Largest Revenue-Generating UFC Events Ever Recorded
UFC Fight Nights like no other! With the monumental UFC 300 about to go down in April, we're taking a stroll down memory lane and checking out the top 5 UFC pay-per-views of all time.
Let's face it, there ain't nothing quite like a big fight, and the UFC has proven time and time again that they know how to deliver the goods. With superstar Conor McGregor leading the charge as the MMA world's biggest boss, the UFC has shattered records and pushed the boundaries of combat sports.
Here's our top-5 lineup of the biggest UFC pay-per-views in history:
5. UFC 246: McGregor vs. Cerrone
After a 15-month hiatus, Conor McGregor made his long-awaited comeback in a brutal 46-second knockout of Donald Cerrone at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. As the first ever two-weight UFC champion, McGregor showed everyone he's still a force to be reckoned with, leaving 1,353,429 pay-per-view viewers breathless.
4. UFC 264: Poirier vs. McGregor 3
In this trilogy showdown at the T-Mobile Arena on July 10, 2021, McGregor was on a mission. With trash-talking in full swing and personal jabs at Poirier's wife, McGregor's antics were polarizing, to say the least. The fight was highly anticipated for an epic conclusion, but the match ended abruptly when McGregor suffered a broken leg in the first round, giving Poirier the TKO win. With 1,504,737 viewers tuning in on pay-per-view, the intended rubber match left everyone scratching their heads.
3. UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor 2
Seven years after their initial encounter, McGregor and Poirier rekindled their rivalry on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi. With Poirier sharper than ever and McGregor on a near-one year break, the odds were stacked against the Irish phenom. In a shocking turn of events, Poirier became the first man to knockout "The Notorious" inside the Octagon with a superstar-making second-round stunner that drew 1,600,000 pay-per-view buys.
Just as we're about to crown our number 2 spot, let's take a quick detour and share some enlightening UFC PPV insights:
- UFC 229: Nurmagomedov vs. McGregor - This event is often considered one of the highest-grossing UFC PPV events, drawing a staggering 2.4 million buys[5].
- UFC 202: Diaz vs. McGregor 2 - Though specific buy numbers aren't as readily available, this event, too, was a major success.
Now that we've added a touch of knowledge to our mix, let's dive back into our top-5 list:
2. UFC 202: Diaz vs. McGregor 2
Nate Diaz shocked the world when he submitted McGregor at UFC 196, catapulting Diaz into stardom. The epic pair decided to square off once again at the T-Mobile Arena on August 20, 2016. In a back-and-forth five-round war watched by 1,600,000 people on pay-per-view, McGregor earned redemption via majority decision.
1. UFC 229: Nurmagomedov vs. McGregor
This epic showdown between McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov was the stuff of legends. When the bad blood between these two titans boiled over before and after the much-anticipated megafight, the madness ignited a massive brawl that echoed throughout the combat sports world. With PPV buys totaling 2,400,000 and a whopping $182 million in revenue, UFC 229 remains the biggest fight in UFC history.
That's a wrap! So whether you're a fan of the Irish wrecking ball or the unbeaten Russian grappler, there's no denying these five UFC pay-per-views have left an indelible mark in MMA history. Stay tuned for more fists flying and emotions soaring. It's always a thrilling ride in the UFC!
Rugby and mixed-martial-arts are not mentioned in the text, but if we were to extend the theme of combat sports and discuss other popular sports events, here are two sentences that might fit:
- Bold moves in rugby and the precision of mixed-martial-arts have electrified stadiums around the world, showcasing the raw power and skill of these two dynamic sports.
- On the stadium giant screens, the rugby World Cup final and the Ultimate Fighting Championship's UFC 300 exhibit a fascinating blend of brute force and strategy, captivating fans across the globe.
