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21st Aug 2016

Another fight, another record breaking purse for Conor McGregor

Massive payday

Darragh Murphy

Brock Lesnar’s disclosed purse record from UFC 200 didn’t last very long.

The former UFC heavyweight champion made headlines when he more than doubled the previous record, held by Conor McGregor from UFC 196, for his return to the Octagon last month.

Lesnar’s disclosed purse for UFC 200 was $2.5m, a staggering amount of money which has been mired in controversy ever since it emerged that he had failed two drug tests.

But the WWE superstar no longer holds the record for largest disclosed purse from a UFC bout as he has been bested by The Notorious after little more than a month on top.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission released the UFC 202 purse figures on Saturday and they show that McGregor is set to earn at least $3m for his rematch with Nate Diaz while his Stockton rival will take home a minimum of $2m for his part in the bout.

UFC 202 - Weigh-in

McGregor will not receive a win bonus – although the pair each claimed an extra $50,000 fight of the night bonus – and the figures in question do not take into account any sponsorship money made from Reebok or any locker room bonuses awarded.

But it is still a significant bump-up in terms of money considering that up until March when McGregor was guaranteed $1m to fight Diaz, no fighter in UFC history had received a purse of seven figures.

The $3m and $2m earnings are only those disclosed by the NSAC and both are likely to earn much more in endorsements and their share of gate receipts/pay-per-view money.

The UFC 202 headliners will take home considerably more than the competitors with whom they shared the card in the co-main event, top light heavyweight contender Anthony Johnson takes home a $320,000 payday ($135,000 for showing up, another $135,000 for the win and $50,000 for the performance of the night) while opponent Glover Teixeira pockets just $65,000 for his 13-second defeat.

Donald Cerrone, meanwhile, took home a disclosed purse of $170,000 ($85,000 for showing up and another $85,000 for winning) from his welterweight victory over Rick Story.

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