Introduction

Kamaru Usman is a Nigerian-American professional MMA fighter with an estimated net worth of $3 Million.

MMA Career 

In 2010, Kamaru Usman was attempting to make the United States Olympic team but was cut from the roster and focused on becoming a wrestling coach for The Ultimate Fighter.

Before becoming a fighter, Usman considered Georges St. Pierre and Jon Jones the greatest fighters in the UFC.

Usman decided to enter the cage himself and was selected as a competitor for The Ultimate Fighter 21. He won the tournament finals over Hayder Hassan in 2015, earning the Performance of the Night award.

At that point, Usman’s professional record improved to 6-1, and he continued to win matches, including another Performance of the Night against Rafael dos Anjos at The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters Finale.

Usman won his first title with Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2019 by defeating Tyron Woodley for the UFC Welterweight Championship.

Afterward, Usman had successfully defended the championship several times before dropping the belt to Leon Edwards at UFC 278.

It was a tough loss for Usman, and legendary fighter Rashad Evans said he had nightmares about Usman’s daughter screaming after being knocked out. However, Usman stuck to his training and wants to remain in the title scene, hoping to recapture the belt he lost.

Career Earnings

Just like almost every other mixed martial artist that makes their way to the UFC, Kamaru Usman had to take smaller payouts at the beginning of his career. As his status grew in the UFC, Usman’s payouts grew, as well, and he’s now clearing an easy six figures with every match.

Usman now finds himself getting the types of payouts that fighters like Max Holloway, Andre Berto, and Anderson Silva get in the octagon.

Here’s an estimated overview of Kamaru Usman’s career earnings:

• 2015 – $100,000
• 2016 – $100,000
• 2017 – $100,000
• 2018 – $310,000
• 2019 – $1 Million
• 2020 – $700,000
• 2021 – $2.5 Million
• 2022 – $600,000

As one of UFC’s headline fighters, Kamaru Usman has considerable earning potential for the remainder of his career. Usman looks to stay in the title scene, as matches with a championship on the line bring higher payouts than the other matches on the card.

Net Worth History

Kamaru Usman came into the UFC with a modest net worth, but that would change quickly after winning The Ultimate Fighter. After fighting the likes of Jorge Masvidal, Gilbert Burns, and Rafael dos Anjos, Usman is now one of the wealthier professional fighters.

Here’s a breakdown of Kamaru Usman’s annual net worth:

• 2015 – $75,000
• 2016 – $150,000
• 2017 – $225,000
• 2018 – $400,000
• 2019 – $1.2 Million
• 2020 – $1.7 Million
• 2021 – $3.7 Million
• 2022 – $4.2 Million

With continued sponsorships and headline matches, Usman’s net worth is expected to grow considerably in the coming years.

How Kamaru Usman Spent His First $1 Million

In January 2022, Kamaru Usman became the third professional MMA fighter to be featured on GQ’s My First Million YouTube series. The other two fighters to have previously been interviewed by GQ were Israel Adesanya and Georges St. Pierre. 

We always say to take these videos with a grain of salt because we don’t always know how an athlete is defining their first million dollars. They could be referring to what they did with the first $1 million they earned, or to their first $1 million in expenditures. In other words, an athlete might have made tens of millions of dollars over the course of several years, but taken all that time to spend $1 million.

With that in mind, here’s a breakdown of how Usman spent his first million dollars:

• Nissan Maxima & daughter’s birthday party – $30,000
• Rolex watch – $20,000
• Trainers/coaches – $200,000 (20% of winnings)
• Daughter’s private school – $30,000 (two years)
• House – $500,000
• Unwise investments – $60,000
• Additional investments – $30,000
• Range Rover Velar – $80,000
• Real estate investments & brother’s wedding – $50,000

There are a few things to unpack here, starting with the expenditures that he combined. The first was his purchase of a Nissan Maxima, combined with paying for his daughter’s birthday party, which cost $30,000 altogether. The second group included his brother, with whom he made real estate investments, and who both chipped in for his wedding.

Finally, the most notable thing on the list was Kamaru’s investments. In the interview, he stated that he previously knew little about investing and was introduced to a woman who could help him. Usman said he hasn’t seen the money since, which sounded like he was implying she ran off with it.

Summary 

Though he would lose his title defense in 2022, Kamaru Usman is still considered by many to be the best welterweight fighter in the world. Usman was considered a “small-time” wrestler since he wasn’t at the Division I level in college, but he proved that it’s not about where you come from; it’s where you end up. The former folkstyle wrestler turned champion is one of the UFC’s best success stories, and he’s earned millions of dollars along the way.

Introduction

T.J. Dillashaw is an American former professional MMA fighter with an estimated net worth of $4 Million.

The former UFC Bantamweight Champion, T.J. Dillashaw, often earned six-figure sums per fight, earning several million dollars throughout his career. He officially retired in 2022 after his loss to Aljamain Sterling, finishing his career with a record of 18 wins and five losses.

This profile provides an overview of Dillashaw’s career, net worth, earnings from the UFC, and additional ventures/assets that have impacted his wealth.

Quick Facts

• Disclosed earnings of $2.6 million during his UFC tenure
• Sold his 3,227-square-foot property in Yorba Linda for $2.15 million (2023)
• Reportedly earned $350,000 upfront for his rematch with Cody Garbrandt
• Launched his own supplement company, Wild Society Nutrition
• Signed endorsement deals with brands such as American Cannabis Partners, Clean Juice, JAXXON, Melin Brand, and MyBookie. 

Before Wealth & Fame

Growing up, T.J. Dillashaw attended Bret Harte High School, where he was an All-State wrestler, and then went on to California State University, Fullerton, to continue his wrestling career. Dillashaw earned his degree and joined Team Alpha Male, where he won both of his professional matches before turning pro. In 2010, he made his professional debut with a win over Czar Sklavos and participated in The Ultimate Fighter after starting 4-0.

MMA Career 

Though T.J. Dillashaw would lose in the finals, he still landed a career with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and won his next four bouts. In 2014, Dillashaw won the UFC Bantamweight Championship by defeating Renan Barao and held the title for two years. After dropping the title, Dillashaw won it back by defeating Cody Garbrandt before losing his title to Henry Cejudo in 2019.

Dillashaw retired in 2022 after his loss to Aljamain Sterling, finishing his career with a record of 17 wins and five losses. During that time, Dillashaw was given the Performance of the Night bonus five times, including both of his matches against Renan Barao.

Fight Earnings & Net Worth

T.J. Dillashaw fought in just two matches between the very beginning of 2019 and his retirement in December 2022. Those fights turned out to be very profitable for Dillashaw, though, as he earned a combined $526,000.

Throughout his UFC career, Dillashaw would ultimately win a total of $2.6 million from his shows, bonuses, and endorsements. Dillashaw lost out on a chunk of money due to his suspension, but was still able to build a solid net worth estimated to be around $4 Million. This put Dillashaw in the same bracket as the likes of Francis Ngannou and Jorge Masvidal in terms of MMA net worth. Dillashaw has said that the suspension was a blessing in disguise as he learned how to make money in ways other than fighting professionally.

Real Estate

In July 2018, Dillashaw paid $1.42 million for a 3,227-square-foot, four-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom home in Yorba Linda, California. The house features an outdoor pool and sauna, and costs the fighter approximately $16,000 in annual property taxes. In July 2023, he relisted the home on the market with an asking price of $2.25 million, and it sold for $2.15 million in September.

Summary 

T.J. Dillashaw was having one of the finest careers in the UFC at the time of his suspension in 2017. It was a harsh lesson to learn, but Dillashaw said he was still making money outside the octagon, which led to his retirement. Now, Dillashaw can focus on relaxing at his Colorado home while continuing to earn money in the health food industry.

Introduction

Khabib Nurmagomedov is a Russian former professional UFC fighter and current MMA coach with an estimated net worth of $40 Million.

Nurmagomedov retired on his own terms after losing his father, a man who was always in his corner for every one of his fights. Khabib’s professional MMA record remains 29-0-0, going undefeated throughout his career. After earning approximately $15 million during his career, Khabib leveraged his fight income to invest in numerous companies, including the Eagle Fighting Championship, Fitroo by Khabib, Eagle Mobile, and Khabib Gym.

This article highlights Khabib Nurmagomedov’s earnings throughout his career, as well as the various business ventures that have contributed to his continued growth in net worth in recent years.

Quick Facts

• Earned an estimated $15 million in UFC fight earnings
• Received $6.09 million for his final UFC fight
• Fined $500,000 for jumping the cage after the McGregor fight

MMA Career

Khabib Nurmagomedov made his professional MMA debut in September 2008 and, within a month, secured four wins—three in a single day. In October 2008, he won the inaugural Atrium Cup tournament championship in Moscow, and over the next three years, he remained undefeated, winning 12 matches.

Khabib marked his M-1 Global debut in 2009 with a thumping victory and signed a six-fight deal with the UFC. He made his UFC debut on January 20, 2012, defeating Kamal Shalorus via submission. On July 7, he defeated Gleison Tibau via unanimous decision.

Khabib trained at the American Kickboxing Academy for the first time during his fight against Tibau and, in January 2013, defeated Thiago Tavares via KO. He set a UFC record for most takedowns in a single fight with 21 takedowns against Abel Trujillo on May 25, 2013.

Sustaining Multiple Injuries

On September 21, 2013, Khabib defeated Pat Healy via unanimous decision and then faced Rafael dos Anjos on April 19, 2014, winning via unanimous decision. Khabib was scheduled to fight Tony Ferguson multiple times, but the bouts were canceled due to injuries and health issues. Between 2014 and 2015, Khabib canceled several matches due to knee and other injuries, but made a comeback in April 2016, beating Darrell Horcher.

On December 30, 2017, Khabib defeated Edson Barboza at UFC 219, earning him his first-ever Performance of the Night bonus. He won the UFC Lightweight Championship on April 7, 2018, by defeating Al Iaquinta at UFC 223, proving that he was in top form.

Khabib then made his first title defense on October 6, 2018, against Conor McGregor at UFC 229, defeating McGregor via submission in the fourth round. Following the McGregor fight, Khabib was involved in a post-fight brawl, resulting in suspensions and fines due to his loss of control.

Successfully Defending His Title

Khabib defended his title against Dustin Poirier on September 7, 2019, at UFC 242, winning the fight via submission in the third round. On October 24, 2020, Khabib defended his title against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, beating him with a triangle choke in the second round. After the Gaethje fight, Khabib announced his retirement from MMA with an impressive undefeated record of 29 wins and no losses.

Due to his record and technical ability, Khabib is widely considered one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. Khabib was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame on June 30, 2022, joining previous champions like Frankie Edgar, Jose Aldo, and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. His impressive UFC record is ascribed to his background in wrestling, judo, and sambo, as he’s a two-time world champion in combat sambo.

At the time of his retirement, he was ranked #1 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings, producing results that were the envy of fellow competitors. Using the money he earned in the UFC, Khabib founded Eagles MMA and promoted the Eagle Fighting Championship after retirement.

UFC Earnings

The UFC has typically also followed a pay structure of pay-to-show and pay-to-win for the up-and-coming fighters. As a fighter’s ranking and star power improve, they begin earning significantly higher paychecks per fight, often receiving a small percentage of the pay-per-view (PPV) sales.

One of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s earliest recorded salaries was $64,000 for defeating Rafael dos Anjos in 2014. He earned 50% ($32,000) to show up, and the other 50% for his win bonus. Given that Khabib never lost during his professional MMA career, we know that he always secured the win bonus when it was available.

In 2016, he earned $135,000 for defeating Darrell Horcher, which included a $65,000 to show, a $65,000 to win, and a $5,000 promotional bonus. That same year, his next victory against Michael Johnson earned him $80,000 to show, $80,000 to win, and a $10,000 bonus, totalling $170,000.

By 2017, Khabib’s base show/win rate had increased to $85,000, earning him $170,000 for defeating Edson Barbosa. However, this time he received $60,000 in bonuses, totaling $230,000.

Title Fight Earnings

Khabib’s final four fights in the UFC were all title fights, which meant he was no longer on the pay-to-show and pay-to-win structure. He was now guaranteed a certain purse per fight, which led to him earning significantly higher sums. When he won the lightweight championship belt against Al Iaquinta in 2018, he received a total of $530,000. 

When he defeated Conor McGregor by rear-naked choke in October 2018, Khabib earned a guaranteed $2 million, plus an additional $40,000 bonus. However, after making McGregor tap out in the fourth round, Khabib immediately jumped out of the cage and lunged into the crowd, aiming for Dillon Danis. One of his teammates jumped into the octagon and started throwing punches at McGregor. His antics led to the UFC suspending him and fining him $500,000, reducing his earnings from the fight to $1.54 million.

For his final two fights against Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje, Khabib earned $6.09 million per fight. This brings his total known earnings to roughly $14.85 million. However, this doesn’t include his first five fights in the organization. Assuming a scalable pay-to-show, pay-to-win structure, he likely earned between $20,000 and $48,000 per fight. This potentially brings his career earnings to just over $15 million.

Eagle Fighting Championship

Following Nurmagomedov’s retirement from the UFC in 2020, he steadily built his investment portfolio into what it is today. ​In November of that year, Nurmagomedov purchased the Russian MMA promotion company Gorilla Fighting Championship (GFC) for $1 million. He later rebranded it as the Eagle Fighting Championship (EFC) and created an international platform for up-and-coming fighters, providing them with a pathway into the UFC.

EFC’s first event was held in December 2020 in Moscow. It then hosted events across Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and made its U.S. debut in Miami, Florida, on January 28, 2022. The brand evolved into a respected MMA league featuring former UFC stars such as Kevin Lee and Junior dos Santos. Although EFC remains active today, it is financially smaller than it was during its U.S. expansion in 2022.

The promotion initially generated approximately $7 million in annual revenue from sponsorships, ticket sales, and broadcast rights. However, that figure reportedly declined to around $3-$5 million by 2024 after Nurmagomedov stepped back to focus on his family.

Food Brand Investments

Later in mid-2021, Nurmagomedov launched two new food brands across the UAE. Fitroo by Khabib, focused on nutrition and fitness, and pH Top Water by Khabib. Fitroo sold protein bars, sportswear, and training supplements, while pH Top Water offered a mineral-rich, pH-balanced hydration product. Outside of the UAE, the products were also sold across Russia and parts of Europe. The emphasis was on clean, natural ingredients inspired by Nurmagomedov’s healthy upbringing in the mountainous region of Dagestan, Russia.

Eagle Mobile

After focusing on nutrition, Nurmagomedov expanded into the telecommunications industry in early 2022 with the launch of Eagle Mobile. The mobile network provides nationwide services across Russia and supplements traditional phone plans with exclusive loyalty programs, including discounts on Fitroo products, autographed memorabilia, and fan meet-and-greets.

Khabib Gym

By mid-2023, Nurmagomedov had established the Khabib Gym, a 1,500-square-meter luxury fitness facility in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The gym offers MMA training programs, boxing studios, and functional fitness zones. It was designed as a regional hub for world-class coaching and youth athletic development, continuing Nurmagomedov’s mission to grow martial arts education throughout the Middle East. ​The gym also integrates modern sports science with traditional Dagestani training philosophies.

Two years later, on May 21, 2025, Nurmagomedov opened another gym in his hometown of Sildi, Dagestan. The gym cost approximately $5 million to build, which Nurmagomedov said was funded by the money he earned from his 2018 UFC 229 victory over Conor McGregor, and will be used to develop Dagestan’s next generation of fighters. Since retirement, Nurmagomedov has successfully transitioned from UFC champion to global entrepreneur, building multiple income streams that have significantly increased his net worth.