Fight night did not go the way Conor McGregor hoped, but his bank account tells a very different story than his record does. While the result against Max Holloway left a lot to be desired inside the cage, the business side of UFC 329 delivered exactly what everyone expected once McGregor’s name went on the poster. Reports since the event point to a payday that ranks among the biggest of his career, regardless of how quickly the fight itself ended. Here is a breakdown of what McGregor and Holloway are believed to have earned, and how those figures compare to past fights.
Conor McGregor ‘s Reported Base Purse
The UFC does not release official fighter salaries, so most of what is known comes from reporting by industry insiders. According to veteran MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, Conor McGregor was guaranteed a base purse of at least $15 million before bonuses, sponsorship money, or pay per view points were added. Helwani’s reporting has been echoed across multiple outlets covering the card, all pointing to the same starting figure.
McGregor’s manager, Audie Attar, gave some sense of scale before the fight when he told Helwani that McGregor would be making “multiples over anybody in the UFC, including Zuffa Boxing.” That comparison stood out given that Conor Benn reportedly earned $15 million for his own Zuffa Boxing bout on Netflix earlier this year, suggesting McGregor’s total could climb well past his guaranteed base once every revenue stream is counted.
What Pay Per View and Bonuses Could Add
Base purses only tell part of the story for a fighter with McGregor’s drawing power. He has long negotiated for a share of pay per view revenue on top of his standard purse, and UFC 329 was positioned as a record setting event before the card even started. Dana White said ahead of the fight that it had already broken the promotion’s record for largest gate intake, which sets up a strong case for McGregor’s final number to land well above his guaranteed $15 million.
Some reports estimate that once pay per view points and bonuses are factored in, McGregor’s total take could climb as high as $30 million. For context, McGregor reportedly earned around $28 million for his 2018 fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov and roughly $33 million for his 2021 trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier, according to Forbes estimates. A number near $30 million for UFC 329 would put this fight in line with those career highs, despite lasting a fraction of the time.
Max Holloway’s Payday for the Rematch
Holloway, stepping up to welterweight for the first time in his career, is reported to have earned considerably less than McGregor, though still a significant sum by his own standards. Estimates place his guaranteed purse somewhere between $3 million and $5 million. That figure builds on his recent fight earnings, including a reported payday in the $2 million to $4 million range for his bout against Charles Oliveira earlier this year.
Given that UFC 329 broke the promotion’s gate record, it is reasonable to expect Holloway’s final number, once bonuses are included, could land at the higher end of that estimated range. Even without the headline numbers McGregor commands, Holloway’s payday for this fight ranks among the largest of his career.
Career Earnings Put the Numbers in Perspective
Conor McGregor ‘s estimated net worth sits around $200 million, built from a combination of fight purses, endorsement deals, and business ventures. His crossover boxing match against Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2017 remains his biggest single payday at a reported $90 million. Outside the cage, McGregor sold his majority stake in Irish whiskey brand Proper No. Twelve for $150 million in 2021, a deal that continues to shape how people view his overall wealth.
Holloway’s net worth is considerably smaller, estimated at around $13 million, built almost entirely through his fight career rather than outside business ventures. The gap between the two fighters’ overall wealth mirrors the gap in their reported purses for this fight, even though both are expected to leave UFC 329 with some of the better paydays of their careers.
Why the Numbers Matter Beyond the Fight
Conor McGregor’s purse for UFC 329 reflects more than just his standing in the sport. It signals that his commercial pull remains largely intact even after a five year absence and a disappointing finish inside the cage. For a fighter whose career has increasingly blended sports and business, the numbers from this fight suggest his drawing power still holds significant weight with the UFC and its broadcast partners.
As for what comes next, McGregor has said he plans to have surgery and return to competition once he recovers. Whether his next fight commands a similar payday will likely depend on how his recovery goes and how much demand remains for a rematch with Holloway, something the Hawaiian has already said he would be open to once McGregor is medically cleared.
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