UFC Dublin main eventer Paddy Holohan took home pitiful sum from Reebok sponsorship deal

The limitations of the UFC's exclusive deal with Reebok probably hurt the Irish fighters' earnings at UFC Dublin.

Paddy Holohan could reasonably have expected to cash in on his surprise main event status in his home town had he been able to source his own sponsorship, but the Dubliner instead took home just $2,500 from the official deal with the sportswear maker, the same amount as American opponent Louis Smolka. In fact, figures show the entire roster of fighters in action at the 3Arena shared just $62,500 (€56,500). The UFC agreed a set payout structure with Reebok when the deal was agreed late last year, with fighters like Holohan, Neil Seery and Aisling Daly all falling in the lowest tier for those with less than five fights for Dana White and company. Cathal Pendred, in his sixth UFC fight, took home $5,000. It is worth noting that these are purely payouts under the Reebok scheme, with each athlete taking home a fight fee and any income from commercial deals struck outside of UFC events, but the figures still represent a huge cut in potential earnings for popular figures like Holohan.