Highest Paid UFC Fighters by Reported Earnings
The highest paid UFC fighters typically earn through guaranteed fight purses, win bonuses, pay-per-view shares, and sponsorships. The most recent public disclosures and media reports identify Conor McGregor, Jon Jones, and Israel Adesanya among the top earners in UFC history. Forbes and other outlets have reported that McGregor remains the highest paid UFC fighter due to his record-setting pay-per-view draws and business ventures. These earnings figures combine UFC salary, disclosed bonuses, and widely reported pay-per-view revenue splits from major events.
Forbes has documented how Conor McGregor earned over $180 million from his 2021 rematch with Dustin Poirier, making him the highest paid UFC fighter in a single event. Other top earners like Leon Edwards and Alexander Volkanovski have secured eight-figure guaranteed purses and additional pay-per-view bonuses in recent years. These contracts often include multi-fight deals with performance incentives tied to main event slots and title fights.
UFC Fighter Pay Structure and Revenue Sources
Fight Purse, Win Bonus, and Pay-Per-View Shares
UFC fighter pay is structured around a disclosed fight purse, which includes a base salary and a win bonus in most cases. Top fighters can negotiate additional pay-per-view points based on their drawing power, as seen in Conor McGregor's contracts and recent high-profile bouts. The UFC's latest publicly available fighter pay disclosures show that main event champions routinely earn seven-figure guaranteed purses plus performance bonuses.
Beyond the disclosed purse, the highest paid UFC fighters earn through sponsorships, appearances, and business ventures outside the octagon. Forbes has reported that Conor McGregor's endorsement deals and Proper Twelve whiskey brand have contributed billions in estimated career revenue. Other top fighters leverage their UFC status to secure sponsorships and media deals that add millions to their total earnings.
Current Top 10 Highest Paid UFC Fighters
1. Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor remains the highest paid UFC fighter based on disclosed purses, pay-per-view revenue, and business earnings. His record-setting bouts and global brand have set the benchmark for UFC fighter pay, according to Forbes and other financial reports.
2. Jon Jones
Jon Jones is consistently among the highest paid UFC fighters due to his long reign as champion and multiple record-setting pay-per-view events. His disclosed purses and reported pay-per-view shares reflect his status as one of the sport's top earners.
3. Israel Adesanya
Israel Adesanya has secured some of the largest guaranteed purses in UFC history, with multiple eight-figure contracts tied to his middleweight championship reigns and blockbuster events.
4. Leon Edwards
Leon Edwards earned a record disclosed purse for a welterweight champion after his knockout win over Kamaru Usman, reflecting his drawing power and pay-per-view impact.
5. Alexander Volkanovski
Alexander Volkanovski has negotiated multi-fight deals with guaranteed purses and pay-per-view bonuses, placing him among the highest paid UFC fighters in the featherweight division.
6. Dustin Poirier
Dustin Poirier's earnings have grown significantly through high-profile bouts and charitable initiatives, with disclosed purses and pay-per-view shares that rank him among the top earners.
7. Max Holloway
Max Holloway has earned substantial disclosed purses and performance bonuses, with his long championship reign and multiple Fight of the Night awards boosting his total UFC earnings.