UFC 324 Payouts: Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett fight purse and fighter salaries and payments!
UFC 324 Payouts? UFC 324 fight purse payout? How much will the fighters make at UFC 324? The upcoming UFC 324 is Gaethje vs Pimblett.
UFC 324 is shaping up to be one of the biggest mixed martial arts events of early 2026, with the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas hosting a blockbuster interim lightweight title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett on January 24, 2026 — marking the UFC’s first numbered card under its new Paramount+ broadcast deal.
Unlike traditional UFC pay-per-view events of the past, UFC 324 will stream exclusively on Paramount+, a move expected to shift how fighters are compensated and how fan engagement translates into revenue — even if official disclosed purses are rarely released by the organization itself.
In this feature, we take a closer look at how much fighters are likely to make at UFC 324, with a spotlight on the main event stars.
Here are estimated payouts for UFC 324 Gaethje vs Pimblett fight purse and fighters salaries. Watch & Bet on Sports =>
UFC 324 payouts – Gaethje vs Pimblett UFC 324 fight purse payout!
How much will fighters make at UFC 324? The main event fighters will command the lion’s share of the compensation, with the disclosed purse consisting of their show money, potential win bonuses, and a portion of the pay-per-view revenue.
The UFC operates on a closed-door policy regarding exact figures, but we can project earnings based on previous similar events, fighter contracts, and historical data mining.
The spotlight is on #UFC324 👀@Justin_Gaethje vs @PaddyTheBaddy @KaylaH vs @Amanda_Leoa
[ JAN 24 on @ParamountPlus | 🎟️: https://t.co/fZTNGD8t3t ] pic.twitter.com/Ipym4thYMG
— UFC (@ufc) December 19, 2025
How Much Will Fighters Make at UFC 324?
Disclosed fighter pay at UFC events has become increasingly opaque.
In recent years, many state athletic commissions no longer publish salaries, and the UFC treats the bulk of purse information as a “trade secret,” leaving journalists, insiders, and sports data sites to piece together estimates.
Traditional pay at top-level cards historically included:
Base “show” money — guaranteed for appearing;
Win bonuses — same amount again if the fighter wins;
Performance bonuses — like Fight of the Night or Performance of the Night ($50,000 or more, depending on the card).
However, UFC 324 being on Paramount+ instead of pay-per-view could lessen PPV-point payouts that some stars negotiate on big fights.
For context, in earlier events such as UFC 268, elite talents earned six-figure base purses and could collect significant bonuses —
Justin Gaethje himself earned an estimated $150,000 show + $150,000 win bonus + $50,000 performance bonus at that event before adjustments; this total could easily exceed $350,000.
But those numbers are from past events — here’s what we can expect for Gaethje and Pimblett at UFC 324.
How much will Justin Gaethje make at UFC 324?
For the Interim Lightweight Title, Gaethje can expect a package consisting of:
Justin Gaethje is one of the biggest draws in MMA. A former interim lightweight champion and perennial contender, “The Highlight” has consistently commanded strong payouts in prior headlining fights.
Although the UFC doesn’t disclose official figures for UFC 324 yet, Gaethje’s purse will likely be among the top-tier amounts on the card, especially since:
This bout is an interim title fight, enhancing stakes and profile.
He is a veteran star with years of main-event experience and lucrative past payouts.
In past UFC cards, he’s earned six-figure base pay and additional performance bonuses.
Estimated range: Based on historical patterns and his positioning on the card, Gaethje’s base purse could be in the mid-to-high six figures — possibly $400,000+ before bonuses and discretionary bonuses (a figure not published but often given by the UFC).
While there’s no official release yet, it’s reasonable to project that if Gaethje wins and collects a performance bonus, his take-home could edge toward $500,000–$800,000 total once discretionary bonuses and sponsorship revenue are factored in.
Remember, these figures include show and win pay and assume he earns a performance bonus — they do not include discretionary bonuses or PPV/streaming share (if applicable), which the UFC often pays under the table.
Here’s a fighter-by-fighter estimated payout breakdown for UFC 324 — Justin Gaethje
Guaranteed Purse: ~ $500,000–$700,000
Winning Bonus: ~ $500,000 (if he wins)
Promotional Bonus (PPV Share / Backend Incentives): ~ $0–$400,000+
Knockout / Performance Bonus (if awarded): ~ $50,000–$200,000
Overall Estimated Earning: ~ $1,050,000–$1,800,000+ (if he wins and gets bonuses)
How much will Paddy Pimblett make at UFC 324?
Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett has exploded in popularity since joining the UFC, becoming one of the most talked-about personalities in the lightweight division.
However, fighter pay evolution in the UFC has shown that popularity doesn’t always translate directly to huge base pay — at least not initially.
When Pimblett first joined the UFC, he reportedly took a pay cut from other offers to sign on, earning the typical minimum contract structure ($10k to show, $10k to win) early in his career.
He then moved to a $12k/$12k structure for subsequent bouts — still modest compared to main event payouts.
At UFC 314, some outlets estimated Pimblett’s payout could have been in excess of $500,000, though analysis notes those figures aren’t officially confirmed by regulatory bodies.
Regardless, he also collected performance bonuses, indicating he can earn significantly more than base pay alone.
For UFC 324, Pimblett’s base pay is widely expected to be higher than his early UFC deals given this is his first interim title fight and a global spotlight moment. Even so, without official state commission disclosures, the exact number is speculative — but:
Pimblett’s base purse could realistically sit around $200,000–$400,000, assuming the UFC raised his contract for main-event billing.
Additional bonuses (performance, fight night, sponsorships) could swell that figure further, potentially pushing his real earnings close to or beyond half a million dollars if he wins and gets discretionary bonuses.
Here’s a fighter-by-fighter estimated payout breakdown for UFC 324 — Paddy Pimblett
Guaranteed Purse: ~ $300,000–$500,000
Winning Bonus: ~ $300,000–$500,000 (if he wins)
Promotional Bonus (PPV Share / Backend Incentives): ~ $0–$250,000+
Knockout / Performance Bonus (if awarded): ~ $50,000–$200,000
What is the bonus for UFC 324 fighters?
Here’s a breakdown of the typical bonus structure at UFC pay-per-view events:
Fight of the Night: US$50,000 (commonly awarded to both participants in the selected fight)
Performance of the Night: US$50,000 (awarded to one or more fighters for exceptional finishes)
Knockout of the Night: Historically merged into Performance of the Night under UFC rules (so finishers get the same standard bonus).
| UFC 324 bonus | Amount |
| Fight of the Night | $50,000 |
| Performance of the Night | $50,000 |
| Knockout of the Night | $50,000 |
UFC 324 Payouts: Gaethje vs Pimblett fight purse
UFC 324 marks a historic moment as the promotion’s first numbered event on Paramount+, headlined by an interim lightweight title clash between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett.
With major implications on the line, both veterans and rising stars stand to secure significant paydays.
Beyond the main event, the entire UFC 324 fight card features several compelling matchups with significant financial implications for the athletes involved.
| Fighter | Guaranteed Purse* | Winning Bonus* | Promotional / PPV-Share Bonus* | POTN / FOTN Bonus* | Overall Estimated Earning* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Gaethje | ~$500,000 (base) | ~$500,000 (if he wins) | ~$300,000–$600,000 (Paramount+ incentives) | ~$50,000–$100,000 (performance) | ~$1.35M–$1.70M+ |
| Paddy Pimblett | ~$500,000 (base) | ~$500,000 (if he wins) | ~$200,000–$400,000 (Paramount+ incentives) | ~$50,000–$100,000 (performance) | ~$1.25M–$1.50M+ |
Justin Gaethje: In past major events he’s been among the top earners in the sport; at UFC 313 he was estimated around $500K base and roughly $850K total with some PPV/bonus components in a typical PPV model.
Paddy Pimblett: At UFC 314, Pimblett’s disclosed reported payout (base + win + bonus + sponsorships) reached over $1,056,000, indicating the kind of earnings a rising star can command.
Promotional / Backend Bonuses: Because UFC 324 is airing on Paramount+ with no traditional PPV charges in the U.S., standard PPV share components might be replaced by alternative incentive arrangements.
Performance Bonuses: The UFC typically awards Performance of the Night (POTN) or Fight of the Night (FOTN) bonuses in the $50,000 range; special or doubled bonuses are possible but variable.
UFC 324 fighter salaries and payouts projections
Gaethje & Pimblett: As the headliners, both fighters are expected to earn significantly above average UFC pay, with Gaethje likely near the top of the card’s pay structure due to his longtime status and Pimblett earning a high-profile contract for a title slot.
Projections combine base pay, win bonus and potential promotional incentives tied to the Paramount+ launch.
Kayla Harrison & Amanda Nunes: This co-main event features two elite names. Nunes is historically among the sport’s top earners and likely earns more than many women’s fighters, while Harrison as a champion and Olympic medalist commands a strong purse.
Sean O’Malley & Song Yadong: O’Malley has previously been one of the highest paid active fighters due to his marketability and top-10 status — he can command substantial win-bonus and promotional upside.
Song Yadong’s payouts at recent events (like UFC Fight Night or main card bouts) have shown mid-six to low-seven-figure totals when including win bonuses — his base pay is projected accordingly.
Preliminary-Card Fighters: Fighters on prelims typically earn much lower guaranteed purses (often in the four-figure to low-six-figure range).
Combined with potential win bonuses and performance bonuses, their total can climb but generally remains well below top-billed main card fighters.
UFC 324 Payouts per fight
(These figures represent guaranteed purses before additional bonuses, sponsorships, and other upside.)
| Fighter | Guaranteed Purse | Total with Win Bonus & PPV/Upside (Estimated) |
|---|---|---|
| Justin Gaethje | ~$600,000–$800,000 | ~$1,000,000–$1,600,000+ |
| Paddy Pimblett | ~$500,000–$700,000 | ~$900,000–$1,400,000+ |
| Kayla Harrison | ~$400,000–$600,000 | ~$700,000–$1,100,000+ |
| Amanda Nunes | ~$800,000–$1,200,000 | ~$1,200,000–$2,000,000+ |
| Sean O’Malley | ~$700,000–$1,000,000 | ~$1,200,000–$2,500,000+ |
| Song Yadong | ~$250,000–$400,000 | ~$400,000–$700,000+ |
| Preliminary-Card Fighters | ~$30,000–$150,000 | ~$50,000–$300,000+ |
UFC 324 prize money – Gaethje vs Pimblett purse and salaries!
Champions and headliners on big PPV events — like Gaethje & Pimblett at UFC 324 — are likely to score seven-figure paydays (assuming bonuses and PPV incentives).
Fighters on the undercard who are relatively new or lower profile will likely stay in the five- or low six-figure range for show + win.
Real total take-home pay often exceeds the “official” numbers once you factor in bonuses, sponsorships, PPV cuts, and other earnings — that’s why “disclosed purses” often understate what fighters actually make. Watch & Bet on Sports =>
How much do UFC fighters get paid?
UFC fighter pay is not a single flat fee but a structure composed of several parts:
Guaranteed Purse (“Show Money”): The base salary a fighter receives for agreeing to compete.
Win Bonus: Often an additional payment equal to the show money, awarded only if the fighter wins.
Performance Bonuses: Discretionary bonuses awarded for exceptional performances, such as “Performance of the Night” or “Fight of the Night.” The standard amount is $50,000, though it can be higher for major events.
Pay-Per-View (PPV) Points: A share of the PPV revenue, a privilege typically reserved for main event stars and champions.
Sponsorship: The UFC has a partnership with Venum for official fight kits, but fighters can also have individual sponsors, which is a major income source for top-tier fighters.
UFC 324 Fight Card:
Beyond the payouts, UFC 324 features compelling matchups:
Main Card (Paramount+ / ESPN / ESPN+)
- Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett — Interim UFC Lightweight Title (Main Event)
- Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes — Women’s Bantamweight Title (Co-Main)
- Sean O’Malley vs. Song Yadong — Bantamweight
- Natalia Silva vs. Rose Namajunas — Women’s Flyweight
- Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Deiveson Figueiredo — Bantamweight
Prelims (Paramount+ / ESPN / ESPN+)
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Derrick Lewis — Heavyweight
- Arnold Allen vs. Jean Silva — Featherweight
- Ateba Gautier vs. Andrey Pulyaev — Middleweight
- Nikita Krylov vs. Modestas Bukauskas — Light Heavyweight
- Alex Perez vs. Charles Johnson — Flyweight
Early Prelims (Paramount+)
- Michael Johnson vs. Alexander Hernandez — Lightweight
- Josh Hokit vs. Denzel Freeman — Heavyweight
- Ricky Turcios vs. Cameron Smotherman — Bantamweight
See also:
Stay tuned for the official results and any confirmed UFC payout updates post-fight! Also check out Sports Competitions with biggest prize money from the Premier League, US Open, Formula 1, Wimbledon and the FIFA World Cup. Watch & Bet on Sports =>
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