In the UFC, Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev have both proven their might. The Brazilian became one of the few to achieve two-division champion status, while the Dagestani dethroned him at UFC 313 to capture the light heavyweight gold and extend his winning streak to 12. Undoubtedly, their achievements inside the Octagon are as elite as it gets—and the rewards of their hard work haven’t stayed confined to the cage. They’ve both turned their success into serious wealth as well. 

Both Pereira and Ankalaev come from humble beginnings. After battling through life’s hardships, they’ve made it big on the sport’s biggest stage. However, with UFC 320 rematch for the 205 lbs gold set to go down at the T-Mobile Arena, things are about to get even bigger. Not just in terms of legacy, but in terms of fight purse too. So, before these two light heavyweight stars run it back inside the cage, let’s find out who’s actually richer between them. 

Comparing the net worth of Alex Pereira & Magomed Ankalaev   

It’s only been about four years since fans watched Alex Pereira vying for UFC glory. But for the unversed, ‘Poatan’ has been around combat sports for well over a decade. Before setting foot inside the Octagon, he was already a two-division Glory Kickboxing champion, taking on some of the toughest names in the sport—and earning a decent paycheck while doing so. That said, there’s no denying that Pereira’s real financial boom came after joining the UFC. As of now, his net worth is reportedly estimated to be around $4–5 million.

On the other hand, the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion might not be quite as wealthy as the Brazilian, but he’s not far behind either. Unlike Pereira, Magomed Ankalaev isn’t one to flaunt his earnings. Yet, he’s quietly built an impressive fortune through his UFC success. Reports suggest the Dagestani powerhouse has earned over a million dollars from his fights alone, with his net worth likely exceeding that figure thanks to sponsorships and other ventures outside the cage. 

Now that we have a decent idea of the overall wealth these two superstars have built, it naturally raises another question—how much of that fortune actually came from their UFC fights? So, let’s dive into that next and break down how much Pereira and Ankalaev have earned from their top scraps. 

Who earns more, Pereira or Ankalaev? UFC payout comparison  

After establishing himself as one of the biggest superstars in the sport, Alex Pereira reportedly earns around $2 million per fight on average. Many might assume that his clashes with eternal rival Israel Adesanya were his biggest paydays. But that’s not the case. Pereira’s earnings skyrocketed after he became the light heavyweight champion. Reportedly, he pocketed $2,942,000 for knocking out Jamahal Hill at UFC 300—a massive payout, though still not his career-high.

The Brazilian’s biggest payday actually came when he stepped in to save UFC 303 following Conor McGregor’s withdrawal, rematching Jiri Prochazka on short notice. For that fight, ‘Poatan’ earned a whopping $3,592,000. He followed that up with another hefty check at UFC 307, earning $2,992,000 for his win over Khalil Rountree. Clearly, Pereira has built a highly lucrative career by MMA standards. But in comparison, the same can’t really be said for Ankalaev.

According to MMA salary reports, the Dagestani earned $1,232,000 (including a win bonus) for defeating Pereira at UFC 313. His next biggest payday came in his grudge rematch with Johnny Walker last year, where he reportedly made around $250,000 for headlining the Fight Night event. That was followed by the Aleksandar Rakic bout, where ‘Big Ank’ took home just $156,000.

Looking at the numbers, it’s clear that Alex Pereira overshadows Magomed Ankalaev financially. However, the real question now is whether ‘Poatan’ can redeem himself from his last loss. In doing so, boost his earnings even more. We’ll only get that answer when the two finally collide inside the Octagon again. Until then, let us know who you’re backing in the comments below.