UFC: MMA is slowly growing in popularity and is on the way to becoming one of the biggest sports in the world. Especially in the United States, MMA has grown drastically and could start competing with the likes of the NBA, NFL, and more. So let’s compare the earnings of the NBA with the earnings of the UFC and see if UFC fighters make more. For more combat sports news, follow Insidesport.IN.
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The simple answer is no. The UFC is still a long way off when it comes to the NBA’s monetary power. However, UFC superstar Conor McGregor has previously topped the Forbes list of top-earning athletes in the world. So let’s compare Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s salaries to two of the best in the NBA in Steph Curry and LeBron James.
Do UFC Fighters Make More Money Than NBA Players? Check Earning Comparisons of Stephen Curry & Lebron James With Conor McGregor & Khabib Nurmagomedov
Do Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov earn more than Steph Curry and LeBron James?
Both Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov have not fought in the UFC in the last year. Therefore, for this comparison, we will compare the earnings from the last time they fought and check how much Curry and James earned during the same period.
In 2021, Conor McGregor fought twice in the UFC, both against Dustin Poirier. ‘The Notorious’ reportedly earned over $46 million for those fights. Khabib, on the other hand, fought only once in 2020 against Justin Gaethje. The Russian allegedly took home over $6 million. This was the highest purse of his career.
Steph Curry has the biggest contract in the current season. The Golden State Warriors star reportedly earns over $48 million for one year after signing his new deal. LeBron James, on the other hand, is a close second with a reported $44 million.
Therefore, the only UFC star who comes close to NBA players like Steph Curry and LeBron James is Conor McGregor. No one else comes close. Only time will tell if the UFC reaches a point where their fighters make as much as NBA players.
What do you make of this comparison? Which other UFC stars do you think can compete with NBA stars in terms of their earnings?
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Editors pick
