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What's the lowest paid UFC fighter?

Author

Emily Sparks

Published Jan 14, 2026

Alajamain Sterling was the lowest-paid UFC champion in 2021; he got paid $230,000 (without PPV bonuses). The highest-paid UFC fighter in 2021 that wasn't a champion was Conor McGregor with $10,022,000 (without PPV bonuses).

How much do beginner UFC fighters make?

They go for big knockouts and submissions to nab incentives that bump their pay from, say, $10,000, which most entry-level UFC fighters receive for their debut, to $70,000—the base $10,000 money for showing up to fight plus the standard entry-level $10,000 for a win plus $50,000 for a bonus.

How much do low level MMA fighters make?

MMA fighters at a low level can earn approximately $300 for appearing in a fight and another $300 for winning the fight. The earnings per fight can increase by participating in more fights and building up a name, and contributing to ticket sales to earn a revenue share.

How much do amateur MMA fighters make?

For an average / beginner MMA fighter, they typically pay $400-600 to fight, and an extra $400-600 if they win. And promotions usually provide a pay scale based off of how many tickets they sell.

How much do beginner fighters get paid?

Shocking as it may sound, beginner boxers could earn less than $1000 per fight.

31 related questions found

Who gets paid more UFC or boxing?

The money in boxing is unquestionably higher than it is in the UFC/Mixed Martial Arts industry. The top boxers can get paid multi-millions of dollars per fight, whilst top UFC fighters get paid a mere couple of hundred thousand.

What is Mike Tyson's 2020 worth?

Tyson is estimated to have accrued millions of dollars throughout his boxing career but would go on to lose everything. Forbes claim his total career earnings could even have been as high as $685million (£475m). However, as of 2020, it has been reported that Tyson's net worth is around the $3m (£2.2m) mark.

How much does a cage fighter make?

The fighters usually sign a contract for a certain amount of fights for a fixed amount of money each time they step inside the Octagon. The three tiers are low, medium, and high, with the lowest earning between $10,000 and $30,000, and the highest tier raking in between $500,000 and $3,000,000 per fight.

Can I make money fighting?

Nowadays, professional fighters can earn a lot of money both in prize money and sponsorships, but they must be extremely skilled and maintain a high level of fitness in order to compete.

Can you get paid for fighting?

The average UFC fighter made $138,250 in 2018.

Out of the 589 fighters with disclosed payouts in 2019, only the top 350 UFC fighters made over $50,000. Now, this is UFC numbers. Lower tier organizations are typically paying less than this.

Do UFC fighters get paid a lot?

In 2020, the average contracted UFC fighter made approximately $148,000 when bonuses and base salary were added up. With each round lasting five minutes, fights three or five rounds in length, and three fights a year, in an extremely narrow view UFC fighters are some of the highest-paid athletes in the world.

How much do Shogun fighters make?

Known as the "Shogun," Rua has earned $4.54 million as a UFC fighter.

How much do pro UFC fighters make?

According to International Business Times, there are three salary tiers that a UFC fighter can fall into: low, medium, and high, with the lowest earners taking home between $10,000 and $30,000, and the highest tier raking in between $500,000 and $3,000,000 per fight.

How much does a UFC referee make?

Professional referees generally get from $1000 to $2500 per fight for non-PPV matches while they get anywhere from $5000 to $15000 per fight for Pay Per Views. Entry Level Referees generally do not get called up to UFC.

Is 35 too old to start MMA?

There is no age limit to start training MMA. Regardless of how old you are, there are many reasons why you should start doing MMA. If you decide to get yourself into MMA at an older age, you will soon feel better, be in better condition, fell younger, meet new people and be mentally stronger.

Who is the richest MMA fighter?

Conor McGregor is the richest MMA fighter in the world, with an estimated net worth of $110 million.

How do I get into UFC?

How Does a Fighter Get Into the UFC?

  1. Apply. UFC. @ufc. ...
  2. Feeder leagues. The UFC doesn't have a rookie league, but it does have a couple of feeder leagues. ...
  3. Have connections. Like any other job, connections sometimes matter more than merit. ...
  4. Keep winning and hope. This is pretty much the most popular way to join the UFC.

How do you enter UFC?

How to Get into UFC? [And Become a UFC Fighter]

  1. Compete in Amateur Competitions. It might sound obvious, but you can't become a professional overnight. ...
  2. Find an Agent. Once you're ready to start fighting professionally, you should start looking for an agent or a manager. ...
  3. Work Your Way Up Through Lower Leagues.

How much does Bellator pay its fighters?

Both fighters had a disclosed payday of $250,000 flat. The co-main event is a grand prix final. Light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov (on an $80,000 to show/$80,000 to win basis) and Corey Anderson ($250,000 flat) will collide with the winner making an additional $1 million.

Why are UFC fighters underpaid?

For years, any real competitor to the UFC was swallowed up, such as PRIDE, WEC, Strikeforce, and more. With the purchasing of all real competition, it meant the promotion could pay as little as they wanted, which has contributed to the fighter pay problem.

How much is UFC worth?

The UFC has grown tremendously throughout the years. In 2001, UFC was in danger of being wiped out, now it has an estimated value of $9-10 billion. UFC President Dana White, spoke with TSN's Aaron Bronsteter on the growth of the UFC in 2020, despite the pandemic.

Who is the richest boxer of all time?

As of 2022, Floyd Mayweather's net worth is estimated to be roughly $560 million, making him the richest boxer in the world.

Who is the hardest puncher ever?

On more than one occasion, UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has displayed his formidable punching power. In 2019, the Cameroonian paid a visit to UFC Performance Institute where he created the world record for the hardest punch ever measured at 129,161 units.

How much is Muhammad Ali worth?

At the time of his death in 2016 at age 74, Ali had an estimated net worth of $80 million, according to Forbes.