MMA is widely regarded as one of the most grueling sports on the planet, demanding immense physical endurance and mental toughness. However, for the elite stars of the UFC, the rewards are massive. Even in 2025, when some athletes dealt with injuries or limited fight schedules, the top tier continued to bring in millions. Here is a detailed look at who made the most money this year.
While the UFC is transitioning toward a massive $7.7 billion streaming partnership with Paramount+ starting in 2026, the 2025 landscape still relied on a mix of traditional payouts. Top-tier fighters continued to rake in huge sums through their guaranteed base salaries, performance bonuses, and lucrative endorsement deals.
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List of 10 Richest UFC Fighters in 2026
10. Alexandre Pantoja
Alexandre Pantoja secured his spot among the year's elite earners with a total of $2,472,000. For much of 2025, he was the gold standard of the flyweight division, having held the 125-pound title since July 2023 and remaining the man everyone wanted to dethrone.
His momentum peaked in June at UFC 317, where he secured his fourth straight title defense by submitting Kai Kara-France in the co-main event. However, his reign came to an abrupt and painful end in December at UFC 323, when a broken arm just 26 seconds into his bout with Joshua Van forced the stop. Despite that setback, his two major appearances in 2025 ensured he stayed in the money.
| Total Earnings | $2,472,000 |
| Division | Flyweight (125 lbs) |
| Fights in 2025 | 2 |
| Notable Result | Win vs Kai Kara-France (UFC 317) |
| Championship Status | Former Flyweight Champion |
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9. Jack Della Maddalena
With earnings totaling $2,574,000, Jack Della Maddalena proved to be one of the most successful fighters financially in 2025. His year took an unexpected turn when a scheduled bout with Leon Edwards in London was swapped for a high-stakes welterweight title fight against Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 in May.
Jack emerged victorious via unanimous decision to claim the welterweight strap. Although he would later lose the belt to Islam Makhachev in a hard-fought decision, the combination of his title win and fight purses made 2025 a banner year for his bank account.
| Total Earnings | $2,574,000 |
| Division | Welterweight (170 lbs) |
| Fights in 2025 | 2 |
| Championship Status | Former Welterweight Champion |
| Notable Win | vs Belal Muhammad (UFC 315) |
8. Khamzat Chimaev
Khamzat Chimaev managed to earn $2,680,000 in 2025, a remarkable feat considering he only stepped into the octagon once all year.
After years of building momentum toward a title shot, Chimaev finally got his chance in August at UFC 319. He put on a dominant performance against middleweight king Dricus du Plessis, winning a clear unanimous decision to take the belt. His massive popularity and undefeated aura allowed him to turn a single fight into a multimillion-dollar payday.
| Total Earnings | $2,680,000 |
| Division | Middleweight (185 lbs) |
| Fights in 2025 | 1 |
| Championship Status | Middleweight Champion |
| Notable Win | vs Dricus du Plessis (UFC 319) |
7. Zhang Weili
Zhang Weili took home $3,374,000 in 2025, establishing herself as the top-earning woman in the sport and one of the overall wealthiest UFC athletes.
She started the year strong at UFC 312, defending her strawweight title for the third time with a win over Tatiana Suarez. By October, seeking a new challenge, she gave up her belt to move up in weight and face Valentina Shevchenko for the flyweight title at UFC 322. Even though she didn't leave that fight with a win, her ambition and activity level resulted in a huge financial windfall.
| Total Earnings | $3,374,000 |
| Divisions Fought | Strawweight & Flyweight |
| Fights in 2025 | 2 |
| Notable Win | vs Tatiana Suarez (UFC 312) |
| Title Status | Former Strawweight Champion |
6. Ilia Topuria
Ilia Topuria earned a staggering $3,540,000 in 2025, joining the ranks of the sport's highest earners despite only competing once.
Starting the year as the featherweight champion, Topuria decided to vacate his title to test himself in the lightweight division. He wasted no time, knocking out former champ Charles Oliveira in under half a round to secure a second belt in a new weight class. This single, explosive performance resulted in a massive payout.
| Total Earnings | $3,540,000 |
| Weight Classes | Featherweight & Lightweight |
| Featherweight & LightweightFights in 2025 | 1 |
| Featherweight & LightweightChampionship Status | Top 10 Richest UFC Fighters in 2025 - E2bet |
| Top 10 Richest UFC Fighters in 2025 - E2betNotable Win | Skip to content |
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Tom Aspinall's 2025 earnings reached $3,542,000, cementing his status as one of the most financially successful fighters in the organization.
Though he spent a large portion of the year on the sidelines, he was officially promoted from interim to full heavyweight champion in June following the retirement of Jon Jones. His only active outing came in October at UFC 321 against Ciryl Gane, which unfortunately ended in a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke. Regardless, his status as champion ensured a significant paycheck.
| 10. Alexandre PantojaTotal Earnings | $3,542,000 |
| Richest UFC Fighters in 2025Division | Total Earnings |
| DivisionFights in 2025 | 1 |
| Flyweight (125 lbs)Championship Status | Fights in 2025 |
| Notable ResultNotable Event | Win vs Kai Kara-France (UFC 317) |
Championship Status
Islam Makhachev brought in $3,582,000 in 2025, ranking him among the very top of the earnings list.
His year was defined by versatility and dominance; he first defended his lightweight title against Renato Moicano in January, then successfully jumped up to welterweight to beat Jack Della Maddalena for the championship. By conquering two different divisions, Makhachev proved he was as much of a financial powerhouse as he was a technical one.
| 9. Jack Della MaddalenaTotal Earnings | $3,582,000 |
| Richest UFC Fighters in 2025Divisions | Total Earnings |
| DivisionFights in 2025 | 2 |
| Welterweight (170 lbs)Championships | Former Lightweight & Current Welterweight Champion |
| Fights in 2025Notable Wins | Bouts against Renato Moicano and Jack Della Maddalena |
Championship Status
Alex Pereira had a massive year, earning $6,524,000 and placing him among the UFC's wealthiest stars of 2025.
His season was dominated by a fierce rivalry with Magomed Ankalaev. After suffering a loss to Ankalaev at UFC 313 in March, Pereira got his revenge in October at UFC 320, ending the fight with a first-round knockout. That victory not only settled the score but also came with a huge financial reward.
| Notable WinTotal Earnings | $6,524,000 |
| vs Belal Muhammad (UFC 315)Division | 8. Khamzat Chimaev |
| Richest UFC Fighters in 2025Fights in 2025 | 2 |
| Total Earnings | Division |
| Middleweight (185 lbs)Notable Win | Fights in 2025 |
Championship Status
Merab Dvalishvili earned $6,824,000, landing him the number two spot on the list of the richest UFC fighters in 2025.
Merab was incredibly active, defending his bantamweight title four times throughout the year. He secured wins over Umar Nurmagomedov (January), Sean O’Malley (June), and Cory Sandhagen (October). While his streak ended in December with a loss to Petr Yan, the sheer volume of his high-profile fights led to a massive payday.
| Notable WinTotal Earnings | $6,824,000 |
| vs Dricus du Plessis (UFC 319)Division | 7. Zhang Weili |
| Richest UFC Fighters in 2025Fights in 2025 | 4 |
| Total EarningsTitle Status | Divisions Fought |
| Strawweight & FlyweightNotable Loss | Fights in 2025 |
Notable Win
Dricus du Plessis topped the charts as the highest-paid UFC fighter of 2025, earning a total of $7,142,000.
His financial success was driven by two massive events: a February victory over Sean Strickland at UFC 312 that netted him over $3.3 million, and a high-profile clash with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 that paid over $3.8 million, despite losing his middleweight title in the process. These two fights combined to make him the year's biggest earner.highest-paid UFC fighter.
| Title StatusTotal Earnings | $7,142,000 |
| Former Strawweight ChampionDivision | 6. Ilia Topuria |
| Richest UFC Fighters in 2025Fights in 2025 | 2 |
| Total EarningsChampionship Status | Weight Classes |
| Featherweight & LightweightNotable Win | Featherweight & Lightweight |
Featherweight & Lightweight
1. Who took home the most money in the UFC in 2026?1. Who was the highest-earning UFC fighter in 2026?
Dricus du Plessis was the top earner, making $7,142,000. His lead was fueled by two major championship-level fights, most notably his victory over Sean Strickland.
2. What was the highest earning for a female fighter in 2026?2. How much did the top female UFC fighter earn in 2026?
Zhang Weili led the way for women with earnings of $3,374,000. This was achieved through a combination of defending her strawweight title and taking a risky move up in weight to challenge for the flyweight belt.
3. Was it possible to earn millions with just one fight in 2026?3. Did any fighters make millions with only one fight in 2026?
Absolutely. Athletes like Tom Aspinall, Ilia Topuria, and Khamzat Chimaev all earned over $2.6 million from a single appearance. Their ability to draw crowds and their status as champions allowed them to command huge fees.
4. How do UFC fighters actually make their money?4. What factors contribute to UFC fighters being among the richest?
A fighter's total income is a combination of several streams: their base contract salary, performance bonuses, shares of pay-per-view sales (up until the 2026 shift), corporate sponsorships, and the increased pay that comes with holding a championship. Factors like public popularity and high-profile grudge matches can also spike their earnings.