UFC 251 features some of the best fighters in the promotion and here are the highest paid ones
The UFC is back with UFC 251 at Fight Island and it features some of the best fighters on the planet.
There are three title fights set for the main card with some chopping and changing going on.
Kamaru Usman was to face Gilbert Burns as he defended his Welterweight title. However, Burns tested positive for Covid-19 a week before the fight and Jorge Masvidal stepped up.
Masvidal will also be without his coach Mike Brown as he too tested positive for Covid-19, but this is one of the biggest rivalries in the UFC.
Petr Yan and Jose Aldo will go head-to-head for the vacant Bantamweight title. Henry Cejudo, the champion, vacated the title before retiring from the UFC and it will be interesting to see who gets the win.
The third battle sees Alexander Volkanovski defend his Featherweight title against the man who he beat for the crown, Max Holloway.
There are two fights with female stars in the main card too. It features big names Jessica Andrade vs Rose Namajunas and Amanda Ribas vs Paige VanZant.
This fight could also be the last one of VanZant’s UFC career. These UFC fighters are some of the biggest in the promotion and some of them are paid handsomely to get into the Octagon.
Highest paid UFC fighters from UFC 251 main card
Jorge Masvidal hasn’t fought since defeating Nate Diaz to pick up the title. However, Gamebred made $520,000 from UFC 244.
Masvidal’s pay per fight has been on a rise since he made his debut at Strikeforce. He made just over $18,000 in a fight at the Playboy Mansion in 2007. However, he should make over $500,000 should he win at Fight Island and his career earnings till now is over $2million.
Kamaru Usman, for his part, has earned over $1.5m in his career and his last fight saw him make $590,000. The champion defeated Colby Covington in his last outing, and it will be interesting to see how he does against Masvidal.
Volkanovski doesn’t make as much as the two Welterweights and made $280,000 by beating Holloway to the title. The Australian’s career earnings are at $834,000.
Max Holloway is the bigger name compared to Volkanovski and even in a losing cause, he made $390,000. Holloway’s career earnings stand at $3.6m.
Jose Aldo might be on a losing streaking but his career earnings stand at $4.4m, while he made $420,000 in his last fight which ended in a loss.
Petr Yan has made just $641,500 in his career as earnings but he is a rising star. The Russian also racked up $132,000 in his last fight, which was a win over Urijah Faber.
Women’s earnings
Jessica Andrade made $140,000 in a losing effort to Zhang Weili and her total career earnings stand at $1.3m.
Rose Namajunas’ career earnings are at $1.2m while she made $195,000 in her last fight, which was a loss to Andrade.
Amanda Ribas is still making name for herself in the UFC and made $31,500 in her last fight. There isn’t a lot of information regarding her career earnings.
Paige VanZant is one of the biggest names in the women’s division but she only has $474,500 as her career earnings. Her last fight was a win against Rachael Ostovich, and she made $91,000.
| UFC fighter | Last fight earnings | Career earnings |
| Kamaru Usman | $590,000 | $1.5million |
| Jorge Masvidal | $520,000 | $2million |
| Alexander Volkanovski | $280,000 | $834,000 |
| Max Holloway | $390,000 | $3.6million |
| Petr Yan | $132,000 | $641,500 |
| Jose Aldo | $420,000 | $4.4million |
| Jessica Andrade | $140,000 | $1.3million |
| Rose Namajunas | $195,000 | $1.2million |
| Paige VanZant | $91,000 | $474,500 |
Please note: Some of the career earnings are estimates while some last fight earnings are without sponsorship amounts and other bonuses
Where to watch
UFC 251 should be available on ESPN and BT Sport for US and UK viewers respectively.
However, there should be other channels available depending on your location.
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