UFC 274 featured a number of interesting match ups including two title bouts. The card heavily featured one of the most attractive UFC divisions – Men’s lightweight.
The bouts between stripped champion Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler and Tony Ferguson more than delivered.
Same cannot be said for the clash between Rose Namajunas and Carla Esparza. It can even be argued that everyone lost including the audience.
Considering Namajunas was the champion going into the event, it’s very possible she’s also receiving a percentage of the PPV points.
But the UFC still picked up a major win. The promotion reportedly secured 400,000 US PPV buys despite going up against DAZN’s Canelo Alvarez Dmitry Bivol clash.
Even though Dana White was watching Alvarez, many combat sports fans at home kept their eyes on the UFC. This secured at least $30 million for the UFC.
Despite scale snafu, White confirmed Charles Oliveira will be receiving a fragment of the PPV points. Right now, it looks like the UFC will not be giving Oliveira PPV points for his next bout – since they have been firm that he’s now a contender and not a champion.
.@ESPNPlus sold more than 400,000 U.S. PPV units for #UFC274 Saturday night @FootprintCNTR, its best performance of the year so far, per SBJ sources.
🔳 UFC went up against @Canelo on DAZN. pic.twitter.com/DCxCweZM2q
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) May 11, 2022
Sport Business Journal’s Adam Stern confirmed the news.
The payouts for the event haven’t been publicized thanks to Arizona State athletic commission opting to end the practice of disclosing purses in February of this year. Any report that outlines payment specifics regarding UFC 274 online is likely based on estimates.