Well, long gone are the days when Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) was only looked upon as a mere combat sport. The format has undergone numerous path-breaking transitions in the past few decades and has undoubtedly evolved to become one of the most popular and prominent fighting formats in the world, ardently followed by billions of fans from around the globe.
MMA fighters earn staggering annual revenue through multiple income streams, including their base salaries, win bonuses, performance bonuses, pay-per-view points, lucrative sponsorships and coaching roles. As of 2025, MMA fighters are undoubtedly pulling in just as much money, in some cases even more, than other combat sport athletes.
In this article we will take a look at the top four MMA fighters who are ruling the arena both on and off the cage by earning the highest bout fees in 2025.
Top 4 Highest-Paid MMA Fighters Per Match in 2025
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Jon Jones – $35-40 Million
The legendary American professional mixed martial artist, Jon Jones, who was previously the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion from 2011 to 2015 and from 2018 to 2020, as well as the interim UFC Light Heavyweight Champion in 2016, is at the first spot in our list of the top four MMA fighters who are getting paid in millions for a single bout. According to reports, Jon Jones gets paid a staggering $35-40 million for a single bout. Additionally, Jon Jones also earns a whopping amount annually through numerous lucrative brand endorsement deals and contracts, placing him in the elite list of the highest-earning MMA fighters in 2025.
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Alex Pereira – $20-25 Million
Next, at the second spot in our list of the top four MMA fighters who are ruling the arena both on and off the cage by earning the highest bout fees in 2025, we have the Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and former professional kickboxer, Alex Pereira, who is a former UFC Light Heavyweight. As of 11 March 2025, he is #1 in the UFC light heavyweight rankings and #8 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings, speaking volumes about his unwavering dominance in the cage. According to the reports and financial statistics, Alex Pereira gets paid a whopping $20-25 million for a single bout, making him the second-highest paid MMA fighter in 2025.
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Conor McGregor – $10 Million
The Irish professional mixed martial artist, Conor Anthony McGregor, popularly referred to as “Conor McGregor”, is at the third spot in our list of the top four MMA fighters who are getting paid in millions for a single bout. Often hailed as one of the deadliest fighters in the history of MMA, Conor McGregor is a former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight and Lightweight Champion who flawlessly established himself as the first UFC fighter to hold UFC championships in two weight classes simultaneously. According to reports, Conor McGregor earns a staggering $10 million for each bout, making him the third-highest earning MMA fighter in 2025.
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Sean O’Malley – $3.5 Million
Finally, at the fourth spot in our list of the top four MMA fighters who are getting paid in millions for a single bout, we have the American professional mixed martial artist, Sean O’ Malley, who currently competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Sean O’ Malley is currently ranked at #1 in the UFC bantamweight rankings and, as of March 25, 2025, and at #13 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings. According to reports, the American professional mixed martial arts sensation, Sean O’ Malley earns a staggering match fees worth $3.5 million making him the fourth-highest earning MMA fighter in 2025.
