The UFC pay-per-view era turned mixed martial arts from a fighting sport into a huge combat business around the world. PPV events helped the UFC grow by having big fights, record-breaking sales, and rivalries that fans would never forget. The PPV era is coming to an end now that Paramount has signed a $7.7 billion deal for broadcast and streaming rights that starts next year.
- UFC 229 – Khabib vs Conor McGregor
- UFC 264 – Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor 3
- UFC 202 – Nate Diaz vs Conor McGregor 2
- UFC 257 – Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor 2
- UFC 100 – Brock Lesnar vs Frank Mir 2
- UFC 246 – Conor McGregor vs Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone
- UFC 196 – Nate Diaz vs Conor McGregor
- UFC 205 – Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez
- UFC 251 – Kamaru Usman vs Jorge Masvidal
- UFC 194 – Jose Aldo vs Conor McGregor
- The Legacy of the UFC Pay-Per-View Era
UFC 229 – Khabib vs Conor McGregor
UFC 229, which took place in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena in October 2018, is still the best-selling UFC pay-per-view of all time. The fierce competition between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor led to 2.4 million PPV buys, which is still a record. The post fight drama garnered attention throughout the world, making UFC 229 the largest event in the company’s history.
UFC 264 – Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor 3
Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor finished their trilogy at UFC 264 in July 2021. The event made a lot of money, with 1.8 million buys. McGregor’s horrific leg injury guaranteed that this PPV would be one of the most talked-about events of the decade because it was his last time stepping into the Octagon.
UFC 202 – Nate Diaz vs Conor McGregor 2
UFC 202 in August 2016 was one of the most exciting rematches in UFC history, with Nate Diaz fighting Conor McGregor again. The event sold 1.65 million PPVs and showed that rivalries based on real animosity may be as popular as championship fights on pay-per-view.
UFC 257 – Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor 2
The second fight between Poirier and McGregor at UFC 257 in January 2021 was quite exciting. Poirier’s knockout win shocked the globe and helped the card sell 1.6 million PPVs. This event cemented Poirier’s status as a big name in the MMA world.
UFC 100 – Brock Lesnar vs Frank Mir 2
UFC 100, which took place in July 2009, was a big deal for the UFC. It was headlined by a heavyweight fight between Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir. The card sold 1.6 million PPVs and was a celebration of the UFC’s success in becoming popular. It was the promotion’s biggest triumph for years, showing that MMA had become popular all around the world.
UFC 246 – Conor McGregor vs Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone
McGregor’s comeback fight in January 2020 against Donald Cerrone lasted just 40 seconds, but it didn’t disappoint at the box office. UFC 246 generated 1.35 million PPV buys and reaffirmed McGregor’s position as the biggest PPV draw in combat sports history.
UFC 196 – Nate Diaz vs Conor McGregor
At UFC 196 in March 2016, Nate Diaz shocked the world by submitting Conor McGregor. The upset fueled intense fan discussion and the event sold 1.3 million PPVs. It set the stage for their rematch at UFC 202, making it one of the most important PPVs of the decade.
This fight offered us one of the most iconic post-fight interview in UFC history:
UFC 205 – Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez
After New York made MMA legal, the UFC held its inaugural event at Madison Square Garden in November 2016. Conor McGregor created history once again by beating Eddie Alvarez to become the first dual-weight champion in UFC. The card sold 1.3 million PPVs and made more over $17 million at the gate, which is a record for MSG.
UFC 251 – Kamaru Usman vs Jorge Masvidal
UFC 251 took place on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi in July 2020. Kamaru Usman fought Jorge Masvidal on short notice. Even with pandemic restrictions, the card got 1.3 million PPVs, showing that the UFC can do well even when the world was at a halt.
UFC 194 – Jose Aldo vs Conor McGregor
At UFC 194 in December 2015, Conor McGregor knocked out longtime featherweight champion José Aldo in under 13 seconds. The build-up to the event and the hype behind McGregor’s uprising stardom going up against a prime Jose Aldo helped the event sell 1.2 million PPV buys. This fight made McGregor a superstar and is still one of the most famous moments in UFC history.
The Legacy of the UFC Pay-Per-View Era
The PPV era was full of great rivalries, record-breaking events, and fighters who became cultural icons. Conor McGregor was the main event in seven of the top ten PPVs, showing how important he was to the UFC’s commercial success. Brock Lesnar, Nate Diaz, and Kamaru Usman are some fighters who helped make important events that changed the course of UFC history.
For almost 20 years, PPV was the UFC’s lifeline, bringing in billions of dollars and making MMA a popular sport. However, as the industry advances, the UFC has negotiated a $7.7 billion agreement with Paramount, beginning next year. This deal means that UFC events will no longer be pay-per-view. Instead, they will be shown on Paramount+ and CBS.
This top 10 UFC PPVs displays how quickly the sport grew over time. There were epic fights, dramatic rivalries, and huge commercial success.
The PPV era is coming to an end with the Paramount deal, but its effects will last forever. It was the time that made stars, generated amazing moments, and turned the UFC from a small show into a huge sports empire.
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Also read: UFC and Paramount Plus Strike $7.7 Billion Deal: What Fans Need to Know
