Hundreds of MMA athletes have UFC contracts, but only some earn millions, making all the blood, sweat, and tears in the Octagon pay off big time. Here are the top highest-paid UFC fighters that are worth noting.
Of course, some specialists do mention issues of UFC fighters getting severely underpaid. In most cases, it relates to issues with sponsorships, like many fighters struggling to follow policies and get sponsors.
- Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor, a.k.a. “The Notorious,” is the highest-paid UFC fighter in history. He almost lost this title to famous heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, but “The Predator” left the MMA company after refusing an $8 million UFC promotion deal.
McGregor has headlined more profitable events than any other MMA fighter, snatching a $25,104,000 base UFC salary. The Irishman has attracted sponsors like Burger King, Monster Energy, Beats by Dre, EA, and Reebok, earning well above his PPV cuts and other bonuses. His net worth in 2023 is $200 million.
- Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov, a.k.a “The Eagle,” retired from the UFC in 2021 and founded Eagle Fighting Championship, a Miami-based MMA company, one of his many business ventures.
The Russian MMA fighter held the Lightweight Champion title for the longest, reigning supreme from April 2018 to March 2021. He even defeated the great McGregor at UFC 229.
His $14,770,000 UFC earnings make him one of the highest-paid UFC fighters of all time. He joined the UFC Hall of Fame in 2022 and has a net worth of $40 million.
- Andrei Arlovski
Andrei Arlovski, a.k.a. “The Pitbull,” has earned $10,631,000 from UFC fights, excluding PPV, performance, and win bonuses. The Belarusian-American MMA fighter is currently the best in the UFC Heavyweight category, holding the record for 23 total bouts in this organization.
Although Arlovski is in his forties, he still packs a punch and attracts millions of viewers, making him an excellent MMA fighter for the UFC. His estimated net worth in 2023 is $7 million.
- Alistair Overeem
Alistair Overeem is another former UFC fighter who has joined the ranks of the highest-paid MMA athletes in UFC history. His base salary was $10,204,500 until he left the company in 2021 to compete in Glory’s heavyweight division.
However, “The Demolition Man” earned over $20 million during his UFC fighting career, thanks to all the bonuses and F3 Nutrition endorsements. His current net worth is over $10 million.
- Anderson Silva
Anderson Silva fought in the Octagon for the last time in 2020, when he lost to Uriah Hall. He left the UFC to focus on boxing after earning $8,732,000 for his fights. That doesn’t include PPV cuts, regular bonuses, and sponsorship deals with Reebok, Nike, and Burger King.
The Brazilian-American MMA fighter has an $8 million net worth and still holds the record in the Middleweight Champion category, as no one has reigned longer than “The Spider” – 2,457 days.
- Michael Bisping
Michael Bisping, a.k.a. “The Count,” is a versatile personality – an actor, sports commentator, sports analyst, and retired MMA athlete. The former UFC fighter left the Octagon in 2018 after suffering an eye injury in a bout against Kelvin Gastelum.
The British professional earned $7,135,000 in Light Heavyweight and Middleweight divisions at the UFC and more in bonuses and Reebok and Monster Energy sponsorship deals. His current net worth is $9 million.
- Junior dos Santos
Junior dos Santos is a heavyweight fighter at Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC and a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. With $7,110,000 in earnings, he’s among the highest-paid UFC fighters in history.
The Brazilian “Cigano” is also a professional wrestler, making a debut with All Elite Wrestling in 2021. His estimated net worth is $10 million.
- Georges St-Pierre
Georges “Rush” St-Pierre retired from the UFC in 2019, but his incredible fights in the Middleweight and Welterweight categories earned him a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame. Although his bonuses and PPV cuts were significant, he made $7,037,000 fighting in the Octagon.
The Canadian is now an MMA coach, training young athletes at his Montreal gym. His current net worth is $30 million.
- Jon Jones
Jon Jones, a.k.a. “Bones,” is an American UFC fighter who has held the company’s Light Heavyweight Champion title twice. He has made $7,230,000 at the UFC, excluding PPV cuts, bonuses, and sponsorship deals with Nike, Reebok, and K-Swiss, among others.
Jones is the youngest MMA athlete to hold the UFC Championship title, earning it at 23. At 35, his net worth is roughly $10 million.
- Donald Cerrone
Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone is another retired American MMA athlete and boxer. Fighting in the UFC’s Welterweight and Middleweight categories helped him join the ranks of the top-paid UFC fighters, although he never held the Champion title.
Cerrone hung up his gloves after earning $7,025,800 in the UFC to focus on an acting career, further increasing his $10 million net worth.
Do you watch UFC fights?
Many streaming providers grant access to UFC pay-per-views and live events. For instance, ESPN+, DAZN, and Hulu all offer such options.
Regional blackouts can put a damper on your UFC fight nights. In other cases, traveling can significantly hinder your streaming experience. Some streaming providers might not be available, and you are left with no opportunity to watch your anticipated fights.
If you wish to have access to all content regardless of your traveling plans, get a VPN for PC. It will help you connect to a Virtual Private Network server back home, giving you a local IP address. Then, you can enjoy all the content you watch back home.
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