Flyweight fighters salaries prove the smallest division packs financial punch. Demetrious Johnson earned $6 million across two promotions. Alexandre Pantoja commands $500,000 base as champion. Brandon Moreno banked $2.26 million through his title reign.
The 125-pound division overcame near-cancellation to become a consistent money-maker where champions earn seven figures per fight.
| Name | Nationality | MMA Record |
| Joseph Benavidez | United States | 28–8 |
| Alexandre Pantoja | Brazil | 28–5 |
| Brandon Royval | United States | 16–6 |
| Brandon Moreno | Mexico | 21–7–2 |
| Deiveson Figueiredo | Brazil | 23–3–1 |
| Alex Perez | United States | 25–8 |
| Askar Askarov | Russia | 15–1–1 |
| Kai Kara-France | New Zealand | 24–11 |
| Steve Erceg | Australia | 12–1 |
| Amir Albazi | Iraq | 17–1 |
| Manel Kape | Angola | 19–6 |
| Matheus Nicolau | Brazil | 19–4–1 |
| Matt Schnell | United States | 16–8 (1 NC) |
| Tagir Ulanbekov | Russia | 15–2 |
| Tim Elliott | United States | 18–12–1 |
| Muhammad Mokaev | England | 12–0 (1 NC) |
| Tatsuro Taira | Japan | 16–0 |
| Asu Almabayev | Kazakhstan | 20–2 |
| C.J. Vergara | Philippines | 12–5 |
| Bruno Gustavo da Silva | Brazil | 13–2 |
| Joshua Van | United States | 8–0 |
| Ramazan Temirov | Russia | 13–2 |
| Su Mudaerji | China | 17–6 |
| Jimmy Flick | United States | 17–6 |
| Malcolm Gordon | Canada | 15–7 |
| Zhalgas Zhumagulov | Kazakhstan | 14–8 |
| Tyson Nam | United States | 21–13–1 |
| Zarrukh Adashev | Tajikistan | 5–2 |
| Kai Asakura | Japan | 21–4 |
| Clayton Carpenter | United States | 7–0 |
| Jesus Aguilar | United States | 9–1 |
| Cody Durden | United States | 16–5–1 |
| Jake Hadley | England | 10–2 |
| Daniel Lacerda | Brazil | 11–1 |
| Victor Altamirano | Mexico | 11–3 |
| Kleydson Rodrigues | Brazil | 7–1 |
| Jafel Filho | Brazil | 16–3 |
| Edgar Chairez | Mexico | 11–5 |
| Ode’ Osbourne | Jamaica | 12–7 (1 NC) |
| JP Buys | South Africa | 9–5 |
| Shannon Ross | United States | 10–7 |
| Carlos Candelario | United States | 9–2 |
| Nate Maness | United States | 15–3 |
| Muin Gafurov | Tajikistan | 18–5 |
| David Dvorak | Czech Republic | 20–4 |
| Aori Qileng | China | 23–10 |
| Felipe Colares | Brazil | 11–3 |
| Ryan Benoit | United States | 10–9 |
| Jerome Rivera | United States | 12–5 |
| Francisco Figueiredo | Brazil | 15–4–1 |
| Ali Bagautinov | Russia | 18–9 |
| Rogério Bontorin | Brazil | 18–4 |
| Tyson Phillips | United States | 9–1 |
| Chris Beal | United States | 9–2 |
| Mandy Bohm | German | 8-5-2000 |
| Bentley Syler | Bolivian | 5-1-2000 |
| Jeff Curran | American | 36-18-1 |
| Ian McCall | American | 13-7-1 |
| Justin Scoggins | American | 14-7-0 |
10 Highest Paid UFC Fighters in Flyweight Division Ranked
Flyweight survived UFC’s attempt to shut it down in 2018, rebounding stronger with exciting fighters who prove championship-level skill transcends weight class stereotypes.
| Rank | Fighter | Net Worth | Career Earnings | Active/Retired | Championships |
| 1 | Demetrious Johnson | $6M | $5M | Retired from UFC | 1 Flyweight Title |
| 2 | Henry Cejudo | $2M | $3M | Retired | 1 Flyweight Title |
| 4 | Alexandre Pantoja | $3M | $3.69M | Active | 1 Flyweight Title |
| 3 | Brandon Moreno | $2M | $2.26M | Active | 2 Flyweight Titles |
| 5 | Deiveson Figueiredo | $2M | $4.5M | Active | 2 Flyweight Titles |
| 6 | Joseph Benavidez | $1.5M | $2.5M | Retired | 0 UFC Titles |
| 7 | Brandon Royval | $750K | $850K | Active | 0 UFC Titles |
| 8 | Kai Kara-France | $600K | $750K | Active | 0 UFC Titles |
| 9 | Matheus Nicolau | $500K | $600K | Active | 0 UFC Titles |
| 10 | Amir Albazi | $400K | $450K | Active | 0 UFC Titles |
Demetrious Johnson built $6 million net worth splitting time between UFC and ONE Championship. His UFC earnings topped $5 million across 13 title defenses, while ONE Championship paid $750,000 per fight during his Asian stint.
Henry Cejudo accumulated $3 million before retiring twice. His dual-championship status elevated his earning potential, with his biggest UFC purse hitting $1.2 million defeating Dominick Cruz at bantamweight.
Alexandre Pantoja leads active flyweights with $3.69 million career earnings. His recent title defenses command $500,000 base with total compensation exceeding $1 million including PPV points.
Who Earns Most at Flyweight?
Demetrious Johnson’s $5 million UFC earnings set the flyweight standard through his record 11 consecutive title defenses. His biggest UFC purse reached $390,000 defeating Tim Elliott, modest by modern standards but impressive for early flyweight days.
Johnson’s ONE Championship contract upgraded his finances dramatically. His $750,000 per fight base salary in Asia exceeded anything UFC offered, proving his value despite UFC’s attempt to shut down the division.
Deiveson Figueiredo earned $4.5 million across his UFC career with his biggest payday coming at UFC 256. His $640,000 purse against Brandon Moreno included $200,000 base plus estimated $150,000 in PPV revenue.
Flyweight Earnings Growth
| Fighter | 2020 Net Worth | 2023 Net Worth | 2025 Net Worth | Growth % | Key Income Sources |
| Alexandre Pantoja | $500K | $2M | $3M | 500% | UFC purses ($3.69M), championship ascent |
| Brandon Moreno | $500K | $1.5M | $2M | 300% | UFC earnings ($2.26M), two title reigns |
| Deiveson Figueiredo | $1M | $1.8M | $2M | 100% | UFC purses ($4.5M), move to bantamweight |
| Demetrious Johnson | $6M | $6M | $6M | 0% | Retired, streaming income, gym ownership |
Alexandre Pantoja’s 500% growth represents flyweight’s fastest modern wealth accumulation. His journey from $12,000 debut to $500,000 championship base demonstrates how flyweight pay structures evolved dramatically since the division nearly closed.
Brandon Moreno tripled his wealth becoming Mexico’s first UFC champion. His quadrilogy with Figueiredo generated approximately $1.5 million across four fights, with his biggest single purse hitting $500,000 at UFC 283.
Deiveson Figueiredo doubled his net worth through his championship reign before moving to bantamweight seeking bigger paydays. His UFC 256 purse of $640,000 remains among flyweight’s highest single-fight earnings.
Current Champion Pay Structure
Alexandre Pantoja earns $500,000 base as champion with total compensation exceeding $1 million for PPV title defenses. His UFC 310 victory over Kai Asakura paid approximately $1.2 million including bonuses and sponsorship.
Brandon Moreno commanded $300,000 base during his championship reign. His UFC 283 loss to Figueiredo still paid approximately $500,000 total, showing champions maintain strong earnings even in defeat.
Deiveson Figueiredo earned his career-high $852,000 at UFC 263 despite losing to Moreno. PPV revenue shares from their 600,000 buy rate pushed his compensation into flyweight’s elite tier.
Historic Flyweight Paydays
Deiveson Figueiredo’s $852,000 UFC 263 purse stands as flyweight’s largest disclosed payday. His rivalry with Brandon Moreno generated the division’s highest PPV numbers and corresponding financial rewards.
Henry Cejudo earned approximately $350,000-$400,000 per flyweight defense before moving to bantamweight where purses jumped to $1.2 million. His dual-championship status proved lighter fighters maximize earnings by competing in multiple divisions.
Demetrious Johnson’s ONE Championship contract paid $750,000 base per fight, exceeding his UFC earnings despite competing in a smaller promotion. This highlighted UFC’s undervaluation of flyweight talent during that era.
Brandon Moreno’s $500,000 purse at UFC 283 represented his career peak, though subsequent bouts as challenger dropped his base to $300,000 range showing the champion versus contender pay gap.
FAQs
How much did Demetrious Johnson make in ONE Championship?
Demetrious Johnson earned $750,000 per fight in ONE Championship, significantly more than his UFC purses which topped out around $390,000 per title defense.
What’s Alexandre Pantoja’s biggest payday?
Alexandre Pantoja earned approximately $1.2 million at UFC 310 defending his title against Kai Asakura, representing the current flyweight champion’s earning potential with PPV points.
Did Brandon Moreno make a million dollars per fight?
No, Brandon Moreno’s highest single purse was approximately $500,000 at UFC 283. His typical championship defenses paid $300,000-$400,000 base plus bonuses totaling around $500,000-$700,000.
Why did flyweight pay increase so much?
Flyweight pay increased 300-400% after UFC nearly shut down the division in 2018. Exciting fighters like Moreno and Figueiredo proved the weight class’s PPV viability.
