How Much Do The PFL MMA Players Make? Salary & Purse Know it Here!

One of the top sporting events, mixed martial arts is now well-known all over the world. The MMA contests are organised by a variety of organisations, and TV broadcast deals have made the sport very profitable. In addition to the massive UFC and Bellator, Professional Fighters League is also attending, causing major harm with enormous earnings. Here, we’ve assembled comprehensive data based on official PFL fighter earnings data.

Per Yahoo Sports, the minimum NFL salary in 2022 was $705,000, or $41,470 per game. Per Spotrac, that number has increased to $750,000. The minimum salary for someone in the MLB is $720,000. The UFC’s minimum was $12,000 per fight in 2022, with a win bonus of another $12,000.

As PFL began operations in 2018, some 82 fighters have committed to working for the organisation. PFL is still far behind Bellator and the Ultimate Fighting Championship, though. Yet, they were still able to pay the combatants increased compensation in accordance with their contracts.

“The PFL business is exactly what sports investors are looking for,” PFL founder and chairman Donn Davis said via Forbes. “We’ve proven to secure top athletes. We’ve proven to secure global media distribution. And we’ve proven to secure dozens of leading advertisers.”

How much do PFL fighters make?

A rookie fighter in the PFL typically earns between $5k and $10k in guaranteed pay in addition to any bonuses. Nonetheless, celebrities like Anthony Pettis and Kayla Harrison are paid six figures and have respectable contracts with advancement. Harrison will receive a $500k base prize if she competes on the main card.

The PFL gives the fighters who were chosen for the bouts on the event’s fight card guaranteed payouts in accordance with their contracts. If a notable person is participating in the main event of a major pay per view event, the maximum payout might be up to $1 million. The minimum purse is $5k. Also, there are victory bonuses that are only offered to professionals who take first place in the competitions.

Purses Rookie Contract PPV Contract
Guaranteed Purses $5k-$10k up to $1m

 MMA Fighting and The Sports Daily shared the purses of several PFL fighters leading up to the finals via the Nevada State Athletic Commission:

  • Kayla Harrison ($125,000) def. Bobby Jo Dalziel ($25,000) at PFL 7
  • Ray Cooper III ($100,000) def. Chris Curtis ($50,000) at PFL 7
  • In the main event of PFL 7, David Michaud ($100,000) def. Glaico Franca ($75,000).
  • Natan Schulte ($99,900) def. Akhmed Aliev ($74,850) at PFL 8
  • Lance Palmer ($99,950) def. Alex Gilpin ($74,950) at PFL 8
  • In the main event of PFL 8, Loik Radzhabov ($63,800) def. Chris Wade ($74,800).

This past season (2022), PFL 4, 5, and 6 took place inside Overtime Elite Arena in Georgia. MMA Junkie shared purses via the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission:

  • Alex Martinez ($38,000) def. Clay Collard ($28,000) in the main event of PFL 4
  • Olivier Aubin-Mercier ($54,000) def. Raush Manfio ($27,000) at PFL 4
  • Matheus Scheffel ($20,000) def. Bruno Cappelozza ($40,000) in the main event of PFL 5
  • Stevie Ray ($80,000) def. Anthony Pettis ($750,000) at PFL 5
  • Kayla Harrison ($500,000) def. Kaitlin Young ($20,000) in the main event of PFL 6
  • Sadibou Sy ($52,000) def. Rory MacDonald ($250,000) at PFL 6

“Aside from the million dollars to win the whole thing, my money per fight is phenomenal. I’m making way more money— it takes about four UFC fights, with the show and win money, to make what I’m making for a PFL fight,” Burgos said. “So it was almost like a no-brainer when it comes to the money. It was hard, it wasn’t an easy decision, obviously, because I did love the UFC, I loved fighting for the UFC, I loved the organization, I loved saying I was fighting for the UFC.

“But at the end of the day, I’ve got to look at myself in the mirror, I’ve got to look at my wife in the face and my kids and tell them that this s— was worth it. The money that I’m making now, there’s no doubt that this is going to be worth it.”

Functioning Of Professional Fighters League

The PFL is split into six weight classes, and each fighter competes in two matches during a PFL regular season, according to ESPN. The four boxers in each weight class with the most points from the regular season matches advance to the postseason. The single-elimination playoff victor is crowned the division champion and receives a $1 million prize.

Individual PFL fights and the entire season are made exciting by the point system. A fighter receives three points for a decision victory, whereas a loss results in zero points. Due of boxers’ incentives to win fights quickly through knockout or submission, points become interesting. According to Sportskeeda, winners receive six points for first-round triumphs and five points for second-round victories.

Fighters in each division compete multiple times a season for a spot in the PFL Finals. The divisions are the following (since 2022):

  • Heavyweight
  • Light Heavyweight
  • Welterweight
  • Lightweight (men and women’s)
  • Featherweight

The winner of the PFL Finals takes home the championship title from their division and $1 million.

Fighters that compete within the organization include Kayla Harrison, Brendan Loughnane, Olivier Aubin-Mercier, Ray Cooper III, Chris Wade, and Marlon Moraes.

One aspect that distinguishes the Professional Fighters League from other organisations is matchmaking throughout the season. In the majority of MMA leagues, fights are scheduled to provide compelling card lineups, and many behind-the-scenes circumstances may influence which fights actually take place. No matter how well-known they are, every fighter in it has two regular-season matches. They can only advance if they score enough points.

What Makes PFL Different From UFC?

Viewers will observe that the action in the cage is what they have come to expect from MMA, despite the fact that it differs from the UFC in terms of season structure. Viewers may anticipate seeing the same strikes and grips they see in the UFC because the Professional Fighters League adheres to the same Unified Rules of MMA as the UFC.

One feature that distinguishes the it from rivals and attracts combatants is equal prize money. I News claims that Claressa Shields, a legendary boxer, joined the PFL in part because female champions received the same pay as men champions.

One of the primary selling factors for the PFL has been how the fighters are treated. According to Bleacher Report, the PFL once changed the time of a match for MMA veteran Andre Harrison so that Harrison could attend his daughter’s birthday celebration. This is a minor incident, but it shows how unique the nascent combat promotion is and what can help it advance in the future.

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