Bellator Dynamite 1 Fighter Salaries: Tito Ortiz Claims Nearly Half the Payroll

UFC Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz may not have been able to take the belt from around Bellator light heavyweight champion Liam McGeary’s waist, but he took nearly half of the total disclosed fighter salary for Bellator’s first Dynamite event.

McGeary submitted Ortiz to retain the belt, but Ortiz’s $300,000 salary eclipsed the $50,000 the champion was paid.

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Following Ortiz on the pay scale was fellow UFC veteran Phil Davis, who fought his way through a four-man, one-night tournament to earn the next shot at McGeary. Winning fights over Emanuel Newton and Francis Carmont, Davis earned $130,000, in addition to the title shot, for his efforts.

Bellator Dynamite 1 took place on Saturday, Sept. 19, at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.

The fighter salaries, as revealed by the California State Athletic Commission, are the amounts disclosed to the athletic commission and do not include any discretionary or other bonuses or sponsorship monies paid to the fighters.

Bellator Dynamite 1 Fighter Salaries

Liam McGeary: $50,000 (no win bonus)
def. Tito Ortiz: $300,000

Phil Davis: $130,000 (includes $65,000 win bonus)†
def. Francis Carmont: $17,000

Josh Thomson: $10,000 (no win bonus)
def. Mike Bronzoulis: $10,000

Phil Davis: See above result†
def. Emanuel Newton: $70,000

Muhammed Lawal: $15,000 (no win bonus)†††
def. Linton Vassell: $30,000

Gabriel Carrasco: $4,000 (includes $2,000 win bonus)
def. Joe Neal: $2,000

Adam Piccolotti: $4,000 (includes $2,000 win bonus)
def. Salvador Becerra: $1,750

Thomas Diagne: $3,000 (no win bonus due to draw)
vs. Mike Malott: $2,000 (no win bonus due to draw)

Francis Carmont: See above result††
def. Anthony Ruiz: $5,000

†Won one-night light heavyweight tournament
††Lost one-night light heavyweight tournament final
†††Injured in semifinal tournament bout, couldn’t continue

Bellator Dynamite 1 Disclosed Fighter Payroll: $653,750