The average UFC fighter earns between $152,000 and $228,000 per year. With most fighters competing only two or three times a year, that’s about $50,000 per fight.
Entry-level fighters get paid a lot less. Sometimes, they get as little as $12,000 to $20,000 to show up. And that’s why the UFC had to pay out a $335 million class-action settlement in 2024 over fighter pay suppression.
Yet despite this, it’s safe to say that some UFC fighters get paid well. Conor McGregor, for example, has a net worth of $200 million. Khabib Nurmagomedov is at $40 million. Israel Adesanya, Jon Jones, and Alex Pereira have also built great wealth.
But how? Well, they’ve been building wealth outside of their fight purses. They’ve used their fighting career as momentum for business ventures. That’s where the real money is made for MMA fighters.
Ways MMA Fighters Are Building Wealth Outside the Ring
One of the main ways is through brand building. Conor McGregor’s Proper No. Twelve whiskey brand reportedly sold for around $600 million in 2021. Khabib Nurmagomedov has built Eagle FC, his own MMA promotion. Georges St-Pierre has built training facilities.
Alongside this, they’ve also built wealth through endorsements and ambassadorships. Major fighters commonly sign multi-year deals with apparel, supplement, and lifestyle brands long before their retirements.
Gambling and online entertainment partnerships are a big one. These pay handsomely to advertise to a fighter’s fans. The unique part of online gambling partnerships is the commission-based structure. Rather than a flat fee, many of these deals run on a revenue-share basis, so it acts more as a joint venture rather than just a partnership. With slots based on iconic sports figures already a mainstay at most casino UK sites, with games like Roberto Carlos: Sporting Legends, it wouldn’t be surprising to see UFC stars take similar routes.
They also have online content and social media. This makes sense. With digital content consumption at an all-time high, it’s an easy way for fighters to monetize their fighting expertise on a scalable level.
How This Will Change in the Future
We are currently seeing a lot of partnerships with fighters and brands. However, the future will be more athletes skipping brand partnerships and building their own business ventures.
Some fighters have already done this well. Khabib’s Eagle FC, McGregor’s Proper Twelve, Adesanya’s Blessed Apparel, and Jon Jones’s training facility all suggest this change.
Social media is, without question, a huge driver for this shift. A fighter with 10 million followers no longer needs a brand’s reach to launch a product. They can just do it themselves and make way more money.
Where This Leaves the Modern Fighter
A lot of MMA fans know that fighters don’t get paid what they deserve from the UFC. It’s a conversation that has been going on for years.
However, despite this, fighters who monetize their fan base through partnerships and business ventures outside the UFC are making a small fortune.
So yes, the UFC doesn’t pay most fighters well. However, all fighters are given a platform. They are then using that platform to make serious money when their gloves are off.