Combat sports attract millions of fans worldwide, and the UFC is the top global combat sports brand. Their global dominance has been established thanks to top-tier fighters in all weight classes, including welterweight.
The highest-earning welterweights have made millions fighting in front of sold-out arenas and through pay-per-view.
At the top of the list of highest-earning UFC welterweights is Kamaru Usman, who has earned $5.8 million in his time fighting in the UFC.
Usman made his first appearance in the octagon in 2015. He held the welterweight title for three years before losing it to former titleholder Leon Edwards.
Colby Covington’s $3.6 million career earnings put him in second. He’s compiled a record of 17-5 since his 2014 UFC debut. Four of Covington’s wins have come by submission, and four others have come by knockout.
Third on the list is nine-year UFC veteran Gilbert Burns. He’s earned $2.7 million since his UFC debut.
Burns is the second-oldest fighter among the top 10 highest-earners at 37. He’s picked up an impressive 11 first-round finishes in his career.
Former UFC middleweight champion Leon Edwards takes fourth at $1.4 million career earnings.
He defended the title twice after winning it by knockout in 2022 vs Kamaru Usman. Edwards turned professional in 2011 and made his UFC debut in 2014.
Current UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad is fourth with $1.2 million in career earnings. Muhammad soared to new heights in his UFC career after his upset of reigning champion Leon Edwards last July.
He went into the fight as the heavy underdog before ending it as the new welterweight division champion. Muhammad scored his biggest payday to date from the fight with Edwards, earning $465,000.
Magny is one of the most experienced UFC welterweights on the list. He’s had the most UFC fights of the top five highest-earners with 41. Magny started his UFC career in 2013 with a unanimous decision win.
The top six highest-earners are the only welterweights to earn at least $1 million.
Kamaru Usman’s 24 UFC fights are the fewest of any welterweight among the top 10 highest-earners. He earned $1.6 million in his last fight against Khamzat Chimaev, more than the career earnings of 17 fighters on the list.
Ranking the Highest-Paid Welterweights in the UFC
Here is the entire list of the highest-earning UFC welterweights. The list was compiled with data from BetMGM and Tapology.
- Updated: April 21, 2025
| Rank | Fighter | Overall Record | Total Compensation |
| 1 | Kamaru Usman | 20-4 | $5.8 million |
| 2 | Colby Covington | 17-5 | $3.6 million |
| 3 | Gilbert Burns | 22-8 | $2.7 million |
| 4 | Leon Edwards | 22-5 | $1.4 million |
| 5 | Belal Muhammad | 24-3 | $1.2 million |
| 6 | Neil Magny | 29-13 | $1.15 million |
| 7 | Stephen Thompson | 17-8-1 | $981,000 |
| 8 | Joaquin Buckley | 21-6 | $900,000 |
| 9 | Vicente Luque | 23-10-1 | $756,000 |
| 10 | Tim Means | 33-17-1 | $586,000 |
| 11 | Kevin Holland | 27-13 | $525,000 |
| 12 | Li Jingliang | 19-9 | $454,000 |
| 13 | Jack Della Maddalena | 17-2 | $270,000 |
| 14 | Geoff Neal | 16-6 | $222,000 |
| 15 | Khaos Williams | 15-4 | $200,000 |
| 16 | Sean Brady | 18-1 | $174,000 |
| 17 | Muslim Salikhov | 21-5 | $170,000 |
| 18 | Shavkat Rakhmonov | 19-0 | $150,000 |
| 19 | Randy Brown | 19-6 | $112,000 |
| 20 | Ian Machado Garry | 15-1 | $50,000 |
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