UFC most paid fighters – who is the highest paid UFC fighter?
UFC highest paid fighters? Who is the UFC’s highest-paid fighters? What were McGregor’s highest-paid UFC fights? Who is the highest-paid UFC fighter?
The UFC has been the premier testing ground for the world’s finest mixed martial artists since its explosive rise in popularity in the late 2000s. Although Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock were among the first to draw attention to the sport, Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, and Tito Ortiz contributed to its widespread popularity.
The question of whether UFC fighters should receive a larger portion of the company’s earnings is a contentious one, but it is undeniable that the UFC has made its top stars extremely rich since selling to Endeavour for over $4 billion in 2016.
Here is a look at the boxers along with their overall earnings. The figures are based on Bet MGM and, when applicable, Silly Season’s own compensation records. Watch & Bet on Sports =>
List with UFC highest paid fighters of all time
Here is the list of the UFC’s highest-paid fighters of all time. It should be emphasised that these figures only pertain to fight earnings; they do not account for discretionary bonuses or revenue from other sources like endorsements or pay-per-view.
| Fighter Name | Career Earnings |
|---|---|
| Conor McGregor | $39,300,000 |
| Khabib Nurmagomedov | $22,900,000 |
| Jon Jones | $17,842,000 |
| Alistair Overeem | $15,400,500 |
| Anderson Silva | $13,500,000 |
| Andrei Arlovski | $11,200,000 |
| Michael Bisping | $11,100,000 |
| Junior Dos Santos | $11,000,000 |
| Georges St-Pierre | $10,950,000 |
| Donald Cerrone | $10,600,000 |
| Daniel Cormier | $10,200,000 |
| Mark Hunt | $9,800,000 |
| Stipe Miocic | $9,400,000 |
| Vitor Belfort | $9,000,000 |
| Dan Henderson | $8,500,000 |
| Brock Lesnar | $5,295,000 |
| José Aldo | $5,270,500 |
| Maurício Rua | $5,270,000 |
| Frankie Edgar | $5,158,000 |
| Lyoto Machida | $5,035,000 |
Top 10 highest paid UFC fighters
Here is the list with top 10 highest paid UFC fighters of all time. However, this doesn’t include Pay-Per-View earnings or endorsements. Watch & Bet on Sports =>
1. Conor McGregor – $39,300,000
This is not surprising because, as everyone knows, Conor McGregor is the most well-known figure in the mixed martial arts world because of his vibrant personality, which makes him the most popular athlete to watch. His compensation practically rises with each battle he participates in.
Since competing against Nate Diaz in December 2015, the Irishman has earned a substantial seven-figure prize for winning the Featherweight belt against Jose Aldo. Despite losing against Dustin Poirier twice in a row, the “Notorious” won $10,022,000 total—$5,011,000 apiece.
See what was Conor McGregor highest paid UFC fight.
2. Khabib Nurmagomedov – $22,900,000
Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor’s opponent, required eight fights in the UFC before he could experience a six-figure salary, in contrast to Conor’s quick ascent to fame. After defeating Edson Barboza at UFC 219, the “Eagle” earned $215,000. In April 2018, he won the Lightweight championship against Al Iaquinta and received a cheque for half a million dollars.
He defeated McGregor in the fourth round of his first million-dollar fight ($2,040,000) at UFC 229. He subsequently won fights against Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier to round off his professional career, earning an incredible $12,180,000 in total.
3. Jon Jones – $17,842,000
One of the biggest names in the history of the sport, former two-division UFC champion Jon Jones has earned over $17 million in earnings because to his amazing abilities inside the octagon.
His heavyweight title matches against Ciryl Gane in 2023 at UFC 285 and Stipe Miocic in 2024 at UFC 309, when he earned $3 million, were his two largest single-fight rewards. Jones solidified his reputation as one of the greatest combat sports competitors in history by winning both bouts via stoppage.
4. Alistair Overeem – $15,400,500
Alistair Overeem has set the standard for fighter compensation thanks to his outstanding UFC debut victory against Brock Lesnar in 2011. During his time in the UFC, he never earned a cheque that was less than six figures.
Francis Ngannou (December 2017), Curtis Blaydes (June 2018), and Sergei Pavlovich (November 2018) were his three greatest payoffs, totalling $860,000. He earned an average of $495,724.9 from the UFC.
5. $13,500,000 for Anderson Silva
Anderson Silva didn’t earn a single seven-figure salary from a UFC fight, but it only took him three bouts to reach the six-figure threshold. Since then, he has never received less than $200,000 for each Octagon appearance.
When the “Spider” faced Derek Brunson at UFC 208 in February 2017, he stole his biggest fight earnings, primarily from his $200,000 victory bonus. In 25 fights, Silva earned an average of $620,025.
6. $11,200,000 for Andrei Arlovski
One of mixed martial arts’ greatest legends is Andrei Arlovski. From his debut in 1999 until his exit from the UFC in 2024, the Belarusian-American heavyweight and former UFC Heavyweight Champion had one of the longest and most resilient careers in combat sports history.
“The Pitbull” earned the record for the most victories in UFC heavyweight history with 23 Octagon triumphs. He was renowned for his devastating knockout power and extraordinary durability. Due to his incredible longevity, he was able to achieve enormous financial success, earning $11,200,000 over his career and becoming one of the highest-paid heavyweights in history.
7. $11,100,000 for Michael Bisping
Michael “The Count” Bisping is one of the most resilient and iconic figures in UFC history. The British pioneer made waves by winning The Ultimate Fighter 3 in 2006, launching a legendary 11-year run in the Octagon. Known for his elite cardio, crisp striking, and relentless trash-talk, Bisping finally captured the UFC Middleweight Championship in 2016 with a shocking, short-notice knockout of Luke Rockhold.
His incredible work ethic and 29 UFC appearances culminated in roughly $11,100,000 in career earnings. Now a UFC Hall of Famer and prominent commentator, Bisping’s financial success perfectly reflects his massive impact on the sport.
8. $11,000,000 for Junior Dos Santos
Junior dos Santos, affectionately known as “Cigano”, is one of the most beloved and devastating heavyweights to ever step into the UFC Octagon. Armed with some of the crispest, most powerful boxing in MMA history, the Brazilian striker embarked on a legendary run that peaked in 2011 when he knocked out Cain Velasquez to capture the UFC Heavyweight Championship.
Over a storied career featuring epic wars against the division’s absolute best, his main-event status and fan-favourite fighting style earned him an estimated $11,000,000 in promotional career earnings, cementing his legacy as a financial and athletic heavyweight powerhouse.
9. $10,950,000 for Georges St-Pierre
Most people agree that one of the best mixed martial artists of all time is Georges “Rush” St-Pierre. The legendary Canadian fighter ruled the UFC’s welterweight class with a brilliant combination of superb grappling, precise punching, and perfect agility. In 2017, St-Pierre returned from a four-year break to win the middleweight belt after exacting revenge on every opponent in his career and defending his 170-pound title nine times in a row.
His unmatched history within the Octagon resulted in enormous financial success, with official promotional career revenues of an estimated $10,950,000. His enormous pay-per-view drawing power solidified his status as a legitimate combat sports multimillionaire in addition to base salary.
10. $10,600,000 for Donald Cerrone
One of the most successful and adored action fighters in UFC history is Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. The athletic lightweight and welterweight fighter entered the Octagon an astounding 38 times and was well-known for his “anywhere, anytime, anyone” mentality. Cerrone’s exceptional kickboxing, smooth submission style, and unparalleled desire to keep active—fighting many times a year—captivated fans all over the world.
He received several performance incentives and was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a result of his unwavering work ethic. In the end, he earned an astounding $10,600,000 in promotional career revenues due to his unparalleled endurance and fan-favourite reputation. Watch & Bet on Sports =>
More about the highest paid fighters in the UFC
See how much UFC fighters get paid. When it comes to McGregor’s next UFC fight and upcoming UFC events, you can find more info about UFC on TV and streaming at UFC.com. Watch & Bet on MMA =>
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