The Octagon returns to the UFC Apex for UFC Vegas 106, and with the headliner comes a high-stakes welterweight clash. Former title challenger Gilbert Burns makes his long-awaited comeback after three tough losses against elite competition. Standing across from him is undefeated rising star Michael Morales, who boasts a perfect 17-0 record and currently sits at #12 in the rankings. Burns, ranked #8, is eager to prove he’s still a force in the division, while Morales looks to break into title contention with the biggest win of his career.
As both warriors aim to make a statement on Saturday, a question has been making the rounds in the community. How much are these fighting superstars going to make for their UFC Vegas 106 clash? In addition to the banger headliner, the co-main event will feature a high-octane middleweight fight between Paul Craig and Rodolfo Bellato. So, ahead of these much-anticipated matchups, let us have a closer look at how much these fighters are making on fight night.
UFC Vegas 106: What is the payout for Gilbert Burns and Michael Morales?
The Brazilian former welterweight title challenger has suffered defeats against Belal Muhammad, Jack Della Maddalena, and Sean Brady. To remain relevant in the welterweight division, Burns must secure a victory against Michael Morales. Burns is a fiery fighter who knows how to handle himself wherever the fight goes. The Brazilian gave Khamzat Chimaev arguably the toughest fight of his career, and despite the defeat, Burns visibly hurt the Chechnyan.
Being one of the biggest names within the MMA world, Gilbert Burns is an A-lister within the UFC, which means he gets a decent pay day even in his losses. Well, for his loss against Sean Brady at UFC Vegas 97, ‘Durinho’ earned somewhere around $150,000-$200,000. However, we must take note that the Brazilian is riding a three-fight losing streak, and this might have an impact on his earnings. If we were to make an estimated guess, then the Brazilian might make somewhere around $120,000-$150,000 for his clash against Morales.
But what about Morales? The fighter is riding a 17-fight winning streak and has yet to taste defeat in the promotion. Will he end up earning more than Burns? Well, the young fighter is fairly new under the UFC compared to his opponent, and is yet to make a big name for himself. For his victory against Neil Magny at UFC Vegas 96, Morales took home a decent $54,000 as his payout. However, this amount is expected to double in his battle against Burns.
As per the estimates, Morales will be earning somewhere around $100,000-$110,000. Now that we know about their earnings, let’s have a look at what the other fighters will make in Las Vegas.
UFC Vegas 106 Salary of Paul Craig, Rodolfo Bellato, and Others
UFC Vegas 106 will feature Paul Craig in the co-main event, despite him riding a three-fight losing streak in the middleweight division. He’ll face Rodolfo Bellato, who also desperately needs a win to keep his spot on the UFC roster. Interestingly, Craig’s career is hanging by a thread as well. Why? Because his contract is about to expire, the UFC reportedly has no intention of re-signing him.
According to reports, ‘BearJew’ is expected to earn approximately $100,000 to $120,000 for his bout at UFC Vegas 106. On the other hand, his opponent, Bellato, is expected to earn around $50,000, considering his last payout was $34,000. In addition to the main and co-main, let’s have a look at what the other fighters are about to earn. It must be noted that these salaries may increase if they earn Performance of the Night or Fight of the Night bonuses.
Please note that all the payouts mentioned are estimations and the numbers subject to change. With that in mind, who do you think will emerge victorious at UFC Vegas 106? Share your predictions in the comments below!
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