Lesnar Banks $450K at UFC 91

Brock Lesnar reaped some handsome rewards on Saturday.

The newly crowned heavyweight champion led all earners with a $450,000 haul after his second-round technical knockout victory against Randy Couture in the UFC 91 main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The figure, which includes a $200,000 win bonus, was released by the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Monday.

Couture -- the popular UFC hall of famer who returned from a 15-month layoff -- earned $250,000 for his efforts, as he experienced his first defeat as a heavyweight in more than six years. The commission withheld 10 percent of the purses due the two heavyweights, pending results from post-fight drug testing. Both Lesnar and Couture have deals in which they will be paid a portion of pay-per-view revenues.

Lesnar dropped the 45-year-old Couture with a right hand behind the ear and then finished the three-time heavyweight champion with punches and hammerfists on the ground.

One-time heavyweight title challenger Gabriel Gonzaga also landed a six-figure payday, as he banked $110,000, including a $55,000 win bonus, after he knocked out UFC newcomer Josh Hendricks in the first round. The 29-year-old Gonzaga, a four-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu national champion, has rebounded from consecutive losses to Couture and Fabricio Werdum, delivering quick back-to-back wins.

Meanwhile, fast-rising welterweight Dustin Hazelett pocketed $88,000 in wake of his impressive submission victory against Tamdan McCrory. That figure includes a $14,000 win bonus and a $60,000 “Submission of the Night” bonus, which was announced by Zuffa. The 22-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, who many see as a future mainstay in top 10 rankings, has come through with two straight submission wins since his UFC 82 loss to Josh Koscheck.

Other top earners for UFC 91 included No. 1 lightweight contender Kenny Florian ($80,000), Jeremy Stephens ($76,000), Jorge Gurgel ($70,000), Aaron Riley ($68,000), Demian Maia ($40,000) and Joe Stevenson ($35,000).

UFC 91 Pay Scale

Brock Lesnar - $450,000 (includes $200,000 win bonus)
Randy Couture - $250,000
Gabriel Gonzaga - $110,000 (includes $55,000 win bonus)
Dustin Hazelett - $88,000 (includes $14,000 win, $60,000 “Submission of the Night” bonuses)
Kenny Florian - $80,000 (includes $40,000 win bonus)
Jeremy Stephens - $76,000 (includes $8,000 win, $60,000 “Knockout of the Night” bonuses)
Jorge Gurgel - $70,000 (includes $60,000 “Fight of the Night” bonus)
Aaron Riley - $68,000 (includes $4,000 win, $60,000 “Fight of the Night” bonuses)
Demian Maia - $40,000 (includes $20,000 win bonus)
Joe Stevenson - $35,000
Nate Quarry - $25,000
Mark Bocek - $18,000 (includes $9,000 win bonus)
Matt Brown - $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)
Tamdan McCrory - $10,000
Josh Hendricks - $8,000
Alvin Robinson - $7,000
Rafael dos Anjos - $4,000
Ryan Thomas - $3,000