Conor McGregor vs Khabib: UFC 229 purses revealed ahead of Las Vegas grudge match
CONOR MCGREGOR and Khabib Nurmagomedov's purses for their upcoming showdown have been revealed.
Conor McGregor will bid to end Nurmagomedov's reign as lightweight champion in the early hours of Sunday morning in the main event of UFC 229, which takes place at Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena.
The pair's showdown has been billed as 'the biggest fight in MMA history', and all signs are pointing to the contest living up to its moniker.
The UFC are expecting their latest pay-per-view show to be purchased by nearly two million fight fans.
And being well aware of the magnitude of the fight, the UFC brass have opted to splash the cash on their main eventers.
On Friday evening, the Nevada State Athletic Commission revealed that McGregor will make a guaranteed £2.3million ($3million) for his comeback.
Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, will pocket £1.52million ($2million) for his maiden UFC title defence.
It's worth noting that the figures disclosed by the NSAC don't factor in the fighter's cuts of the pay-per-view pie, which will drastically increase their respective paydays.
McGregor is expecting his eleventh fight under the UFC banner to shatter the promotion's pay-per-view buy record and see him pocket a cool £38milion ($50million).
I’d say I’ll close in around the $50 million mark
“We’re estimating around 3 to 3.5 milllion [pay-per-view buys], I’d say I’ll close in around the $50 million mark,” McGregor replied when asked what his takeaway from UFC 229 would be.
“So, for a mixed martial artist to make $50 million from a mixed martial arts bout, it’s quite breathtaking. I have to thank my management stable, Paradigm Sports Management.
"I’ve got to thank Dana White, I’ve got to thank Lorenzo Fertitta and Frank (Fertitta) who schooled me in the game.
“The new owners…W…what’s the name…WME-IMG? Those guys as well. I haven’t really met them that much but they’ve been good to me so far — Ari (Emmanuel) and those guys. Life is good.”
UFC 229 Salaries
Khabib Nurmagomedov: £1.52million ($2 million) (no win bonus) vs Conor McGregor: £2.3million ($3 million) (no win bonus)
Tony Ferguson: £113,000 ($150,000) to show - £3800 ($5,000) to win vs Anthony Pettis: £110,000 ($145,000) to show - £110,000 ($145,000) to win
Ovince Saint Preux: £65,500 ($86,000) to show - £65,500 ($86,000) to win vs Dominick Reyes: £34,300 ($45,000) to show - £34,300 ($45,000) to win
Derrick Lewis: £103,000 ($135,000) to show - £103,000 ($135,000) to win vs Alexander Volkov: £57,100 ($75,000) to show - £57,100 ($75,000) to win
Michelle Waterson: £38,100 ($50,000) to show - £38,100 ($50,000) to win vs Felice Herrig: £30,500 ($40,000) to show - £30,500 ($40,000) to win
Sergio Pettis: £35,000 ($46,000) to show - £35,000 ($46,000) to win vs Jussier Silva: £32,700 ($43,000) to show - £32,700 ($43,000) to win
Vicente Luque: £30,000 ($38,000) to show - £30,000 ($38,000) to win vs Jalin Turner: £7,600 ($10,000) to show - £7,600 ($10,000) to win
Aspen Ladd: £9,100 ($12,000) to show - £9,100 ($12,000 to win) vs Tonya Evinger: £22,800 ($30,000) to show - £22,800 ($30,000) to win
Scott Holtzman: £22,800 ($30,000) to show - £22,800 ($30,000) to win vs Alan Patrick: £22,800 - ($30,000) to show £22,800 ($30,000) to win
Lina Lansberg: £15,200 ($20,000) to show - £15,200 ($20,000) to win vs Yana Kunitskaya: £19,100 ($25,000) to show - £19,100 ($25,000 to win)
Grey Maynard: £41,200 ($54,000) to show - £41,200 ($54,000) to win vs Nik Lentz: £38,100 ($50,000) to show - £38,100 ($50,000) to win
Ryan LaFlare: £25,160 ($33,000) to show - £25,160 ($33,000) to win vs Tony Martin: £21,347 ($28,000) to show - £21,347 ($28,000) to win
Will Conor McGregor retire after Khabib Nurmagomedov bout?
Nurmagomedov boasts the longest undefeated record in UFC history after 26 fights and bookmakers SportNation.Bet think this could be McGregor’s last battle inside the Octagon.
Georgia Wilson of SportNation.Bet said: “As usual McGregor has talked the talk in the run up to this fight but as the market suggests, this looks set to be his toughest test to date and as such we’ve cut the odds that it’s the bout to end his UFC career.”
UFC 229 Fight Card
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Conor McGregor (lightweight title fight)
Tony Ferguson vs Anthony Pettis (lightweight bout)
Ovince Saint Preux vs Dominick Reyes (light-heavyweight bout)
Derrick Lewis vs Alexander Volkov (heavyweight bout)
Michelle Waterson vs Felice Herring (women’s strawweight bout)
Prelims
Sergio Pettis vs Jussier Formica (men’s flyweight bout)
Scott Holtzman vs Alan Patrick (lightweight bout)
Ryan LaFlare vs Tony Martin (welterweight bout)
Fight Pass Prelims
Lina Lansberg vs Yana Kunitskaya (women’s bantamweight bout)
Gray Maynard vs Nik Lentz (lightweight bout)
Aspen Ladd vs Tonya Evinger (women's bantamweight bout)