When Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier face off for the third time at UFC 264 on Saturday, reputations will be on the line — but the fight will be a financial win for everyone involved.
McGregor won the first bout in 2014, and Poirier defeated McGregor with a second-round TKO in January. McGregor made $5 million from the January duel, while Poirier took home a career-best $1 million.
Saturday’s fight will be the biggest event for UFC since Endeavor agreed to acquire 100% of the business in March, saying it will raise “at least $1.75 billion” to purchase the 49.9% of the company it doesn’t already own.
- McGregor is estimated to make $3 million in guaranteed money this time around, plus 60% of the pay-per-view revenue share, for a total of about $10 million.
- Poirier’s estimate is $1 million guaranteed, with another $2 million coming from his cut of pay-per-view sales.
McGregor was the top earner among all athletes in the year ending May 1 due to the sale of his whiskey business, Proper No. 5. He made $180 million in that timespan, $158 million of it from the sale and other outside-the-ring activities.
Poirier-McGregor III will pilot a unique partnership between UFC and AMC, which will show the fight at select theaters for $25 — a major discount from the $70 pay-per-view cost.
