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UFC 116
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| UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 The poster for UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin | ||||
| Promotion | Ultimate Fighting Championship | |||
| Date | July 3, 2010 | |||
| Venue | MGM Grand Garden Arena | |||
| City | Las Vegas, Nevada | |||
| Total gate | $4,053,990[1] | |||
| Buyrate | 1,160,000[2] | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on July 3, 2010, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.[3] The show was voted as the Best Major Show in the 2010 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards, the first time a and only time an mixed martial arts and UFC show won the award.
Background
[edit]Shane Carwin, who won the Interim Heavyweight Championship by defeating Frank Mir at UFC 111, faced current heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar. The two were originally set to face each other at UFC 106, then UFC 108, before Carwin won the interim heavyweight championship, but Lesnar pulled out of the fight both times due to an illness (diverticulitis) that kept him from training.
Cheick Kongo was scheduled to face Roy Nelson,[4] but a back injury sidelined Kongo.[5] Nelson fought Junior dos Santos at UFC 117.[6]
Alessio Sakara was set to fight Nate Marquardt,[7] but Sakara pulled out of the bout after the death of his father.[8]
Jacob Volkmann was scheduled to fight Paul Kelly as one of the preliminary fights, but Kelly reportedly had to pull out of the July 3 fight due to visa issues.[9] The bout was rescheduled for UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko the next month.
Also, UFC newcomer Ricardo Romero was scheduled to fight Steve Cantwell after Cantwell's recent medical ban ended. However, the fight was cancelled for unknown reasons[10] and Cantwell was replaced by UFC returnee Seth Petruzelli.[11]
On June 17, 2010, Julio Paulino was injured and withdrew from his fight against Daniel Roberts. Forrest Petz returned to the UFC and replaced Paulino.[12]
On June 22, 2010, Wanderlei Silva had to withdraw from his co-main event fight against Yoshihiro Akiyama due to three broken ribs and an injured right knee. Akiyama was then matched against Chris Leben.[13]
The bout between Kendall Grove and Goran Reljic was originally slated for the live prelims show on Spike TV. However, it was later demoted and replaced by Seth Petruzelli vs. Ricardo Romero because of Grove's criticism of the Spike TV network and The Ultimate Fighter television show.[14]
UFC President Dana White confirmed that the winner of the heavyweight title fight will defend the title against the undefeated Cain Velasquez.[15]
UFC 116 won Best Major Show in the 2010 Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards.
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Heavyweight | Brock Lesnar (c) | def. | Shane Carwin (ic) | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | 2 | 2:19 | [a] |
| Middleweight | Chris Leben | def. | Yoshihiro Akiyama | Submission (triangle choke) | 3 | 4:40 | |
| Welterweight | Chris Lytle | def. | Matt Brown | Submission (inverted triangle choke and straight armbar) | 2 | 2:02 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Stephan Bonnar | def. | Krzysztof Soszynski | TKO (knee and punches) | 2 | 3:08 | |
| Lightweight | George Sotiropoulos | def. | Kurt Pellegrino | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Televised | |||||||
| Heavyweight | Brendan Schaub | def. | Chris Tuchscherer | TKO (punches) | 1 | 1:07 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Ricardo Romero | def. | Seth Petruzelli | Submission (armbar) | 2 | 3:05 | |
| Preliminary card | |||||||
| Middleweight | Kendall Grove | def. | Goran Reljic | Decision (split) (28–29, 30–27, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Middleweight | Gerald Harris | def. | David Branch | KO (slam) | 3 | 2:35 | |
| Welterweight | Daniel Roberts | def. | Forrest Petz | Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Heavyweight | Jon Madsen | def. | Karlos Vemola | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
- ^ For the UFC Heavyweight Championship.
Bonus awards
[edit]The following fighters received $75,000 bonuses.[16]
- Fight of the Night: Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Stephan Bonnar and Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Chris Leben
- Knockout of the Night: Gerald Harris
- Submission of the Night: Brock Lesnar
Reported payout
[edit]The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. It does not include sponsor money or "locker room" bonuses often given by the UFC and also do not include the UFC's traditional "fight night" bonuses.[17]
- Brock Lesnar $400,000 (no win bonus) def. Shane Carwin ($40,000)
- Chris Leben $86,000 ($43,000 win bonus) def. Yoshihiro Akiyama ($45,000)
- Chris Lytle $52,000 ($26,000 win bonus) def. Matt Brown ($10,000)
- Stephan Bonnar $50,000 ($25,000 win bonus) def. Krzysztof Soszynski ($10,000)
- George Sotiropoulos $24,000 ($12,000 win bonus) def. Kurt Pellegrino ($25,000)
- Brendan Schaub $20,000 ($10,000 win bonus) def. Chris Tuchscherer ($12,000)
- Ricardo Romero $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus) def. Seth Petruzelli ($10,000)
- Kendall Grove $50,000 ($25,000 win bonus) def. Goran Reljic ($5,000)
- Gerald Harris $20,000 ($10,000 win bonus) def. Dave Branch($6,000)
- Daniel Roberts $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus) def. Forrest Petz ($6,000)
- Jon Madsen $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus) def. Karlos Vemola ($8,000)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "UFC 116 nabs $4,053,990 at the gate with 9,218 tickets sold on July 3". 14 July 2010. Cite error: The named reference "mmamania.com" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ "UPDATE: Information on UFC 116 buyrate: Could be 2nd highest in company history". 7 July 2010.
- ^ "UFC 116: LESNAR vs. CARWIN". ufc.com. May 4, 2010.
- ^ "ROY NELSON VS CHEICK KONGO AT UFC 116- MMA WEEKLY – Mixed Martial Arts & UFC News, Photos, Rankings & more". Mma Weekly. Archived from the original on May 10, 2010. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
- ^ "Exclusive – Cheick Kongo: injured, no confirmation on Roy Nelson matchup nor UFC 116 return". Riddum.com. April 30, 2010. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
- ^ "Roy Nelson vs. Junior Dos Santos in the works for UFC 117 main card". MMAjunkie.com. May 10, 2010. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
- ^ "NATE MARQUARDT VS. ALESSIO SAKARA AT UFC 116- MMA WEEKLY – Mixed Martial Arts & UFC News, Photos, Rankings & more". Mma Weekly. Archived from the original on May 10, 2010. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
- ^ Holland, Jesse (2 May 2010). "Report: Alessio Sakara withdraws from UFC 116 fight with Nate Marquardt". MMA Mania. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
- ^ "Twitter / Jacob Volkmann: I will not be fighting July 3rd in Vegas because the stupid brit did not get his visa in time. I will kill him Aug 3rd". Twitter.com. Retrieved June 13, 2010.
- ^ "Ricardo Romero vs. Steve Cantwell In The Works For UFC 116". heavy.com. June 3, 2010.
- ^ Marrocco, Steven (June 4, 2010). "Seth Petruzelli rejoins UFC, meets Ricardo Romero on UFC 116 preliminary card". MMAjunkie.com. Archived from the original on June 8, 2010. Retrieved June 13, 2010.
- ^ "Forrest Petz replaces injured Julio Paulino, meets Daniel Roberts at UFC 116". MMAjunkie. Archived from the original on 2010-06-19.
- ^ Ariel Helwani (22 June 2010). "Wanderlei Silva Off UFC 116". MMA Fighting.
- ^ "Grove vs. Reljic demoted, Petruzelli vs. Romero promoted to UFC 116's "UFC Prelims"". MMAjunkie. Archived from the original on 2010-06-27. Retrieved 2010-06-25.
- ^ "UFC's White confirms Velasquez fights UFC 116's Lesnar vs. Carwin winner". MMAjunkie. Archived from the original on 2012-05-25. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
- ^ Staff (July 6, 2010). "UFC 116 fighters salaries: Brock Lesnar leads $923K payroll". MMAJunkie.com. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
- ^ "UFC 116 fighters salaries: Brock Lesnar leads $923K payroll". mmajunkie.com. Archived from the original on July 9, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
UFC 116
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) that took place on July 3, 2010, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.[1] The pay-per-view event featured 11 bouts, headlined by a UFC Heavyweight Championship fight between defending champion Brock Lesnar and top contender Shane Carwin.[2]
In the main event, Lesnar overcame a dominant first-round performance by Carwin, who landed a barrage of strikes including multiple knockdowns, to rally in the second round and secure a submission victory via arm-triangle choke at 2:19.[3] This win marked Lesnar's third successful title defense following his recovery from a bout of diverticulitis that had sidelined him since UFC 100. The co-main event saw middleweight Chris Leben defeat Yoshihiro Akiyama by triangle choke submission at 4:40 of the third round, in a fight that earned both combatants Fight of the Night honors for their back-and-forth striking exchanges.[2] Other notable main card results included Krzysztof Soszynski's second-round TKO of Stephan Bonnar via punches, earning him Knockout of the Night, and welterweight Paulo Thiago's unanimous decision win over Jon Fitch in a competitive matchup.[3]
The event drew an announced attendance of 12,740, with 9,218 paid tickets, generating a live gate of $4,053,990, making it one of the highest-grossing UFC events at the time.[4] Preliminary bouts, aired on Spike TV and streamed online, featured victories for fighters like George Sotiropoulos by unanimous decision over Kurt Pellegrino and Brendan Schaub by first-round TKO over Chris Tuchscherer.[5] Overall, UFC 116 highlighted the heavyweight division's intensity and contributed significantly to the UFC's growing popularity in 2010, with an estimated 1.16 million pay-per-view buys.[5]
Undercard fighters like Brendan Schaub ($20,000 total) and Jon Madsen ($16,000 total) earned more modest amounts, reflecting their positions on the card.[21][22][23]
These figures do not include undisclosed pay-per-view revenue shares, which significantly boosted earnings for headliners like Lesnar. Performance bonuses, such as Fight of the Night or Submission of the Night awards, provided additional income beyond the base and win bonuses reported here.[21][24]
Background
Event Development
UFC President Dana White announced on January 20, 2010, that heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar would return to the Octagon in the summer following a severe bout of diverticulitis that forced him out after successfully defending his title against Frank Mir at UFC 100 the previous July.[6] This health setback had delayed Lesnar's scheduled defenses, creating uncertainty around the heavyweight division, and the announcement marked a key step toward his summer comeback, which was later targeted for UFC 116 on July 3, 2010, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.[7] With Lesnar sidelined, the UFC had established an interim heavyweight title fight at UFC 111 on March 27, 2010, where undefeated contender Shane Carwin defeated Frank Mir via first-round knockout to claim the belt. Immediately following that event, on March 29, 2010, White confirmed the initial main event for UFC 116 as a unification bout between champion Lesnar and interim titleholder Carwin, emphasizing the matchup's potential to resolve the division's leadership. The UFC formalized this booking with an official event announcement in May 2010, solidifying the card's structure around the heavyweight clash.[8] The promotion positioned UFC 116 as the organization's largest event to date, leveraging the "clash of titans" narrative to highlight the fighters' extraordinary physical attributes—Lesnar's 6-foot-3, 265-pound frame and wrestling dominance paired with Carwin's 6-foot-2, 265-pound build and knockout power in all 12 of his prior wins.[1] This theme underscored the preparatory hype, with key activities including media interviews, fighter profiles, and press conferences that began ramping up in April 2010 to build anticipation for the unification stakes.Main Event Buildup
Brock Lesnar's preparation for UFC 116 was marked by his recovery from a severe bout of diverticulitis that struck immediately after his successful title defense against Frank Mir at UFC 100 in July 2009. The illness required emergency surgery, during which Lesnar lost over 40 pounds and was fed intravenously, sidelining him for nearly a year. By early 2010, he had regained his strength and weight, declaring in interviews that post-surgery he had never felt better, crediting an injury-free training camp that incorporated fresh strategies. Lesnar sought advice from fellow heavyweight Randy Couture to revitalize his stagnant camp, including adjustments to his stance and overall approach, which he described as a refreshing change ahead of the bout. Publicly, Lesnar expressed gratitude for his restored health, emphasizing his eagerness to return without rust despite the extended layoff. Shane Carwin earned his shot at Lesnar by capturing the interim heavyweight title with a dominant first-round knockout victory over Frank Mir at UFC 111 on March 27, 2010. Carwin overwhelmed Mir with a barrage of punches, securing the win at 3:48 and maintaining his undefeated professional record of 12-0, all finishes in the opening round. His knockout power was a focal point of hype, with seven of his victories coming by KO/TKO, showcasing his engineering background-honed precision and raw striking force that had dismantled previous opponents without mercy. The matchup pitted two elite wrestlers against each other, heightening the rivalry's intrigue. Lesnar, an NCAA Division I national champion from the University of Minnesota, brought superior size and grappling control, standing at 6'3" and weighing 265 pounds. Carwin, a two-time NAIA All-American and national champion at Western Colorado University, matched Lesnar's weight at 265 pounds but stood slightly shorter at 6'2", relying on his explosive takedown defense and clinch work to counter Lesnar's ground dominance. Both fighters possessed devastating striking power—Lesnar with his heavyweight wrestling explosiveness and Carwin with his one-punch knockout threat—creating a narrative of an inevitable clash of unyielding physicality and shared athletic pedigrees. Media coverage amplified the anticipation, portraying the unification bout as a generational showdown between Lesnar's star power and Carwin's relentless finishing ability. Pre-fight predictions leaned toward Lesnar, with most MMA professionals favoring him in polls due to his experience and home-cage advantage. Betting odds opened at -200 for Lesnar before shifting to around -140 as public money flowed in on the underdog Carwin at +110, reflecting widespread debate over whether Carwin's power could end Lesnar's reign early.Event Details
Venue and Logistics
UFC 116 was held on July 3, 2010, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, positioning it as a key event in the promotion's summer schedule on the eve of Independence Day.[1] The choice of venue aligned with the UFC's frequent use of Las Vegas for major pay-per-view cards, leveraging the arena's capacity of approximately 17,000 for mixed martial arts events to accommodate large crowds.[4] The event attracted a total attendance of 12,740 spectators, with 9,218 paid tickets sold, generating a live gate revenue of $4,053,990, which marked the largest gate for an MMA event in Nevada history at the time.[4] This figure underscored the event's scale, as it was hyped pre-fight as potentially the biggest in UFC history due to the high-profile main event and full 11-bout card.[9] Logistically, official weigh-ins occurred on July 2, 2010, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, following standard UFC protocols with all fighters making weight for their respective bouts.[10] The production emphasized the venue's full capabilities, including extensive lighting and audio setups typical for UFC's premier events, while security measures were heightened to manage the large influx of fans, reflecting the promotion's protocols for high-stakes gatherings in Las Vegas.[11]Broadcast and Commercial Performance
UFC 116's main card was distributed via pay-per-view (PPV) through the UFC's standard service providers in North America, while the preliminary bouts aired live on Spike TV starting at 9:00 p.m. ET, featuring select fights such as Brendan Schaub vs. Chris Tuchscherer and Kendall Grove vs. Goran Reljic.[12][5] The broadcast team included play-by-play announcer Mike Goldberg, color commentator Joe Rogan, and ring announcer Bruce Buffer, delivering coverage from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.[5] The event achieved a PPV buyrate of 1,160,000 purchases, ranking it among the highest-grossing UFC events up to that point, driven largely by the heavyweight title unification bout between Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin.[5] The Spike TV prelims drew 1.3 million viewers, providing a strong lead-in to the PPV.[13] Internationally, UFC 116 was broadcast in over 130 countries and territories, reaching approximately 430 million homes worldwide in 20 languages through various partners.[14] In the United Kingdom, coverage was provided by ESPN, ensuring broad accessibility for European audiences.[15] Commercial performance highlighted significant sponsorship integrations, with prominent brands like Jack Link's, Dymatize Nutrition, and DeathClutch featured on fighters' walkout apparel, particularly emphasizing the main event matchup to capitalize on its star power.[16] Merchandise sales, including replica shirts and event-specific gear tied to Lesnar and Carwin, saw a targeted push through UFC's official channels, amplifying the event's economic footprint.[17]Fight Card and Results
Main Card
The main card of UFC 116 featured five high-profile bouts broadcast on pay-per-view from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 3, 2010. Headlining the event was a heavyweight title unification match between champion Brock Lesnar and interim champion Shane Carwin, which drew significant attention due to both fighters' knockout power and Lesnar's status as a former WWE star. The card also showcased competitive matchups across multiple weight classes, emphasizing striking exchanges, grappling defenses, and dramatic turnarounds. In the main event, Brock Lesnar defended his UFC Heavyweight Championship against Shane Carwin in a grueling contest that tested Lesnar's durability. Carwin overwhelmed Lesnar early in Round 1 with a barrage of over 100 strikes, including punches and elbows from the top position (landing around 60), leaving Lesnar bloodied and on the verge of defeat but unable to secure a finish before the bell. Lesnar, showing remarkable resilience, reversed the momentum in Round 2 by securing a takedown, advancing to mount, and locking in an arm-triangle choke that forced Carwin to tap at 2:19, unifying the title in a stunning comeback victory. This performance highlighted Lesnar's wrestling background and ability to survive adversity, marking one of the most memorable heavyweight title defenses in UFC history.[18] The co-main event pitted middleweight contenders Chris Leben against Yoshihiro Akiyama, a bout noted for its technical grappling and late drama. Akiyama, leveraging his judo expertise, controlled the first round with multiple takedowns, ground control, and submission attempts, including an armbar, while landing effective strikes to build a lead. Leben absorbed the early pressure and took over in Round 2 with striking volume, before securing a triangle choke in Round 3 at 4:40 after Akiyama fatigued and attempted another takedown. Leben's victory extended his win streak and demonstrated his superior conditioning in prolonged exchanges.[1] Opening the welterweight matchup was Chris Lytle versus former champion Matt Serra, a fight characterized by Lytle's relentless pressure against Serra's submission hunting. Serra attempted several grappling entries, including a guillotine choke in Round 1, but Lytle stuffed most takedowns and countered with higher-volume striking, including knees and punches in the clinch throughout the three rounds. Despite Serra's late aggression in Round 3, the judges scored the bout 29-28 across the board in favor of Lytle via unanimous decision, rewarding his effective aggression and octagon control. This win propelled Lytle toward a potential title eliminator spot.[3] In the light heavyweight division, Stephan Bonnar faced Krzysztof Soszynski in a striker's duel filled with back-and-forth action. Soszynski started strong in Round 1, landing heavy combinations that rocked Bonnar and opened a cut above his eye, dominating the standup exchanges. Soszynski continued the pressure in Round 2, dropping Bonnar with strikes and following up with unanswered punches from the top that prompted the referee to halt the fight at 3:08 via TKO. Soszynski's finishing power solidified his reputation for exciting fights.[3]Preliminary Card
The preliminary card for UFC 116 consisted of six bouts, with four aired live on Spike TV and two streamed online via UFC platforms, providing viewers a preview of the night's talent depth. These undercard fights highlighted diverse styles, from explosive knockouts to grappling submissions and hard-fought decisions, contributing to the event's overall excitement at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.[1] In the middleweight bout on Spike TV, Mark Munoz defeated Aaron Simpson via submission (guillotine choke) at 2:52 of Round 1. Munoz capitalized on a takedown attempt by Simpson, locking in the choke during a scramble to secure a quick finish in his UFC debut.[3] Also on Spike TV, lightweight George Sotiropoulos defeated Kurt Pellegrino via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds, emphasizing ground control and positional battles. Sotiropoulos dictated the pace from the outset, securing takedowns in each round and threatening with chokes while landing elbows from top position to control over 70% of the fight time. Pellegrino mounted a spirited comeback in Round 3 with strikes and a brief reversal, but it wasn't enough to sway the judges. This dominant performance extended Sotiropoulos' winning streak and showcased his BJJ prowess in the division.[3] In the heavyweight opener on Spike TV, Brendan Schaub defeated Chris Tuchscherer via TKO (punches) at 1:07 of Round 1. Schaub unleashed his signature knockout power early, landing a devastating overhand right that buckled Tuchscherer against the cage, followed by a barrage of ground-and-pound strikes that prompted referee Herb Dean to intervene. The quick finish solidified Schaub's reputation as a dangerous finisher, improving his UFC record to 2-1.[3] The light heavyweight bout saw Ricardo Romero submit Seth Petruzelli with an armbar at 3:05 of Round 2, also broadcast on Spike TV. Romero, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist making his promotional debut, absorbed early striking from the explosive Petruzelli before securing a takedown and methodically working for the submission from the top position. The victory underscored Romero's ground control against Petruzelli's attempts to keep the fight standing, marking a strong Octagon introduction for the newcomer.[3] Streamed online, the welterweight clash between Daniel Roberts and Rick Story ended in a unanimous decision victory for Story (30-27 x3) after three rounds. Story used superior wrestling and striking to control the fight against the debuting Roberts.[3] The middleweight matchup between Kendall Grove and Goran Reljic ended in a split decision victory for Grove (28-29, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds, streamed online. The fight featured intense wrestling exchanges, with Grove using his length for clinch work and takedown defenses to counter Reljic's pressure and striking volume, resulting in a razor-close affair that divided the judges. Grove's adaptability proved key in overcoming Reljic's aggression on the feet.[3][2] Closing the broadcast prelims, Gerald Harris won against Dave Branch via TKO (slam) at 2:35 of Round 3 in a middleweight matchup streamed online. After a competitive back-and-forth with grappling attempts, Harris capitalized on a scramble by hoisting Branch for a thunderous slam that knocked him unconscious, earning widespread praise for the highlight-reel finish and the Knockout of the Night award. The slam highlighted Harris's explosive wrestling power in a bout that tested both fighters' durability.[3]Post-Event
Bonus Awards
At UFC 116, the Ultimate Fighting Championship awarded performance-based bonuses to six fighters, each receiving $75,000 for their standout efforts in the octagon.[19] The Fight of the Night honors went to two bouts: the light heavyweight matchup between Stephan Bonnar and Krzysztof Soszynski, which ended in a second-round TKO victory for Soszynski after intense striking and grappling exchanges, and the middleweight clash between Yoshihiro Akiyama and Chris Leben, a back-and-forth war that saw Leben rally for a triangle choke submission win at 4:40 of the third round following Akiyama's early dominance.[20][5] Knockout of the Night was awarded to Gerald Harris for his third-round knockout of David Branch in the preliminary card, where Harris executed a slam to secure the finish at 2:35.[19][5] Submission of the Night went to Brock Lesnar, who overcame an early barrage to submit Shane Carwin via arm-triangle choke in the second round of their heavyweight main event title fight.[20] These bonuses, part of the UFC's standard post-event incentive program introduced in 2005, recognize exceptional displays of skill, heart, and finishing ability, with the $75,000 amount reflecting the promotion's commitment to rewarding top performances at the time.[19]Reported Payouts
The Nevada State Athletic Commission disclosed a total payroll of $923,000 for all fighters at UFC 116, representing base salaries and win bonuses but excluding pay-per-view points, sponsorships, and performance-based awards.[21] Brock Lesnar, the event's top earner, received $400,000 with no win bonus for his victory over Shane Carwin, who earned a base pay of $40,000. Other notable payouts included Chris Leben at $86,000 ($43,000 base plus $43,000 win bonus) for defeating Yoshihiro Akiyama ($45,000 base), Chris Lytle at $52,000 ($26,000 base plus $26,000 win bonus) for beating Matt Brown ($10,000 base), and Kendall Grove at $50,000 ($25,000 base plus $25,000 win bonus) for his win over Goran Reljic ($5,000 base).[21][22] The full disclosed payouts for the event are as follows:| Fighter | Opponent | Base Pay | Win Bonus | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brock Lesnar | Shane Carwin | $400,000 | $0 | $400,000 |
| Shane Carwin | Brock Lesnar | $40,000 | $0 | $40,000 |
| Chris Leben | Yoshihiro Akiyama | $43,000 | $43,000 | $86,000 |
| Yoshihiro Akiyama | Chris Leben | $45,000 | $0 | $45,000 |
| Paulo Thiago | Jon Fitch | $12,000 | $12,000 | $24,000 |
| Jon Fitch | Paulo Thiago | $70,000 | $0 | $70,000 |
| Chris Lytle | Matt Brown | $26,000 | $26,000 | $52,000 |
| Matt Brown | Chris Lytle | $10,000 | $0 | $10,000 |
| Krzysztof Soszynski | Stephan Bonnar | $10,000 | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Stephan Bonnar | Krzysztof Soszynski | $25,000 | $0 | $25,000 |
| George Sotiropoulos | Kurt Pellegrino | $12,000 | $12,000 | $24,000 |
| Kurt Pellegrino | George Sotiropoulos | $25,000 | $0 | $25,000 |
| Brendan Schaub | Chris Tuchscherer | $10,000 | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Chris Tuchscherer | Brendan Schaub | $12,000 | $0 | $12,000 |
| Ricardo Romero | Seth Petruzelli | $8,000 | $8,000 | $16,000 |
| Seth Petruzelli | Ricardo Romero | $10,000 | $0 | $10,000 |
| Kendall Grove | Goran Reljic | $25,000 | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| Goran Reljic | Kendall Grove | $5,000 | $0 | $5,000 |
| Gerald Harris | David Branch | $10,000 | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| David Branch | Gerald Harris | $6,000 | $0 | $6,000 |
| Mark Munoz | Aaron Simpson | $12,000 | $12,000 | $24,000 |
| Aaron Simpson | Mark Munoz | $10,000 | $0 | $10,000 |
| Jon Madsen | Karlos Vemola | $8,000 | $8,000 | $16,000 |
| Karlos Vemola | Jon Madsen | $8,000 | $0 | $8,000 |