Female UFC Star: 'I Make More Money on Instagram Than I Do Fighting' (2024)

Women mixed martial arts fighters are just as popular as the men, and yet even as the UFC grows in popularity, they don't get paid as much as the men. Ronda Rousey was the last real female superstar professional MMA fighter, and she has the net worth to prove it. She also took the women's side of the sport to another level of popularity before transitioning to the WWE.

If you're looking for a new woman in UFC President Dana White's octagon to root for, look no further than Paige VanZant. Not only did she once break her arm and somehow keep fighting, the 26-year-old is one of the more recognizable women UFC fighters because she whoops ass in the cage and doubles as an Instagram model.

While she's made a good chunk of change from her professional fighting career, she's said that she makes more money posting to Instagram than she does stepping into the octagon to fight. Yes, a selfie endorsing a product is apparently worth more than putting her body on the line.

VanZant grew up a fan of ballet, jazz and hip hop dance at her parents' dance studio in Dayton, Oregon, near her birth place of Dundee, Oregon. She also had a tomboy side to her that loved fishing, dirt bikes, hunting and shooting, which is why her father — Steve VanZant — nicknamed her "12 Gauge."

Not long after she started training at UFC veteran Ken Shamrock's gym when she moved to Sparks, Nevada, she began carving out a path out as a MMA fighter. She won her first amateur fight at 18 and by 2012 she turned pro, first fighting in the strawweight division and moving to the flyweight division in 2017. She's also a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

On top of making a living off throwing elbows and kicks, she met her husband and wrestler-turned-fellow-successful MMA fighter, Austin Vanderford. The two got married in September of 2018.

VanZant's built a sizable net worth in her brief career. Let's take a look at how she's done it.

Career Earnings in UFC & Mixed Martial Arts

VanZant made and won her professional MMA debut in 2012 at UWF's Tournament of Warriors finale against Jordan Nicole Gaza by split decision. Months later, she defeated Amber Stautzenberger at Premier Fight Series 2 by unanimous decision. She also fought and lost to Tecia Torres in Invicta FC 4 in 2013 before signing with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

According to TheSportsDaily.com, VanZant's career earnings for her World Extreme Cagefighting and UFC fights total $474,500 since she began fighting in the UFC in 2014. That figure doesn't include pay-per-view bonuses.

In VanZant's UFC debut, she defeated Kailin Curran by TKO in the third round during UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Swanson in November of 2014 and took home an estimated $66,000 for the fight of the night, according to TheSportsDaily.com.

In UFC on Fox: VanZant vs. Waterson in December of 2016, she lost to Michelle Waterson but still netted $48,000.

VanZant took home as little as $20,000 back in April of 2015 for fighting in UFC on Fox: Machida vs. Rockhold and most recently $91,000 for beating Rachael Ostovich in UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw in January of 2019.

That $91,000 was nothing compared with VanZant's male counterparts in the event. Two male fighters earned more than $400,000, another $390,000 and two others more than $170,000. Even Greg Hardy, the disgraced former NFL star, was paid $75,000 to step into the octagon.

She's reportedly earned about $40,000 to show up in her last five fights dating back to December of 2015 with the chance to double that for winning her fight.

Endorsements & Social Media

“I make way more money sitting at home, posting pictures on Instagram, than I do fighting.”@paigevanzant says her endorsement earnings greatly outpace her fight earnings (via @arielhelwani) pic.twitter.com/dpdANFcbxU

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) August 26, 2019

VanZant has 2.5 million followers on Instagram and often posts sponsored content for companies like Stadium, MVMT watches and heath and beauty products like TC1Gel, Manscaped and Sun Valley Science. She also has a Youtube channel with nearly 25,000 subscribers.

In August of 2019, she told Ariel Helwani that she makes significantly more money posting to social media than she does fighting.

"With endorsements I make way more money sitting at home, posting pictures on Instagram than I do fighting. With endorsement deals and everything I pull in from social media, I would actually be at a loss just taking a fight and focusing on that. If I were to stop everything I do outside of fighting and just fight, I would be at a loss financially, by a long shot."

— Paige VanZant on Ariel Helwani's MMA show in August 2019.

VanZant also earns thousands of dollars per fight from a Reebok sponsorship. She signed with the company after her first ever UFC win in 2014 and maintained the endorsement up until 2019.

You've probably seen VanZant's face somewhere outside the octagon. She appeared in Sports Illustrated's 2019 Swimsuit Edition. She's modeled for Nike and Columbia Sportswear. When she was a teen, she appeared in a mop commercial for Bissell.

She's even appeared on the popular TV series Dancing with the Stars and Chopped. Paired with professional dancer Mark Ballas, she came in second on season 22 of the hit dancing show.

In 2018, she opened up about being gang-raped in high school in her biography, Rise: Surviving the Fight of my Life.

What is Paige VanZant's Net Worth?

12 Gauge is one of the UFC's rising mixed martial artist stars and has steadily built a reputation as a successful fighter and social media influencer in the United States. She also has one of the best nicknames in the sport.

Estimates for Paige VanZant's net worth vary greatly, ranging from $600,000 to as much as $3.5 million, according to TSMSportz.com. As she gains a larger following the more she fights and posts on Instagram, that number only figures to shoot up.

This article was originally published August 30, 2019.

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FAQs

Who is the top female UFC earner? ›

Topping the list at the No. 1, we have the GOAT, Amanda Nunez, who made a staggering $8.3 million, making her the highest paid female fighter in. UFC history.

How much do UFC fight girls make? ›

UFC Ring Girls' earnings can vary based on experience, event popularity, location, and personal popularity. While the typical earnings range from $1,000 to $5,000 per event, the total annual income for a UFC Ring Girl can reach up to $1 million, especially for the most popular ones.

Does a winner of a UFC fight get paid more? ›

Depending on the size of their fan base and the tier they fall into, they'll take home their base earnings. Additionally, whoever wins earns an additional prize, sometimes double their base pay, though that typically only applies to the first two tiers.

How much does Paige VanZant make? ›

VanZant received an average of $100,000 from the UFC for each fight, including sponsorships and win bonuses. Her total earnings from her UFC career to date are reportedly $564,000. Her career-disclosed earnings, according to Tapology, are $207,000.

Who is the UFC No. 1 woman? ›

Women's pound for pound
RankFighterRecord
1Alexa Grasso16–3–1
2Zhang Weili25–3
3Valentina Shevchenko23–4–1
13 more rows

Who is the wealthiest female MMA fighter? ›

Other Successful Female MMA Fighters

While Ronda Rousey may be the richest female MMA fighter, there are several other successful athletes who have achieved significant wealth through their careers in the sport.

Who is the richest ring girl in the UFC? ›

Arianny Celeste is without a doubt one of the most, if not the most successful ring girls on the planet. And this can be credited to her insanely stern work ethic. It has been said that Celeste made around $70,000 per event.

Who are the richest UFC fighters? ›

Conor McGregor is the highest-earning UFC Fighter of all time. The former two-division champion has raked in $39.3 million from his fights. This doesn't include Pay-Per-View earnings or endorsements.

How much does Holly Holm make per fight? ›

She has an average payout of $250,000 per fight, which includes her base pay, performance bonus, and pay-per-view points. Apart from her income from the UFC, Holm also has several endorsements, brand partnerships, and several acting gigs that contribute to her net worth.

What is the lowest UFC salary? ›

The minimum salary for someone in the MLB is $720,000. The UFC's minimum was $12,000 per fight in 2022, with a win bonus of another $12,000. It is not just fighter pay in the UFC that has caused debate.

What do UFC fighters get paid if they lose? ›

Yes, fighters in the UFC get paid even if they lose a fight. The payment typically includes a base salary for participating in the fight, but it does not include win bonuses, which are only given to the victor of the match.

Can you make a living in the UFC? ›

Yes, you can make a living as a UFC fighter. Ideally, the athletes on the roster train full-time to maximize their potential. However, simply fighting in the UFC is no guarantee of financial success. Most fighters aim to compete three or four times a year.

How much does Ronda Rousey make? ›

How much was Ronda Rousey's WWE contract? During her second run with the WWE, Rousey reportedly commanded a salary of $1.5 million, or an estimated $2.1 million when accounting for bonuses and merchandise sales. This made her one of the highest-paid WWE female wrestlers.

Why was Paige VanZant fight canceled? ›

According to VanZant, she was told “logistical issues” led to her fight being pulled from the event. BKFC president Dave Feldman confirmed it was the promotion's decision to pull the VanZant vs. Sigala fight from the card and added it had nothing to do with either fighter involved.

How much does Paige make on OnlyFans? ›

VanZant's claims become a lot more clear after this. She implied that she had made more than $564,000 in the span of 24 hours from her 'OnlyFans' subscriptions. A one-month subscription to her 'OnlyFans' content costs $9.99, while it stands at $26.97 for three months.

Who is the biggest earner in UFC? ›

UFC: leading fighter earning totals as of April 2022

Conor McGregor, aka Notorious, is the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter with the highest career earnings directly from UFC fights, with approximately 25.3 million U.S. dollars.

Who is the greatest female UFC all time? ›

All-Time Womens (Open)
RankFighter (Division)Points
1Amanda Nunes7515
2Cristiane Justino4870
3Valentina Shevchenko3684
4Ronda Rousey3493
31 more rows

Who is the women's UFC Hall of Fame? ›

UFC will induct Joanna Jędrzejczyk, one of the greatest female fighters of all time, into its Hall of Fame this summer, the promotion announced Saturday. Jędrzejczyk, of Poland, will become the second woman inducted into the Hall of Fame, alongside former champion and superstar Ronda Rousey.

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