The UFC has transformed from a niche combat sport into an international entertainment powerhouse.
Yet, despite skyrocketing pay-per-view numbers and lucrative sponsorship deals, no fighter has officially crossed the $10 million mark in fighting earnings alone. (Single fight purses)
So, is it realistic to expect a UFC athlete to reach this financial milestone anytime soon, if ever at all? Let’s dive in:
💸Current UFC Earnings Landscape
- Top UFC Earners: Top stars and fighters like Conor McGregor, Jon Jones, and Israel Adesanya have made tens of millions, but a majority of their wealth comes from endorsements, business ventures, and pay-per-view revenue shares, not guaranteed fight purses.
- Typical Fight Purses: Even for champions, base pay ranges widely but usually falls between $500K and $3 million per fight, with bonuses and pay-per-view points adding more for top stars.
📈What Would It Take to Hit $10M?
- Longevity & Activity: A fighter would need an exceptionally long and active career at the championship level, competing in 3-4 high-profile fights annually for 10+ years.
- Pay-Per-View Revenue Share: Increasing pay-per-view percentage cuts could accelerate earnings for top stars, but the UFC currently limits this to a handful of elite athletes.
- Market Expansion & Media Deals: As the UFC continues to expand globally and secure bigger media rights deals, fighter purses could rise accordingly.
- Championship Unification & Multiple Weight Classes: Fighters who dominate multiple divisions and headline multiple mega-events would have the best shot. However, this is obviously no small feat and is a rare occurrence that only the best of the best fighters in history may reach.
🤼♂️Barriers to $10M Fighting Purses
- Weight Cutting and Health Risks: The physical toll and risk of injury limit career length and fight frequency.
- Promotion Control: The UFC controls fighter pay more tightly than other leagues, limiting bargaining power.
- Sponsorship vs Fight Pay: Much of fighters’ highest earnings come from outside the Octagon.
🔮Future Outlook
No UFC fighter has yet earned $10 million solely from a single fight purse, a combination of higher base pay, improved revenue sharing, and continued growth could make it possible within the next decade.
Achieving this, however, will require significant changes in UFC contract structures and fighter leverage.
Unlike team sports, where leagues and rosters sustain ongoing revenue growth and salaries rise with league health, the UFC’s revenue depends heavily on individual star power and name recognition.
With the UFC’s merger under TKO Holdings alongside WWE in 2025, new opportunities to grow revenue may emerge.
For example, creative event formats inspired by WWE, such as multi-fighter brawls or team-based matches with real consequences, could draw new audiences and justify larger payouts.
These type of events could be seen as the evolution of the sport while maintaining UFC’s competitive integrity.
At its core, stepping into the Octagon remains about individual reputation and brand, much like stars in team sports who dominate headlines while others collect league-minimum salaries quietly.
Similarly, UFC stars will continue to drive the biggest numbers, but expanding the pie benefits everyone.
Losing fighters may not “deserve” the same payouts as top stars, however a veteran minimum in most pro sports leagues is $1+ million and even practice squad or bench players make high-6-figure salaries.
In short, a $10 million fight purse for a UFC athlete is unlikely in the immediate future, but as streaming, pay-per-view, and global expansion accelerate, it’s entirely plausible within the next decade.
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Credits
Written by: Aidan Anderson
Research and Analysis: Apostle Sports Media LLC
Sources: UFC.com, MMA Fighting, Forbes Sports Money, ESPN, APSM Proprietary Analysis.
Featured Image: Public Domain / Wiki Commons
Disclaimer: This article contains general financial information for educational purposes and does not constitute as professional advice.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
– Matthew 6:21
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