Well, we have compiled a list of the Top 20 highest-paid UFC fighters of all time, as well as detailing the perennial Top 5 fighters more extensively. So without further ado, here are the Top 20 highest-paid UFC fighters of all time based off their total estimated career earnings, not including pay-per-view earnings or other endorsements.
Top 5 Highest-Paid UFC Fighters Of All Time – In Detail
Before we outline the full Top 20 highest-paid UFC fighters of all time, check out the Top 5 below in more detail.
All figures courtesy of MMA Salaries & BetMGM
1. Conor McGregor – $39,300,000
Absolutely no surprise here to learn that Conor McGregor is comprehensively the highest-paid UFC fighter of all time. The history-making Irishman has reportedly earned $39.3 million during his UFC career purely through a fighting salary.
This doesn’t take into account any bonuses, PPV money or endorsements – purely just McGregor’s base pay for every UFC fight to date. Not only is ‘Notorious’ the single biggest name in the MMA scene, but he is also the highest-paid UFC athlete to ever grace the cage too.
The two-division UFC champion has had several seven, eight and even nine-figure purses in his UFC career all in. He is one of the most sought-after names in all of fight sports and continues to fly the flag for the UFC in terms of fighter pay and fandom.
McGregor unsurprisingly also tops the list of the most followed UFC fighters in the world.
2. Khabib Nurmagomedov – $22,900,000
In at number two is a former Conor McGregor opponent – the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov. The Dagestani mauler never lost a fight in his entire MMA career, making him one of the best fighters to ever grace the octagon. Period.
Not only is the former long-reigning UFC lightweight king an elite fighter, but he is also an extremely wealthy man too. Second only to McGregor, Nurmagomedov reportedly earned $22.9m in pure UFC salary and pay before his retirement a few years ago.
Some of his biggest career purses include $2,040,000 in his victory over McGregor, as well as a combined $12,180,000 for his final two fights against Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje respectively. Again, this doesn’t include any further endorsements, PPV sales or additional bonuses.
3. Jon Jones – $20,500,000
In at number three on the highest-paid UFC fighters of all time list is arguably the greatest MMA fighter of all time – Jon Jones.
‘Bones’ is the reigning UFC Heavyweight Champion, as well as being one of the highest earners in the entire sport of MMA. Given he has won 16 UFC Title fights throughout his career and has won over 20 fights under Dana White‘s promotional banner, it is no surprise to see Jones so far up this list.
After his fight with Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, Jones climbed into the Top 3 and overtook Alistair Overeem. Should he fight on for another few years, Jones may even shoot up to second and overtake Khabib Nurmagomedov. Time will tell if that is the case or whether Jon Jones will retire after his next bout.
4. Alistair Overeem – $15,400,500
The fourth highest-paid UFC fighter of all time is a man who never received anything less than six-figures for each of his 20 UFC fights – Alistair Overeem.
Overeem made his UFC debut back in 2011 against Brock Lesnar, winning the fight via knockout in the very first round. After that, Overeem earned a minimum of $100,000 for each and every fight that followed in Dana White’s organisation. On average, he made $495,724.9 from the UFC per fight.
Overall, ‘The Reem’ earned $15,400,500 in official pay-outs and purses, not included added bonuses, endorsements or pay-per-view money. His three biggest pay-days were against Francis Ngannou, Curtis Blaydes and Sergei Pavlovich respectively. Overeem earned $860,000+ in total for these three fights.
5. Stipe Miocic – $13,632,000
As a former UFC champion and arguably the best heavyweight of all time, Stipe Miocic makes it into the Top 5 highest-paid UFC fighters of all time. The former dominant middleweight champion reportedly pocketed upward of $13.5m in official fight purses during his illustrious UFC career.
This figure of course doesn’t take into consideration any additional bonuses, PPV earnings or sponsorship earnings. The American MMA phenom and former firefighter had 19 fights in the UFC, with his biggest earner coming in his last fight before retirement against Jon Jones at UFC 309.
The future UFC Hall of Famer had earned just shy of $10m prior to the Jones fight, but that figure has now leaped to $13.6m+ despite losing via knockout. In the aftermath, Stipe has sailed off into the sunset and has plenty of money in the bank to show for his incredible career.
Who Else Makes The Top 20 Highest-Paid UFC Athletes Ever?
Before we outline the entire Top 20 highest-paid UFC fighters of all time, lets first look in more detail at a few standout names who are near the very top of this illustrious list.
It won’t come as any surprise to see the great Jon Jones inside the Top 10 of this list. ‘Bones’ is the reigning UFC heavyweight Champion, as well as being a former light-heavyweight king and the single greatest MMA fighter to ever grace the octagon.
There is no surprise at all to see him hanging about the top of this list. Jones will almost certainly jump even higher up this list too, depending on how many fights he has in the UFC before retiring.
Another all-time great in George St-Pierre makes the Top 10, as does the only British fighter on the list – Michael Bisping. Veteran UFC fighter Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone also features near the top of this list, which again isn’t a shock to anyone given he had 38 fights in the UFC.
Anderson Silva, the great middleweight just misses out on the Top 5, with Stipe Miocic overtaking him after his defeat to ‘Bones’ at UFC 309 before announcing his retirement. Heavyweights Andrei Arlovski and Junio Dos Santos also make the Top 10.
A lot of the other fighters inside the Top 20 highest-paid UFC fighters of all time are heavyweights. This comes as no surprise given that the heavyweight division is seen as the ‘money’ division in fight sports, including boxing too.
Be sure to claim the various UFC betting offers and free bet deals available on the SportsCasting site ahead of the next big UFC pay-per-view.
Top 20 Highest-Paid UFC Fighters Of All Time
| Ranking | Fighter | UFC Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Conor McGregor | $39,300,000 |
| 2. | Khabib Nurmagomedov | $22,900,000 |
| 3. | Jon Jones | $20,500,000 |
| 4. | Alistair Overeem | $15,400,500 |
| 5. | Stipe Miocic | $13,632,000 |
| 6. | Anderson Silva | $13,500,000 |
| 7. | Andrei Arlovski | $11,200,000 |
| 8. | Michael Bisping | $11,100,000 |
| 9. | Junior Dos Santos | $11,000,000 |
| 10. | George St-Pierre | $10,950,000 |
| 11. | Donald Cerrone | $10,600,000 |
| 12. | Daniel Cormier | $10,200,000 |
| 13. | Mark Hunt | $9,800,000 |
| 14. | Jose Aldo | $9,497,333 |
| 15. | Vitor Belfort | $9,000,000 |
| 16. | Dan Henderson | $8,500,000 |
| 17. | Brock Lesnar | $5,295,000 |
| 18. | Mauricio Rua | $5,270,000 |
| 19. | Frankie Edgar | $5,158,000 |
| 20. | Lyoto Machida | $5,035,000 |
