Mixed martial arts are difficult and require a lot of passion and determination. You can't just hope to be a mixed martial artist today, pursue it tomorrow, and become famous the day before yesterday. They must have spent years understanding the dynamics inside the octagon.
MMA is the most authentic, unfiltered version of a fight we've seen on screen. When people make a sport the center of their lives, especially a tough sport like mixed martial arts, the money has to follow them.
MMA fighters have amassed enormous wealth over their careers. Here we list the 20 richest MMA fighters in the world.
The list includes a brief overview of the MMA fighter's net worth, background and career. Read till the end to find out who is the richest MMA fighter.
The 20 richest MMA fighters in the world
The following information comes from Forbes et celebrity net worth. Good reading!
20. Michael Bisping (Net worth: $9 million)
Michael Bisping is a retired British mixed martial artist. He is also a sports analyst, commentator and actor.
He fought in UFC middleweight and light heavyweight bouts, becoming the first British fighter to compete in a UFC main event (from UFC 78).
Likewise, Bisping was the first British fighter to win the UFC title and the only British fighter to do so. Additionally, he is in the UFC Hall of Fame.
michel bisping
As of 2021, Michael Bisping is the 20th richest MMA fighter in the world with a net worth of $9 million.
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19. Jose Aldo (Net worth: $9 million)
José Aldo da Silva Oliveira Jr. is currently ranked 4th in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bantamweight rankings. The Brazilian MMA fighter became a bantamweight in 2019.
He is also a former UFC featherweight champion, three-time champion. Sherdog also named him Warrior of the Year for 2009.
Jose Aldo (Source: Instagram)
Likewise, Aldo was undefeated in the decade from 2005 to 2015. Additionally, he temporarily went on an 18-game winning streak.
Jose Aldo has an estimated net worth of $9 million as of 2021, making him the 19th richest MMA fighter in the world.
18. Donald Cerrone (Net worth: $9 million)
Donald Antony Cerrone, also known as Cowboy, is currently fighting in the UFC welterweight bout. The American mixed martial artist holds the record for most UFC fights at 37.
Likewise, he broke the record for most UFC wins with 23 wins. He also has the most post-fight bonuses with 18 and the most knockouts in the UFC with 20.
Donald Cerrone (Source: Instagram)
Donald Cerrone currently has a net worth of $9 million, making him the 18th richest MMA fighter in the world.
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17. Yoel Romero (net worth: $10 million)
Yoel Romero Palacio is a mixed martial artist from Cuba. He is currently affiliated with Bellator MMA and competes at light heavyweight.
He also has ties to the UFC, competing in middleweight bouts. Additionally, he is a former freestyle wrestler.
MMA audiences consider him one of the sportiest performers in MMA.
Joel Romero
Yoel Romero is currently the 18th richest MMA fighter in the world with a net worth of $10 million.
16. Junior Dos Santos (net worth: $10 million)
Junior dos Santos Almeida is a former UFC heavyweight champion. The Brazilian professional MMA fighter has beaten some of the toughest MMA fighters.
He paved the way for a small promotion in Brazil in the UFC, working as a professional mixed martial artist for almost 15 years. The UFC released him on March 3, 2021.
Teenage Dos Santos (Source: Instagram)
As of 2021, Junior Dos Santos has a net worth of $10 million. He is the 17th richest mixed martial artist in the world.
15. Chael Sonnen (Net worth: $10 million)
Chael Patrick Sonnen is a retired American mixed martial artist. He is currently a mixed martial arts (MMA) analyst and committed fight sponsor.
He has multiple wins over the world champion at light heavyweight, middleweight and heavyweight. However, Sonam has never won a UFC title.
Charles Sonen
Top 98 Chael Sonnen Quotes >>
Likewise, Sonnen is one of the top MMA analysts. He is now obsessed with Submission Underground (SUG), a Surrender Wrestling promotion of his own.
Chael Sonnen has a net worth of $10 million, making him the 16th richest MMA fighter in the world as of 2021.
14. Alistair Overeem (Net worth: $10 million)
Dutch professional mixed martial artist Alistair Cees Overeem is the first fighter to win both the K-1 world mixed martial arts and kickboxing titles.
He is a challenger for the UFC heavyweight title. He is also a former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion.
Likewise, he is the Dream Heavyweight Champion and the K-1 World Grand Prix Champion.
Alistair Overram
Alistair Overeem has a net worth of $10 million, making him the 14th richest MMA fighter in the world.
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13. Frank Mill (Net worth: $11 million)
Francisco Santos Mir III is a mixed martial artist and professional wrestler. After 16 years in the UFC, he recently competed in the Bellator MMA heavyweight bout.
He is a two-time UFC heavyweight champion. Additionally, he is the record holder for the most kills and submissions in UFC heavyweight history.
Frank Mill
Mill has also been wrestling professionally since 2019 and most recently in boxing in 2021. He has also worked as a color commentator.
Frank Mill has a net worth of $11 million as of 2021, making him the 13th richest MMA fighter in the world.
12. Chuck Liddell (net worth: $12 million)
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Charles David Liddell first retired in December 2010. But he returned in April 2018. He then announced his second retirement in March 2020.
The American mixed martial artist practices and performs everything from karate, boxing and kickboxing to wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Chuck Liddell (Source: Instagram)
After 23 MMA fights, Liddel has done a lot to lead MMA into mainstream American sports and entertainment. He has also been in the UFC Hall of Fame since 2009.
Chuck Liddel is the 12th richest MMA fighter in the world as of 2021, with a net worth of $12 million.
11. Ronda Rousey (Net worth: $13 million)
Ronda Jean Rousey is a retired American mixed martial artist. She is also a professional wrestler and judoka.
She is the UFC women's bantamweight champion and holds the record for most UFC title defenses by a woman. Likewise, she is the first female fighter to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
She also had a fairly successful WWE career, winning the Raw Women's Championship. Additionally, she is the first female fighter to win both the WWE and UFC titles.
Ronda Rossi
As of 2021, Ronda Rousey is the 11th richest MMA fighter in the world with a net worth of $13 million.
Rousey led the way, and now we can't wait to see more women on the list of the 20 richest MMA fighters in the world. Empower this supergirl!
10. Randy Couture (Net worth: $17 million)
Randy Duane Couture is a retired mixed martial artist. He is also a former US Army sergeant and former college and Greco-Roman wrestler, as well as an actor.
He is a three-time UFC heavyweight champion, two-time UFC light heavyweight champion, and interim UFC light heavyweight champion.
Randy Fashion (Source: Instagram)
Couture is in the UFC Hall of Fame. In fact, he even won a UFC title after becoming a Hall of Famer. Additionally, he is the oldest fighter to win a UFC title.
Randy Couture has a net worth of $17 million as of 2021. He is the 10th richest mixed martial artist in the world.
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9. Wanderlei Silva (net worth: $18 million)
Brazilian-American mixed martial artist Wanderlei César da Silva fought in the UFC. He also participated in the Pride Fighting Championships in Japan.
Likewise, he recently fought for Bellator MMA in heavyweight and light heavyweight bouts.
Randy Fashion (Source: Instagram)
He has the most wins, title defenses, knockouts, and the longest winning streak in PRIDE history.
Additionally, Silva is a former PRIDE Middleweight Champion and the 2003 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix Champion.
With a net worth of $18 million, Wanderlei Silva proudly stands as the 8th richest MMA fighter in the world.
8. Fedor Emelianenko (Net worth: $18 million)
Fedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko currently plays for Bellator MMA and Rizin Fighting Federation. Russian mixed martial arts fighters take part in heavyweight competitions.
He is also an athlete in sambo (Soviet martial art) and judo. In mixed martial arts, he fought and won several world champions.
American sports magazine Sports Illustrated named him one of the best MMA fighters of the 2000s.
Fedor Emelianenko with his championship belt
With a net worth of $18 million in 2021, Fedor Emelianenko is the 8th richest MMA fighter in the world.
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7. Tito Ortiz (Net worth: $20 million)
Jacob Christopher “Tito” Ortiz is an American MMA fighter who is popular for his work with the UFC. He is a former light heavyweight champion.
He also dabbled in politics. Additionally, Ortiz is currently associated with the Combate Global mixed martial arts franchise. He is also the CEO of the MMA Punishment Athletics line of equipment and apparel in Huntington Beach.
Tito Ortiz (Source: Mercurynews.com)
In 2012, he was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame as the ninth inductee.
Tito Ortiz is the 7th richest MMA fighter in the world with a net worth of $20 million as of 2021.
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6. BJ Penn (Net worth: $22 million)
Jay Dee "BJ" Penn III is a professional mixed martial artist, former UFC lightweight champion and UFC welterweight champion. He has been in every featherweight, welterweight, lightweight, and middleweight bout.
He also practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and became the first American gold medalist at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships.
BJ Penn (Source: Instagram)
Penn is considered one of the greatest lightweights in MMA history. He has set various records and beaten various MMA champions.
BJ Penn has a net worth of $22 million, making him the sixth richest MMA fighter in the world.
5. Brock Lesnar (Net worth: $25 million)
Brock Lesnar, a retired Canadian-American mixed martial artist, started his UFC career in 2006. However, he is a very popular wrestler and is currently affiliated with WWE. In fact, Lesnar is the oldest WWE Universal Champion of all time.
The UFC considers Lesnar a box office success due to his participation in many top-selling pay-per-view events. As such, he is one of the richest MMA fighters in the world.
Additionally, he is a former UFC heavyweight champion.
Brock Lesnar at the UFC.
He retired from MMA due to injury. His last statement as a mixed martial artist in 2011 was, “Tonight is the last time you will see me in the Octagon. However, Lesnar returned to MMA in 2015.
He is also a footballer. The NFL's Minnesota Vikings signed him; however, his football career ended with a groin injury.
Brock Lesnar has a net worth of $25 million as of 2021. He is the fifth richest MMA fighter in the world.
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4. Georges St-Pierre (Net worth: $30 million)
Georges St-Pierre is a former professional mixed martial artist from Canada. MMA audiences around the world consider him one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time.
He won the welterweight title and...
