Win or lose, Corey Anderson will make more money in disclosed purses than his champion counterpart Vadim Nemkov at Bellator 277. But there’s a big kicker possible for the winner of their fight.
Anderson, who made a quick impact in the ViacomCBS-owned promotion after defecting from the UFC, is scheduled to make a flat $250,000 for his work on Friday, according to disclosed salaries released by the California State Athletic Commission. Nemkov, meanwhile, is set to make $80,000 to show and $80,000 to win.
Nemkov defends his light heavyweight title against Anderson in the finals of the Bellator light heavyweight grand prix, which co-headlines the Bellator 273 fight card on Friday at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. Showtime will broadcast the main event live.
To come out ahead – way ahead – in take-home pay, Nemkov’s incentive to win is a $1 million prize awarded to the tournament winner along with disclosed pay. He will also retain his title from August 2020, which he won with an outright knockout by Ryan Bader, former two-division champion.
Here is the full list of Bellator 277 salaries provided by the CSAC. These figures are not representative of a fighter’s earnings as discretionary bonuses or sponsorship incomes after a fight are not disclosed.
Main Card (Showtime at 10, p.m. ET)
- A.J. McKee ($250,000 to show, no win bonus) vs. Patricio Pitbull ($250,000 to show, no win bonus)
- Vadim Nemkov ($80,000 to show, $80,000 to win) vs. Corey Anderson ($250,000 to show, no win bonus)
- Aaron Pico ($75,000 to show, no win bonus) vs. Adli Edwards ($50,000 to show, no win bonus)
- Timothy Johnson ($75,000 to show, no win bonus) vs. Linton Vassell ($69,000 to show, $69,000 to win)
Prelims (MMA Fighting at 7 p.m. ET)
- Tyrell Fortune ($75,000 to show, no win bonus) vs. Rakim Cleveland ($30,000 to show, $30,000 to win)
- Rafael Carvalho ($30,000 to show, $30,000 to win) vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov ($35,000 to show, $35,000 to win)
- Gaston Bolanos ($25,000 to show, no win bonus) vs. Daniel Carey ($12,000 to show, $12,000 to win)
- Kyle Crutchmer ($25,000 to show, $25,000 to win) vs. Michael Lombardo ($20,000 to show, $20,000 to win)
- Bobby Seronio III ($2,000 to show, $2,000 to win) vs. Calob Ramirez ($2,000 to show, $2,000 to win)
- Tyson Miller ($2,000 to show, $2,000 to win) vs. Rhalan Gracie ($5,000 to show, $5,000 to win)
- Edwin De Los Santos ($2,000 to show, $2,000 to win) vs. Alberto Mendez ($2,000 to show, $2,000 to win)
- Socrates Hernandez ($2,000 to show, $2,000 to win) vs. Rogelio Luna ($2,000 to show, $2,000 to win)
- Laird Anderson ($2,000 to show, $2,000 to win) vs. JT Donaldson ($2,000 to show, $2,000 to win)
- Theo Haig ($2,000 to show, $2,000 to win) vs. Alan Benson ($2,000 to show, $2,000 to win)