Fabio Maldonado Appreciative of UFC 153 Post-Fight Bonus, Even in Losing Effort

Every so often, talk of a fighter union surfaces, especially with the UFC, primarily because it is the mixed martial arts juggernaut, the largest MMA promotion on the planet.

UFC president Dana White often answers questions about the potential for a fighter union, saying he just doesn’t think fighters on the top rung want to give up a chunk of their earnings to those lower down on the ladder.

One thing he doesn’t talk about in as much detail is the non-disclosed “locker room” bonuses that the company often hands out. White and his business partners, the Fertitta brothers, don’t really like making their company’s finances public, especially when it comes to dealing with their fighters.

It’s not a very well kept secret, however, that the UFC often hands out bonuses to fighters that, win or lose, White or other UFC execs felt gave it their all.

One of the latest such fighters was Fabio Maldonado, who lost brutal battle to Glover Teixeira at UFC 153 last month in Brazil.

Despite receiving some unbelievable punishment, Maldonado, through heart and instinct, fought on until the Octagonside doctor recommended the fight be stopped after the second round.

Maldonado on Friday took to his Facebook page to let all his friends know that, despite losing the fight, White & Co. took care of him rather well after the fight.

“Just got a check from the UFC,” he commented in Portuguese, noting it was the fourth time he received a bonus. “The UFC paid me more than if I had won the fight. Thanks to the Fertitta brothers, Dana White and Joe Silva.”

The money UFC fighters make is also often compared to the headline inducing paydays in the boxing world. White often explains that what people are comparing is apples to oranges, as they’re looking at the miniscule amount of boxers at the top of the heap pulling in tremendous paydays, while those at the bottom are sometimes fighting for $50 or $100 a round.

Maldonado, who fought for years in as a professional boxer (with a 22-0 record), sounds as if he agrees, at least to some degree.

“Fought boxing, never seen it happen before,” he said of the bonus he received, even in a losing effort.

While many may question the necessity of a union for mixed martial artists, it doesn’t sound if Maldonado is among them.