Key Points
- Research suggests Alex Pereira earned the most in 2025 so far, with $3,500,000 from UFC 313.
- It seems likely Dricus du Plessis and Alexander Volkanovski are also top earners, with $3,342,000 and $1,482,000 respectively.
- The evidence leans toward fighter pay including base salaries, PPV shares, and bonuses, but full disclosure varies by event location.
Top Earner in 2025
Based on available data from UFC events up to May 1, 2025, Alex Pereira appears to be the highest-paid fighter this year, earning an estimated $3,500,000 at UFC 313 in March. This figure includes his base salary, pay-per-view (PPV) shares, and potential bonuses, reflecting his status as a champion and major draw.
Other Notable Earners
Close behind, Dricus du Plessis earned $3,342,000 at UFC 312 in February, and Alexander Volkanovski took home $1,482,000 at UFC 314 in April. These payouts highlight the significant earnings for top fighters, especially in title fights.
How Fighter Pay Works
UFC fighter salaries typically include base pay, win bonuses, PPV revenue shares, and performance bonuses like $50,000 for Fight of the Night. However, full disclosure depends on the event’s location, with states like Nevada and California often releasing figures, while others may not.
Detailed Analysis of UFC Fighter Salaries in 2025
As of 02:50 AM IDT on Thursday, May 1, 2025, the interest in UFC fighter salaries remains high among fans, driven by curiosity about the financial rewards of competing in one of the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) promotions. This analysis explores who has earned the most in 2025 based on disclosed and estimated salaries from recent UFC events, providing a comprehensive look at the earnings landscape.
Background on UFC Fighter Pay
UFC fighter pay is a multifaceted system, often shrouded in partial secrecy, with earnings comprising several components:
- Base Salary: The guaranteed amount for competing, ranging from $10,000 for newcomers to millions for top stars.
- Win Bonus: Typically equal to the base salary, awarded for a victory.
- Pay-Per-View (PPV) Shares: Top fighters, especially champions, earn a percentage of PPV revenue, significantly boosting their payouts.
- Performance Bonuses: The UFC awards $50,000 for “Fight of the Night” and “Performance of the Night” to recognize standout performances.
- Sponsorships: Additional income from endorsements, though not always disclosed.
The disclosure of these figures varies by event location. States like Nevada and California, where athletic commissions release official purse reports, provide transparency, while other regions, such as Australia or Missouri, may not disclose full salaries, making estimates necessary.
Events and Earnings in 2025 (January to April)
To determine who has earned the most in 2025, we analyzed the four major UFC events held before May 1, 2025: UFC 311 (January 18), UFC 312 (February 9), UFC 313 (March 8), and UFC 314 (April 12). Additionally, UFC on ESPN: Machado Garry vs. Prates occurred on April 26, but only compliance payouts were available, not total purses, so it was excluded from total earnings calculations.
UFC 311 (January 18, 2025, Inglewood, California)
This event, held in California, had disclosed salaries from the California State Athletic Commission. The top earners included:
- Merab Dvalishvili: $500,000 (bantamweight title defense vs. Umar Nurmagomedov)
- Renato Moicano: $250,000 (lightweight main event vs. Islam Makhachev, stepped in last minute)
- Islam Makhachev: $200,000 (lightweight champion, submitted Moicano in round one)
These figures reflect total disclosed payouts, excluding off-contract bonuses and sponsor payments.
UFC 312 (February 9, 2025, Sydney, Australia)
Held in Australia, official salaries were not disclosed, but estimates from reliable sources like MMA Salaries and GiveMeSport provided insight:
- Dricus du Plessis: $3,342,000 (middleweight title defense vs. Sean Strickland, including PPV shares)
- Sean Strickland: $1,032,000 (challenger, significant but lower than champion)
- Zhang Weili: $1,390,500 (strawweight title defense vs. Tatiana Suarez, estimated from MMA Salaries)
These estimates account for PPV revenue and bonuses, given the event’s popularity.
UFC 313 (March 8, 2025, Las Vegas, Nevada)
In Nevada, salaries were disclosed, with estimates from GiveMeSport and MMA Salaries:
- Alex Pereira: $3,500,000 (light heavyweight title defense vs. Magomed Ankalaev, highest single-event payout in 2025)
- Justin Gaethje: $1,800,000 (lightweight rematch vs. Rafael Fiziev, boosted by PPV shares)
- Magomed Ankalaev: $750,000 (challenger, significant earnings for a title fight)
Pereira’s earnings were notably high due to his champion status and drawing power.
UFC 314 (April 12, 2025, Miami, Florida)
Florida also discloses fighter pay, with BetMGM and other sources providing estimates:
- Alexander Volkanovski: $1,482,000 (featherweight title win vs. Diego Lopes, including Fight of the Night bonus)
- Diego Lopes: $682,000 (first title fight, career-high payday)
- Paddy Pimblett: $556,000 (co-main event vs. Michael Chandler, TKO win with Performance bonus)
Volkanovski’s payout included PPV shares and bonuses, reflecting his return to championship status.
Compilation of Top Earners
Given that no fighter competed in multiple events between January and April 2025, total earnings for the year so far are equivalent to their single-event payouts. Below is a table of the top earners based on the highest disclosed or estimated salaries:
Rank | Fighter | Event | Earnings | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Alex Pereira | UFC 313 | $3,500,000 | Light heavyweight champion, PPV shares |
2 | Dricus du Plessis | UFC 312 | $3,342,000 | Middleweight champion, PPV shares |
3 | Justin Gaethje | UFC 313 | $1,800,000 | Lightweight, high PPV draw, rematch bonus |
4 | Alexander Volkanovski | UFC 314 | $1,482,000 | Featherweight champion, Fight of the Night |
5 | Zhang Weili | UFC 312 | $1,390,500 | Strawweight champion, estimated payout |
This table highlights that champions and main event fighters dominate the earnings list, with PPV shares playing a significant role in their total compensation.
Challenges in Tracking Total Earnings
It’s important to note that not all events disclose salaries. For instance, UFC on ESPN: Machado Garry vs. Prates on April 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri, only had compliance payouts available, with Ian Machado Garry and Carlos Prates earning $32,000 each as title challengers. These figures are part of the UFC’s Promotional Guidelines Compliance program, a tiered system based on fight count, not total purses, making direct comparison difficult.
Additionally, events in non-disclosing regions like Australia (UFC 312) rely on estimates, which may not capture all bonuses or sponsorships. This variability underscores the complexity of tracking total earnings, especially as more events occur in 2025.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
Based on the available data, Alex Pereira is the highest-paid UFC fighter in 2025 so far, with $3,500,000 from UFC 313. Close contenders include Dricus du Plessis ($3,342,000 from UFC 312) and Justin Gaethje ($1,800,000 from UFC 313). As the year progresses, with events like UFC 315 on May 10, 2025, in Montreal, Canada, and beyond, new salary disclosures may shift the rankings. Fans can expect champions and high-profile fighters to continue dominating earnings, especially in PPV-heavy events.
This analysis provides a snapshot of UFC fighter salaries in 2025, highlighting the financial stakes of competing at the highest level of MMA.
