These numbers are from 2004 until now and reflect only disclosed salaries and bonuses. In some instances, MMA Manifesto has estimated their payouts including pay-per-view buy rate bonuses for headliners. These numbers do not include sponsorship money or backstage handshake bonuses--GSP reportedly made upwards of $6-million in his last fight alone all facets compounded. 1 Chuck Liddell $4,320,000 2 Tito Ortiz $4,075,000 3 Quinton Jackson $3,240,000 4 Georges St-Pierre $3,572,000 5 Michael Bisping $3,135,000 6 Randy Couture $3,045,000 7 Anderson Silva $2,871,000 8 Brock Lesnar $2,825,000 9 Rashad Evans $2,697,000 10 B.J. Penn $2,650,000 11 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira $2,640,000 12 Lyoto Machida $2,075,000 13 Matt Hughes $2,045,000 14 Mauricio Rua $2,040,000 15 Wanderlei Silva $2,020,000 16 Forrest Griffin $1,907,000 17 Mirko Cro Cop $1,885,000 18 Jon Jones $1,852,000 19 Vitor Belfort $1,844,000 20 Frank Mir $1,433,000 21 Dan Henderson $1,400,000 22 Rich Franklin $1,326,000 23 Josh Koscheck $1,302,000 24 Junior dos Santos $1,190,000 25 Diego Sanchez $1,187,000
Re: Top 25 highest paid UFC fighters list What is Rampage crying about not getting paid?! Dude is in the top 3 which doesn't even sponsorships/bonuses.
Re: Top 25 highest paid UFC fighters list There is an error on the list with Bisping, he should be below St-Pierre, but it is pretty surprising that a non-champion who has lost all of his title eliminator bouts would be a top-5 earner. Yet anyone with over a dozen UFC fights should be making six figures per and eight figures total.
Re: Top 25 highest paid UFC fighters list There is at least a remote chance that Jackson is ungrateful. Not only is he among the highest paid, he was bailed out by Dana White after his vehicular rampage and kept in the fold when most fighters would've been ostracized. Not only does the UFC pay him well, they have his back, too. But he didn't get his rematch with Forrest so he's allowed to act the victim.
Re: Top 25 highest paid UFC fighters list Surprised that Chris Lytle didn't make the top-25. He was a bonus hunter of the highest order. Joe Lauzon as well.
Re: Top 25 highest paid UFC fighters list Celebrity Net Worth has numbers that are probably closer to the actual fortunes of many fighters. It supposedly uses various business interests and other factors to account for a total net worth rather than just compiled disclosed salary. At least one celebrity (Lisa Lampanelli) has verified their numbers as accurate, or at least in her case. BJ Penn -- $40-million (we know he comes from money but this figure seems extravagant) Chuck Liddell -- $16-million Tito Ortiz -- $15-million Brock Lesnar --$15-million Fedor Emelianenko -- $15-million Georges St-Pierre -- $14-million Randy Couture -- $9-million Quinton Jackson -- $8-million Wanderlei Silva -- $8-million Forrest Griffin -- $7.5-million Rich Franklin -- $6-million Rashad Evans -- $6-million Alistair Overeem -- $5.5-million Urijah Faber -- $5-million Cain Velasquez -- $4-million Nick Diaz -- $1.5-million Dana White once bragged that the UFC has created 40 millionaires and 12 multi-millionaires out of their athletes. Keep in mind after taxes and expenses (trainers, travel, sparring partners, gym fees, managers, agents, publicists, etc.) the take-home for most fighters is probably only 50% of their total salary.
Re: Top 25 highest paid UFC fighters list Chael Sonnen probably made $2-million from the Silva rematch alone. 1-million buys and he was responsible for a lot of them.
