SUMMARY
- Built around the two light heavyweights in the headliner, the event will see Magomed Ankalaev once again take on Johnny Walker.
- The co-main event was meant to feature a rematch between Matheus Nicolau and Manel Kape, but the fight has been canceled.
Fight fans can finally rejoice! UFC Vegas 84 kicks off 2024 with some solid action. Following a long layoff after UFC 296, many have been craving some good fights to keep them entertained. As such, let’s take a look at what’s in store for them.
For those unaware, the UFC returns to the Apex in Las Vegas for the first card of the year. Built around the two light heavyweights in the headliner, the event will see Magomed Ankalaev once again take on Johnny Walker. Previously, the two fighters butted heads at UFC 294, in a bout that ended prematurely.
The first card of 2024 is HERE 🙌@AnkalaevM and @JohnnyWalker run it back in Saturday’s #UFCVegas84 main event!
📺⏰ 7pmET / 4pmPT on @ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/luff51LgUw
— UFC (@ufc) January 8, 2024
With that said, the two will be determined to settle their squabbles in a fight that has big implications for the title. Not only that, the co-main event was meant to feature a rematch between Matheus Nicolau and Manel Kape. Unfortunately, due to Kape’s weight miss by 3.5 lbs, the fight has been canceled.
Despite this, fans get to see a host of other talent scattered throughout the rest of the card as well. Notably, Jim Miller takes on Gabriel Benitez, whilst Andrei Arlovski takes on Waldo Cortes-Acosta. Two veterans of the fight game, long-time fans will be pleased to see them take to the Octagon again. Other than that, the card also has young and upcoming talents like Farid Basharat and Joshua Van.
UFC Vegas 84: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker 2 fight purse and salaries
For the most part, it is difficult to get the exact fight purse and salaries for these fighters. As such, experts try to garner an estimate based on the fighter’s previous, officially released salaries and their position on the card. Further, there are also performance and winning incentives, which are revealed after the event. With that said, let’s take a look at some of the estimated salaries for UFC Vegas 84.
According to reports, the two light heavyweights headlining the show will be the highest-paid athletes on the card. As such, Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker are both expected to pocket more than $250,000. Notably, their potential FOTN and POTN bonuses and incentive pay will also be added on. Whilst Ankalaev reportedly pocketed close to $800,000 for his fight against Jan Blachowicz, this will seemingly be Walker’s biggest payout.
Similarly, the two will be closely followed by Jim Miller and Andrei Arlovski, who are reportedly pocketing around $221,000 each. Other notable earners will include Ricky Simon($76,000), and Gabriel Benitez ($61,000). Naturally, it must be added that some of these figures are only the base payouts, meaning that they can double and even triple based on a fighter’s performance.
Thus, the UFC is projected to pay out over $1.5 million in salaries, incentives, and bonuses at UFC Vegas 84. Out of this reported payout, $165,000 will be expended as part of the UFC’s incentive pay policy. Notably, this requires fighters to fulfill their outfitting and media requirements during and ahead of fight week.