Half a million dollars for half a punch: CM Punk lands bumper payday at UFC 203
Former WWE superstar was dominated by Mickey Gall in Cleveland, but earned $470,000 MORE than the man who beat him
CM Punk may have been the loser in his bout with Mickey Gall at UFC 203 at the weekend, but he was the clear winner when it came to his paycheque.
The former WWE's superstar's first foray into professional mixed martial arts saw him bank a cool $500,000 for his 134-second submission loss to Gall. That's a handy $3,731 A SECOND.
In that time, Punk threw half a punch, as Gall immediately ducked under the wrestler's half-hearted strike and took him to the mat.
Once there, the young New Jersey welterweight battered Punk - real name Phil Brooks - with ground strikes before locking up a rear-naked choke and forcing the ex-pro wrestler to submit in a shade over two minutes.
For his part in the bout, Gall earned just $30,000, with half of that figure being his win bonus.
UFC 203 Payouts
Stipe Miocic: $600,000 (no win bonus) def. Alistair Overeem: $800,000
Fabrício Werdum: $375,000 (includes $125,000 win bonus) def. Travis Browne: $120,000
Mickey Gall: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) def. CM Punk: $500,000
Jimmie Rivera: $48,000 (includes $24,000 win bonus) def. Urijah Faber: $160,000
Jéssica Andrade: $46,000 (includes $23,000 win bonus) def. Joanne Calderwood: $25,000
Bethe Correia: $50,000 (includes $25,000 win bonus) def. Jessica Eye: $25,000
Brad Tavares: $56,000 (includes $28,000 win bonus) def. Caio Magalhães: $20,000
Nik Lentz: $76,000 (includes $38,000 win bonus) def. Michael McBride: $12,000
Drew Dober: $38,000 (includes $19,000 win bonus) def. Jason Gonzalez: $10,000
Yancy Medeiros: $48,000 (includes $24,000 win bonus) def. Sean Spencer: $17,000
Punk wasn't the biggest earner in Cleveland at UFC 203, however, with UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic banking $600,000 for his win over Alistair Overeem, who took home the biggest paycheque of the night with a cool $800,000.
But after his one-sided loss on his Octagon debut it looks unlikely that Punk will get a similar payday again in the UFC, with UFC president Dana White telling Canadian TV station Fight Network after the event that the 37-year-old should perhaps have his next bout at a lower level.
"He probably shouldn't have his next fight in the UFC," he explained.
"Just like I said with Brock (Lesnar), having your first fight in the UFC is tough and you see it tonight, even if it's with a guy who's 2-0.
"This is a tough place to learn."
