Strikeforce Challengers 17 Fighter Salaries: St. Preux and Voelker Top Payouts

Strikeforce fighter Ovince St. Preux

Strikeforce Challengers 17, the promotion’s first event in Las Vegas, took place on Friday night at The Pearl at The Palms Casino Resort. Bobby Voelker won the main event, a rubber match with Roger Bowling.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission on Monday released the Strikeforce Challengers 17 fighter salaries, where Voelker ran a close second to Ovince St. Preux as the top earners.

Although Sarah Kaufman won her fight against Liz Carmouche, according to the NSAC, she had a clause in her contract that stipulated she would receive a $5,000 win bonus only if she won by knockout, technical knockout, or submission. She won the fight by decision, so Kaufman did not receive a win bonus.

The following figures are based on the fighter salary information that promoters are required by law to submit to the state athletic commissions, including the winners’ bonuses.

Although mixed martial arts fighters do not have collective bargaining or a union, the fighters’ salaries are still public record, just as with every other major sport in the United States. Any undisclosed bonuses that a promoter also pays its fighters, but does not disclose to the athletic commissions (specifically, pay-per-view bonuses, fight of the night bonuses, etc.), are not included in the figures below.

Strikeforce Challengers 17 Main Card Fighter Salaries

-Bobby Voelker: $11,000 (includes $5,500 win bonus) def. Roger Bowling: $4,500
-Devin Cole: $10,000 (includes $5,000 win bonus) def. Shawn Jordan: $4,000
-Ovince St. Preux: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus) def. Joe Cason: $3,000
-Sarah Kaufman: $10,000 (did not receive win bonus) def. Liz Carmouche: $2,500
-Adlan Amagov: $8,000 (includes $4,000 win bonus) def. Ron Stallings: $3,000

Strikeforce Challengers 17 Preliminary Card Fighter Salaries

-TJ Cook: $5,000 (includes $2,500 win bonus) def. Lionel Lanham: $2,000
-Anthony Smith: $5,000 (includes $2,500 win bonus) def. Ben Lagman: $2,000
-Bill Cooper: $4,000 (includes $2,000 win bonus) def. Maka Watson: $2,000
-Sterling Ford: $6,000 (includes $3,000 win bonus) def. Brian McLaughlin: $2,500

Strikeforce Challengers 17 Disclosed Fighter Payroll: $96,500

(UPDATED at 2:50 p.m. PT on July 25, 2011, to correct information regarding Sarah Kaufman’s payout.)