5 Highest Paid Current Female UFC Superstars In 2023
The UFC, established in 1993, welcomed women’s MMA into its fold two decades later at UFC 159. This year marks a decade since Ronda Rousey defended her title against Liz Carmouche in the UFC’s inaugural women’s MMA bout. Since then, women’s MMA has evolved dramatically, with the UFC octagon hosting some of the most formidable female fighters in combat sports.
Let’s delve into the careers and earnings of the top-earning female athletes in the UFC as of 2023.
- Amanda Nunes ($8.36 million)
Amanda Nunes, often hailed as the greatest female fighter in UFC history, has dominated the bantamweight and featherweight divisions. She boasts victories over iconic opponents such as Ronda Rousey, Meisha Tate, Holly Holm, Cris Cyborg, Raquel Pennington, and Megan Anderson. Nunes holds the distinction of defeating former flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko twice.
With multiple titles and successful defences, Nunes stands as the highest-paid women’s athlete in the UFC, accumulating a career earnings total of $8.36 million, according to MMA Salaries.
- Ronda Rousey ($4 million)
Ronda Rousey is a trailblazer in women’s mixed martial arts and is credited with normalising women’s participation in the octagon. She once appeared unbeatable, finishing 11 of her first-round opponents. However, her career took a downturn following a devastating KO loss to Holly Holm. Rousey made a seamless transition to WWE, where she continues to earn significantly. Her MMA earnings are reported at $4 million.
- Joanna Jędrzejczyk ($3.29 mn)
Joanna Jdrzejczyk is renowned as one of the most lethal strikers in the UFC. Despite having only two wins in the promotion, she faced then-strawweight champion Carla Esparza and secured a second-round finish, claiming the strawweight title. Jdrzejczyk defended her title five times, establishing herself as one of the most influential fighters in women’s MMA. She has been part of some of the biggest pay-per-view events in the UFC’s history, with career earnings estimated at $3.29 million.
- Valentina Shevchenko ($2.7 million)
Valentina Shevchenko is celebrated as one of the finest strikers to grace the UFC octagon. She reigned as the women’s flyweight champion from 2018 to 2023 before losing her title to Alexa Grasso at UFC 285. Nevertheless, Shevchenko remains one of the most formidable women in the organisation, with only three losses in the UFC, two of which were to Amanda Nunes and the most recent to Alexa Grasso. Shevchenko’s career earnings are reported at $2.7 million.
- Holly Holm ($2.3 million)
Holly Holm catapulted to fame with her stunning knockout victory over former bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey at UFC 193. Her second-round head-kick KO of Rousey was a monumental moment, prompting her home state to declare November ‘Holly Holm month.’ Despite not holding the bantamweight title for an extended period and experiencing a relatively modest career since, Holm remains among the highest-paid female MMA fighters in the UFC, with reported career earnings of $2.3 million.
These remarkable athletes have not only left an indelible mark on women’s MMA but have also significantly padded their bank accounts. Their dedication, talent, and fearless performances continue to inspire future generations of fighters in the UFC. As these superstars prove, women’s MMA is an integral part of the UFC’s success story.
