Jones Stunned, Dana Shrugs, and Steveson's Pay Gap Tells the Whole Story
Steveson earned $100K more than the man who knocked him out, while his mentor sat cageside in disbelief.
The fallout from Gable Steveson's 12-second knockout loss at UFC 331 keeps getting worse the more you look at it. Between the viral reaction from his own coach, the president's measured non-defense, and the disclosed salary numbers, the whole picture is brutal.
Jon Jones was sitting cageside in Los Angeles when Sean Sharaf landed the one-two combination that put Steveson to sleep. Per multiple reports, Jones sat completely frozen with his mouth wide open before managing an "Oh my God." Jones has been Steveson's primary coach and mentor since the Olympic gold medalist joined his training camp in New Mexico. The reaction video went viral almost as fast as the knockout highlight.
Dana White, for his part, was not piling on. "Anything is possible when two guys get in there and start fighting. You never know how fights are going to look," White said. He addressed Steveson's controversial decision to leave the cage before the official result, comparing it to Forrest Griffin running out of the Octagon after a win years ago. "These things happen," White added.
Then there are the numbers. California State Athletic Commission disclosures show Steveson earned a $160,000 base salary for the fight. Sharaf, the man who ended the night in 12 seconds, was paid $60,000 base ($30,000 show plus $30,000 win). Sharaf also picked up a $25,000 finish bonus, a $50,000 Mobland promotional bonus, and a matching $50,000 from White, bringing his total to $185,000. White doubled the bonus after learning Sharaf carries roughly $600,000 in debt.
The $100,000 base salary gap between a 12-second loser and the man who beat him captures everything about where Steveson sits in the UFC right now: overpaid relative to results, underprepared relative to hype, and facing a fanbase that was never on his side to begin with.
The salary numbers are the part that will stick. Steveson made $160,000 base to lose in 12 seconds. Sharaf made $60,000 base to win, and needed bonuses from Dana and Mobland to get to $185,000. A guy carrying around $600,000 in debt just knocked out the promotion's golden goose for a third of the goose's guaranteed money. That is the whole UFC pay structure in one fight.
Dana not piling on was the right call, and the Forrest Griffin comparison was a nice bit of history. But you could hear how little he was willing to defend the hype. Anything is possible is what you say when the sure thing loses.
Jones frozen with his mouth open is the clip everyone will remember, and I feel for him. That was his friend, his project, and it evaporated before he could stand up. Steveson can still be good. The question is whether the UFC wants to keep paying six figures to find out.
