
via Imago
via Imago

via Imago
via Imago
In the arena of combat sports finance, one name has consistently ruled the jungle! And reminding us all, UFC’s golden showman Conor McGregor lobbed another verbal grenade that’s exploded across social media. The former double champ recently cast his emerald gaze upon the prestigious Last Crescendo boxing spectacle, headlined by the undisputed light heavyweight title bout between Dmitry Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev. However, the Dubliner took to his socials not to admire the technical prowess on display but to prove his unparalleled value in the fight game’s economic hierarchy to the world.
“If accurate, I made more than this entire card’s estimated payout combined in my last outing for the UFC. 2021,” proclaimed the Irishman. The Last Crescendo event was perhaps the constellation of boxing’s brightest stars and showered its combatants with a reported $32.1 million in payouts. The championship main event duo pocketed $10 million for their fight, while ten other pugilists divided the remaining millions between them.
But McGregor painted a financial masterpiece of his own making. His trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 did end in infamy on the competitive front. However, it is no secret that the PPV swept 1.8 million pay-per-view purchases into the UFC’s coffers, generating a breathtaking $120 million of revenue.
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“I garnered record gate, as well as record PPVs for the company through my service,” McGregor added. The numbers speak with the clarity of Bruce Buffer’s microphone – Forbes estimated ‘The Notorious’ banked approximately $33 million for his dance with ‘The Diamond’, despite emerging on the wrong end of both the night’s decision and the trilogy’s 2-1 conclusion. So this means that the Irishman’s singular payday narrowly eclipsed the entire purse distribution of twelve elite boxers.
If accurate, I made more than this entire card’s estimated payout combined in my last outing for the UFC. 2021. I garnered record gate, as well as record ppv’s for the company through my service. #MONEY https://t.co/YuytRLAyb9
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) February 28, 2025
Conor McGregor’s payout that night may have been a bit higher than the Last Crescendo PPV payouts, but that’s not his biggest earning from a single bout in the UFC. Let’s see which one it is!
What’s your perspective on:
Did Conor McGregor really out-earn an entire boxing card, or is he just hyping himself up?
Have an interesting take?
Conor McGregor’s biggest payday in the UFC
We all know that Conor McGregor made a staggering $130 million for his one-off boxing match against the undefeated Floyd Mayweather, stepping into the ring for his first and only professional 12-round bout. But in the UFC, his biggest payday also came in defeat—this time in the most-watched fight in promotional history.
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UFC 229 marked the climax of the most heated rivalry the sport had ever seen. Khabib Nurmagomedov put his lightweight title on the line as McGregor returned to the championship stage, setting the stage for an explosive showdown. The bad blood, the buildup, and the aftermath made it a spectacle unlike anything before in MMA. And while McGregor didn’t walk away with the belt, he did walk away with the biggest check of his UFC career.

USA Today via Reuters
MMA: UFC 229 – Weigh-Ins, Oct 5, 2018, Las Vegas, NV, USA Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor are separated by Dana White during weigh-ins for UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports, 05.10.2018 17:38:20, 11380256, NPStrans, T-Mobile Arena, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Dana White, MMA, TopPic, Conor McGregor PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xStephenxR.xSylvaniex 11380256
The buildup to UFC 229 was nothing short of chaotic, filled with controversy and bad blood. But when the cage door closed, McGregor simply couldn’t withstand the relentless pressure of Nurmagomedov, ultimately falling short in the biggest fight in UFC history.
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From a financial standpoint, however, ‘The Notorious’ still won big. McGregor claimed to have earned a staggering $50 million for the bout—an unprecedented payout in MMA history. This was on the back of the event selling 2.4 million PPV buys and the Irishman getting a substantial cut of the pie.
There’s no denying that McGregor has transcended the sport, becoming a mainstream celebrity whose every move sparks headlines. Whether it’s speculation about his next fight or his latest business venture, the buzz surrounding him never fades. But what do you think about his latest claim regarding his UFC earnings? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
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Debate
Did Conor McGregor really out-earn an entire boxing card, or is he just hyping himself up?