Enswell A flat or rounded piece of metal used to apply cold compression on cuts or swelling. Another category of fighters in the UFC earning less is the women fighters. This takes them to what is known as training camp to get ready for their fight card. Then again, they may be earning 2% of some of the most well-paid UFC athletes earnings, so for example they could be taking 2% of $1 million, which is $20,000. The UFC referee pay is usually fixed per match. Note that the content on this site should not be considered betting advice. As of September 2021, there are 607 men and only 117 women on the UFC roster. The minimum salary for someone in the MLB is $720,000. If sufficient fights are not offered, they are still compensated by the UFC for the fights not offered. Zhang Weili has become extremely popular in China, where she was born, and is one of the female UFC stars leading the way into a more equal UFC world for women. The amount a UFC fighter makes is different for every fighter and greatly depends on their fight card in a UFC fighting event. General terms & conditions apply. Contrast that with the other end of the spectrum, where heavy-weight names in this industry such as Conor McGregor were able to rake in over $3 million dollars as the basic UFC salary of the fight. Low-level MMA fighters can earn around $300 performing in a fight and another $300 winning the fight. 4.0 . This was only a slight increase from the 2019 average UFC salary of $146,673. If he deduced that a deserving fighter was unable to win neither the Fight of the Night, nor the Performance of the Night bonus, then he rewarded that fighter with the bonus. So, a referee presiding over 4 fights can earn over $1000 in one night. UFC minimum guaranteed salary: $10K/fight. Ive also covered common questions about the UFC in the articles below, which will give you the perfect beginners guide to getting into the UFC sport, how many fighters there are, and even looking at why they can be so skinny: No votes so far! Sometimes a cutman will use an icepack, icebag, or bucket, depending on their preference. Women's refs get an average salary of $1k per match. This isnt the only thing a UFC cutman uses, and this is all the equipment used to do their job: Coagulant Such as epinephrine or adrenaline 1:1000 and avitene. There are three levels of licensing available, A, B, and C. A class C license teaches the basics of the trade over a minimum 3-month period, teaching how to wrap hands, grease athletes, and shadow an experienced cutman with an A license on either amateur or professional MMA events. A fighter in the UFC makes an average base salary of $84,044 per fight. UFC plays by the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts and a referee has to be well-versed with those rules. Whenever there is a UFC event with Conor McGregor on the card, he has the popularity and authority to demand a huge share of the pay-per-view revenue. In the rest of this article, Ill use this data to show exactly what an expected income looks like for a UFC fighter and show some real examples of how even the loser can earn more if they have a more prominent name or brand. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 10 Best Fishing Kayaks With Pedals in 2023, 6 Best KEEN Utility Mens Atlanta Cool Shoes in 2023, 8 Best Combat Boots & Military Footwear in 2023. The highest-paid UFC fighter was Conor McGregor, with $10,022,000 (without PPV bonuses). Alex Martinez ($38,000) def. (Per Fight & Salary), 5 Best Cuban UFC Fighters of All Time Ranked (2023), Full List of UFC Venues by Country (UFC Event Locations), 5 Best Dutch UFC Fighters of All Time (Ranked 2023), What Is the Best Striking Art for MMA? 'The Notorious One' garnered $2,980,000 against. If the wrestler can bring a larger audience to the event, they can make a lot more money. But while neither the UFC nor its athletes reveal much in the way of numbers, plenty of cracks in the dam allow average fans to tally just how much their favorite fighters are raking in and. It is not just fighter pay in the UFC that has caused debate. A UFC cutman typically makes 2% of a fighters winnings or a flat fee. The more viewers they pull in for the. This is the reality for many up-and-coming UFC fighters. It would seem that Deron has slightly more elevated popularity in MMA and the UFC, which means he can demand a bit more paycheque. Use code BVD1000 with your first deposit. UFC fighters have a manager or a management team who arrange their sponsorship deals, UFC contracts, marketing promotions, and their fight matches. Whilst Jacob earned $13,500 for base salary and sponsorships combined. Obviously, these have been averaged down, and its possible with some big paydays and regular work a UFC cutman can earn up to $300,000 annually, if not more; while its also possible for a UFC cutman to earn less than $72,000 if they work less and are paid mostly flat fees. Here are the things people rarely consider when contemplating how much money a UFC fighter makes: Most fighter gym fees will be paid on a per-fight-basis. Smaller-sized cloths are also kept as theyre easier to use on a fighters face and having more towels prevent dirty towels from being used. When betting your capital is at risk. Manage Settings You might be wondering, how much do UFC Refs actually make? UFC fighters dont get paid a regular salary. Their overall earnings for the night can be more though because UFC referees tend to officiate more fights per night. This was based on Amandas contracted fight salary of US$350,000 and her win bonus of US$100,000. Ever watched a UFC fight and wondered what is the UFC referee salary? Many top-performing fighters get additional bonuses paid out to them that arent reported, plus the top guys/gals get a cut of the pay-per-view buys for events that they headline. His fight will likely take place with one of MMAs smaller promotions, some of which dont even appear on TV. Their ability to keep their career going, support their families and make some profit all depends on taking place in a fight and coming home with their pockets full. Members of the UFC earn a salary per fight, just like you'd find at any other permanent job. Which usually means the fight was really exciting to watch. Lastly, they may also be earning 2% of the lower-earning fighters, which is between $10,000 to $30,000 per fight, meaning their earnings are $200-$600 per fight, and between $1200-$3600 per UFC event. They have a potential for more earnings if they win the fight as well as other bonuses like Performance of the Night and fight-week incentives. Every current UFC cutman entered without a license as they need to be very experienced and the licenses were only introduced in 2019. Disclaimer: The following fighter salaries and UFC pay structure information is sourced from various websites and media reports. When wrapping a fighters hands, a fighter can be in a fight or flight mode, where their adrenaline is pumping and theyre very anxious. Referee Salary 2022 |, What is NBA Referee Salary in 2022?Latest, Patent Lawyer Salary in 2022 USA Actual Salary |, Medical Lawyer Salary in 2022 Average Wage | CareerExplorer, How Much Do NBA Scouts Make?Scout Salary 2022| CareerExplorer, Average wage in Europe: overview by country, How Long Does It Take To Become An Engineer? Alex Gilpin ($74,950) at PFL 8. The UFC salary per fight for entry-level fighters is $10,000. UFC 262 fight card, tickets and Chandler vs Oliveira preview, Kamaru Usman wants Biggest Fight in UFC History vs Khabib, but doubts it will happen, Highest paid UFC fighter and champion in 2020: Khabib Nurmagomedov ($6 million), Highest paid non-UFC champion in 2020: Conor McGregor ($3 million), Lowest paid UFC champion in 2020: Petr Yan ($230,000), Lowest paid UFC fighter in 2020: Cole Williams ($9,500). Wagering requirement: 5x for sports and horses, 30x for casino. In the eyes of a newly signed UFC fighter, fees and payments to distribute to outside sources as part of their UFC career, can take whole figures off their take-home fight wage. Ice Bucket Used to keep the enswell and bottled water cold. The gym will take anywhere between 5-10% of a fight purse earned for a fight. They have gained so much notoriety amongst their younger audience that UFC now has an exclusive contract with THQ who has developed UFC video games for Playstation, Xbox as well as Wii. Mixed martial artists have a notoriously tricky profession. Because UFC fighters can negotiate their contracts based on how popular they are with UFC fans and how much money they bring into the UFC through pay-per-view earnings, it rears the question, are female UFC fighters as popular as male UFC fighters? Gauze Some cutmen use hemostatic gauze on a fighters cut which has a combination of coagulants; however, these are more expensive and not much used in the UFC as they only have 50 seconds of use. An experienced UFC fighter gets paid $84,000 per fight on average. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Carltons successor, Giagos, earned a very sweet $49,000 for participating and winning the fight. This discrepancy is glaringly obvious when you realize that the average US household income is $45,000 per year, and roughly 210 fighters (one-third of all UFC fighters) have an average UFC salary below that mark. This brings their average earnings to $3000-$6,000 for one UFC event. In 2018 the median UFC salary was $73k. Glaico Franca ($75,000). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. No time limits apply. Highest Paid Male UFC Fighter 2020 VS Highest Paid Female UFC Fighter 2020. As you can see, the UFC gives the fighters only 16% of its total revenue. They can also be used to apply vaseline and coagulants, and are kept in ice buckets to keep them cold throughout an event. The top performers in the sport are awarded a percentage of pay-per-view buys. How Much Do UFC Fighters Get Paid Per Fight? Mentally preparing a fighterDue to the nature of the sport, a UFC cutman also sometimes has the job of mentally preparing a fighter for an upcoming fight. A small sponsorship rate ranging between $2,500 and $40,000 depending on the fight card theyre in and how many UFC fights they have scheduled for the year according to their contract. Swayze has been a cutwomen for 10 years before making it to the UFC, and she entered the trade by first learning from Youtube how to wrap hands, then offering hand wrapping services at local MMA gyms, and eventually shadowing a professional and experienced cutman to learn the trade fully. In this article, well look at how much a UFC cutman makes per fight and as a salary, how to become a UFC cutman, what a cutman does and uses, and more. This is because, in only 50 seconds, a cutman has to make sure a fighter is in their best possible condition going into the next round. This website is free for you to use but we may receive a commission from the companies we feature on this site. While if its a lower-earning fighter, a 2% fee might be the better option. This gender pay gap has been commented on and questioned numerous times. Sign up to watch the PFL 2023 season, exclusively on ESPN+, Explaining PFL's season, points system and playoff format, Francis Ngannou PFL contract, Tyson Fury boxing match latest, Kayla Harrison ($125,000) def. Big John McCarthy, a well-known name in the UFC referee community was able to mediate the infamous match-up of Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo in 2017. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American-based company that has now grown to become the worlds biggest promoter of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). The sponsorship deals combined with his cut of the pay-per-view revenue are rumored to be upwards of $50 million for that single fight in 2018. In the main event of PFL 7, David Michaud ($100,000) def. Theyll also carry sterile gauze to clean a cut. Casino games are excluded. He also referees high-profile matches which raises his basic UFC salary further. Rory MacDonald ($250,000) at PFL 6, He will have a non-exclusive contract when it comes to competing inside a boxing ring, A minimum salary (as high as $1 million) for his opponent, He will serve in a leadership role on the PFL Global Advisory Board, making Ngannouthe first active fighter to serve on the board and represent fighters interests, Ngannou will be an equity owner in and Chairman of PFL Africa. But low-level amateur wrestlers often only earn an entry fee of between $100 and $200. It was hard, it wasnt an easy decision, obviously, because I did love the UFC, I loved fighting for the UFC, I loved the organization, I loved saying I was fighting for the UFC. The UFC champions and fighters with the largest fan bases get the best kind of contract. You must enter the promo code XB100 to claim. Typically, a provisional UFC fighters total compensation consists of just a base salary plus a win bonus. They are passionate about the sport and enter charity competitions or show style fights to test their skills and make their mark. Even if youre not a huge sports fan, theres something very entertaining about watching a UFC fight. Sponsorship and endorsements play the main role in how a UFC fighter gets paid. For UFC 263, early prelims (or warm-up fights) broadcast on ESPN+ saw a fighter paid on average 25,633. Initially, UFC fights did not command the mainstream media coverage they do now. The average salary estimated for UFC fighters in 2020 was US$147,965. An experienced UFC fighter gets paid $84,000 per fight on average. Requests for health insurance, sponsorships for UFC fighters, and an advocate present for contract negotiations were denied by the UFC. 17 men and women wore UFC championship belts (including interim) in 2021, and they earned an average of $675,824 (down from $1,001,071 in 2020) over the course of the year (highest Kamaru Usman: $2,024,000; lowest Alajamain Sterling: $230,000). The average UFC salary for female fighters is claimed to be 61% of their male peers if the most notable and successful female UFC champion Ronda Rousey is kept in the analysis. While his exact earnings are widely reported to fall anywhere in between $150,000 $500,000 annually, the real question is why? This reflects how a UFC cutman is an independent contractor and works directly with the fighters otherwise, the UFC would be using their attire to advertise their many sponsors. However, the actual number can . The average earnings of UFC fighters in 2021 were roughly $150,000, which is earned through an average of 3 fights per year, making the average earnings $50,000 per fight. At least 70 dead after Coromandel Express collides with goods train in Odisha, Coromandel Express tragedy: A list of deadly train accidents this decade, How much does the average UFC fighter get paid? If sufficient fights are not offered, they are still compensated by the UFC for the fights not offered. Since UFC 189, UFC cutmen dont earn sponsorship money and wear plain black UFC clothing, which has no sponsors displayed. So, an average UFC event bags them between $3,000-$6,000, and if a cutman works 40 events in a year, a UFC cutmans salary can be between $120,000-$240,000. In 2019, the second season of the PFL saw Kayla Harrison win the first PFL tournament for women. . It is estimated that the UFC referee salary per match on average is $500. The two disclosed bonuses of a match are Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night. While the range of these bonuses varies and is not officially reported, it is an average of $50,000, sometimes, climbing as high as $80,000. That was a significant jump from the $350,000 Usman made for his UFC 235 win over Tyron Woodley in March . According to International Business Times, there are three salary tiers that a UFC fighter can fall into: low, medium, and high, with the lowest earners taking home between $10,000 and $30,000,. There has been a great debate across MMA regarding purses for fighters. Because of that, the promotion cant give a huge paycheck to a fighter who has just joined the promotion with an average MMA record. Also, many athletic commissions dont report fighters salary info, so for those weve estimated a fighters purse based on what they have earned in their other recent fights. Fight of the night and performance of the night. Youll probably hear about fighters still attending a fight with injuries and sometimes even illnesses because if they dont attend a fight then they could make no money. Making an appearance and representing a brand, for example, means they can make a ton of money. - The average income in the U.S. in 2021 was $25,332, yet 19% of the UFC's fighters (116 fighters) made less than that in 2021. In McGregor's last three fights, he has reportedly earned an average of $3.7 million per fight, excluding his share from the PPV revenue. It is expanding into various multimedia platforms such as video games and action figure collections. Deposit using credit card or Bitcoin. This data should still be considered very close to accurate, as most fighters purses remain rather steady from fight to fight (unless they ink a new contract in the meantime). This is after Ngannou and the UFC went separate ways following contract negotiations that went south. So a first-time UFC fighter who wins his or her debut will make at least $24,000 for that fight. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. He also received a share of the pay-per-view (PPV) revenue, sponsorship pay from the UFCs main uniform sponsors and other sponsorship endorsements and deals which earned him approximately 20 million(in U.S. dollars) in 2020/21 according to Statista. Kaitlin Young ($20,000) in the main event of PFL 6, Sadibou Sy ($52,000) def. What is the average UFC salary? Lets break them down to see what getting punched in the face in front of millions of viewers truly costs. As female fights in the UFC progress, so does their popularity. You must bet on wagers with odds of 2.5:1 or more. The same is true across the network as this is a spectator sport where competitors compete and fans have to pay and watch. Well, that depends on what your name is. If a fighter is contracted with the UFC for US$20,000 a fight, minus the above approximate fees, they might only take home US$8000 before tax, medical bills, and private coaching. However, it should be noted that UFC takes into consideration a ton of factors before determining a fighters pay scale, including popularity, MMA records, etc. Use BetUS promo code 'JOIN125' to claim. Learn more. Overall, a UFC cutman is aiming to give a fighter one more round, where they have about 50 seconds to do so in the rest period between rounds. Fighters compete for a $1 million prize if they make it to and win the finals. Because of these low minimum earnings, many fans and pundits consider UFC fighters to be underpaid. Scissors Used to cut gauze and a fighters hand wraps. UFC Champions and fighters with the biggest fan bases receive the best type of contract, the highest Tier: ranging from $500,000 to $3,000,000 per fight. Weve proven to secure top athletes. Here is a list of how UFC fighters are paid and what type of endorsements and sponsorship deals will add to their yearly and individual fight income: The primary sponsors of MMA pay fighters in each fight night event. UFC events are broadcast within the United States on pay-per-view (PPV) channels and through various other modes of media around the world. The minimum win bonus is $10,000 in the UFC and the maximum from my research is $750,000. The standard management fee for the work a management provides is 20% of a fighters purse. MORE:Francis Ngannou PFL contract, Tyson Fury boxing match latest. Who Are the Highest-Paid UFC Fighters? Competing in the Super Fight division, here are the terms of Ngannou's contract: "You have to give a ton of credit to Francis. MMA FightingandThe Sports Dailyshared the purses of several PFL fighters leading up to the finals via the Nevada State Athletic Commission: MORE:Explaining PFL's season, points system and playoff format. An A license also requires 10 hours of career professional development, which includes participation in first aid courses, research, and wound care. Weve proven to secure global media distribution. Multiple factors need to be taken into consideration when asking how much money a UFC fighter makes. This may seem like an enticing sum of money, but what is pertinent to remember, is that these fights are few and hard to come by, and the preparation for these fights requires months of grueling training, dieting, and commitment that makes every earned penny very well deserved. 3 min read View Comments Conor McGregor may make millions for every fight, but the average UFC fighter doesn't. When it comes to pay, UFC fighters have a different experience than other athletes. The UFCs insurance policy covers injuries made in competition. The website does not guarantee 100% accuracy. However, what is even more intriguing than fighters ability to withstand multiple punches and punches, in general, is how much they are paid per fight. The YouTuber and boxer helped form the Super Fight division, a special weight class where fighters can earn at least 50% of the PFLs pay-per-view revenue. An amateur MMA fighter will often fight for free just to gain experience and test their skills, or for a charity. There is also a lack of union representation for fighters in the UFC. If you want to know about how much fighters make in their pro debut or even as an amateur, youll want to check out How Much Do Low-Level MMA Fighters Make? Herb Dean is one of the most respectable and revered referees in the UFC with a net worth of $3 million. You can also partner with local brands to sponsor them and add their logo to their merchandise to increase their earning potential. Bobby Jo Dalziel ($25,000) at PFL 7, Ray Cooper III ($100,000) def. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fN65pdDQxE). And it is also important to note, that the large portion of earnings in the UFC are not from the basic UFC fighter salary but from sponsorships and the fighters public fame and social media presence. The UFC also ensures that two fighters who compete in the best and most interesting fight of the night receive a $50,000 bonus. 25% of females who partook in the study, advised they had never even heard of UFC. Hand wraps alongside a fighters cup and mouthpiece are checked by a commissioner before a fighter is permitted to enter the octagon. It is estimated he can earn up to $25,000 from PPV earnings per match. He was relentless in his prime, and it's no wonder he got big bucks for some of his octagon appearances. PPV (pay-per-view) events are the largest event type in the UFC. Their overall earnings for the night can be more though because UFC referees tend to officiate more fights per night. The UFC's minimum is $12,000 per fight, with a win bonus of another $12,000. The salary of UFC fighters in this case depends on the fighters history and potential. On average, a UFC cutman makes between $500-$1000 per fight and between $90,000-$180,000 as a salary; but as explained above there are many factors that may wildly affect these numbers and they were likely earning as good or better in 2015 when they could also earn sponsorship money. Akhmed Aliev ($74,850) at PFL 8, Lance Palmer ($99,950) def. Its worth noting that the win bonus only applies to mid-tier and low-tier contracts, meaning UFC champions generally dont get double the cash if they win. Minimum deposit of $50 to claim your bonus. UFC referees are paid per fight, and the salaries vary from $250 to $2500. I decided to get a baseline of the averages, medians, minimums, and maximums for the different ways that UFC fighters earn an income on a fight night. In this article, Ill focus on the earnings of UFC fighters. Critics of this analysis, however, remind you that women almost always play fewer rounds than their male counterparts. The offer is subject to a 14-day time limit. This basic salary does not include airfare and hotel accommodations provided to UFC referees by the commission. "But at the end of the day, Ive got to look at myself in the mirror, Ive got to look at my wife in the face and my kids and tell them that this s--- was worth it. UFC revenue (2019): $940M. UFC fighters get paid whether they win, lose or draw. Are you wondering about how much a UFC cutman makes, and how they get the job in the first place? UFC fighters still make money if they lose a fight. Cole Williams, who fought Jason Witt at UFC Fight Night: Hall vs Silva banked only $9,500. Typically, more professional, and higher-level fighters have more on their team like training partners, as they can afford it through their set contract with the UFC. However, using the averages of $500-$1000 per fight, if theres a rotation of 4 cutmen working at a UFC event and there are between 10-14 fights, theyll get an average of 6 fights each, as there are 2 cutmen used each fight. MMA isnt just a sport about who wins, its about who can do it with the most spectacle and draw the most attention. UFC fighters that are currently at the top of the pay chain, werent always there and had to work their way up to become the champions they are today that no longer have to work second jobs. UFC judges earn $300 per fight. While a fighters corner can wrap their hands, a cutman is usually preferred as they have years of experience. This may seem like an enticing sum of money, but what is pertinent to remember, is that these fights are few and hard to come by, and the preparation for these fights requires months of grueling training, dieting, and commitment that makes every earned penny very well deserved. If the competitor appears for the fight they will be paid a base rate salary. The sponsorship deals combined with his cut of the pay-per-view revenue are rumored to be upwards of $50 million for that single fight in 2018. Local MMA promotion that sells tickets for $30 each and how two fighters earnings can change: UFC fighters receive a healthy paycheck for their time and dedication. Seems like we didn't get it right this time Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. And if he receives a post-fight bonus, it could go to $75,000. Contrast that with the other end of the spectrum, where heavy-weight names in this industry such as Conor McGregor were able to rake in over $3 million dollars as the basic UFC salary of the fight. Famous cutman Jacob Stitch Duran was fired from the UFC in 2015 after he spoke out about the UFC Reebok deal, saying he depended on the sponsorship money as a full-time MMA cutman. Bottled water Used to clear blood from a fighter directly, or to dampen cloths before wiping a fighter. The 100% sports betting bonus is capped at $500. But if you remove some of the outliers at the bottom and top of earnings, the median base salary is $30,000 per fight. UFC referees can earn anywhere from $250 to $10,000 per fight. Saying he depended on the sponsorship money was likely fabricated, as we can see how UFC cutmen can earn a decent amount of money for just one nights work a week, and he was one of the best and most well-known cutmen who worked for years in boxing and MMA. How Much Do UFC Cutman Make? Before moving on to a class A license, class B requires a minimum of 20 MMA events and 280 bouts worked, over a 2-year period. Amateur MMA competitions are generally governed by the IMMAF. After a few fights, they can quickly win $300-500 or more. UFC: average number of Pay-Per-View buys per event 2001-2018; Other statistics that may interest you . 256 fighters (42%) earned six-figures in 2021 (38% in 2020). Some of the highest-paid fighters in the UFC earn millions just for making weight and turning up to a fight. These are substances used to curb blood flow, which is done by turning the blood from a liquid into a semi-solid state. Minimum deposit of $100 is required to claim the welcome bonus. If new fighters win in the octagon, have winning streaks, or have spectacular fights, they will get a better contract when their original contract expires.Under these conditions, payouts for each fight range from tens of thousands of dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. More than one will be carried as fighters heads and faces come in different shapes and sizes. This is the earnings a cutman makes working for the UFC which is only 1 day a week, where they can increase their income by working other events mid-week, normally not for other MMA promotions but for other combat sports such as boxing or muay thai. The average UFC fighter salary in 2020 was $147,965. - 256. It also depends on their popularity and recent performances. Female MMA referees make $1,000 per fight with $3,500 bonus for PPV events (yearly around $60,000). According to the MMA Manifesto, while fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor take home millions per fight, there are some fighters who only get around $10,000 per fight, which shows a drastic difference in UFCs controversial pay scale. Brands like Nike and Monster Energy have sponsored fighters in the UFC, putting their brand in the hearts of fans. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Should they win, they stand to get a bonus of up to $50,000. In 2020, Antnio Arroyo fought Derron Winn and lost. UFC fighters are paid for making the weight, turning up to fights, the number of fights they partake in, and other endorsements outside of the UFCs domain, including sponsorship support. Some of the highest-paid fighters in the UFC earn millions just for making weight and turning up to a fight. Aside from the million dollars to win the whole thing, my money per fight is phenomenal. They can also make extra money selling tickets to the event, which can vary wildly depending on how many tickets they can sell in person to increase their attendance. For this, is the UFC referee salary compensating them well? However, the range of UFC salary is so wide, since UFC fighter income is largely dependent on the individual fighters public sway and their sponsorship contracts. He understands his value and has been extremely patient to get to this point. And they will earn $550 for each match if the net gate is . There are different methods used to wrap a fighters hands, depending on their preference. All Rights Reserved, likes being there for a person that needs you. The judges receive $350 for each match if the net gate is between $50k to $100k. The record for the most money won in a UFC fight is held by Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz at UFC 202 where they won a combined whopping total of $5 million. In Conors UFC 257 fight against Dustin Poirier, he earned a total of $25,510,000 (25 million) mostly consisting of PPV payouts compared to Dustins $1,020,000 (1 million). (Funk Master). Nitrile gloves Used to reduce the risk of contamination between cutman and fighter, and many pairs are carried. Its also possible a UFC cutman is now earning more money than ever as fighters wages are slowly creeping up, and how theyre now required to be licensed to practice and have this license renewed every 2 years, which costs time and money. The other reason is for fighters to drink in between rounds, or at times itll be used on the back or top of their head as a way to cool a fighter down and help control their breathing. Therefore, at times a UFC cutman has the extra job of mentally preparing and calming down a fighter, either with breathing exercises or talking things through with them. A prelims UFC fighter can expect a minimum of $10,000 pay. Most fighters couldnt go through what he went through this past year. At the end of the day, fighters may have to pay approximately 10-20% of their fight purse to their team behind the scenes. All these factors dictate what a UFC fighters salary can come out to be. This can make it hard for a cutman to wrap a fighters hands because theyre shaking so much. They can also earn more money by fight bonuses. UFC fighters dont just get paid a single payment, but it is accumulated from different sources: When summarizing the whole data set I have sourced, here are the facts: This table shows the minimum, median, average, and maximum payouts for Base Salary that the UFC pays to its fighters: This table shows the minimum, median, average, and maximum payouts for Win Bonuses that the UFC pays to its fighters:Win BonusesPayoutsMinimum$10,000Median$24,000Average$51,950Maximum$750,000Source. The guaranteed fight payouts, if a fighter wins a fight, they receive a victory bonus equal to the guaranteed amount they have earned double the amount of money they receive. We all need to pay our taxes and UFC fighters are no different. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Basically, the fighters in the UFC make money on the flat rate they get from the UFC for the fights. More MMA fighting gyms are propping up around the country and this will surely help discover more talent. When you combine that with 89 UFC and Bellator fights he refereed, he managed to earn a sum, just shy of $50,000. With a booming industry and the sport of MMA becoming ever more popular with fans all over the world, it is no wonder that some fighters are making some serious dough. Usually, only with a professional promotion can they earn more than that. On average though, Bruce works an average of 27 UFC events per year (12 PPV & 15 Fight Nights). The average new UFC fighter will fight twice per year, and make $12k-$20k in disclosed salary total. This is a huge range, and generally, we can break this down further into three categories: Beginners Professionals Females Beginners, whether male or female, are paid between $250 to $650 for one match. This is because MMA fighting is a relatively new sport and is still establishing itself. UFC fighters do not earn a typical annual salary but instead earn a salary based on a signed and agreed contract with the UFC which determines their base wage for the year for turning up to and fighting in a set number of events and also for making weight. Per Spotrac, that number has increased to $750,000. Advertisement In July 2021, Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier fought in the UFC Main Card 264 and although McGregor lost the match, he took home millions more than Poirier. Some of the top degree fighters make most of their earnings for a fight just in the sponsorships and bonuses. There are some outliers, though. There is a basic UFC salary per fight. On average, an MMA referee can officiate about 120 fights a year. PerYahoo Sports, the minimum NFL salary in 2022 was $705,000, or $41,470 per game. Whats not included, however, is the necessary private coaching that coaches can charge up to US$150 an hour. Newcomers and low-level UFC refs earn $250-500, or between $15-20,000 per year. How Much Do UFC Fighters Get Paid? -Stephan Bonnar: $24,000 ($12,000 for fighting . Bigger names can earn upwards of $100,000 by featuring on the main card and even $500,000 or higher on the main event. Thats a huge win bonus. What Is Aljamain Sterlings Walkout Song? By now, you should know how much UFC fighters get paid overall and per fight. According to MMA Manifesto, former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was the highest-paid athlete of 2020, making $6,090,000 from his fight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. The female UFC referees' yearly salaries are $30k to $60k. said Marquel Martin, President and Co-Founder 3POINT0 Labs Inc. Daniel Yanofsky is a combat sports editor at The Sporting News. How Much Do NFL Refs Make? Clay Collard ($28,000) in the main event of PFL 4, Olivier Aubin-Mercier ($54,000) def. These events feature fights between the UFCs biggest stars and championship fights. However, the range of UFC salary is so wide, since UFC fighter income is largely dependent on the individual fighters public sway and their sponsorship contracts. UFC fighters earn a minimum of $10,000 for taking part in a fight, which isnt very poor. Being a former MMA fighter, he is especially skilled for the role he plays so well. The average salary of a UFC fighter last year stood at $147,965, because the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Israel Adesanya and other notable fighters pocketed far more money. The referees are equally subjected to a crowds loud opinion much like the fighters. However, if the fighter has shined in other promotions and has been just signed by Dana White and team might get a hefty paycheck, Michael Chandler being one of the biggest examples. In general, you can divide pay per fight into three categories based on the contracts the fighters received from the UFC. As seen in this survey in statista, there is also a much higher level of male fans compared to female fans who watch UFC. It was founded 28 years ago in 1993 and has since held over 500 events promoting MMA fights. Again in 2020, Cartlon Minus lost to Christos Giagos and earned just $13,500 with base salary and sponsorship. The gender pay gap between men and women in the UFC is decreasing every year as the women bring more money into UFC. He added on $3,500 earned in sponsorships to total $13,500 earned: His opponent who won the fight, Deron Winn, on the other hand, had a base salary of $16,000 plus $4,000 sponsorships ($20,000 just for fighting). In an amateur MMA fight or even boxing, the fighters often start out without any income whatsoever. Each year, it continues to draw in more viewers. Similar to contractors, UFC fight earning do not consider tax deductions. Its used to prevent a fighters hands from breaking during the fight. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Fighters getting ready for an upcoming fight, may need numerous additional coaching hours. Nutritionists, massage therapists, supplements, dieticians, visas, food, and taking your coaches and training partners along with you to a fight all add up. Based on their popularity with fans and the number of viewers they bring to the UFC, they can make anywhere from half a million dollars to five million dollars per fight. If they win, they can earn more. Although that doesnt happen too often. Your minimum deposit must equal or exceed $45. The UFC's minimum was $12,000 per fight in 2022, with . The main difference here is that Khabib earns more in sponsorship endorsements and is a popular fighter with the UFC fans. If he deduced that a deserving fighter was unable to win neither the Fight of the Night, nor the Performance of the Night bonus, then he rewarded that fighter with the bonus. The minimum base salary payment for a UFC fight is $12,000, whereas the maximum is $5 million. For the 15 Fight Nights, he earns $750,000, $50,00 per Fight Night. As Deron won the fight he also doubled his base salary and took home a total of $36,000. Weve gotsportsbook promo codes, sportsbook reviews, and more in our sports betting guide. Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed! According to thesportsdaily, Amanda Nunes took home the highest female UFC salary in 2020 with approximately US$450,000. Initially, UFC fights did not command the mainstream media coverage they do now. His opponent, although the loser of the match, still took home his contracted base wage for the night which was a total of US$210,000. For an enterprise this massive with an equally vast fan following, it is no wonder that UFC fighter salary and UFC referee salary can reach incredible numbers for highly-anticipated matches. Becoming a UFC fighter is no easy road, as most trying to get to that level will need a ton of support without a regular paycheque coming in. Be the first to rate this post. Here is how fighters can be grouped depending on the money they made for a single fight in 2020. Endorsements: This pathway is mostly reserved for the most popular fighters. MMA Junkieshared purses via the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission: Fighters have shown interest in the PFL based on the salary they will receive. The wage gap is further increased in comparison to sports such as basketball and football. Towels Cold towels are used to clean a fighters cuts and also clean water and blood spillage. A low-level professional MMA fighter can expect to make anywhere from $300 to $500 per fight in their first few fights. Budding MMA fighters make anywhere from $100 to $300 for their first professional debut. Outside the UFC we have estimated the average salary per fight is less than $20k based on available info. This bonus could range anywhere from $4,000 to $25,000. This may or may not be a reason why women in UFC is not as popular, yet. Figueiredo took home more than the winner. The PFL business is exactly what sports investors are looking for, PFL founder and chairman Donn Davis said viaForbes. These are the earnings for the low-profile matches and for low-profile referees. Being a UFC champion or a UFC PPV main eventer means that a fighter may have a special item in their contract where they receive a percentage of all PPVs sold. Although the fighters are integral to the name, fame, and legacy behind the UFC, the matches would not be possible without the contribution and keen eye of skilled referees. His base salary for the fight was $10,000 which is the lowest Ive found in my data. Its also used to easily apply coagulant and fill deep cuts by acting as a seal. The more popular they are, the more endorsement money they'll make. When a fighter gets paid $90,000 for a fight; if they win, theyll get an additional $90,000 (for a total payout of $180,000). Since Conor was victorious, he won $3 million and Nate was close behind, earning $2 million. Overall, theyre doing an essential job contributing to a fighters success, which is why the UFC uses the same small rotation of cutmen and cutwomen. So it was almost like a no-brainer when it comes to the money. Consider some fun facts to help you understand what UFC fighter salaries are. Before IMMAF licensing was introduced, someone aspiring to be a cutman would have to learn the trade themselves, by shadowing another cutman and knowing people in the MMA world who would get them work at their local gym or events. Therefore, a provisional UFC fighters total earnings can go from a base salary of about $10,000 to about $110,000. Some fighters earn additional bonuses based on the PPV purchases they make. This makes it difficult for UFC management to match and schedule fights with the women contenders. And weve proven to secure dozens of leading advertisers., MORE:Sign up to watch the PFL 2023 season, exclusively on ESPN+. It depends on the popularity of the match and the fighters participating. Depending on how the fight goes will determine what medical treatments need to be made and how much they will cost. This table shows the minimum, median, average, and maximum payouts for Sponsors Payouts by brand partnerships for fighters: This table shows the minimum, median, average, and maximum payouts for PPV Payouts that the UFC pays to its fighters: Now we have a good baseline, Im going to break down this data and answer some of the common questions about earning potential in the UFC. Now lets try to figure out how much UFC fighters make on average. Earnings per fight can be increased by attending more fights, making a name for yourself, and contributing a portion of the earnings to ticket sales. Cotton swabs These are used to apply coagulant and vaseline to a fighters cuts, and to apply pressure. UFC fighters can earn more per fight based on other factors such as: Win bonuses usually average out at $51,950 additional for the fight. Keep a fighters cuts under control and keep them looking their bestThe most essential job of a cutman is to stop a fighter from bleeding and keep them looking their best in order for them to continue fighting and not lose as a result of a doctor stoppage. Dana White once revealed that he hands out what are called undisclosed Locker-room bonuses depending on how he perceived a fight. MMA is now the fastest-growing sport in the world and the popularity of the UFC and its fighters has skyrocketed over the years. The average salary estimated for UFC fighters in 2020 was US$147,965. Cutmen are typically independent contractors, so how theyre paid depends on their contracts with the fighters they work for. The UFC, the worlds leading mixed martial arts promotion company, has generated over several billion dollars in revenue since its inception. The money that Im making now, theres no doubt that this is going to be worth it.. Obtaining a class B license allows you to offer services for amateur MMA fights, which are 3 rounds at 3 minutes each, where a Fetac level 5 first aid course is also required. Conor McGregor Vs Michael Chandler Date Details! Sometimes it doesnt pay to get punched in the face. It is more common, however, for referees to earn $300 per fight. But it all depends on having a brand (as a fighter) thats worth paying for. The PFL has looked to change that with its tournament format. They only earn their income by taking place in fight cards and appearing for a fight. Speaking withCageside Press, Burgos revealed a difference between his last fight contract and his current one. Chris Wade ($74,800). Any ideas who won that maximum win bonus? This can be further exemplified by Nate Diaz's . Groundedmma.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Disclaimer: The aforementioned fighter salaries and UFC pay structure information is sourced from various websites and media reports. For the UFC 257 fight against Dustin, Conor bagged a huge $20,500,000 (20 million) just on PPV tickets alone. Because PPV events offer the best fights the UFC has to offer, these types of events get the most views; Therefore, they generate by far the most money. If it is Conor McGregor, then yes, it was a very good year. From that fight alone, he made $1900. The more popular a UFC fighter is, the higher their base salary will be because they essentially bring more money and fame to the UFC. 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