Cage Warriors pay is a question that matters for a specific reason: Cage Warriors is the most important stepping stone to the UFC in European MMA. Over 100 fighters have moved from Cage Warriors to the UFC as of 2025, including Conor McGregor, Michael Bisping, Paddy Pimblett, Tom Aspinall, and Ilia Topuria.
Understanding what fighters earn there — and what the pay gap looks like compared to where they’re trying to go — is the business story behind Europe’s longest-running MMA promotion.
What Cage Warriors Fighters Actually Make
Cage Warriors does not publicly disclose a standardized pay scale. Fight purse data comes from California State Athletic Commission disclosures when events are held there, from SportySalaries event-by-event reporting, and from occasional fighter and promoter disclosures. The figures below are sourced from those public records.
| Fighter Tier | Typical Purse Range | Notes |
| Preliminary card debut | $1,000–$3,000 | Some events pay as low as $1,000 |
| Main card — non-title | $5,000–$15,000 | Based on disclosed event purses |
| Co-main event | $10,000–$30,000 | Varies by event size and fighter profile |
| Title challenger | $15,000–$30,000 | Confirmed CW 178 challenger at $10,000 |
| Champion | $50,000–$75,000 | George Hardwick $75K at CW 176 confirmed |
Sources: SportySalaries Cage Warriors 176, 178, 179, 180 disclosed purse data (2024); California State Athletic Commission Cage Warriors 166 official payouts via Money MMA.
Note: Some figures from SportySalaries are estimates based on previous contracts and fighter profiles rather than officially confirmed numbers. The California Athletic Commission data represents officially disclosed figures for events held under their jurisdiction.
Confirmed Pay Examples From Official Records
The most reliable Cage Warriors pay data comes from events held in California, where the state athletic commission publicly discloses all fighter purses. From Cage Warriors 166 official California commission records:
● Wilson Reis: $10,000 ($5,000 to show / $5,000 win bonus)
This confirms that even established veterans appearing on Cage Warriors cards earn purses in the $10,000 range — significantly below what they would earn at UFC entry level.
From Cage Warriors 178 (September 2024):
● Luke Riley (main event): $50,000 guaranteed
● Alexandre Junior (main event opponent): $10,000
● George McManu, Dean Trueman: $8,000–$10,000 per fight
From Cage Warriors 176 (September 2024):
● George Hardwick (champion): $75,000 guaranteed
● Cristian Iorga (challenger): $30,000
How Cage Warriors Pay Compares to UFC Pay
The comparison between Cage Warriors pay and UFC pay is the financial reality behind every fighter trying to make that jump.
| Tier | Cage Warriors | UFC |
| Debut/prelim | $1,000–$3,000 | $12,000 to show |
| Main card | $5,000–$15,000 | $12,000–$50,000 |
| Title challenger | $15,000–$30,000 | $50,000–$250,000 |
| Champion | $50,000–$75,000 | $150,000–$500,000+ |
The UFC’s entry-level floor of $12,000 to show is significantly higher than most Cage Warriors preliminary fighters earn. But the jump from Cage Warriors champion ($50,000–$75,000) to UFC entry level ($12,000/$12,000) is a pay cut — until the fighter builds enough record and profile to negotiate above the floor.
This is the financial paradox of the Cage Warriors to UFC pipeline: becoming a champion at Europe’s top promotion doesn’t automatically mean a raise.
What Cage Warriors Is
Cage Warriors was founded in 2001 and staged its first MMA event in London in July 2002. It is the longest-running MMA promotion in Europe and the most important feeder promotion to the UFC on the continent.
As of 2025, over 100 fighters have moved from Cage Warriors to the UFC. The list includes Conor McGregor, who held both the Cage Warriors featherweight and lightweight titles before signing with the UFC. Michael Bisping won the Cage Warriors light heavyweight title in 2005 and used his TUF appearance to earn a UFC contract. Paddy Pimblett went 11-3 in Cage Warriors before signing with the UFC in 2021. Tom Aspinall, the current UFC interim heavyweight champion, debuted professionally in Cage Warriors. Ilia Topuria competed in Cage Warriors before his UFC signing in 2020. Luke Riley went 11-0 in Cage Warriors before joining the UFC in August 2025.
Cage Warriors events air on UFC Fight Pass globally, which is both a recognition of the promotion’s quality and a business arrangement that keeps its best fighters visible to UFC matchmakers.
The Business of Cage Warriors
Cage Warriors operates as a for-profit promotion with revenue from ticket sales, broadcast rights via UFC Fight Pass, and sponsorship. The promotion does not publicly disclose its financials.
What makes Cage Warriors financially viable as a business is the pipeline model itself. By developing European talent and maintaining a reputation as the most credible path to the UFC from that region, Cage Warriors attracts fighters willing to compete for lower purses in exchange for the visibility the promotion provides.
For the fighters, the calculation is straightforward: a Cage Warriors title or impressive performance record is worth more to their career than a higher purse at a less visible regional promotion. The pay is lower than the UFC but the exposure is higher than virtually anything else available to European fighters.
The Bottom Line
Cage Warriors pay ranges from roughly $1,000 for preliminary debut fighters to $75,000 for champions at major events. The promotion’s value to fighters is not in its purses — it’s in its pipeline. Over 100 fighters have used Cage Warriors as the launchpad to the UFC, and the promotion’s broadcast deal with UFC Fight Pass ensures maximum visibility for fighters making that case.
The financial reality is that Cage Warriors pay is significantly below UFC entry level at the preliminary tier — and only competitive at the championship level. For fighters betting on their Cage Warriors performance to earn a UFC contract, the math requires them to treat current pay as secondary to future opportunity.
For a full comparison of what fighters earn once they reach the UFC, see our complete UFC fighter pay guide and our breakdown of the life of an MMA fighter.
FAQ
How much do Cage Warriors fighters get paid?
Cage Warriors pay ranges from approximately $1,000 to $3,000 for preliminary debut fighters up to $75,000 for champions at major events. Confirmed figures from disclosed purse data show champions earning $50,000–$75,000 and title challengers earning $15,000–$30,000. Preliminary card fighters typically earn $1,000–$5,000 per fight.
Is Cage Warriors a feeder promotion for the UFC?
Yes. Over 100 Cage Warriors fighters have moved to the UFC as of 2025, making it the most important UFC feeder promotion in Europe. Alumni include Conor McGregor, Michael Bisping, Paddy Pimblett, Tom Aspinall, and Ilia Topuria. Cage Warriors events air on UFC Fight Pass, keeping fighters visible to UFC matchmakers.
How does Cage Warriors pay compare to UFC pay?
The UFC’s entry-level floor of $12,000 to show is significantly higher than most Cage Warriors preliminary fighters earn. At the championship level, Cage Warriors pay ($50,000–$75,000) is below what UFC ranked contenders and champions earn but competitive with UFC mid-tier fighters. Moving from a Cage Warriors title to a UFC debut can actually represent a temporary pay cut before the fighter negotiates above the entry-level floor.
Where can I watch Cage Warriors events?
Cage Warriors events are available globally on UFC Fight Pass, the UFC’s digital streaming service. The promotion’s broadcast deal with Fight Pass has been in place since 2019 and covers all major Cage Warriors events.