Requested million dollar signing bonus brings Dan Henderson’s UFC negotiations to a screeching halt
As the world turns, the drama surrounding Dan Henderson and his future in mixed martial arts continues to thicken.
UFC President Dana White recently told MMAJunkie.com, “We’re at a stalemate right now. The money that [Henderson] is asking for would make him by far the highest-paid guy in the UFC.”
Although during UFC contract negotiations it was reported that Henderson had no interest in leaving the promotion, Sports Illustrated recently discovered that Dan is now open to fighting elsewhere.
Henderson is currently in talks with Strikeforce.
Apparently the icing on the cake as far as the recently failed talks with the UFC are concerned was a seven figure signing bonus requested by Henderson according to a recent report on InsideFights.com.
Stay tuned to 5 Oz. as we keep you up to date on this continually unfolding MMA soap opera.
Cory Brady is the managing editor of FiveOuncesOfPain.com.
| All posts by Cory Brady
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Well-Done.
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Hot debate. What do you think?
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Well-Done.
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Well-Done.
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Well-Done.
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Well-Done.
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Hot debate. What do you think?
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its up and down with this guy. cant blame him for trying to score as much $$$$ as he can……I dont know what to think man…….now that im thinking it over agin the damn thing seems fishy
Well-Done.
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Hot debate. What do you think?
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Well-Done.
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now he has to option but to go with SF or take less money with UFC
Well-Done.
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But right now who cares ucf 104 is a day away so lets just worry about seeing rua get destroyed along with ben rothwell.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Hot debate. What do you think?
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It’s all good bro, I’ll just come on and bash on you here for picking against me. LMAO Just Kiddin!
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well it is on no Big guy
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Like Donkey Kong!
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MMA fans have to be the most gullible people on earth.
I bet Hendo asked for a high number but who really knows why get excited over a leaked rumour again?
Hot debate. What do you think?
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It’s really not that simple. They’re also a large corporation with ya know… employees, bills, and other overhead and such. It’s not like the money goes to the fighters or Dana and nowhere else. Dana White doesn’t show up with a big brown sack to collect the money and then hide it under his bed and no one else gets to see it. Also Let’s not forget something, $500,000 is a lot of money to do anything. Heck even the dudes making 10-15K per fight are doing alright finacially I’m sure.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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The public data on these contract negotiations and signing bonuses is always skewed one way or another. Seeing as most of the “data” has come from Dana and its all been said to be incorrect, you have to wonder, why is Dana even putting it out there unless he’s trying to get people on his side. Either way, so much of this is rumour and speculation it’s not really worth getting into.
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Vogairian i have been trying to tell that to the people on here who thinks that Zuffa and Dana make a mad dash for their homes as soon as one of their cards are done. It coast alot to put one of these shows on but there is no point and trying to explain that to close minded people who dont know the ins and outs of how the old mighty dollar rolls
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like really if dana is hording all that money why does everyfighter (except fedor) trying to get into the money hungry UFC?????? I know i will get the thumbs down but NOT EVERYTHING is let out for the public to see
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I don’t believe this is a per fight figure like some are making it out to be. Its just a “Signing Bonus”. Not like they can’t afford it to keep one of the best fighters of all time on their roster. This reeks of “We can’t give it to him because then they will all ask for it when signing”. You would think they are smart enough to realise who to grant these bonuses to and who not to.
Dan Henderson is worth his asking bonus.
Give him his title shot.
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Whether the $1M signing bonus is true or not, Hendo is definitely NOT worth it.
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Yea it seems a bit fishy to me. But I doubt the UFC is trying to screw Dan over. I think Dan is playing a little hardball to get as much as he can but it seems to be getting a little out of hand. I definitely dont believe the UFC is trying to give one of their best stars a crappy contract, in fact Im sure he’s already getting a generous offer. So if Dan said before that he is not interested in fighting anywhere else and his next fight will be Marquardt then the Spider SIGN THE FREAKIN CONTRACT ALREADY AND GET YOUR BUT IN THE GYM!!
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He is worth it and has the credentials to prove it. Just because the UFC (and it would appear, yourself) don’t believe he is a draw cannot dispute the facts in his impressive career. He is a great, not just good, great fighter and would take apart all at MW (Anderson the only exception) and most a LHW in the UFC. If he were marketed by his employer as such he would generate the revenue for the UFC to pay him his signing bonus.
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Hot debate. What do you think?
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A professional fighters association would be great for guys that fight but would suck for promoters like ZUFFA.
I think HENDO should fight for the 205 belt in strikeforce and then do some fights in Japan
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I think this right here sums up why he isn’t worth it. He can’t beat Anderson and I don’t see him challenging for the LHW title. Why give a guy who you have a good feeling won’t ever be champ again top end money? Let’s not forget that he’s knocking on the big 40’s door and this is a sport where a guy can just lose it in a matter of fights.
I Think Hendo’s a great fighter and should get payed well… but a One Mil signing bonus is just silly.
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If he leaves for SF or Dream he may have a more suited contract and will, without a doubt have more freedom (to fight where and when he wants), he may also get the title shot that he deserves. He will also be able to fight such fighters as…Misaki (3 time and it is 1 all), Filho, Mousasi, Jacare, Lawler, Rua, Smith, Miller and perhaps guys like Santiago too, instead of being restricted to just UFC fighters.
So everyone that is saying “oh he is so stupid” think a little and discover that Hendo is not the silly one…you are.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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I realize that what I have just said will get voted heavily in the dislike column. Because (A) people don’t want to hear the truth or even another persons version of what the reasons could be for Hendo’s actions and (B) Nthuggers are common place here. If this was reversed and he was with SF and in negotiations with the UFC I would just about bet my life that he would get overwhelming support by a lot of those that are saying derogatory comments now.
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All true. Except I think he would wanna fight in the LHW division. I wouldnt be surprised if he fought the winner of Sokoudjou vs Mousasi for his first fight with the promotion.
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Hendo would not fight Sokojoke. They train together. Hendo is sort of his mentor.
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I wouldnt believe to much of what you hear now to be honest guys. I think alot of you are worrying abit to much. Until there are official announcements, i rarely ever believe rumours, or in fact, anything that isnt official lol. Im from the UK, so i would LOVE for Hendo to remain in the UFC, or i will not get to see him fight (well i will, but id have to stream it off the internet.. which i REALLLY dont want to do, id much rather watch in HD lol). Henderson should remain in UFC IMO. He could go strikeforce, but if he beats Mousassi, and wins the belt.. he is going ot have to stay there lol. Which i wouldnt want to see… i wont get to see him fight then!!! And im a big fan of his. There is loads of big fights for him in UFC, not ONLY Marquardt and Silva. With Vitor Belfort in the picture now.. i would love to see that rematch. And even a grudge match between Wanderlei Silva and Hendo. There first two fights were awesome!!!
Also, all you guys complaining about the fighters wages need to stop…. they get alot more than you think. That initial salary isnt JUST what they get. Thats literally just the initial salary. The bigger names (including Hendo) like Liddell… Lesnar… Silva… GSP… Wanderlei Silva.. Griffin… and loads more, i guarentee they make well over a million per fight event. GUARENTEE it. Big names will get a share of the PPV event aswell. Plus any sponserships they have got… Promotional events before the fights… And other things they do.. it all adds up you know.
Yeh.. the fighters lower down dont get a fair ammount, i agree with that, but they have to work there way up… if they produce exciting fights… become fan favourites… there salaries will increase significantly.
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I hope Hendo gets every nickel he can. Good for him. If he puts fans in the seats and brings ppv buys, he’s worth it. I suspect he and UFC will negotiate an acceptable contract in the near future. Both sides have something to gain and something to lose, which is the starting point for any transaction.
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$1 million signing bonus?? LOL…UFC made who you are. Dan you are not a headline PPV draw.
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I wish there was more transperancy when it comes to fighters salaries. What does a fighter truly make? How many fighters get signing bonuses that we just don’t hear about as contract details are rarely released. How many fighters get a cut of the gate or ppv dollars? How much do fighters typically get from sponsors? How many other backroom deals are there to help get fighters extra money that the average fan has no clue about? Based on the base salaries that get released after the fights in all MMA organizations, it is obvious that many fighters are getting paid in many other ways than their “base salary” or else for what some of those paydays are, many would not be fighting for that amount of money. It is really easy to judge and point a finger and Dan Henderson or the UFC and call either side crazy but the reality is, we really probably don’t know what the norm in the industry is and at this point I really don’t take anyones word at face value anymore. Did Lesnar really make 4 million from his last fight at UFC 100? if so 1 million for Henderson doesn’t seem far fetched. Is he really asking for 1 million? I guess only time will tell. At this point I find it hard to guess or speculate who is in the right and who is full of it.
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These fighters aren’t morons. They see the money the UFC is making and they, rightfully so, want a bigger piece than the UFC has been giving them.
CAN ANY REAL FAN JUSTIFY FRANK MIR BEING PAID ONLY $45,000 FOR THE BEAT DOWN HE TOOK FROM BROCK LESNAR?
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT THE UFC 100 TOOK IN $87 MILLION IN PPV ALONE FOR UFC 100 AND ANOTHER $5 MILLION AT THE ARENA.
FRANK MIR WAS PART OF THE MAIN EVENT OF THAT CARD.
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