Just 3 Combat Sports Athletes Make 100 Highest-Paid Athletes in the World of 2025 – And NONE are From the UFC

The 2025 list of the world’s highest-paid athletes reveals a notable presence of combat sports stars, though their representation remains concentrated at the very top of the earnings spectrum.

Boxing and MMA athletes occupy a distinct niche in global sports economics, with a handful of superstars commanding massive paydays while the vast majority of the list remains dominated by team sports and individual pursuits like golf and tennis.

Boxing’s Presence

Boxing claims the highest-paid combat sports athlete and the second-highest overall in Canelo Álvarez, who earned $137 million in 2025. His earnings breakdown of $125 million in salary and winnings combined with $12 million in endorsements demonstrates boxing’s pay-per-view model still generates elite-level income for marquee boxers.

Álvarez’s position represents boxing’s continued ability to produce nine-figure earners, even as the sport faces questions about its mainstream relevance compared to previous decades.

Further down the list, Terence Crawford ranks 21st with $66 million in total earnings, split between $60 million in prize money and $6 million in endorsements.

Japanese boxing sensation Naoya Inoue appears at 25th with $62 million, comprised of $45 million in winnings and $17 million from endorsements, reflecting his massive popularity in Japan and growing international profile.

Jake Paul rounds out the boxing contingent at 30th place with $60 million, earning $50 million from his fights and $10 million in endorsements. While Paul remains a polarizing figure in traditional boxing circles, his earnings demonstrate the commercial viability of celebrity boxing and social media-driven fight promotion.

MMA’s Absence

Perhaps the most revealing aspect of the 2025 list is what’s missing: mixed martial arts athletes. Despite the UFC’s claims of being a premier global sports organization and MMA’s substantial television ratings and pay-per-view numbers, not a single MMA star cracks the top 100 highest-paid athletes in the world.

This absence stands in stark contrast to boxing’s four representatives and highlights the fundamental economic differences between the two combat sports. While boxing’s biggest stars negotiate individual deals and retain significant revenue shares from their bouts, UFC contenders operate under promotional contracts that typically provide smaller guaranteed purses and limited revenue participation.

Even the UFC’s biggest stars who headline sold-out arenas and generate millions in pay-per-view buys apparently fall short of the $37.9 million threshold required to make this year’s list.

Combat Sports in Context

The four combat sports athletes on the list collectively represent just 4% of the top 100. By comparison, basketball dominates with approximately 30 athletes, while football (both American and international) claims significant representation, and individual sports like golf and auto racing maintain steady presence throughout the rankings.

Combat sports athletes also show a distinctive earnings pattern. While Álvarez’s $125 million in salary and winnings towers over most athletes in any sport, the endorsement figures for boxers lag considerably behind athletes in more mainstream team sports.

LeBron James, for instance, earned $80 million in endorsements compared to his $48.7 million salary, inverting the ratio seen in boxing.

Combat sports representation on highest-paid athlete lists has fluctuated significantly over the past decade. Floyd Mayweather previously topped such lists with earnings exceeding $250 million in fight years, while Manny Pacquiao regularly appeared in the top ten during his prime. Conor McGregor’s 2017 crossover boxing match against Mayweather briefly elevated an MMA fighter into the upper echelon, but sustainable MMA presence has never materialized.