What a difference a year makes. The 30-year-old Wolfslair Academy fighter will face champion Rashad Evans next for the light heavyweight title at UFC 98 in May –- less than a year after an unstable Jackson thrust himself into the nation’s spotlight for wrecking havoc through the streets of Newport Beach, Calif., in his truck.
Heavyweight Shane Carwin swung his way into the contender’s circle with a gripping first-round knockout over Octagon vet Gabriel Gonzaga. Carwin was paid $32,000, while Gonzaga received nearly double that in defeat with $60,000.
UFC 96’s third highest bread winner was light heavyweight Brandon Vera with $60,000, though the take must have been bittersweet. Once heralded as the division’s next coming, Vera earned $200,000 for his last disclosed payroll at UFC Fight Night 14 in July 2008 with a unanimous decision win over Reese Andy. However, the athletic 31-year-old has gone 2-3 in his last five outings and signed to a much thriftier contract this time around. Vera’s opponent, Michael Patt, took home $5,000.
According to the OAS, all main card winners were tested for drugs following UFC 96, with the addition of middleweights Kendall Grove and Jason Day. Results are pending.
UFC 96 Payouts
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson -- $325,000 (including $100,000 win bonus) def. Keith Jardine -- $55,000
Shane Carwin -- $32,000 (including $16,000 win bonus) def. Gabriel Gonzaga -- $60,000
Matt Brown -- $16,000 (including $8,000 win bonus) def. Pete Sell -- $12,000
Matt Hamill -- $40,000 (including $20,000 win bonus) def. Mark Munoz -- $12,000
Gray Maynard -- $20,000 (including $10,000 win bonus) def. Jim Miller -- $9,000
Tamdan McCrory -- $20,000 (including $10,000 win bonus) def. Ryan Madigan -- $3,000
Kendall Grove -- $44,000 (including $22,000 win bonus) def. Jason Day -- $5,000
Jason Brilz -- $10,000 (including $5,000 win bonus) def. Tim Boetsch -- $12,000
Brandon Vera -- $60,000 (including $30,000 win bonus) def. Michael Patt -- $5,000
Shane Nelson -- $16,000 (including $8,000 win bonus) def. Aaron Riley -- $6,000
Note: These numbers, sent to Sherdog.com by the Ohio Athletic Commission, are disclosed pay only.