UFC 181 Fighter Salaries: Lawler, Pettis, and Melendez Top Payroll

The UFC 181 fight card delivered a plethora of exciting fights on Saturday night in Las Vegas, including another five-round war between Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler.

SEE ALSO: UFC 181 Fight Highlights Videos

Hendricks won the first bout between the two top 170-pounders, earning the UFC welterweight championship in the process. It was Lawler’s night this time around, however, as the 13-year veteran swayed the judges in his direction.

The night’s co-main event saw Anthony Pettis continue to stake his claim as one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters in the world by becoming the first man to stop Gilbert Melendez, a former Strikeforce champion with nearly as many years in the sport as Lawler.

SEE ALSO: UFC Signs CM Punk, Good or Bad for the Sport?

Not only did Lawler finally claim a UFC championship, he also topped the UFC 181 fighter payroll at $220,000 in disclosed compensation. Not far behind were Pettis and Melendez, who each nabbed $200,000 for their efforts. Pettis made $100,000 to show and $100,000 for the win, while Melendez was paid a flat fee of $200,000, with no win bonus available.

The Nevada Athletic Commission on Monday revealed the full UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler II fighter salaries to MMAWeekly.com. The event took place on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

UFC 181 Fighter Salaries

Robbie Lawler: $220,000 (includes $110,000 win bonus)
def. Johny Hendricks: $150,000

Anthony Pettis: $200,000 (includes $100,000 win bonus)
def. Gilbert Melendez: $200,000

Travis Browne: $100,000 (includes $50,000 win bonus)
def. Brendan Schaub: $32,000

Todd Duffee: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
def. Anthony Hamilton: $10,000

Tony Ferguson: $48,000 (includes $24,000 win bonus)
def. Abel Trujillo: $14,000

Urijah Faber: $140,000 (includes $70,000 win bonus)
def. Francisco Rivera: $20,000

Josh Samman: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)
def. Eddie Gordon: $15,000

Corey Anderson: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus)
def. Justin Jones: $8,000

Raquel Pennington: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
Ashlee Evans-Smith: $8,000

Sergio Pettis: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus)
Matt Hobar: $10,000

Clay Collard: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)
Alex White: $10,000

UFC 181 Disclosed Fighter Payroll: $1,317,000