For a long time now, UFC has been synonymous with money in the MMA scene. Dana White's smart business sense has largely contributed to the company's success, and this isn't just because of the power of its fighters.
Sports have always been a sense of entertainment, but marketing companies like UFC have changed the game.
With big names like Conor McGregor, Brock Lesnar, Anderson Silva and many more, UFC has always been able to attract big numbers to its events. In the last few years, it has emerged as one of the biggest pay-per-view events in the world.
Here are the top five highest pay-per-views.
#5 Georges St. Pierre vs Michael Bisping (UFC 217) - 875,000 PPV Buys
It could only be George ST Pier defending his 4 titles for the 10th time against Michael Bisping to make it to the top 5. A choking finish sealed his victory over Michael Bisping in the main event of the Middle Weight class.
The fight took place on November 4, 2017, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.
“I took this fight to challenge myself and I am honoured to be champion once again,” GSP said after the fight.
Years of hard work finally paid off for him, and his last ride paid him 2.5 million dollars.
#4. Ronda Rousey vs Amanda Nunes (UFC 207)- 1,100,000 PPV Buys
Gone are those days when only males competed in combat sports. It's the era where women are not just playing but breaking records. The fight was between Ronda Rousey vs Amanda Nunes held on December 30, 2016, at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada.
Rousey's fight purse equalled the highest in history. The fight was the most extravagant 48 seconds in the history of women's MMA, giving Amanda the most dominant title fight performance of the year. The brutal knockout was the end of Ronda's UFC career. The payoffs were as high as $3 million.
#3. Brock Lesnar vs Mark Hunt (UFC 200) - 1,200,000 PPV Buys
Having retired from MMA in 2011, Lesnar made his first comeback in 2016 in a fight that changed his life. The fight was fought between American-Canadian Brock Edward Lesnar and New Zealand-based Mark Hunt. One of the first UFC fights to be held at the T-Mobile Arena.
Lesnar has left no stone unturned as he is the only person to have won all of the primary heavyweight championships in WWE, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and won this match with a controversial ending.
#2. Conor McGregor vs Dustin Poirier 2 ( UFC 257)- 1,600,000 PPV Buys
When it comes to the highest payouts, McGregor is pretty much unavoidable, especially with his spectacular wins. Unfortunately, this one did not turn out in his favour, but he did receive a handsome $5 million cheque, which has not been officially disclosed.
He is the first UFC fighter to hold UFC championships in two weight classes simultaneously and UFC's biggest draw but this bout did not get his desired win.
A rematch from UFC178 was one of the first fights played after the pandemic, and fans could not keep their calm. This fight turned among the highest contributing factors to Conor's listing on the Forbes list of The World's Highest-Paid Athletes for 2022 this fight
#1. Conor McGregor vs Khabib Nurmagomedov (UFC 299) - 2,400,000 PPV
The undefeated current champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and the former featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor fought in a highly anticipated match.
The fight was more than just a professional one; it was also a battle to clear the air of a personal rivalry that made it one of the most anticipated promotions ever seen.
The fight not only accounted for the richest payout of $3 million for Nurmagomedov, but it also broke the country's record for the most-watched MMA event in the country.
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