Lyoto Machida backed out of the planned fight with Rashad Evans because he reportedly wanted "Anderson Silva money," or a pay day more like that of his good friend, UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva. Machida thought he was in the position to ask for that kind of cash, but UFC president Dana White balked at this request:
"I opted not to pay him Anderson Silva money and told him when he accomplished all the things that Anderson Silva has accomplished, then maybe he'll make Anderson Silva-type money," an incredulous White told reporters.
Silva is on a 14-fight win streak and lives atop the Yahoo! Sports pound-for-pound rankings. For that, he made $200,000 in his UFC 126 knockout of Vitor Belfort, but that figure doesn't include any bonuses or cuts of pay-per-view buys, which may be a part of his contract. His sponsorship money also isn't included into that figure, and Kevin Iole estimated that he pulls seven figures for a fight.
In fact, he just used that money to buy a new million-dollar home in southern California. The Los Angeles Times reported that Silva bought a $1.76 million home in Palos Verdes Estates to be closer to his training homes. The house has an ocean view, four bedrooms, three and a half baths, a pool and sits on a half-acre lot.
Maybe this gives a clue behind Machida's motivation. Who doesn't want a home with an ocean view?
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