Court Documents Expose McGregor's Early Earnings

The first five pay-per-view (PPV) purses of Conor McGregor's UFC career have been revealed in recently unsealed court documents. The disclosure comes as the UFC faces a class action suit, with over a thousand fighters seeking damages of over £1 billion. The documents shed light on McGregor's earnings from fights held between 2010 and 2017.

McGregor's Early Fights and Payouts

McGregor's first PPV purse came in 2015 for an interim featherweight title bout against Chad Mendes, where McGregor was paid £2.1 million. He went on to make £3.7 million for his famous 13-second knockout victory over Jose Aldo later that year. McGregor's rivalry with Nate Diaz saw him earn a total of £9.1 million for their two fights in 2016.

McGregor's Share of Event Revenues

It was revealed that McGregor received just nine percent of the revenue from UFC 196, where he was submitted by Diaz. The event generated a total of £50 million, with McGregor's purse amounting to £4.5 million. McGregor's largest payout before 2017 was the £5.5 million he made for defeating Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205, where the event's revenue reached £54 million.

Jake Paul Mocks McGregor's Earnings

YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul mocked McGregor's total earnings of £20.4 million between 2015 and 2017. Paul, who has been campaigning for better pay and healthcare for UFC fighters, made £30 million in 2021 alone. McGregor, who crossed over to boxing to fight Floyd Mayweather in 2017, is reported to have earned around £80 million for the bout.

UFC Faces Class Action Suit

The UFC's class action suit, first filed in 2014, is set for trial in April 2023. The promotion denies any wrongdoing in relation to the allegations made by the plaintiffs, who claim unfair business practices and the abuse of market power.