T.J. Dillashaw reveals shocking pay for first UFC title win

T. J. Dillashaw completely turned his life around by winning the bantamweight title against Renan Barao .

Dillashaw (17-5) ended Barao’s title reign with a fifth-round knockout at UFC 173 in 2014. Dillashaw revealed that he got just $18,000 to show and $18,000 to win for his his first title victory. Dillashaw earned his UFC contract on “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 14 in 2011, although he lost to John Dodson in the finale.

Dillashaw explained that “TUF” fighters were onboarded with a $10,000 to show and $10,000 to win contract, which got upgraded every three wins. Dillashaw was glad to tear apart his “TUF” contract after dethroning Barao as his stardom skyrocketed overnight. ‘I Shocked the World’ “My life changed completely after beating Barao,” Dillashaw said on "The Jaxxon Podcast” “I was on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ contract.

I was fighting for a world title for $18,000. When I got to rip that contract… You’re on a 10-fight contract when you get on from ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ and you start off at 10/10, after three wins you go 14/14, after three wins you go 18/18. So I was getting $18,000 to show, $18,000 to win against the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.