UFC on FOX 16's Reebok pay: Miller, Castillo earn big checks with $213K total sponsorship payout

Jim Miller and Danny Castillo

With the new UFC-Reebok sponsorship program, the fighters from Saturday’s UFC on FOX 16 event took home official estimated payouts totaling $212,500.

With the new UFC-Reebok sponsorship program, the fighters from Saturday’s UFC on FOX 16 event took home official estimated payouts totaling $212,500.

The UFC-Reebok program, which replaces the fighter’s traditional outside sponsorships, awards payouts based on a fighter’s seniority, but with champions and title challengers in their own tier. While the UFC doesn’t officially reveal their payments for each event, MMAjunkie has compiled the following figures based on the UFC’s official payment plan.

At UFC on FOX 16, which aired on FOX from Chicago’s United Center, UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw ($40,000) and former champion Renan Barao ($30,000) took him the highest pay, as expected.

However, a preliminary matchup between perennial lightweight contender Jim Miller ($15,000) and longtime UFC and WEC veteran Danny Castillo ($20,000) produced the evening’s highest non-title payout.

Under the new sponsorship program’s payout tiers, fighters are paid based on their total UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce (April 2011 and later) fights. Competitors with 1-5 bouts receive $2,500 per appearance; 6-10 bouts get $5,000; 11-15 bouts earn $10,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $15,000; and 21 bouts and more get $20,000. Additionally, champions earn $40,000 while title challengers get $30,000.

The full UFC on FOX 16 UFC-Reebok sponsorship payouts included:

Champ T.J. Dillashaw ($40,000)
def. Renan Barao ($30,000)

Miesha Tate ($5,000)
def. Jessica Eye ($2,500)

Edson Barboza ($10,000)
def. Paul Felder ($2,500)

Joe Lauzon ($15,000)
def. Takanori Gomi ($5,000)

Tom Lawlor ($5,000)
def. Gian Villante ($5,000)

Jim Miller ($15,000)
def. Danny Castillo ($20,000)

Ben Saunders ($5,000)
def. Kenny Robertson ($5,000)

Bryan Caraway ($5,000)
def. Eddie Wineland ($10,000)

James Krause ($5,000)
def. Daron Cruickshank ($10,000)

Andrew Holbrook ($2,500)
def. Ramsey Nijem ($5,000)

Elizabeth Phillips ($2,500)
def. Jessamyn Duke ($2,500)

Zak Cummings ($2,500)
def. Antonio Braga Neto ($2,500)

As previously reported, fighters are required to wear Reebok-branded apparel in conjunction with all official UFC events, including their fights, press conferences, weigh-ins and open workouts.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive, in perpetuity royalty, payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Year-to-date UFC-Reebok sponsorship payouts include:

“UFC on FOX 16: Dillashaw vs. Barao 2? – $212,500
“UFC Fight Night 72: Bisping vs. Leites” – $110,000
“UFC Fight Night 71: Mir vs. Duffee” – $137,500
“The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale: Ellenberger vs. Thompson” – $90,000
“UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor” – $235,000

Year-to-date total: $785,000

For complete coverage of UFC on FOX 16, check out the UFC Events section of the site.