The California State Athletic Commission has unveiled the disclosed fighter payouts for UFC 311, offering a fascinating glimpse into the financial landscape of the UFC. With several champions and top-tier fighters competing, the event showcased significant earning potential for MMA’s elite athletes.
Disclosed #UFC311 Purses.
Jiří Procházka, Jailton Almeida, Merab Dvalishvil and Umar Nurmagomedov also received $50K Post Fight bonuses. pic.twitter.com/z0z3UrnIWl
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) January 19, 2025
Headline Champions Dominate Payroll
Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili emerged as the highest-paid fighter of the night, securing an impressive $500,000 for his performance against Umar Nurmagomedov, who earned $100,000. In comparison, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev took home a solid $200,000 for his bout against Renato Moicano, who surprisingly earned $250,000 after being bumped to the main event.
The top-tier payouts continued with other notable matchups. Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill commanded substantial purses, with Prochazka earning $250,000 (including a $50,000 win bonus) and Hill collecting $200,000[1]. Jailton Almeida impressed with a $220,000 total payout, which included a $110,000 win bonus, while his opponent Serghei Spivac earned $100,000.
Emerging Talents and Veteran Earnings
The card showcased the financial diversity within the UFC, with fighters at various stages of their careers earning different amounts. Kevin Holland and Reinier de Ridder represented the mid-tier payouts, with Holland earning $250,000 and de Ridder taking home $210,000, which included a $105,000 win bonus.
Lower on the card, fighters like Grant Dawson demonstrated the potential for significant earnings, pocketing $212,000 with a $106,000 win bonus against Diego Ferreira. In contrast, fighters like Ricky Turcios and Bernardo Sopaj earned more modest amounts, with Turcios receiving $28,000 and Sopaj earning $24,000.
It’s crucial to note that these figures represent only the disclosed payouts, as emphasized by California State Athletic Commission executive director Andy Foster. The actual earnings can be substantially higher when factoring in off-contract bonuses, sponsor payments, and discretionary bonuses.
The payouts reflect not just a fighter’s performance, but their marketability, championship status, and overall value to the organization. From Dvalishvili’s top-tier $500,000 to the more modest earnings of emerging fighters, UFC 311 demonstrated the financial stratification within professional mixed martial arts.
While the numbers provide an intriguing snapshot of fighter compensation, they tell only part of the story. Each payout represents countless hours of training, dedication, and the physical and mental toll of competing at the highest level of mixed martial arts.
