UFC 329 Payouts - How much did Conor McGregor, Max Holloway & others get paid? Reported & estimated salaries
(Courtesy :Â UFC)
Conor McGregor makes his long-awaited return to the Octagon at UFC 329.
Conor McGregor returned to the Octagon after nearly five years away from active competition. UFC 329 takes place on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, as the centrepiece of the promotion’s annual International Fight Week.
The main event pitted McGregor against former two-division champion Max Holloway in a welterweight bout, a rematch of their 2013 meeting that McGregor won by unanimous decision.
It was McGregor’s first appearance since he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021, and Holloway’s first fight at 170 pounds after moving up from lightweight.
The co-main event featured a consequential lightweight clash between #5-ranked Benoit Saint Denis and #6-ranked Paddy Pimblett.
Also on the main card were Cory Sandhagen against Mario Bautista at bantamweight, Brandon Royval against Lone’er Kavanagh at flyweight, and King Green against Terrance McKinney at lightweight.
The prelims featured Robert Whittaker’s light heavyweight debut against Nikita Krylov, Olympic gold medallist Gable Steveson’s UFC debut against Elisha Ellison, and Cody Garbrandt against Adrian Yanez, among others.
When does UFC 329 start?
| Event | Time (ET) | Time (BST) | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Prelims | 5:00 PM | 10:00 PM | 2:30 AM (Sun) |
| Prelims | 7:00 PM | 12:00 AM (Sun) | 4:30 AM (Sun) |
| Main Card | 9:00 PM | 2:00 AM (Sun) | 6:30 AM (Sun) |
| Main Event (approx.) | 12:00 AM (Sun) | 5:00 AM (Sun) | 9:30 AM (Sun) |
Where to watch UFC 329?
| Region | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| USA | Paramount+ |
| UK & Ireland | TNT Sports Box Office & HBO Max |
| India | Sony LIV & Sony Sports Network channels |
Conor McGregor and Max Holloway’s estimated payout
Conor McGregor remains the biggest commercial draw the sport of MMA has ever produced, and his return purse reflects that status.
Across his career, McGregor has recorded some of the largest single-fight paydays in UFC history, including a reported $28.48 million for his UFC 229 bout against Khabib Nurmagomedov and around $23 million for his UFC 264 trilogy loss to Dustin Poirier.
For UFC 329, McGregor is reportedly guaranteed a base purse in the region of $15 million, making him by far the highest earner on the card. When pay-per-view points, sponsorship income and other discretionary bonuses are factored in, his total take-home could reportedly climb as high as $30 million.
Max Holloway, stepping up to welterweight for the first time, is reportedly guaranteed around $3 million for the rematch. That figure would still rank among the biggest paydays of his career, even though it sits well below McGregor’s reported purse.
Holloway’s earnings have climbed steadily in recent years, with a reported payout near $2 million for his win over Ilia Topuria and around $4 million, including commercial incentives, for his fight against Charles Oliveira.
Benoit Saint Denis and Paddy Pimblett’s estimated payout
The co-main event carries significant stakes and a healthy purse for both lightweight contenders. Benoit Saint Denis reportedly earned $286,000 for his win over Dan Hooker at UFC 325, and around $400,000 for his UFC 315 bout against Kyle Prepolec.
Given the profile of facing Pimblett, his purse for UFC 329 is expected to climb further, potentially matching or exceeding the $400,000 mark.
Paddy Pimblett, one of the UFC’s most marketable lightweights, reportedly earned well over $1.5 million for his interim title challenge against Justin Gaethje at UFC 324. His UFC 329 purse is projected in a similar range given his continued box-office appeal.
UFC 329: Other fighters’ estimated payouts
Cory Sandhagen, who rebounded from a five-round loss to Merab Dvalishvili with a finish of Deiveson Figueiredo, has an estimated career salary in the $500,000 range, with his reported purse against Marlon Vera at $320,000. His rematch with Mario Bautista at UFC 329 is projected in a similar bracket.
Robert Whittaker, making his light heavyweight debut against Nikita Krylov, has taken home purses as high as $771,000 in recent outings, though his most recent reported payout sat closer to the $300,000-$400,000 range. Krylov, by comparison, has recently drawn purses in the region of $90,000.
Gable Steveson, the Olympic gold medallist making his long-awaited UFC debut, is expected to earn a promotional debut-tier salary, typically in the lower six-figure range for a first UFC appearance of this profile.
Paddy Pimblett’s co-main opponent aside, other notable names include Cody Garbrandt and Adrian Yanez, both veterans whose recent purses have fallen in the $100,000-$200,000 bracket.
UFC 329 fighters’ estimated payouts
Paddy Pimblett and King Green earner performance bonuses of the night, securing another $100,000, while Royval vs Kavanagh earned fight of the night, both earning $100,000 each. The newly introduced finish bonus ($25,000 to each fighter) was also awarded to fighters with finishes at the event.
| Fighter | Reported / Estimated Payout |
|---|---|
| Conor McGregor | $15,000,000 – $30,000,000 |
| Max Holloway | $3,000,000+ |
| Paddy Pimblett | $1,500,000+ |
| Benoit Saint Denis | $400,000 – $500,000 |
| Robert Whittaker | $300,000 – $400,000 |
| Cory Sandhagen | $300,000 – $500,000 |
| Mario Bautista | $150,000 – $250,000 |
| Brandon Royval | $150,000 – $250,000 |
| Lone’er Kavanagh | $80,000 – $120,000 |
| King Green | $150,000 – $200,000 |
| Terrance McKinney | $100,000 – $150,000 |
| Nikita Krylov | $80,000 – $100,000 |
| Gable Steveson | $100,000 – $200,000 |
| Cody Garbrandt | $150,000 – $200,000 |
| Adrian Yanez | $80,000 – $120,000 |
Note: All mentioned figures for fighters are analyst projections based on prior UFC compensation data. UFC has not officially disclosed individual purses for UFC 329.
Who won the opening fight between King Green and Terrance McKinney at UFC 329?
King Green defeated Terrance McKinney via first-round technical knockout (TKO). The stoppage came at 4:59 of Round 1
Who won in the co-main event between Benoit Saint Denis and Paddy Pimblett?
Paddy Pimblett put Benoit Saint Denis to sleep via D’Arce Choke in the very first minute of round 1 to return to the win column.
Who won in the main event between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway?
Holloway defeated McGregor via round 1 TKO as Conor injured his right knee in his return fight after five years. The injury occurred in the very first sequence as Conor failed to fight through another injury.
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