IT’S NO SECRET that competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship usually doesn’t become particularly lucrative until you start challenging for a title or featuring in a main event.
However, even then you’re not guaranteed to be raking in the big bucks — as Todd Duffee discovered last week in San Diego.
Duffee took on former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir in the headline bout at UFC Fight Night 71, but it was a night to forget for the 29-year-old American Top Team fighter.
The bout ended after just 73 seconds when Duffee was knocked out clean by a big left hook. Afterwards, he didn’t even have the luxury of being able to comfort himself with a hefty cheque for his first appearance in a UFC main event.
Details of the official payouts from the event, obtained by MMAjunkie.com from the California State Athletic Commission, reveal that Mir was the night’s biggest earner, taking home a disclosed $200,000. He also earned an additional $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
A disclosed total of $886,000 was paid out to the 24 fighters at UFC Fight Night 71, but just $12,000 went to Duffee, who was competing for the UFC for the fifth time. Only three other fighters on the bill earned less.
According to the UFC’s new Reebok sponsorship pay structure, Duffee would have made an additional $5,000. So that’s a disclosed total of $17,000 to be knocked out by Frank Mir. That’s a duff fee, Todd.
