The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is without a doubt the biggest Mixed Martial Arts organisation in the world and over the years and the organisation now has exclusive television deals with ESPN, which is a worldwide leader in sports.
As UFC grows as an organisation, so are the salaries of the fighters. Today, the biggest stars in the UFC earn millions of dollars. Over the years, the fighters used to get pay-per-view points for the amount of PPV they sold and as a result, the fighters made huge additional money on top of their guaranteed purses.
Harcord has recently revealed the top ten highest career earners in the UFC, not including pay-per-view points.
NOTE: This list includes the highest earners without a percentage of PPV.
#10. Daniel Cormier – $5.7 Million
According to Harcord, former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion of the world Daniel Cormier has managed to crack the top 10 all-time highest earners list. He has earned an estimated $5.7 million throughout his career. He has headlined eight UFC PPV events. He has fought the likes of Alexander Gustafsson, Jon Jones [twice], Stipe Miocic [twice], Volkan Oezdemir, Derrick Lewis etc.
Here’s a look at the salaries of his last five fights: (H/T – The Sports Daily)
UFC 214 – lost to Jon Jones – $1,040,000 ($1,000,000 to show, $40,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC 220 – Won against Volkan Oezdemir – $590,000 ($500,000 to show, $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, $40,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC 226 – won against Stipe Miocic – $590,000 ($500,000 to show, $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, $40,000 fight week incentive pay)
UFC 230 – Won against Derrick Lewis – $540,000 ($500,000 to show, $40,000 fight week incentive pay)
UFC 241 – lost to Stipe Miocic – $540,000 ($500,000 to show, $40,000 fight week incentive pay)
#9. Donald Cerrone – $5.9 Million
Donald Cerrone holds the record for the highest number of UFC wins (23) and he also holds the record for 6 career post-fight bonuses, the most in UFC history. His biggest payday is set to come against Conor McGregor at UFC 246 next month.
Here’s a look at the salaries of his last five fights: (H/T – The Sports Daily)
UFC Fight Night: Korean Zombie vs Rodriguez – Won against Mike Perry – $390,000 ($160,000 to show, $160,000 win bonus, $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, $20,000 fight week incentive pay)
UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs Dillashaw – Won against Alexander Hernandez – $450,000 ($165,000 to show, $165,000 win bonus, $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus, $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, $20,000 fight week incentive pay)
UFC Fight Night: Iaquinta vs Cowboy –Won against Al Iaquinta – $410,000 ($170,000 to show, $170,000 win bonus, $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus, $20,000 fight week incentive pay)
UFC 238 – Loss to Tony Ferguson – $245,000 ($175,000 to show, $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus, $20,000 fight week incentive pay)
UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs Gaethje – Loss to Justin Gaethje – $195,000 ($175,000 to show, $20,000 fight week incentive pay)
#8. Mark Hunt – $6.3 Million
Mark Hunt competed in the UFC from 2010 to 2018. Since 2016, Hunt managed to earn over $750,000 per fight. He retired from the sport back in 2018 after a three-fight losing skid.
Here’s a look at his salaries from his past six-fights: (H/T – The Sports Daily)
UFC 200 – Lost to Brock Lesnar – $710,000 ($700,000 to show, $10,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC 209 – Lost to Alistair Overeem – $760,000 ($750,000 to show, $10,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs Hunt – won against Derrick Lewis – $810,000 ($750,000 to show, $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus, $10,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC 221 – Lost to Curtis Blaydes – $765,000 ($750,000 to show, $15,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs Oleinik – Lost to Alexey Oleinik – $765,000 ($750,000 to show, $15,000 fight week incentive pay)*
UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs Tuivasa – Lost to Justin Willis – $765,000 ($750,000 to show, $15,000 fight week incentive pay)*
#7. Jon Jones – $6.4 Million
The current UFC light heavyweight champion of the world Jon Jones is currently the best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC. He is also one of the biggest stars in the UFC.
Here’s a look at his salaries from his past five-fights: (H/T – The Sports Daily)
UFC 197 – Won against Ovince Saint Preux – $530,000 ($500,000 to show, $30,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC 214 – NC against Daniel Cormier – $580,000 ($500,000 to show, $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, $30,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC 232 – Win against Alexander Gustafsson – $530,000 ($500,000 to show, $30,000 fight week incentive pay)
UFC 235 – Win against Anthony Smith – $540,000 ($500,000 to show, $40,000 fight week incentive pay)
UFC 239 – Win against Thiago Santos – $540,000 ($500,000 to show, $40,000 fight week incentive pay)
#6. Georges St-Pierre – $7 Million
Georges St-Pierre is without a doubt one of the biggest star UFC has ever seen. He once held the crown as the ultimate PPV star selling more PPVs than anyone in the UFC.
“Georges St. Pierre is, by far, the biggest pay-per-view star in mixed martial arts,” UFC President Dana White said back in 2011. “By far. By far the biggest pay-per-view star in MMA.” (H/T – Forbes.com)
Here’s a look at his salaries from his past five-fights: (H/T – The Sports Daily)
UFC 129 – Win against Jake Shields – $400,000 ($200,000 to show, $200,000 win bonus)
UFC 154 – Win against Carlos Condit – $470,000 ($200,000 to show, $200,000 win bonus, $70,000 Fight of the Night bonus)
UFC 158 – Win against Nick Diaz – $400,000
UFC 167 – Win against Johnny Hendricks – $450,000 ($400,000 to show, $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus)
UFC 217 – Win against Michael Bisping – $2,580,000 ($2,500,000 to show, $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, $30,000 Reebok sponsorship)
#5. Michael Bisping – $7.1 Million
Michael Bisping became the first-ever UFC champion from the UK in 2016, when he knocked out Luke Rockhold in the first round at UFC 199. He was the biggest UFC star to ever come out of the UK. He has fought the likes of Anderson Silva, Dan Handerson etc.
Here’s a look at his salaries from his past five-fights: (H/T – The Sports Daily)
UFC Fight Night: Silva vs Bisping – Won against Anderson Silva – $320,000 ($250,000 to show, $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus, $20,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC 199 – Won against Luke Rockhold – $330,000 ($250,000 to show, $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, $30,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC 204 – Won against Dan Henderson – $490,000 ($400,000 to show, $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus, $40,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC 217 – Lost to Georges St-Pierre – $540,000 ($500,000 to show, $40,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs Gastelum – Lost to Kelvin Gastelum – $270,000 ($250,000 to show, $20,000 Reebok sponsorship)
#4. Anderson Silva – $8.1 Million
Former UFC middleweight champion of the Anderson Silva is widely regarded as the greatest fighter to ever step inside the Octagon. The Brazilian legend holds the record for the longest title reign in UFC history. He also holds the record for the longest win reign in the UFC. While his best days are certainly behind him, he still hasn’t retired from the sport of MMA despite being 4-1 in his last five fights.
Here’s a look at his salaries from his past five-fights: (H/T – The Sports Daily)
UFC Fight Night: Silva vs Bisping – Loss to Michael Bisping – $665,000 ($600,000 to show, $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus, $15,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC 200 – Lost to Daniel Cormier – $620,000 ($600,000 to show, $20,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC 208 – Won against Derek Brunson – $820,000 ($600,000 to show, $200,000 win bonus, $20,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC 234 – Lost to Israel Adesanya – $670,000 ($600,000 to show, $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus, $20,000 fight week incentive pay)*
UFC 237 – Lost to Jared Cannonier – $620,000 ($600,000 to show, $20,000 fight week incentive pay)
#3. Khabib Nurmagomedov – $8.6 Million
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of the most dominant fighters in the UFC right now. He is currently undefeated inside the Octagon and holds a record of 28-0. He won the title in 2018 by defeating Al Iaquinta and then defended it against Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier by defeating them via rear-naked choke.
Here’s a look at his salaries from his past five-fights: (H/T – The Sports Daily)
UFC 205 – Won against Michael Johnson – $57,000 ($26,000 to show, $26,000 win bonus, $5,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC 219 – Win against Edson Barboza – $215,000 ($80,000 to show, $80,000 win bonus, $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, $5,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC 223 – Win against Al Iaquinta – $530,000 ($500,000 to show, $30,000 fight week incentive pay)
UFC 229 –Win against Conor McGregor – $1,540,000 ($2,000,000 to show, $40,000 fight week incentive pay, $500,000 fine for post-fight brawl)
UFC 242 – Win against Dustin Poirier – $6,090,000
#2. Alistair Overeem – $9.6 Million
Alistair Overeem is one of the most popular heavyweights in the UFC. He made his UFC debut in 2010 against Brock Lesnar and defeated him via TKO in the first round. Since then he has defeated the likes of Hunt, Werdum, Arlovski, Dos Santos, Mir etc. He averages a salary of $800,000 a fight.
Here’s a look at his salaries from his past five-fights: (H/T – The Sports Daily)
UFC 218 – Lost to Francis Ngannou – $860,000 ($850,000 to show, $10,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC 225 – Lost to Curtis Blaydes – $860,000 ($850,000 to show, $10,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs Ngannou 2 – Won against Sergei Pavlovich – $860,000 ($850,000 to show, $10,000 Reebok sponsorship)*
UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs Oleinik – Won against Alexey Oleinik – $865,000 ($850,000 to show, $15,000 fight week incentive pay)
UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs Rozenstruik – Lost to Jairzhinho Rozenstruik – $865,000 ($850,000 to show, $15,000 fight week incentive pay)
#1. Conor McGregor – $12 Million
Former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor is without a doubt the biggest star UFC has ever seen. He holds the record for the highest number of PPV sold in the UFC.
Here’s a look at his salaries from his past five-fights: (H/T – The Sports Daily)
UFC 194 – Won against Jose Aldo – $590,000 ($500,000 to show, $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, $40,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC 196 – Lost to Nate Diaz – $1,090,000 ($1,000,000 to show, $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus, $40,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC 202 – Won against Nate Diaz – $3,090,000 ($3,000,000 to show, $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus, $40,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC 205 – Won against Eddie Alvarez – $3,090,000 ($3,000,000 to show, $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, $40,000 Reebok sponsorship)
UFC 229 – Lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov– $2,980,000 ($3,000,000 to show, $30,000 fight week incentive pay)
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