UFC 291 witnessed Kevin Holland taking the top spot on the disclosed purse report, raking in $356,000 for his victory against Michael Chiesa in the pay-per-view main card at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. However, this doesn’t paint the whole picture of the event’s financials.
The Pete Suazo Utah Athletic Commission, which oversaw the fight card, chose not to reveal most of the fighter purses due to a confidentiality clause that some fighters had agreed to beforehand. This clause allowed them to keep their earnings private. The Utah Attorney General’s Office clarified that this option was made available to fighters specifically for UFC 291, and it came about one year after the commission had previously released full salaries for UFC 278, despite the objections of its executive director, Scott Bowles.
The commission defended its decision by stating that athletes had expressed genuine concerns about public disclosure of their pay, fearing it could negatively impact their ability to negotiate compensation for future events. As a result, the commission treated the purse amounts as “trade secrets” protected by Utah law.
Here are the disclosed salaries for some fighters from UFC 291, but keep in mind that these figures do not include additional earnings from sponsorships, pay-per-view bonuses, or post-fight bonuses, which are not publicly disclosed:
- Bobby Green earned $300,000 ($150,000 base salary + $150,000 win bonus) for his victory over Tony Ferguson.
- Kevin Holland secured $356,000 ($178,000 base salary + $178,000 win bonus) for defeating Michael Chiesa.
- Gabriel Bonfim took home $24,000 ($12,000 base salary + $12,000 win bonus) after his win against Trevin Giles.
- CJ Vergara earned $60,000 ($30,000 base salary + $30,000 win bonus) for defeating Vinicius Salvador.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about confidentiality clause
Q: Who led the disclosed purse report for UFC 291?
A: Kevin Holland led the disclosed purse report for UFC 291 with a total of $356,000 earned for his submission of Michael Chiesa.
Q: Why were most fighter purses not released for UFC 291?
A: The majority of fighter purses were not released due to a confidentiality clause that certain fighters opted into beforehand. This clause allowed them to keep their pay private to protect their ability to negotiate compensation for future events.
Q: What did the Utah Athletic Commission consider the purse amounts to be?
A: The commission considered the purse amounts akin to “trade secrets” protected by Utah law, responding to athletes’ concerns about their pay being publicly revealed, which could negatively impact their future earnings.
Q: What other earnings are not included in the disclosed salaries?
A: The disclosed salaries do not include additional earnings such as sponsorship incomes, pay-per-view bonuses, or post-fight bonuses, which are not publicly disclosed.
Q: Who else had their salaries disclosed for UFC 291?
A: Apart from Kevin Holland, the salaries disclosed by the commission for UFC 291 were Bobby Green, Gabriel Bonfim, and CJ Vergara, along with their respective win bonuses.
More about confidentiality clause
- Pete Suazo Utah Athletic Commission (Official Website): [https://petesuazo.com/]
- Utah Attorney General’s Office (Official Website): [https://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/]
- UFC 278 Salaries Report: [Provide the specific link if available]
- Salt Lake City (Official Website): [https://www.slc.gov/]
- Utah Law (Official Website): [https://le.utah.gov/]
