Highlights
- Paddy Pimblett will face Tony Ferguson and earn his biggest MMA purse yet despite Ferguson's losing streak.
- Ferguson consistently earns around $500,000 per fight despite recent losses.
- Pimblett has signed a new contract with the UFC and is estimated to earn a six-figure purse for his fight against Ferguson.
Paddy Pimblett will have the biggest purse of his MMA career when he faces UFC veteran Tony Ferguson at UFC 296. The former UFC lightweight interim champ is on a six-fight losing streak but shows flashes of his greatness in moments in those fights. Pimblett is coming off a controversial win against Jared Gordon, who is not at the level of Ferguson’s recent opponents.
The British UFC star revealed that his disclosed pay he made just $12,000 to show and $12,000 to win despite his popularity coming into the UFC. He also picked up a $50,000 win bonus for submitting Rodrigo Vargas at the event. However, he has since signed a new contract with the UFC.
Tony Ferguson Earns Huge Payouts Despite His Losing Streak
El Cucuy Has Raked In Millions Fighting In The UFC
© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n"">© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
With reported payouts released by commissions, El Cucuy has consistently earned purses of around $500,000 in his recent fights, such as his loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 249 and his loss to Beniel Dariush at UFC 262.
It is unclear how many fights he has left with his current deal with the promotion, but he remains a popular figure, and it's unlikely that his base salary will change when he takes on Pimblett.
Ferguson picked up his first six-figure payday in a win against Edson Barboza with a disclosed pay of $100,000, including a $50,000 win bonus. However, as revealed in the ongoing UFC lawsuit, fighters frequently earn much more than their disclosed pay.
Paddy Pimblett Set For His Biggest Payday
The UFC Star Is A Big Attraction For UFC 296
Paddy signed a lucrative deal with the UFC after fighting through his starter contract. In an interview with the Mirror, Graham Boylan, his manager and also the head of Cage Warriors, firmly asserts that Pimblett earned a significantly higher paycheck in his UFC bout against Jordan Leavitt.
Pimblett, a major draw for the promotion's return to The O2 arena, is set to receive compensation commensurate with his star status, complementing his seven-figure deal with the American network Barstool Sports.
Boylan emphasized that everyone enters the UFC with a standard contract, requiring fighters to prove themselves, but he confidently declared that Pimblett's previous contract is now a thing of the past – he's now earning substantial money.
Paddy previously claimed he would not take on any of the top 15 opponents on his previous deal. While his pay against Ferguson will not be disclosed, the UFC star is estimated to be earning a six-figure purse.
