Benoît Saint Denis‘s Potential Earnings Surge with Dariush Fight, Top 10 Ranking on the Line
New York, NY - Benoît Saint denis’s November 15th lightweight bout against Beneil Dariush at Madison Square Garden represents a pivotal moment in his career, not only for rankings but also for potential earnings. The French fighter’s income has dramatically increased over his ten professional fights, and a victory against Dariush, potentially propelling him into the top 10, could significantly boost his contract value and revenue streams.
Saint Denis earned a base salary of $200,000 for his most recent fight, supplemented by a $50,000 “performance of the evening” bonus, totaling $250,000 (approximately 216,180 euros). This is a ample increase from the $170,000 (147,000 euros) he received four months prior after his duel against kyle Prepolec at UFC 315 in Montreal, without a bonus.
The trajectory of Saint Denis’s earnings is particularly striking considering his early career. He revealed to Objectif Gard that he initially fought for only 400 euros after extensive preparation, a stark contrast to his previous net salary of 2,200 euros in the army. He gave himself “two years to break through and join the UFC,” a gamble that has paid off.
while fight purses are a primary source of income, Saint Denis actively diversifies his revenue. “Our sources of income are going to be our online store, it’s going to be YouTube, it’s going to be sponsorships,” he explained on the Clique show in september. He emphasized the importance of sponsorships for fighters, stating, “We have one to four fights per year which are one of our main sources of income.”
Saint Denis’s earnings have multiplied almost twentyfold in ten fights, reflecting growing fan enthusiasm. A win against Dariush is expected to further increase his earning potential and contract value as he aims for a place among the lightweight division’s elite.
