The Highest Paid UFC Fighters of All Time

As per the International Business Times, UFC fighters could fall into three salary tiers of low, medium, and high, with the lowest earners making between $10,000 and $30,000, and the highest tier earning between $500,000 and $3,000,000 in each fight.

But it is not only the winner who would be paid, as both contestants of a fight would make money on the basis of the tier that they fall into.

This tier is heavily dependant on the size of their fan base in a way that they would get their base earnings, as well as an additional prize in case of their victory which would be as much as double of their base pay, applied only in the first two tiers.

But honestly, this is a ridiculous amount if we take into consideration the sports detrimental effects on these fighters as they might be incurred chronic Encephalopathy (damage that affects the brain), which would end up in their memory loss, personality change, seizures, and more.

The Highest Paid UFC Fighters of All Time

Having these in mind, here we would feature the Highest Paid UFC Fighters of All Time as of 2021, but since the UFC tends not to reveal full fighters paychecks, we have skipped to rank them according to salaries.

Hence they are ranked based on the fighters updated net worth as of 2021 which would encompass the fighters all other sources of income.

But fighters like José Aldo, Nate Diaz and several others are our honourable mentions, in as much as they are considered to be the highest-paid fighters as well, although others have been preferred to take a spot in our ranking.

Michael Bisping

• Net worth 2021

  : $9 million

The English sports analyst, actor, commentator and former MMA fighter competed in the Middleweight and Light-Heavyweight categories of the UFC.

In a span of a stellar career, from 2004 until 2018 he was honoured to become UFC Middleweight Champion, being the first British fighter to win a UFC Championship in UFC 199 as he remains to be so, therefore he was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame on July 5, 2019.

With such honours, it is no wonder to see him as the

Highest Paid UFC fighter ever

, as he has brought in fans from Europe for the UFC.

Notwithstanding his being retired for years now, he is considered to be among The Highest Paid UFC Fighters of All Time, while his biggest payday in the UFC was against Georges St-Pierre in 2017 making $540,000 that night.

Then in a match against Kelvin Gastelum, he made another quarter of a million dollars, earning the same amount for each of his bouts from 2009 until he became the champion seven years later.

At the moment, he is making money with commentating for the UFC, while his net worth is estimated to be around $9 million, being assumed as one of The Highest Paid UFC Fighters of All Time.

Donald Cerrone

• Net worth 2021

  : $10 mіllіоn

The American MMA fighter and former professional kickboxer currently competes in the Welterweight category of the UFC, while he holds some of the

for the most finishes, most bouts as well as the most post-fight awards.

With his record of the most UFC fights, he is one of the most beloved UFC fighters, thereby he would be dubbed as the highest paid UFC fighter ever as well.

It was revealed that through his MMA career, he earned more than $7 million whereas his UFC 246 main event fight against Conor McGregor, earned him a whopping amount of money.

That is to say in addition to his standard rate of $200k for the fight, he probably achieved a big bonus behind closed doors and a bunch of money from PPV points yet he has denied it. Likewise, his highest-earning bout per disclosed pay came against Al Iaquinta in 2019, where he got $410k.

With an estimated net worth of around $10 mіllіоn аѕ оf 2021, hiѕ primary іnсоmе ѕоurсе іѕ kісkbохіng аnd оthеr mаrtіаl аrtѕ while at the same time, he is ѕроnѕоrеd bу mаnу tор brаndѕ so as to land him a spot among the top 11 richest UFC fighters 2021

It is also notable to suggest that such an active fighter who has set many records, he has failed to grab the UFC championship, being considered as

as well.

Jon Jones 

• Net worth 2021

  : $10 million

As one of

, the American fighter is a former two times Light Heavyweight Champion while he vacated the title in August 2020 to move up to the Heavyweight division.

As the #2 fighter in the UFC's pound for pound rankings, he has headlined nearly 15 PPVs, including title fights and defences.

While he cemented his place among

The Highest Paid UFC Fighters of All Time

, he was the first MMA fighter to be sponsored by Nike, the first MMA fighter with their own shoe and the first MMA fighter to represent Gatorade.

In his biggest payday, he beat Daniel Cormier at UFC 214 for his LHW title retainment, so as to receive $580k for the fight.

In a career that is not devoid of controversy, it seems that he is shooting for a big raise, on the account of his refusal to fight for more than a year since his bout with Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 to the end of grabbing a shot at heavyweight gold which undoubtedly would see him a lot more than he is receiving now.

With a net worth of around $10 million, which is earned from martial arts, sponsorship deals and partnerships, he would be enlisted among the top 11 richest UFC fighters 2021.

Junior dos Santos

• Net worth 2021

  : $10 million

The Brazilian MMA fighter and professional wrestler is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion who made his debut UFC fight in 2008 against Fabricio Werdum.

In his glorious MMA career, with a deadly striking prowess and the longest winning streak in UFC Heavyweight division history (9), he earned 21 victories while 6 of them brought him six figures.

While he was the one of the 

highest paid UFC fighters 2020

, his rematch against Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight title was considered to be one of his highest-paid fights.

Notwithstanding his being knocked out in the first round of the fight, he got paid at least $800k, earning the Fight of the Night award for the bout as well.

With an estimated net worth of approximately $10 million, he would be included among

The Highest Paid UFC Fighters of All Time

, while his sources of income are his sponsorship bonus and winning bonus.

Ronda Rousey

• Net worth 2021

  : $13 Million

The American MMA fighter, judoka, and actress is the former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion, while she was one of the most successful and

.

Since her unofficial retirement from UFC, she competed in professional wrestling while she tends not to come back as she has already made a fortune of around $13 million so as to be the highest-paid UFC fighter female.

Such a hefty amount of money was earned when specifically she beat Cat Zingano with an armlock in 14 seconds in 2014, getting 65,000 for showing up, $65,000 for the win as well as an estimated $1 million Pay Per View bonus.

Then between June 2014 and June 2015, she raked approximately $6.5 million in prizes and endorsements, while she endorses Monster headphones, Carl's Jr, Reebok, Metro PCS, and several others, thereby it is of little surprise to see her be the

highest-paid UFC fighter female

.

But when she was beaten by Holly Holm and at UFC 193 in 2015, his successful streak has been brought to a halt. Yet just in 2015, she earned $14 million in prizes, PPV money, endorsements and media appearances.

Finally, in her fight against Amanda Nunes on December 30, 2016, she received $3 million just to show up, while apart from Rousey, Nunes is considered to be the highest-paid UFC fighter female as well.

Alistair Overeem

• Net worth 2021

  : $20 mіllіоn

The Dutch professional heavyweight MMA fighter and kickboxer currently competes in the heavyweight category of kickboxing promotion Glory.

While he was the first fighter to hold world titles in MMA and K-1 kickboxing simultaneously, he is a true legend who has achieved everything except for a UFC title.

As one of the highest paid UFC fighters 2020, he is one of the few fighters in UFC who have gone beyond the ten million mark in disclosed pay, while if the salary of all his fights outside the UFC was taken into consideration, the amount would be double.

Just in his UFC debut against Brock Lesnar, he knocked his opponent out while the fight alone was a six-figure contest for Alistair Overeem.

An overwhelming majority of his money was earned through his contract with the UFC from May 2016 to November 2018, in which the

UFC fighter salary per fight

was at least $800k as it was included seven bouts.

In his long span of career, hе hаѕ gathered а nеt wоrth оf $20 mіllіоn аѕ оf Осtоbеr 2021 which is achieved frоm thе ѕеvеrаl сhаmріоnѕhірѕ аnd tіtlеѕ hе hаѕ wоn.

Anderson Silva

• Net worth 2021

  : $20 mіllіоn

The former Brazilian-American UFC Middleweight Champion who is the record holder of the longest title reign in UFC actually started to make a killing in his post-championship reign.

As one of the most

, his first UFC fight against Chris Weidman, led him to get a check of $66,000 while he went on to land a six-digit figure by the fourth.

Likewise, he received the same amount until his retirement and therefore this UFC fighter salary per fight is estimated to be $66,000.

His highest-earning fight against Derek Brunson at UFC 208, saw him grab a sum of $820,000 in addition to the usual $600k to show up, $20k from the Reebok sponsorship, as well as $200k for the victory.

As a result, it is of little wonder to see his net worth skyrocket to the amount of $20 mіllіоn as of oсtоbеr 2021, so as to be widely dubbed as the highest paid UFC fighter ever.

But if we put his UFС аwаrdѕ аnd fіghtіng bоnuѕеѕ aside, hіѕ ѕеvеrаl mоvіе саmеоѕ, sponsorships and endorsement like Ѕроrtѕ Сlub Соrіnthіаnѕ Раulіѕtа, Вurgеr Кіng аnd Вееr brаnd Вudwеіѕеr have brought him an eye-watering amount of money.

Brock Lesnar

• Net worth 2021

  : $30 million

The Canadian two-division UFC champion who won titles in the welterweight and middleweight categories is considered to be among the bests who has ever stepped inside the octagon.

Wheres, he made more than $7 million in disclosed paychecks, he often received six-figure sums per fight with taking all of his income sources into consideration.

That is to say, the former UFC fighter salary per fight was at least $200,000 while he earned an additional bonus payment of $200,000 in case of grabbing victory so as to make his total potential base pay per fight to $400,000.

While he was retired as the reigning welterweight champ, he came back in 2017 to beat Michael Bisping for winning the middleweight championship to take home a massive check of $2,580,000 and grab a spot among

.

So as one of the highest paid UFC fighters 2020, he has a net worth of around $30 million while parts of his money were made through his endorsement deals with Under Armour, NOS energy drink (owned by Coca-Cola), Hayaboosa, 888poker, Affliction, Electronic Arts, and Bacardi and more big companies. These endorsements together probably earned him additional earnings of $1 to $2 million per fight.

Khabib Nurmagomedov

• Net worth 2021

  : $40 million

The former Russian longest-reigning UFC Lightweight Champion, who is an indispensable member of the

has an approximate net worth of $40 million.

As one of the highest paid UFC fighters 2020, he achieved a huge 92.9% of his career earnings, during his last three bouts, as his fight against Conor McGregor at UFC 229 was the first one of them. That is to say, although he got $2 million for the bout, he finally had to pay $500k for the post-fight incident.

Considering his maltreatment of MacGregor, he proved the real worth of himself to the UFC and thereupon he got paid for his next two fights a lot more than this fight including $6 million as well as 90k in each hight, for incentive pay and post-fight bonuses without considering PPV numbers which had not been revealed.

In essence, his last three fights against Conor MacGregor, Dustin Poirier and finally Justin Gaethje have made up most of his earnings, and right after that, he announced his retirement.

Moreover, his other income sources are his sponsorship deals with SalamPay, Gorilla Energy, Reebok, and Toyota as he also has earned a hefty amount of money through special appearances and speaking engagements.

Conor McGregor

• Net worth 2021

  : $200 Million

The Irish former UFC featherweight and lightweight double-champion, is the one who has brought the promotion by far the most money throughout history.

While he has earned the first spot among the

top 11 richest UFC fighters 2021

, his $20 million in disclosed salaries is nothing compared to what he received from PPV percentages.

With a number of

being anchored to his name, almost every warrior that coped with him got paid the most they ever got in their careers and that is why he is a business genius.

As he is honoured to be the only fighter to draw seven-figure sums in all of his last five fights, he has earned the top rank position by a huge margin, notwithstanding his only two contributes since 2016.

That is to say, by his own term, he took home a whopping $50 million from the Nurmagomedov fight and a hefty $80 million against Donald Cerrone in his next fight.

But what has earned him even more money than any other source, is his Money Fight boxing fight with Floyd Mayweather.

That is apart from the disclosed sum of $30 million for the match, as he reportedly got paid roughly $130 million, which is by far more than the collective earning of everyone on this list of

The Highest Paid UFC Fighters of All Time.

With these in mind, his Proper 12 whiskey business has also contributed to making his net worth reach the staggering amount of $200 Million, with selling hundreds of thousands of bottles since its release.

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• Net worth 2021

  : $25 million

As the American-Canadian professional wrestler and former MMA fighter, he currently competes for the professional wrestling promotion WWE and as one of their most valued stars, he is apparently earning over $6 million every year.

Back in his MMA career, he actually brought over fans from wrestling to the UFC and thereby its no wonder to see his fighting mean big bucks for the UFC while he makes them in return, gaining $2.5 million upfront for his UFC 200 fight against Mark Hunt.

That is to say, he was assumed to be a box office sensation in UFC, contributing to some of the bestselling pay-per-view events in UFC history, including UFC 100 and UFC 116.

Therefore as one of The Highest Paid UFC Fighters of All Time, he has a net worth of around $25 million while his current WWE salary is $12 million, earning a total of $500,000 per main event appearance, so as to be the highest-earning superstar in all of WWE.

But apart from the huge money he is earning through gaining triumph in a multitude of WWE Championship routes, he also earned a good amount of money when he had worked in the film industry, staring the role of Wrestler in the Foxcatcher movie in 2014 as well as playing a major role in himself in many television channels during this time(2008-2016).

Not to mention that he has starred in a lot of Video games such as WWE Crush Hour, Wrestle Kingdom, UFC Undisputed 2010, WWE SmackDown!, Shut Your Mouth, WWE 2K20, EA Sports UFC, WWE 2K Battlegrounds, or a few more of these kinds.

Georges St-Pierre