How much does UFC make per event depends entirely on which type of event you’re talking about — and the answer has changed significantly since the promotion moved from pay-per-view to a streaming model under its new Paramount+ deal in January 2026.
Here’s how UFC event revenue actually breaks down, sourced from TKO Group Holdings’ SEC filings and verified industry reporting.
The UFC’s Annual Revenue Per Event: The Math
The UFC generated $1.406 billion in total revenue in 2024, confirmed by TKO Group Holdings’ Form 10-K filed with the SEC. The UFC staged 44 events in 2024 — a mix of numbered events and Fight Night cards.
Divide $1.406 billion by 44 events: the average UFC event generated approximately $31.9 million in total revenue in 2024.
That average includes everything — the UFC’s share of broadcast rights revenue allocated per event, gate receipts, sponsorship, and merchandise. It is not what a single event generates in isolation but what each event represents as a share of the total annual revenue pool.
What Each Revenue Stream Actually Generates Per Event
| Revenue Stream | Annual Total (2024) | Per Event Average (44 events) |
| Media rights / content | $879.4 million | ~$20 million |
| Sponsorship | $251.4 million | ~$5.7 million |
| Live events (gate) | $220.4 million | ~$5 million |
| Consumer products | $55.0 million | ~$1.25 million |
| TOTAL | $1.406 billion | ~$31.9 million |
Source: TKO Group Holdings Form 10-K, December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC.
Note: Media rights revenue is allocated contractually across the broadcast year rather than per individual event. The per-event figure above represents an equal distribution — in practice, premium events generate higher broadcast value than standard Fight Night cards.
The Difference Between Event Types
UFC Fight Night (non-televised gate):
UFC Fight Night events held at smaller venues or the UFC APEX in Las Vegas generate gate revenue in the range of $500,000 to $3 million. APEX events have no gate revenue at all — they are held without a live audience for broadcast purposes. The revenue from these events comes primarily from their share of the broadcast deal rather than live ticket sales.
UFC numbered events (standard):
A standard numbered UFC event at a major arena generates $5 million to $15 million in gate revenue, plus sponsorship and broadcast allocation. UFC 300 in April 2024 at the Sphere generated a $22 million gate — a record at the time, since broken by UFC 329’s $25 million gate in July 2026.
UFC numbered events (McGregor tier):
McGregor events operate in their own commercial category. UFC 229 in 2018 reportedly generated over $17 million at the gate and approximately 2.4 million PPV buys — total event revenue estimated at over $180 million when PPV revenue was included. UFC 329 in 2026 broke the all-time UFC gate record at $25 million confirmed by Dana White.
The PPV Era vs The Paramount+ Era
Understanding how the UFC makes money per event requires understanding the structural shift that happened in January 2026.
Under the ESPN deal (2019-2025), the UFC generated revenue from three main sources per event: a fixed allocation from ESPN’s annual rights fee, pay-per-view revenue for numbered events above a buy threshold, and gate/sponsorship from individual events.
The biggest PPV events generated enormous revenue. UFC 229 (Khabib vs McGregor) reportedly generated $180 million in total event revenue. UFC 205 in Madison Square Garden in 2016 generated $17.7 million at the gate alone and an estimated $100 million+ in total when PPV was included.
Under the Paramount+ deal (2026-onward), traditional US pay-per-view is gone. Events now generate revenue from: Paramount+’s annual rights fee (reportedly $7.7 billion over the deal’s term), international broadcast rights, gate revenue, and sponsorship. The per-event revenue from the broadcast deal is higher in guaranteed terms — but the upside from blockbuster PPV events no longer exists in the same form.
For a $7.7 billion deal over what is reportedly a multi-year term, the per-event broadcast allocation is significantly higher than the ESPN deal provided — even without PPV upside.
What Fighters Receive From All of This
The UFC generated an average of approximately $31.9 million per event in 2024. Fighter pay — the total compensation paid to all fighters on a given card — is not publicly disclosed per event.
What is confirmed: fighters collectively receive approximately 15-18% of UFC total revenue, according to evidence from the antitrust litigation. Applied to the per-event average: fighters on a typical UFC event share approximately $4.8 million to $5.7 million in total combined compensation.
A standard UFC Fight Night card features approximately 12 fights — 24 fighters. At $5 million total distributed across 24 fighters, the average per fighter is approximately $208,000. That average is heavily skewed by headline fighters. The fighter at the bottom of the card earning $12,000 to show is pulling that average down significantly.
The UFC generated $25 million in gate revenue alone at UFC 329. The total event revenue from that single card almost certainly exceeded $100 million when broadcast allocation, sponsorship, and commercial revenue are included. The fighters on that card competed for their standard contracted purses.
The Bottom Line
The UFC makes an average of approximately $31.9 million per event based on 2024 annual revenue divided across 44 events. Major numbered events at premium venues generate significantly more — UFC 329 broke the all-time gate record at $25 million from live tickets alone before any broadcast or commercial revenue is counted.
Fighters receive approximately 15-18% of that revenue collectively. The floor for any individual fighter on any UFC event remains $12,000 to show and $12,000 to win.
For the full breakdown of UFC annual revenue and how it has grown, see our post on UFC revenue by year at themmalife.org/ufc-revenue-by-year/ and our complete UFC fighter pay guide at themmalife.org/ufc-fighter-pay/
FAQ
How much does the UFC make per event?
Based on 2024 figures from TKO Group Holdings’ SEC filing, the UFC generated an average of approximately $31.9 million per event across 44 events and $1.406 billion in annual revenue. This average includes broadcast rights allocation, gate receipts, sponsorship, and merchandise. Individual event revenue varies significantly — APEX Fight Night events generate far less than premium numbered events like UFC 329, which broke the all-time gate record at $25 million.
How much does a UFC Fight Night make compared to a numbered event?
UFC Fight Night events at smaller venues generate $500,000 to $3 million in gate revenue. APEX events have no gate revenue. Numbered events at major arenas typically generate $5 million to $15 million at the gate. Premium events like UFC 300 and UFC 329 have broken records with $22 million and $25 million gates respectively. Broadcast revenue from the Paramount+ deal is allocated across all events regardless of type.
How much do UFC fighters make per event collectively?
Fighters collectively receive approximately 15-18% of UFC revenue, according to antitrust litigation evidence. Applied to the per-event average of $31.9 million, fighters on a typical event share approximately $4.8 million to $5.7 million in total combined compensation across all fighters on the card. This is not distributed equally — headline fighters receive the majority of that pool.
How did the Paramount+ deal change UFC event revenue?
The UFC’s new broadcast deal with Paramount+ replaced the ESPN arrangement in January 2026. Traditional US pay-per-view was eliminated. The deal is reportedly worth $7.7 billion over its term, providing significantly higher guaranteed broadcast revenue per event than the ESPN deal. However, the blockbuster PPV upside from events like UFC 229 — which reportedly generated $180 million in total revenue — no longer exists in the same form under the streaming model.