Welterweight fighters salaries place the 170-pound division among UFC’s most lucrative weight classes. Georges St-Pierre amassed $30 million during his championship dynasty.
Kamaru Usman earned $8.5 million through relentless title defenses. Even rising stars like Belal Muhammad now command seven-figure purses.
This division produces consistent PPV stars who translate technical excellence into massive paychecks.
| Name | Nationality | MMA Record |
| Rafael dos Anjos | Brazil | 32–17 |
| Court McGee | United States | 22–14 |
| Stephen Thompson | United States | 17–8–1 |
| Tim Means | United States | 33–17–1 (1 NC) |
| Michael Chiesa | United States | 21–7 |
| Gunnar Nelson | Iceland | 19–6–1 |
| Neil Magny | United States | 29–13 |
| Santiago Ponzinibbio | Argentina | 30–9 |
| Li Jingliang | China | 19–9 |
| Jake Matthews | Australia | 21–7 |
| Gilbert Burns | Brazil | 22–9 |
| Colby Covington | United States | 17–5 |
| Leon Edwards | England | 22–5 (1 NC) |
| Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos | Brazil | 25–9–1 |
| Nicolas Dalby | Denmark | 23–6–1 (2 NC) |
| Vicente Luque | Brazil | 23–11–1 |
| Kamaru Usman | Nigeria | 21–4 |
| Alex Morono | United States | 24–12 (1 NC) |
| Randy Brown | Jamaica | 20–6 |
| Mickey Gall | United States | 7–7 |
| Belal Muhammad | United States | 24–4 (1 NC) |
| Max Griffin | United States | 20–11 |
| Niko Price | United States | 16–8 (2 NC) |
| Trevin Giles | United States | 16–7 |
| Song Kenan | China | 22–9 |
| Muslim Salikhov | Russia | 21–5 |
| Geoff Neal | United States | 16–6 |
| Kevin Holland | United States | 28–13 (1 NC) |
| Wellington Turman | Brazil | 18–8 |
| Sean Brady | United States | 18–1 |
| Punahele Soriano | United States | 11–4 |
| Khaos Williams | United States | 15–5 |
| Rhys McKee | Northern Ireland | 14–6–1 |
| Joaquin Buckley | United States | 21–7 |
| Daniel Rodriguez | United States | 19–5 |
| Shavkat Rakhmonov | Kazakhstan | 19–0 |
| Ramiz Brahimaj | United States | 12–5 |
| Philip Rowe | Jamaica | 11–5 |
| Uroš Medić | Serbia | 10–3 |
| Carlston Harris | Guyana | 19–7 |
| Jeremiah Wells | United States | 12–4–1 |
| Preston Parsons | United States | 11–6 |
| Bryan Battle | United States | 12–2 (1 NC) |
| Gilbert Urbina | Venezuela | 7–3 |
| Ian Machado Garry | Ireland | 16–1 |
| Jack Della Maddalena | Australia | 18–2 |
| Pete Rodriguez | United States | 5–2 |
| Michael Morales | Ecuador | 18–0 |
| Chidi Njokuani | United States | 25–10 (1 NC) |
| Mike Malott | Canada | 12–2–1 |
| Ange Loosa | Cameroon | 10–5 (1 NC) |
| Rinat Fakhretdinov | Russia | 24–2–1 |
| Adam Fugitt | United States | 10–4 |
| Gabriel Bonfim | Brazil | 17–1 |
| Yusaku Kinoshita | Japan | 6–3 |
| Francisco Prado | Brazil | 12–3 |
| Themba Gorimbo | Zimbabwe | 14–5 |
| Sam Patterson | United States | 13–2–1 |
| Trey Waters | United States | 9–1 |
| Bassil Hafez | Lebanon | 9–5–1 |
| Jonny Parsons | England | 9–3 |
| Darrius Flowers | United States | 12–8–1 |
| Billy Ray Goff | United States | 9–4 |
| Kiefer Crosbie | Northern Ireland | 10–5 |
| Charlie Radtke | United States | 10–5 |
| Carlos Prates | Brazil | 21–7 |
| Oban Elliott | Wales | 12–3 |
| Danny Barlow | England | 9–1 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | Russia | 12–6 |
| Carlos Leal Miranda | Brazil | 22–6 |
| Jacobe Smith | United States | 10–0 |
| Jonathan Micallef | Malta | 8–1 |
| Austin Vanderford | United States | 13–2 |
| Daniel Frunza | Romania | 9–3 |
| Andreas Gustafsson | Sweden | 12–2 |
| Ko Seok-hyun | South Korea | 12–2 |
| Charlie Brenneman | American | 19-8-0 |
| Roger Zapata | American | 4-2-2000 |
| Jason Jackson | Jamaican | 18-4-0 |
| Luke Jumeau | New Zealander | 13-5-0 |
| Sultan Aliev | Russian | 17-2-0 |
| Theo Christakos | Australian | 11-2-2000 |
| Jorge de Oliveira | Brazilian | 9-6-2000 |
| Danny Roberts | English | Data unavailable |
| Marius Zaromskis | Lithuanian | Data unavailable |
| Marcos Ayub | Brazilian | 0-2-0 |
| Salim Touahri | Polish | 10-4-2000 |
| Hoshi Friedrich | Australian | 8-8-2000 |
| Tristan Murphy | Australian | 7-8-2000 |
| Alexey Kunchenko | Russian | 23-50 |
| Matt MacGrath | American | 18-11-0 |
| Hyun-Gyu Lim | South Korean | 14-7-1 |
| Ryan Dickson | Canadian | 11-6-2000 |
| Spencer Jebb | Canadian | 13-8-0 |
| Mark Stoddard | American | 17-10-0 |
| Lyman Good | American | 21-6-0 |
| Chris Clements | Canadian | 12-6-0 (1 NC) |
| Vik Grujic | Australian | 8-6-2000 |
| Laureano Staropoli | Argentine | 13-7-0 |
| Ivana Habazin | Croatian | 23-5-0* |
| Ricky Rainey | American | 13-6-0 |
10 Highest Paid UFC Fighters in Welterweight Division Ranked
Georges St-Pierre established the financial ceiling through dominant performances and crossover appeal, while modern champions prove the division’s earning power continues growing with each generation.
| Rank | Fighter | Net Worth | Career Earnings | Active/Retired | Championships |
| 1 | Georges St-Pierre | $30M | $30M | Retired | 2 UFC Titles |
| 2 | Conor McGregor | $200M | $115M | Active | 0 Welterweight Titles |
| 3 | Jorge Masvidal | $8M | $12M | Retired | 0 UFC Titles |
| 4 | Colby Covington | $4M | $4.4M | Active | 0 UFC Titles |
| 5 | Tyron Woodley | $4M | $5.8M | Retired | 1 Welterweight Title |
| 6 | Belal Muhammad | $3.5M | $2.9M | Active | 1 Welterweight Title |
| 7 | Kamaru Usman | $3M | $8.5M | Active | 1 Welterweight Title |
| 8 | Leon Edwards | $3M | $6.2M | Active | 1 Welterweight Title |
| 9 | Robbie Lawler | $3M | $4.2M | Active | 1 Welterweight Title |
| 10 | Nick Diaz | $3M | $3.5M | Retired | 0 UFC Titles |
Georges St-Pierre stands alone as welterweight’s all-time earnings champion with $30 million accumulated through UFC dominance. His nine-year championship reign featured multiple million-dollar paydays that no modern welterweight has matched.
Conor McGregor fought twice at welterweight, generating over $15 million from those bouts alone. His welterweight fights against Nate Diaz produced massive PPV numbers despite never challenging for the 170-pound belt.
Jorge Masvidal’s 2019-2021 resurgence produced his biggest paydays. His BMF title fight and back-to-back Kamaru Usman challenges netted approximately $12 million in three years, with his biggest single purse hitting $5 million.
Who Earned The Most Fighting at Welterweight?
Georges St-Pierre accumulated approximately $30 million in total compensation, the highest in division history. His peak earning years saw him commanding $2-3 million per title defense plus substantial PPV revenue shares.
GSP’s financial dominance came from consistently headlining the biggest PPV events. His fights against Nick Diaz, Johny Hendricks, and Carlos Condit each generated over 700,000 PPV buys, translating into seven-figure bonuses beyond disclosed purses.
His crossover appeal extended earnings beyond fighting. GSP made millions through acting roles, endorsement deals with Under Armour and Gatorade, plus lucrative appearance fees at UFC events where his legend status commands premium rates.
The Canadian’s smart financial management preserved his wealth. Unlike many fighters who burn through earnings, GSP invested wisely in real estate and business ventures, allowing his fortune to grow significantly after retirement.
Welterweight Earnings Through Different Eras
| Fighter | 2020 Net Worth | 2023 Net Worth | 2025 Net Worth | Growth % | Key Income Sources |
| Belal Muhammad | $800K | $2M | $3.5M | 338% | UFC purses ($2.9M), championship win |
| Leon Edwards | $1.5M | $2.5M | $3M | 100% | UFC earnings ($6.2M), UK market appeal |
| Kamaru Usman | $2M | $2.8M | $3M | 50% | UFC purses ($8.5M), record defenses |
| Colby Covington | $2.5M | $3.5M | $4M | 60% | UFC earnings ($4.4M), controversial persona |
| Jorge Masvidal | $6M | $7.5M | $8M | 33% | Career resurgence ($12M), BMF title |
| Georges St-Pierre | $30M | $30M | $30M | 0% | Legacy earnings, acting, endorsements |
Belal Muhammad’s explosive 338% growth represents the fastest wealth accumulation among active welterweights. His UFC 304 title win paid approximately $465,000, while his first defense projects between $800,000 and $1 million.
Leon Edwards doubled his net worth during his championship run. His biggest payday came losing the title to Muhammad, earning $1.6 million despite the defeat.
Kamaru Usman’s growth slowed after losing the title. His championship reign featured his biggest purse of $1.4 million against Covington at UFC 268, though post-title losses dropped his base significantly.
How Championship Status Transforms Pay
Current champion Belal Muhammad’s salary jumped from $80,000 base pay early in his career to estimated $750,000 for his first title defense. Championship status immediately tripled his earning potential.
Former champion Kamaru Usman commanded $600,000 base salary during his record-breaking reign. His highest disclosed purse reached $1.4 million fighting Colby Covington, though PPV points likely pushed total compensation past $2 million.
Title challengers earn substantially less than champions. Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Machado Garry each earned between $400,000-$600,000 for their UFC 310 co-main event, demonstrating the pay gap.
The BMF title created unique earning opportunities. Jorge Masvidal’s ceremonial belt fight against Nate Diaz paid approximately $5 million, his career-high purse.
Biggest Single Fight Purses in Welterweight History
Jorge Masvidal earned approximately $5 million for his championship fight against Kamaru Usman, marking the largest disclosed welterweight purse in modern UFC history. His BMF title fight also generated multi-million dollar compensation through PPV points.
Georges St-Pierre’s biggest purses came during his championship peak. His UFC 217 middleweight title win earned substantial seven figures, though his welterweight defenses likely generated comparable totals when including PPV revenue.
Colby Covington earned approximately $1.3 million for his UFC 296 loss to Leon Edwards. His Jorge Masvidal grudge match at UFC 272 paid over $1 million combining base, win bonus, and sponsorship money.
Leon Edwards banked $1.6 million losing his title to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304. His previous defense against Covington generated similar numbers, establishing him as a consistent seven-figure earner regardless of outcomes.
FAQs
Did Georges St-Pierre make more than Kamaru Usman?
Georges St-Pierre earned approximately $30 million compared to Kamaru Usman’s $8.5 million. GSP’s longer championship reign during higher PPV buy eras combined with lucrative endorsements created a massive wealth gap despite Usman’s dominant title run.
What was Jorge Masvidal’s biggest payday?
Masvidal earned approximately $5 million for his rematch with Kamaru Usman. His career resurgence from 2019-2021 produced multiple seven-figure paydays including the BMF title fight against Nate Diaz worth several million dollars.
How much does Belal Muhammad make per fight now?
Current welterweight champion Belal Muhammad earns between $750,000 and $1 million per title defense. His championship status tripled his previous base salary, placing him among the division’s elite earners.
Why does Colby Covington earn so much without a title?
Covington’s controversial persona generates massive PPV interest, allowing him to command $750,000-$800,000 per fight. His polarizing personality keeps him in main events where PPV points push total earnings past $1 million despite never winning undisputed gold.
