Bellator 183 salaries: Aaron Pico cashes $50,000 for first professional win

Aaron Pico earned a healthy chunk of change for his first MMA win. The blue-chip featherweight prospect cashed a $50,000 payday for his first-round victory over Justin Linn atBellator 183, according to payroll figures disclosed Tuesday by the California State Athletic Commission to MMA Fighting.

Pico, a highly touted 21-year-old prospect, scored the first win of his professional mixed martial arts career on Saturday when he knocked out Lin with a highlight-reel shot on the main card of Bellator 183. Pico, who first inked a developmental deal with Bellator in 2014, earned $25,000 to show and $25,000 to win for the performance, while Linn earned just $4,000.

Bellator 183 took place Sept. 23 at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. The night’s main card aired live on Spike.

Overall, the card’s top earner was Bellator lightweight Patricky Freire, who cashed a $110,000 purse for his split decision win over ex-UFC champion Benson Henderson ($50,000) in the night’s main event.

Other notable disclosed payouts were former UFC contenders Lorenz Larkin ($40,000) and Roy Nelson ($60,000), and co-main event winner Paul Daley ($50,000). As always, these figures do not represent a fighter’s total earnings, as sponsorship incomes, certain contractual clauses, and discretionary earnings are not publicly disclosed.

A complete list of the Bellator 183 salaries can be seen below.

Main Card (Spike)
Patricky Freire ($65,000 + $45,000 = $110,000) def. Benson Henderson ($50,000)
Paul Daley ($50,000 + no win bonus = $50,000) def. Lorenz Larkin ($40,000)
Roy Nelson ($30,000 + $30,000 = $60,000) def. Javy Ayala ($50,000)
Aaron Pico ($25,000 + $25,000 = $50,000) def. Justin Linn ($4,000)
Goiti Yamauchi ($16,000 + $16,000 = $32,000) def. Adam Piccolotti ($18,000)

Preliminary Card (MMA Fighting)
Tony Johnson ($1,500 + $1,500 = $3,000) def. Mike Ortega ($1,500)
Kaytlin Neil ($2,000 + $2,000 = $4,000) def. Brooke Mayo ($3,000)
Brandon Laroco ($1,500 + $1,500 = $3,000) def. Gaston Bolanos ($4,000)
Corina Herrera ($1,500 + $1,500 = $3,000) vs. Jaymee Nievara ($1,500)
Fernando Gonzalez ($6,000 + $6,000 = $12,000) def. Alex Lopez ($2,500)
Ricardo Vasquez ($1,000 + $1,000 = $2,000) def. Justin Tenedora ($1,500)
J.J. Okanovich ($2,000 + $2,000 = $4,000) def. Luis Jauregui ($1,500)
Daniel Gonzalez ($1,000 + $1,000 = $2,000) def. Anthony Castrejon ($1,000)