Daniel Cormier Shares Dana White’s $1 Million Bonus After Jon Jones Loss
Daniel Cormier recently revealed how UFC president Dana White gave him an unexpected $1 million bonus after his first defeat to Jon Jones. The memorable fight took place at UFC 182 on January 3, 2015, and marked the beginning of one of the most intense rivalries in UFC history. Although Cormier lost the bout, he says that White’s generous bonus softened the blow, rewarding him for helping to make the fight a huge success.
Cormier on the Fight Pay and the Surprise Bonus
In a candid interview on The Pivot, Cormier broke down his pay for the fight, saying, “Back in 2015, I fought Jon Jones for the first time. I was making $80,000 to show up and $80,000 to win. I lost. All that, and I made $80,000.” He also mentioned earning about $80,000 from sponsorships, but he still felt his total earnings were modest considering the build-up and the stakes of the event.
Cormier then recalled the surprising call from Dana White just days after the fight:
“Dana White calls me two days later, ‘Y’all killed it. The numbers were out of this world; we’re going to send you $1 million. Dude sent me a check for $1 million the next day,” Cormier shared, adding that he was taken aback by White’s generosity and appreciation.
UFC’s Hidden Fighter Earnings and Financial Support
Cormier also highlighted how, despite the seemingly low pay-per-view salaries that fans see, many fighters often earn more than advertised. According to Cormier, the former UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta was committed to ensuring champions took home at least $1 million per fight. He explained, “Even if your fight purse was $350,000, and you sold another $300,000 in pay-per-views, he’d send you another $400,000 to make sure you made $1 million every time you got in there.”
The UFC’s approach, as Cormier described, involves supplementing fighter earnings quietly, with extra pay-outs that aren’t publicly disclosed. Cormier said, “They try to protect the athlete a little bit by not showing exactly what you make. A lot of it is hidden.”
Cormier also shed light on how fighters like Conor McGregor, Jon Jones, and Israel Adesanya can secure extra pay-per-view revenue based on buys. For top stars, every purchase counts, with Cormier explaining, “You get $2 a buy, $3 a buy, $4 a buy. Then that money really starts to go.” This model allows fighters with strong drawing power to earn significantly beyond their base pay.
The first encounter between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier was one of the most hyped events in UFC history, with the rivalry reaching a boiling point. In the lead-up to UFC 182, the tension escalated dramatically when the two fighters brawled during a promotional event at the MGM Grand. The fight itself, though ultimately a unanimous decision win for Jones, was a pivotal moment in Cormier’s career.
Despite the loss, Cormier walked away with a notable bonus from Dana White, who appreciated the contribution Cormier made to one of the most memorable fights in the sport.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
