UFC fighter pay is a touchy subject for Dana White and the UFC. The company’s biggest superstar Conor McGregor made his biggest payday in his bout against Floyd Mayweather a few years ago. The UFC is facing a sensitive situation. An antitrust lawsuit against the promotion has gained class certification and fast-track instructions from a Nevada court.

Reportedly, the UFC is seeking to postpone the lawsuit, concerned about potential multi-billion-dollar payouts to fighters. Additionally, the organization is wary of the possible need to alter its approach to contracting fighters in the future. This year, UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou left the promotion over disagreements with the UFC over issues of fighter pay, medical insurance for fighters, and personal sponsorships.

While there are reports of some fighters having to live and sleep at gyms due to how much they make from the UFC, a select few enjoy massive paydays that go up to seven figures. And former UFC interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane is one of them.

What is the primary source of income for UFC fighters?

All UFC fighters sign a contract with the promotion to fight in their respective events. These contracts range for a fixed number of fights, ranging from 3 for the shortest to 8 for the longest contracts. There are two primary components to all fighter pay. These are show money and win bonuses. UFC fighters are paid a fixed amount of money as specified in their contract per fight to show up and make weight. The other component of their purse is a win bonus that fighters get for winning a fight.

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Some fighters get a share of the pay-per-view sales on every card they appear on. Not all fighters on the card receive a share, though. It’s also unclear how the UFC determines which fighters are eligible for a portion of the pay-per-view earnings. In addition, sponsorships and ‘Fight of the Night’ and ‘Performance of the Night’ bonuses are other sources of income that make up a fighter’s purse. UFC fighters do not get paid a monthly or weekly salary, however. They have to fight in the UFC to get paid.

Are UFC fighter paychecks standardized, or do they vary?

UFC fighters get paid a guaranteed amount per fight to show up. While low-tier fighters may see paychecks as low as $10k per night, superstars like Gane and Conor McGregor can see it go up to between $500k and millions of dollars.

According to the International Business Times, the UFC categorizes fighters into three tiers. The lowest tier comprises new fighters looking to establish themselves. Their show money ranges from $10k to $30k. The middle tier has fighters who have established themselves and have a few wins in the promotion or fighters the UFC thinks have potential. They can expect their show money to range between $80k and $250k.

The highest tier is reserved for champions, former champions, and the stars and superstars of the UFC. They get paid anywhere from $500k to $3 million. A fighter’s performance and popularity are the main criteria that determine which tier a fighter falls into.

How much does Ciryl Gane make per match?

Former interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane, for example, reportedly made around $1.3 million in his last fight. He faced Jon Jones at UFC 285 for the heavyweight title vacated after Francis Ngannou’s departure.

Of this $1.3 million, $500k was his show money, and the rest he made from pay-per-view earnings and sponsorships. Jones, who won the fight was reportedly given $3 million show-up money for a final purse of a whopping $6.4 million.

How much is Ciryl Gane’s maximum potential earnings per fight?

Gane as former interim champion has the highest tier contract. Big fights such as those against Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones can make a significant amount of money from the pay-per-view sales. In his bout against Derrick Lewis, the Frenchman made $400k in show money and a $100k in win bonus, along with shares of the PPV sales.

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Gane faced the then-heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou at UFC 270 last year. Like the Lewis fight, he made $400k in shown-up money along with shares of the 300k pay-per-view buys that they even did. However, it is unclear how much money those buys translate to exactly.

The UFC has been under criticism from many quarters. In leagues such as the NBA and the NFL, for instance, players get nearly half of the league’s profits every year. In the UFC, however, this figure is much lower. Fighters in the UFC only get around a fifth of the promotion’s earnings. What do you think about the issue of fighter pay in the UFC? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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