How Much Do UFC Referees Earn? Who Is the Richest UFC Referee? Everything You Need to Know About the Official’s Pay in Worlds Biggest MMA Promotion

Fans have seen some of the greatest MMA fights in the UFC, from violent knockouts to vicious submission moves. It is essential to have a referee to ensure that fights do not go out of control. As such, we may wonder how much money the UFC referees earn for ensuring the safety of every fighter that steps inside the octagon.

While there is a lot of talk about how much money fighters make in the UFC, not much is known about the referees. Let us take a deep dive into the world of earning money as a referee for the world’s biggest MMA promotion.

Pay Structure of the Referees in the UFC

The general annual earnings of a referee in Dana White‘s promotion can range around $250 to $10,000 in a single fight. However, to explain this, we have to arrange the referees into three classifications: beginners, females, and professionals.

I. Beginners: Beginners can be male or female referees. Additionally, the amount of money they make in a year depends on how many fights they officiate.

II. Females: There isn’t much difference in the amount of money female referees make in comparison to beginners. The UFC moves them into a separate category when they become professionals. However, they earn less compared to their male counterparts.

III. Professionals: Professional referees include those who have been in the game for years and have garnered a significant amount of experience. Some of them may include retired fighters who have a great knowledge of the rules and regulations of an MMA fight. Professional referees are individually handpicked by the UFC and are often given a base salary. Moreover, these salaries are based on their contracts, which can be as long as a five-year contract.

Referees’ earnings per fight – do they get any bonuses?

There is a vast difference between the amount of money referees make in accordance with their classifications. Beginners can earn between $250 and $650. Furthermore, their annual salary range stands between $15,000 and $30,000. When it comes to female referees, as they turn into professionals, generally earn around $1,000 in one fight. However, there is a probability to earn around $2,000 to $3,500 on every pay-per-view event.

Despite the thousands of dollars female referees earn per fight, they get paid 40 percent less than what the UFC pays its professional male referees. They get paid around $2,500 a fight. When they’re involved in high-profile fights, male professionals can earn between $5,000 to $15,000, with the exclusion of bonuses.

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Moreover, the annual salary can range from $25,000 to over $500,000. Referees also earn bonuses from sponsorships, but they do not receive bonuses like the fighters. They always get paid their standard fee by the UFC.

The richest UFC referees

There are many big-time referees who have a following of their own in the MMA community. Let us take a look at some of the richest referees to have ever officiated in the UFC.

I. Herb Dean:

Herb Dean is usually regarded as one of the best MMA referees and hence, he occupies the number-one spot. Before becoming one of the biggest MMA referees, Dean was a professional fighter. He is the highest-paid UFC referee, earning $2,500 in a single fight. During PPV events, he earns between $15,000 and $25,000, and his annual income is approximately $500,000.

II. Jason Herzog: 

Herzog has a lot of experience, officiating in over 700 fights in his career. There aren’t many referees who share the same level of experience as Jason Herzog. He hasn’t just officiated at Dana White’s promotion; he worked in other prominent promotions like Bellator and Invicta FC. His annual salary ranges around $400,000.

III. Mark Smith: 

Having been a fighter pilot before his switch to officiating MMA bouts, Mark Smith had a very interesting journey to the UFC. Retiring as a fighter pilot led him to one of the hardest sports in the world. Smith earns around $380,000 in the UFC, belonging to the highest payment category of $2,500 in every fight and up to $10,000 in PPV bouts.

IV. Chris Tognoni: 

Chris Tognoni is a highly experienced referee who’s been in the sport for more than ten years now. His annual salary ranges around $380,000 per year. Despite receiving a lot of criticism in the past, he continues to be valued by the UFC.

V. Keith Peterson:

Keith Peterson recently came under fire after making an officiating error at UFC Vegas 75. However, he is also famous for his rapid response, which enables him to protect fighters. He also earns an annual salary of around $380,000.

What are your thoughts on the referee’s earnings in the UFC? Drop your comments below.

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