MMA
Top 12 Highest Paid UFC Fights
Featuring marquee matchups like Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov and Ronda Rousey vs. Amanda Nunes, here are the UFC's top 12 highest paid UFC fights ever.
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The UFC have had some major stars over the last decade but it's pretty clear that the top 12 highest paid UFC fights in history will be mainly dominated by Conor McGregor fights, however there may be some fights on this list which surprise you.
As the UFC expands its star power, naturally most of these fights will be from recent years. Let's see who makes the list of the top 12 highest paid UFC fights in history…
12. Jon Jones vs Daniel Cormier 2 – UFC 214, July 2017
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● Jon Jones: $500,000 base pay + PPV share.
● Daniel Cormier: $1 million base pay.
These fierce rivals met in a rematch for the UFC light-heavyweight championship. In their previous fight at UFC 182, Jon Jones dominated Daniel Cormier on his way to another successful title defence, however “Bones” was later stripped of the belt and suspended due to a hit-and-run incident.
During his absence, “DC” claimed the vacant strap but it wasn't long before Jones was back in the cage vying to reclaim his title. At UFC 214, Jones put an exclamation mark on his rivalry with Cormier by stopping him. However, after Jones tested positive for performance enhancing drugs the fight was overturned to a no contest and Jones would face a suspension from the sport.
11. Israel Adesanya vs Paulo Costa – UFC 253, September 2020
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● Israel Adesanya: $600,000 base pay + PPV share.
● Paulo Costa: $350,000 base pay.
Israel Adesanya's dominance in the middleweight division was only just beginning at this point. “The last stylebender” already had one middleweight title defence, but this fight against Paulo Costa was dubbed his toughest fight in the UFC to date, with the Brazilian holding a record of 13-0 at this time.
The Nigerian champion had different ideas though and proceeded to put on a striking clinic against Costa, eventually stopping the challenger in the second round.
10. Nate Diaz vs Jorge Masvidal – UFC 244, November 2019
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● Nate Diaz: $500,000 base pay + PPV share.
● Jorge Masvidal: $500,000 base pay + PPV share.
The build up to the fight between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal was everything we expected, words were exchanged on both sides but there was always a level of respect for each other. The fight also lived up to the expectations: it was an all out war.
While Diaz may have had the edge in terms of cardio, we will never know because Masvidal sliced the California native up so much that the doctor advised the referee to stop the fight before heading into the fourth round.
9. Brock Lesnar vs Alistair Overeem – UFC 141, December 2011
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● Brock Lesnar: $2 million base pay.
● Alistair Overeem: $385,000 base pay.
After a year away from the octagon due to a medical condition, Brock Lesnar made his UFC return against Alistair Overeem. Heading into the fight there was plenty of controversy. With both fighters expected to submit samples to the Nevada State Athletic Commission for drug testing, Overeem's tests did not meet the required standard thus was eventually granted a conditional licence to compete in this bout.
“The Reem” would obliterate Lesnar inside a round via thunderous body kicks before finishing him off with follow-up punches.
8. Brock Lesnar vs Mark Hunt – UFC 200, July 2016
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● Brock Lesnar: $2.5 million base pay.
● Mark Hunt: $700,000 base pay.
After almost five years out of the UFC, Brock Lesnar made his shock return to the promotion against the always game New Zealander Mark Hunt for the co-main event at UFC 200.
Lesnar would return to winning ways, scoring a unanimous decision over Hunt, however, the fight was later overturned to a no contest after Lesnar tested for performance enhancing drugs in the aftermath of the fight.
7. Ronda Rousey vs. Amanda Nunes – UFC 207, December 2016
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● Ronda Rousey: $3 million base pay.
● Amanda Nunes: $100,000 base pay.
After suffering a brutal head kick loss to Holly Holm, Ronda Rousey returned to the octagon in hope of defeating Amanda Nunes at UFC 207. But Rousey, who bullied her opponents for years, was once again on the receiving end of a huge KO - Nunes would wipe Rousey out inside a minute of the very first round.
6. Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier 3 – UFC 264, July 2021
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● Conor McGregor: $5 million base pay + PPV share.
● Dustin Poirier: $1 million base pay + PPV share.
Conor McGregor looked for revenge against Dustin Poirier in the trilogy fight, however McGregor suffered a horrific leg injury at the end of the first round which led to the fight being stopped by the referee
5. Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier 2 – UFC 257, January 2021
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● Conor McGregor: $5 million base pay + PPV share.
● Dustin Poirier: $1 million base pay + PPV share.
With the UFC's lightweight division in limbo after Khabib Nurmagomedov's retirement, the door was wide open for any of the elite fighters at 155 pounds, including the winner of the rematch between McGregor and Poirier.
But it was “The Diamond” who excelled on the night as he stunned the MMA world by devastatingly knocking out the Irishman midway through the second round.
4. Conor McGregor vs. Eddie Alvarez – UFC 205, November 2016
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● Conor McGregor: $3 million base pay + PPV share.
● Eddie Alvarez: $500,000 base pay + PPV share.
Conor McGregor became the first ever double champ of the UFC after punishing Eddie Alvarez with some slick boxing combinations midway through the second round. This propelled McGregor into superstardom.
3. Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone – UFC 246, January 2020
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● Conor McGregor: $3 million base pay + PPV share.
● Donald Cerrone: $200,000 base pay + PPV share.
After spending just over a year on the sidelines following his defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov, McGregor stepped up to welterweight to face Donald Cerrone. And the fight lasted no more than 40 seconds as McGregor flattened Cerrone.
2. Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 2 – UFC 202, August 2016
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● Conor McGregor: $3 million base pay + PPV share.
● Nate Diaz: $2 million base pay + PPV share.
After suffering his first loss under the UFC banner to Nate Diaz, Conor McGregor attempted to avenge his defeat a few months later but this time at welterweight. After an all out war, McGregor got his hand raised via decision.
1. Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov – UFC 229, October 2018
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● Conor McGregor: $3 million base pay + PPV share.
● Khabib Nurmagomedov: $2 million base pay + PPV share.
In what was possibly the biggest grudge match in UFC history, Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov collided in October 2018 where it was the classical matchup between an elite striker versus an elite wrestler.
Nurmagomedov would eventually take McGregor's back in the fourth round and subsequently submitted his foe via a neck crank.
Jake Staniland is a sports writer who excels in covering a wide range of sports: football, combat sports and the NFL - All three subjects are his lifelong passions.
Jake is a boyhood Sheffield United fan, which is often a curse that he thanks his family for. His favourite Blades player ever is Billy Sharp