The UFC is all set, with UFC Vegas 81 coming around the weekend. The fight is said to occur at the UFC Apex Arena in Las Vegas on October 14. In the main event, Sodiq Yusuff vs. Edson Barboza will be competing in the featherweight division. In addition to that, the co-main event consists of Jennifer Maia vs. Viviane Araújo. This will be the last fight at the Apex before the action shifts to Abu Dhabi for UFC 294.
Sodiq will be fighting for the first time in more than a year, after his last victory over Don Shainis. Super Yusuff formerly won the Dana White Contender Series and has a UFC record of 6-1. His fight against Alex Caceres was a major career win. Currently, he has a record of 13-2, winning 50% of his fights by KO/TKO.
Top 15 Featherweights collide on Saturday 🔥@Super_Sodiq vs @EdsonBarbozaJR in your #UFCVegas81 main event!
[ 7pmET / 4pmPT | Live on ESPN+ ] pic.twitter.com/38NqhUcn6t
— UFC (@ufc) October 10, 2023
Edson Barboza on the other hand is a veteran of the game, he has competed in two weight classes. Although he’s in his late thirties he continues to be a threat to the division. With a 23-11 MMA record and winning his first appearance this year with a knee to Billy Quarantillo’s face. Proving that his striking reaction is still lightning-quick.
Aside from the featherweight main event, there is Jennifer Maia vs. Viviane Araujo fighting in the flyweight division. Maia is coming off a two-fight win streak, with her last fight against Casey O’Neil coming.
Maia has been fighting with the organization since 2018 and holds an MMA record of 21-9. Her opponent for the night Viviane Araujo has come off a two-loss streak with 11 wins and 5 losses to her record. This fight might be the chance for an even bigger matchup within the coming year. So, how much money are these fighters making on the UFC Vegas 81? Let’s take a look.
UFC Vegas 81 salaries revealed
Sodiq Yusuff is set to earn his biggest payday yet, but Barboza is set to receive the most out of this fight. The latter is set to earn a guaranteed $271,000 more than what Sodiq Yusuff will receive, i.e., $256,000. The UFC is expected to pay a whopping $1.4 million to fighters, from their salaries to their bonuses, in Vegas 81.
Edson Barboza’s pay will consist of his base pay ($250,000) and his incentives, which are around $21,000. Sodiq Yusuff’s pay will consist of his base pay of $250,000 and his incentives of $6,000. Jennifer Maia is said to earn a guaranteed payout of $71,000, which consists of her base pay of $60,000 and her added incentives of $11,000.
Jonathan Martinez will be earning the third highest pay ($96,000) next to Darren Elkins ($91,000). Other fighters in the main card will earn: Adrian Yanez ($66,000), Michel Pereira ($56,000), Andre Petroski ($24,000), Edgar Chairez ($16,000), Daniel Lacerda ($24,500), Christian Rodriguez ($24,500), and Cameron Saaiman ($24,500).
On the undercard, however, Elkins will get the highest payout, while fighters like TJ Brown ($44,000), Tanara Lisboa ($16,000), Ravena Oliveira ($16,000), Terrance McKinney ($66,000), Brandon Marotte ($16,000), Irina Alekseeva ($16,000), Melissa Dixon ($16,000), Chris Gutierrez ($86,000), Alatengheili ($36,000), Ashley Yoder ($49,000), and Emily Ducote ($24,500).
A total of $218,000 will be paid out as incentives to fighters. The champions will make an additional $42,000. As Edson Barboza gears up to get his third win streak, Sodiq will also try to prove his dominance in the division. This is also the last fight night before the organization heads towards Abu Dhabi for UFC 294.