The final UFC APEX event of the year, UFC Vegas 83, is set to feature Song Yadong and Chris Gutierrez as the headliners. Originally scheduled to take place in Shanghai, China, the event has been relocated to Las Vegas, NV, for undisclosed reasons.
Top bantamweight fighters Song Yadong and Chris Gutierrez are slated to be in the main event at UFC Vegas 83 on December 9. Both fighters enter the headline bout with one-fight win streaks, aiming to capitalize on their recent victories and establish a potential path toward a title run. Song Yadong achieved a TKO victory over Ricky Simón on April 29, while Chris Gutierrez secured an impressive unanimous decision win against Alateng Heili on October 14.
View this post on Instagram
In the co-main event, a matchup organized with just two weeks’ notice, former title contender Anthony Smith steps in on short notice to face Khalil Rountree Jr., who was originally slated to fight at UFC Austin. Smith is riding the momentum of a split-decision triumph over Ryan Spann. Meanwhile, Rountree Jr. boasts a four-fight win streak, including a recent first-round TKO against Chris Daukaus in August.
In the last Fight Night event of the year, the seventh-ranked bantamweight, Yadong, faces off against the fourteenth-ranked Gutierrez, and their focus extends beyond just fighter payouts.
While the UFC Fight Night 233 payouts will certainly be a motivating factor for the two competitors in the Octagon, their primary drive remains the necessity to secure a victory and defend their positions within the top 15 rankings.
Song Yadong vs. Chris Gutierrez fight purses in the past
In his recent bout, Song Yadong showcased dominance against his opponent, Ricky Simon, securing a fifth-round TKO victory. According to NY Fights, his earnings included an approximate base salary of $100,000, and when factoring in the win bonus, promotional bonus, and performance bonus, he left the event with an estimated total of $261,000. In his fight before that, he took home $91,000 in his fight against Cory Sandhagen.
On the other hand, his opponent, Chris Gutierrez, was last seen in October as part of the UFC Vegas 81 card against Alatengheili, reportedly earning approximately $160,000. Even though this marks his inaugural main event, the fans anticipate that his UFC fighter pay won’t experience a significant increase this time around. Before this one, Gutierrez defeated Batgerel Danaa on March 26, 2022, and took home $72,000.
As per The Sports Daily, on this particular fight night, both fighters are expected to earn $261,000. Additionally, in the co-main event, UFC veteran Anthony Smith is expected to make $171,000 against Khalil Rountree Jr., who will be reportedly taking home $97,000.