The UFC returned to Atlanta this past weekend with a card stacked from top to bottom, but when it came to the money, Rose Namajunas walked away as the top earner. The former strawweight champion took home a cool $500,000 for her dominant win over Miranda Maverick.
According to figures confirmed by the Georgia Athletic & Entertainment Commission, UFC Atlanta salaries showed Namajunas earned $250,000 to show and another $250,000 to win. It was a much-needed bounce-back for “Thug Rose” following a tough loss to Erin Blanchfield last year. Maverick, who saw her four-fight win streak snapped, earned $125,000 despite suffering a torn ACL that could keep her out for the next year.
Kamaru Usman followed closely behind Namajunas in the earnings department. The former welterweight champ made $300,000 for his shutout performance against Joaquin Buckley in the UFC Atlanta main event. Usman looked like his old self again, rag-dolling Buckley on the ground and controlling the action bell to bell. Buckley, meanwhile, took home $150,000 in a losing effort.
Michael Chiesa matched Usman’s $300,000 purse thanks to a $150,000 win bonus after his victory over Court McGee on the prelims. It wasn’t the most thrilling fight, but it was a solid showing for Chiesa, who continues to cash big checks. McGee made $83,000 on the night.
Former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt earned $275,000 despite losing a decision to Raoni Barcelos. Garbrandt recently signed a new multi-fight deal with the UFC, locking in his future and a solid payday. Barcelos took home $102,000, which included a $51,000 win bonus.
Here’s how the rest of the UFC Atlanta salaries played out:
Kamaru Usman: $300,000
Joaquin Buckley: $150,000
Rose Namajunas: $500,000 ($250K show / $250K win)
Miranda Maverick: $125,000
Edmen Shabazyan: $186,000 ($93K show / $93K win)
Andre Petroski: $100,000
Raoni Barcelos: $102,000 ($51K show / $51K win)
Cody Garbrandt: $275,000
Mansur Abdul-Malik: $28,000 ($14K show / $14K win)
Cody Brundage: $65,000
Alonzo Menifield: $250,000 ($125K show / $125K win)
Oumar Sy: $26,000
Rodolfo Bellato: $12,000
Paul Craig: $125,000
Michael Chiesa: $300,000 ($150K show / $150K win)
Court McGee: $83,000
Malcolm Wellmaker: $24,000 ($12K show / $12K win)
Kris Moutinho: $14,000
Jose Ochoa: $20,000 ($10K show / $10K win)
Cody Durden: $63,000
Ricky Simon: $166,000 ($83K show / $83K win)
Cameron Smotherman: $14,000
Phil Rowe: $110,000 ($55K show / $55K win)
Ange Loosa: $30,000
Jamey-Lyn Horth: $50,000 ($25K show / $25K win)
Vanessa Demopoulos: $65,000
Thirteen fighters earned over six figures on the night—nearly half the card. Meanwhile, Rodolfo Bellato came in at the bottom with just $12,000 following his no-contest against Paul Craig.
“This is just the disclosed pay,” the commission noted. “It doesn’t include discretionary bonuses or performance checks from the UFC.”
