Why is it that Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley are making more in boxing matches against YouTubers than they ever did as top-level UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) fighters? Does mixed martial arts (MMA) really pay as badly as that would suggest?
Here, we’ll compare the pay scales of both UFC and boxing, as well as looking at why one is popular and richer than the other. How much does the UFC pay fighters, and likewise boxers from the various boxing organisations? And Who wins in a boxing vs UFC salary clash? Let’s find out:
UFC vs Boxing Pay
UFC Pay Structure
Each UFC competitor has a base salary they earn for making weight and fighting, yet this in itself varies from fighter to fighter. As a general rule, though, the more popular you are, the more money you’ll earn from stepping into the Octagon.
According to the MMA Manifesto, the average salary of a UFC fighter last year (2020) was $147,965, though it was also reported that more than 200 UFC fighters made less than $45,000 each in 2020 – for context, that’s the average household income in the US.
Boxing Pay Structure
Again, how much a boxer is paid depends massively on the profile of the fighter.
Journeymen boxers could earn up to £1,000 per bout, while a up-and-coming young prospect may earn somewhere between £2,500 to £5,000 each outing. Across 12 months, an impressive boxing talent involved in several fights could earn them a pre-tax salary of about £25,000,per Business Insider.
Then, of course, you have boxing’s headline acts, who live in an entirely different stratosphere. For instance, Anthony Joshua reportedly earned about £46 million from his rematch with Andy Ruiz in December 2019, having supposedly pocketed roughly £18 million from their first fight.
But only boxers in the top one per cent like Joshua make more than a million a year; the average annual salary for a boxer, in fact, is thought to be somewhere near the £36,000 mark.
Business Insider also report that,as of January 2020, the best-selling fight night in history was Floyd Mayweather’s boxing match with Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas in May 2015, as an estimated 4.6 million bought ‘The Fight of the Century’.
It smashed revenue records in the US, making roughly $410 million in PPV sales alone. Seven of the top ten best-sellers are boxing matches, in fact.
Though, it’s worth highlighting that UFC prelims tend to earn much more (£10,000 – £20,000 on fight night) than similarly lowly-ranked boxers (£2,500 – £5,000).
It’s more established (despite the MMA’s exponential growth of late), creates more revenue and arguably has greater variety and competition than the UFC – there are more titles in each weight class to fight for, for example.
However, boxing still generates more revenue overall, particularly for substantial fights featuring high-profile boxers (SportyTell, 2021). One area where the UFC has been criticized is in the pay it offers to its fighters. While top UFC fighters can earn significant amounts, the highest-paid boxers tend to make more.
According to a study in November 2020, almost 43% of all the fighters in the UFC made less than the $45,000 median yearly earnings. Top fighters on average earn more than $800,000 per fight. As per 2020 reports, nearly 15% of fighters earned $100,000 or more per contest.
In terms of pay, however, boxers are still making the bigger bucks, with Canelo Alvarez and Anthony Joshua both landing on Forbes' Highest Paid Athletes List.
Do NFL players or UFC fighters earn more money (not counting endorsem*nts)? In general, NFL players earn more money than UFC fighters. The average salary for an NFL player is around $3 million per year, while the average salary for a UFC fighter is around $138,000 per year.
McGregor is the richest MMA fighter in the world – and for good reason. He made history as the first fighter to hold UFC championships in two weight classes – featherweight and lightweight – simultaneously.
No, UFC fighters do not get paid a base salary. They are independent contractors and are only paid per appearance in the Octagon. The minimum amount a fighter will earn per fight in the UFC is $12,000.
Basketball, particularly in the NBA, not only commands an immense global audience but also boasts the highest average player salaries among sports leagues. The NBA's revenue-sharing model, high-profile endorsem*nt deals, and lucrative media contracts contribute to this.
It is still a thriving sport that draws massive crowds and brings in substantial money. This is especially evident in the UK and US markets. However, there is no question that UFC/MMA is taking some of the combat sports market share.
Boxing. First on our list is boxing, which still remains the world's most popular combat sport. Boxing gyms around the globe are full of hopeful future boxers and amateurs alike.
To be a millionaire in any occupation is a magnificent achievement as it requires consistent dedication and determination, but can you be a millionaire from boxing? Yes, plenty of fighters have proven you can get rich from not just boxing but in all combat sports.
Those who do go pro do not get paid weekly, or monthly, or even yearly, from boxing. They get paid by the fight, after they have paid gym expenses, managers, promoters, sparring partners, fees, and trainers. The odds of making a decent living as a boxer are terrible.
The purse for the 2021 Fury vs Wilder trilogy was reportedly split 60/40 in Fury's favour. The Gypsy King is expected to have earned a guaranteed £22m, plus 60 per cent of the pay per view revenue. Deontay Wilder III, meanwhile is thought to have pocketed a guaranteed £15m plus 40 per cent of the PPV take.
Even boxing and motorsports have had more sports people on the top 10 lists than golf. The ESPN Top Salaries in Sports 2011 has baseball and boxing on the top in terms of salary (they did not consider endorsem*nts), with basketball 4th.
While boxing holds the reigns of popularity, mixed martial arts is coming close on the trail. In recent years, the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization has been getting quite a bit of popularity, becoming a lot more popular than it once was. It is difficult to trace the roots of the sport.
Introduction: My name is Carlyn Walter, I am a lively, glamorous, healthy, clean, powerful, calm, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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