Court documents have revealed some of the biggest paydays in UFC history as part of a class action lawsuit against the MMA promotion.
The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals this week denied the UFC’s appeal to revoke class action status from hundreds of martial arts fighters who are suing for billions of dollars in wages, setting up a trial next year.
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The ruling has approved a group of fighters who competed in professional UFC promoted bouts in the US between December 2010 and June 2017.
Judge Richard Boulware said a trial date was set for April. The UFC has denied any wrongdoing.
Recently unsealed court documents have revealed some of the biggest payouts for fights held in that 2010-2017 period, during which the UFC phenomenon skyrocketed and Conor McGregor was in career best form.
The purses are determined by matching the payout amount with identity of the fighter that most likely earned that amount.
MMA site Bloody Elbow has broken down some of the payouts received by McGregor and Ronda Rousey — the most well known male and female fighters in UFC history.
The expert report that cites payouts for McGregor during the class action period said: “Conor McGregor was compensated nearly $20 million (A$31 million) for participation in nine UFC bouts of which he won eight.”
This covers McGregor’s first nine fights in the UFC, from his debut to his second fight against Nate Diaz.
Eight of the 10 biggest UFC pay-per-views ever featured a Conor McGregor fight.
The expert report that cites payouts for Rousey during the class action period said: “Rousey was compensated $13 million (A$20 million) for participation in seven UFC bouts of which she won six.”
Conor McGregor’s UFC payouts (all figures in USD)
$3,285,000 (includes $2.11M discretionary bonus) vs Chad Mendes
$4,476,662 or $4,536,932 vs Jose Aldo — Aldo received $2,377,699
$5,576,315 vs. Nate Diaz 1 — Diaz received $2,838,158, and the PPV event generated $61 million.
$5,615,490 vs Nate Diaz 2 — Diaz received $4,315,490.
$6,812,374 vs Eddie Alvarez — the PPV event generated $66 million for UFC.
Ronda Rousey’s UFC payouts
$574,720 vs Liz Carmouche
$1,817,907 vs Miesha Tate
$870,969 vs Sara McMann
$1,063,688 vs Alexis Davis
$1,458,282 vs Cat Zingano
$2,642,204 vs Bethe Correia
$4,476,662 or $4,536,932 vs. Holly Holm
$4,879,766 vs Amanda Nunes
The figures seem like mere pocket change, considering McGregor earned more than US$100 million for his crossover boxing fight with Floyd Mayweather in 2017.
In 2016, the UFC was sold to a group led by Endeavor, which also became the parent company of WWE as part of a merger earlier this year.
Rousey retired from MMA in 2016, while McGregor hasn’t fought since he broken his leg in a first-round loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
The Irishman is expected to target a UFC return in a fight against Michael Chandler mid next year.
