of UFC champ Deiveson

Amir Albazi needed less than one round to submit Francisco Figueiredo in their flyweight bout on the UFC 278 prelims.

SALT LAKE CITY – [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag] continued to show big potential in the flyweight division Saturday when he stopped [autotag]Francisco Figueiredo[/autotag] on the UFC 278 prelims.

Albazi (15-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) returned from a roughly 18-month layoff and added to his increasingly impressive record when he took advantage of Figueiredo (13-5-1 MMA, 2-2 UFC), the brother of UFC champ Deiveson Figueiredo, on the mat and scored a rear-naked choke submission victory at the 4:34 mark of Round 1.

Check out the replay of Albazi’s handiwork below (via Twitter):

After the win, a jubilant Albazi said he hopes to return to action at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 22. He did not name any specific opponent, but told Joe Rogan in the post-fight interview that he thinks he’s a threat to everyone in the flyweight division.

“You want to see me in Abu Dhabi? Put me on that card,” Albazi said. “I’m here to kill and put on a show for all you guys. Let’s go.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 278.

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5 fights added to UFC 278 in Salt Lake City, headlined by Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards 2

Check out the up-to-date UFC 278 lineup including five new additions to the Aug. 20 card in Salt Lake City.

Previously announced, welterweight champion [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] (20-1 MMA, 15-0 UFC) will defend his title against top contender [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] (19-3 MMA, 11-2 UFC) in a rematch of their December 2015 clash.

Also on the card, former UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag] (31-7 MMA, 21-6 UFC) battles [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 7-2 UFC) and middleweights [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) and [autotag]Luke Rockhold[/autotag] square off in a long-awaited matchup.

Monday, the promotion officially announced 12 fights are set for the event. Five of the fights were not previously reported. Scroll below to see the new additions followed by the official lineup.

UFC on ESPN 35 bonuses: Marlon Vera gets $100,000 because of Font’s weight miss

The UFC handed out post-fight bonuses after Saturday’s card, and one fighter got to double dip.

The UFC handed out four post-fight bonuses after Saturday’s card, and one fighter got to double dip.

After UFC on ESPN 35, two fighters picked up an extra $50,000 for their performances in Las Vegas, and another cashed a $100,000 check. Check out the winners below.

UFC on ESPN 35 video: Francisco Figueiredo, brother of UFC champ Deiveson, scores nasty kneebar

Francisco Figueiredo’s first octagon finish was a nasty one as he he violently tapped out Daniel Da Silva at UFC on ESPN 35.

[autotag]Francisco Figueiredo[/autotag]’s first octagon finish was a nasty one when he violently tapped out Daniel da Silva at UFC on ESPN 35 on Saturday.

Figueiredo (13-4-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) wasted no time getting the job done at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. After getting taken down by da Silva (11-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) early on, he rolled into a kneebar and cranked to elicit the tap from his opponent just 78 seconds into the flyweight fight.

Check out the replay of Figueiredo’s victory, which was the kneebar in the history of the 125-pound division, below (via Twitter):

Figueiredo, who is the younger brother of reigning UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, had split results in his first two promotional appearances. He finally showed some of his best in his third fight, getting a critical finish against da Silva, who had never been submitted prior to the contest.

“I’ve been training jiu-jitsu a lot and been training really hard,” Figueiredo said through an interpreter during his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. “The technique, it just came out automatically from all the training we do.”

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UFC adds Jake Hadley vs. Francisco Figueiredo to March 19 event

Another top U.K. prospect will compete in the UFC’s expected return to London.

Another top U.K. prospect will compete in the UFC’s expected return to London.

[autotag]Jake Hadley[/autotag] is set to meet [autotag]Francisco Figueiredo[/autotag] on March 19 at UFC Fight Night. A person with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie after an initial post by Hadley’s management, Paradigm Sports.

Unbeaten in his pro MMA career, former Cage Warriors flyweight champion Hadley (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) secured a UFC deal when he submitted Season 29 “The Ultimate Fighter” alum Mitch Raposo at Dana White’s Contender Series 43 in October. Not only did Hadley come in one pound over the flyweight limit, but the 25-year-old allegedly wasn’t very professional towards some of the UFC staff, causing issues behind the scenes. But UFC president Dana White decided to sign him anyway, and Hadley will get his wish when he meets Figueiredo.

Figueiredo (12-4-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), the younger brother of former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, has split his first two promotional appearances. After defeating Jerome Rivera in his debut in January, the Brazilian lost a unanimous decision to Malcolm Gordon at UFC on ESPN 26 in July.

With the addition, the March 19 lineup includes:

  • Francisco Figueiredo vs. Jake Hadley
  • Luana Carolina vs. Molly McCann

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UFC books Francisco Figueiredo vs. Jimmy Flick for May 8 event

After wins in their UFC debuts, Francisco Figueiredo and Jimmy Flick will fight May 8.

[autotag]Francisco Figueiredo[/autotag] has his second UFC opponent and date locked.

The brother of UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, Francisco Figueiredo (12-3-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) will make his sophomore promotional appearance May 8 when he takes on [autotag]Jimmy Flick[/autotag]. The flyweight bout will be part of a UFC Fight Night event that does not currently have a location or venue.

A person with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie after Flick announced the news on The Corner & The Casual Podcast. The person asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

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Both fighters are coming off successful UFC debuts. On Dec. 19, Flick (16-5 MMA, 1-0 UFC) pulled off a highlight-reel submission when he nailed a flying triangle vs. Cody Durden in the opening four minutes of their fight. A little over one month later on Jan. 23, Figueiredo defeated former Dana White’s Contender Series competitor Jerome Rivera with a unanimous decision.

With the addition, the UFC Fight Night lineup for May 8 includes:

  • Donald Cerrone vs. Diego Sanchez
  • Zarrukh Adashev vs. Ryan Benoit
  • Holly Holm vs. Julianna Pena
  • Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs. Maurice Greene
  • Christian Aguilera vs. Carlston Harris
  • Francisco Figueiredo vs. Jimmy Flick

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