Sanchez scores biggest paycheck with T.U.F. 9 finale win

MMAWeekly has obtained the fighter salary information from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for The Ultimate Fighter Season 9 Finale featuring the lightweight battle between Diego Sanchez and Clay Guida, which took place on Saturday, June 20, at the Palms in Las Vegas.

The following figures are based on the fighter salary information that promoters are required by law to submit to the state athletic commissions, including the winners' bonuses.

Although mixed martial arts fighters do not have collective bargaining or a union, the fighters' salaries are still public record, just as with every other major sport in the United States. Any undisclosed bonuses that a promoter also pays its fighters, but does not disclose to the athletic commissions (specifically, pay-per-view bonuses, fight of the night bonuses, etc.), are not included in the figures below.

In the listings below, "Main Event Fighters" are defined as fighters who compete in the main event of a show. "Main Card Fighters" are defined as fighters whose fights appear on the main card, but not in the main event. "Preliminary Card Fighters" are defined as fighters whose matches take place before the main card goes on the air, regardless of whether or not those matches end up airing on the TV or Internet broadcast.

-Diego Sanchez $90,000 (includes $45,000 win bonus) def. Clay Guida $23,000 (win bonus would have been $23,000) *Sanchez and Guida each earned an additional $25,000 for Fight of the Night

-James Wilks $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) def. DaMarques Johnson $8,000 (win bonus would have been $8,000)

-Chris Lytle $36,000 (includes $18,000 win bonus) def. Kevin Burns $9,000 (win bonus would have been $9,000) *Lytle and Burns each earned an additional $25,000 for Fight of the Night

-Ross Pearson $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) def. Andre Winner $8,000 (win bonus would have been $8,000)

-Joe Stevenson $70,000 (includes $35,000 win bonus) def. Nate Diaz $20,000 (win bonus would have been $20,000) *Stevenson and Diaz each earned an additional $25,000 for Fight of the Night

-Melvin Guillard $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. Gleison Tibau $17,000 (win bonus would have been $17,000)

-Brad Blackburn $18,000 (includes $9,000 win bonus) def. Edgar Garcia $5,000 (win bonus would have been $5,000)

-Tomasz Drwal $15,600 (includes $7,000 win bonus) def. Mike Ciesnoleviscz $6,400 (win bonus would have been $8,000) *Ciesnoleviscz had to give 20% of his show money or $1,600 to Drwal for failing to make weight, which is reflected in the amounts here.

-Nick Osipczak $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) def. Frank Lester $8,000 (win bonus would have been $8,000)

-Jason Dent $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) def. Cameron Dollar $8,000 (win bonus would have been $8,000)

ULTIMATE FIGHTER 9 FINALE DISCLOSED FIGHTER PAYROLL: $430,000*Disclosed Payroll Does Not Include Bonuses