Frankie Edgar Tops TUF 19 Finale Payroll with $260,000 Check

[ironworks]

Feed Source: Bleacher Report MMA

While former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar never had to leave his comfort zone in his trilogy fight with BJ Penn last night, the dominant victory made the New Jersey native $260,000 richer. Mixedmartialarts.com reported the salaries earned at The Ultimate Fighter Season 19 Finale, with Edgar topping the list with $130,000 to show and $130,000 to win.

The usual disclaimer applies: The salaries do not include money deducted for insurances, licenses, taxes, etc. and do not include the UFC's infamous "locker room bonuses."


Frankie Edgar: $260,000 (includes $130,000 bonus)
def. B.J. Penn: $150,000

Corey Anderson: $16,000 (includes $8,000 bonus)
def. Matt Van Buren: $8,000

Eddie Gordon: $16,000 (includes $8,000 bonus)
def. Dhiego Lima: $8,000

Derrick Lewis: $20,000 (includes $10,000 bonus)
def. Guto Inocente: $8,000

Dustin Ortiz: $28,000 (includes $14,000 bonus)
def. Justin Scoggins: $12,000

Kevin Lee: $16,000 (includes $8,000 bonus)
def. Jesse Ronson: $8,000

Leandro Issa: $15,000 (includes $7,500 bonus)
def. Jumabieke Tuerxun: $8,000

Adriano Martins: $30,000 (includes $15,000 bonus)
def. Juan Manuel Puig: $8,000

Patrick Walsh: $16,000 (includes $8,000 bonus)
def. Daniel Spohn: $8,000

Sarah Moras: $18,000 (includes $8,000 bonus)*
def. Alexis Dufresne: $6,000*

Robert Drysdale: $16,000 (includes $8,000 bonus)
def. Keith Berish: $8,000

* Moras received $2,000 of Dufresne’s pay after Dufresne missed weight

Total Disclosed Payroll: $683,000

[ironworks]

Furthermore, Leandro Issa and Jumabieke Tuerxin were awarded $50,000 "Fight of the Night" bonuses, with Issa earning another $50,000 "Performance of the Night" for finishing the matchup with an armbar, per MMA Junkie.

The third and final bonus, a second "Performance of the Night" award, went to Adriano Martins for scoring a spectacular one-punch knockout over Juan Manuel Puig (also per MMA Junkie).

Edgar had already bested Penn twice in 2010, pulling off a massive upset when he captured the lightweight title from "The Prodigy" at UFC 112 in April 2010.

While their first encounter ended with some controversy, "The Answer" erased any doubt by outclassing the Hawaiian fan favorite for five rounds at their UFC 118 rematch in August of the same year.

A good portion of fans, fighters and analysts alike were willing to give Penn, one of only two two-division champs in UFC history, the benefit of the doubt in facing Edgar for a third time due to his overall track record—despite entering the cage last evening on a four-fight winless streak (three losses, one draw).

However, it was the worst-case scenario for Penn on Sunday night, as he looked completely lifeless as Edgar picked him apart with his patented slick combinations and quick takedowns.

Edgar turned up the heat in the third round, delivering brutal ground-and-pound that left Penn a bloody mess before referee Herb Dean finally called off the bout with 44 seconds remaining in the frame.

The one-sided beating marked the only time in Penn's 28-fight professional career that he was stopped, calling a halt to one of the most storied careers in mixed martial arts.

Penn formally announced his retirement at the event's post-fight press conference, per MMA Fighting.

The good fortune didn't start there for Edgar, who proved he's still a force to be reckoned with in the UFC's 145-pound division.

All four of the fighters in the TUF finals were coached by Edgar, making it inevitable that both of the winners—Eddie Gordon and Corey Anderson—came from Team Edgar.

As Penn gets ready for his Hall of Fame induction, what matchup makes the most sense for Edgar in a crowded featherweight title picture?