Top Paid UFC Fighters by Year

A common source of debate amongst fans of Mixed Martial Arts is how much money fighters are making for laying their bodies on the line. This typically consists of complaints against the UFC that fighters are chronically underpaid.

A big reason for this misconception is that most jurisdictions require fight companies such as the UFC to disclose what the fighters have made to show up to fight and whatever win bonus they were entitled to. While fighters have made anywhere from $500 to $500,000 in disclosed pay per fight since the information started becoming readily available, fighters will typically make much, much more in sponserships.

At UFC 81, Frank Mir was at a low point in his ability to draw fans and many were expecting him to the lose the fight. That night he went home with $40,000 to show up, $40,000 when he unexpectedly defeated the heavily favoured Brock Lesnar and took home an additional $60,000 for submission of the night. The only guaranteed money he received from the UFC was $40,000 and, through an impressive performance, ended up taking home another $100,000. To offset the $40,000, Mir arranged sponsership deals and reportedly took home an additional guarantee of $85,000 just for showing up, which is over a 100% increase of what he would have made if he had of lost that match.

It is not uncommon for fighters to take home a greater haul from sponsers, especially when on a visible platform such as the UFC.

For the sake of argument, here are the top ten UFC earners by year using only disclosed payouts readily available from athletic commissions after events. These amounts do not include sponsership money, pay-per-view percentage or unannouced bonuses (but does include Fight of the Night, Submission of the Night and Fight of the Night information where available). Some events have also been omitted as not all jurisdictions require the disclosure of fighter purses.

2009

Highest Single Fight Pay: $460,000 – Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 102 (includes a $150,000 win bonus and $60,000 Fight of the Night Bonus)
Lowest Single Fight Pay: $3,000 – Several Preliminary Fighters
Average Per-Fight Pay: $52,396
Average Yearly Pay: $73,079

1. Georges St. Pierre – $800,000 for 2 Fights
2. Lyoto Machida – $585,000 for 3 Fights
3. Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira – $460,000 for 1 Fight
4. Forrest Griffin – $410,000 for 2 Fights
5. Brock Lesnar – $400,000 for 1 Fight
6. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson – $385,000 for 1 Fight
7. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua – $360,000 for 3 Fights
8. Dan Henderson – $350,000 for 1 Fight
9. Randy Couture – $310,000 for 1 Fight
10. Matt Hughes – $260,000 for 1 Fight

2008

Highest Single Fight Pay: $460,000 – Brock Lesnar at UFC 91 (includes a $200,000 win bonus)
Lowest Single Fight Pay: $3,000 – Several Preliminary Fighters
Average Per-Fight Pay: $50,823
Average Yearly Pay: $72,730

1.Brock Lesnar – $700,000 for 2 Fights
2. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson – $670,000 for 2 Fights
3. Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira – $510,000 for 2 Fights
4. Chuck Liddell – $500,000 for 1 Fight
5. Forrest Griffin – $470,000 for 2 Fights
6. Anderson Silva – $460,000 for 2 Fights
7. Wanderlei Silva – $425,000 for 2 Fights
8. Dan Henderson – $410,000 for 2 Fights
9. Rashad Evans – $370,000 for 2 Fights
10. B. J. Penn – $285,000 for 2 Fights

2007

Highest Single Fight Pay: $550,000 – Chuck Liddell at UFC 79 (includes $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus)
Lowest Single Fight Pay: $2,000 – David Lee at UFC 70
Average Per-Fight Pay: $38,742
Average Yearly Pay: $60,749

1. Chuck Liddell – $1,550,000 for 3 Fights
2. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic – $700,000 for 2 Fights
3. Randy Couture – $540,000 for 2 Fights
4. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson – $435,000 for 2 Fights
5. Georges St. Pierre – $350,000 for 2 Fights
6. Anderson Silva – $321,000 for 3 Fights
7. Tim Sylvia – $300,000 for 2 Fights
8. Matt Hughes – $250,000 for 2 Fights
9. Tito Ortiz – $210,000 for 1 Fight
10. (Tie) Wanderlei Silva – $200,000 for 1 Fight
10. (Tie) Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira – $200,000 for 1 Fight

2006

Highest Single Fight Pay: $400,000 – Royce Gracie at UFC 60
Lowest Single Fight Pay: $2,000 – Several Preliminary Fighters
Average Per-Fight Pay: $22,115
Average Yearly Pay: $38,701

1. Chuck Liddell – $750,000 for 3 Fights
2. Tito Ortiz – $650,000 for 4 Fights
3. Tim Sylvia – $410,000 for 4 Fights
4. Royce Gracie – $400,000 for 1 Fight
5. Andrei Arlovski – $325,000 for 3 Fights
6. Matt Hughes – $260,000 for 3 Fights
7. Randy Couture – $225,000 for 1 Fight
8. Frank Mir – $112,000 for 3 Fights
9. Georges St. Pierre – $106,000 for 2 Fights
10. Ken Shamrock – $100,000 for 1 Fight

2005

Highest Single Fight Pay: $225,000 – Randy Couture at UFC 54 (includes a $75,000 win bonus)
Lowest Single Fight Pay: $2,000 – Several Preliminary Fighters
Average Per-Fight Pay: $22,109
Average Yearly Pay: $31,213

1. Randy Couture – $375,000 for 2 Fights
2. Chuck Liddell – $300,000 for 2 Fights
3. Matt Hughes – $220,000 for 2 Fights
4. Tito Ortiz – $175,000 for 1 Fight
5. Tim Sylvia – $120,000 for 2 Fights
6. Vitor Belfort – $100,000 for 1 Fight
7. Georges St. Pierre – $81,000 for 3 Fights
8. Jeremy Horn – $75,000 for 2 Fights
9. Evan Tanner – $58,000 for 2 Fights
10. Matt Lindland – $50,000 for 2 Fights

2004

Highest Single Fight Pay: $225,000 – Randy Couture at UFC 49 (includes a $75,000 win bonus)
Lowest Single Fight Pay: $2,000 – Several Preliminary Fighters
Average Per-Fight Pay: $31,164
Average Yearly Pay: $41,552

1. Randy Couture – $345,000 for 2 Fights
2. Vitor Belfort – $230,000 for 2 Fights
3. Chuck Liddell – $220,000 for 2 Fights
4. Frank Mir – $180,000 for 2 Fights
5. Ken Shamrock – $170,000 for 1 Fight
6. Matt Hughes – $165,000 for 2 Fights
7. Tito Ortiz – $125,000 for 1 Fight
8. Kimo Leopoldo – $55,000 for 1 Fight
9. B. J. Penn – $50,000 for 1 Fight
10. Tim Sylvia – $40,000 for 1 Fight

As seen here, post-2005 (when The Ultimate Fighter heightened awareness of the UFC product) fighter salaries have risen steadily as the sport has reached one of its highest peaks in popularity. Given that fighters supplement their income from several alternate sources, these numbers are lower than the actual pay that fighters receive.

Sources:

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=ki-mmamailbag042908&prov;=yhoo&type;=lgns
MMA Weekly
Sherdog

Reference:

• www.ufc.com
• www.mmaweekly.com
• www.sherdog.com