Wonder How much Justing Gaethje Earn from UFC 324?
What’s up, fight fans? It’s Jake Simmons here, writing to you from a rainy Sunday in Seattle, still nursing a coffee and re-watching the absolute madness that was UFC 324. If you caught the fights last night, you know exactly why my voice is gone today. The KOs were vicious, the judges actually made sense (mostly), and that main event between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett? That was an instant classic that lived up to every ounce of the hype.
But we aren’t just here to talk about the uppercuts and the takedowns. We’re here to talk about the money. That’s the fuel that keeps this machine running.
UFC 324 kicked off the Paramount era on January 24, 2026, at the T-Mobile Arena in Vegas, and it wasn’t just a new broadcast look—it was a payday bonanza. With Dana White finally bumping the standard performance bonuses to $100k and adding those sweet new $25k finish incentives, the locker room was buzzing.
I’ve dug into the reported payouts, estimates, and those juicy bonuses to give you a clear picture of who walked away with the biggest bags—from the superstars like Gaethje and Sean O’Malley down to the hungry grinders on the early prelims.
(Note: The UFC generally keeps official purse numbers private. These figures are estimates based on reports from outlets like EssentiallySports, Khel Now, NSAC data, and analysis of 2026 pay trends.)
The Big Picture: Paramount Money & The New Bonus Structure
Before we get into the individual breakdowns, let’s look at the event as a whole. UFC 324 was projected to hit around 800,000 PPV buys, a massive number for a card without Conor McGregor. That success means the top dogs on the card triggered their backend points, pushing their totals well into the seven figures.
Total disclosed payouts likely topped $10 million, with over $700k dropped just in bonuses. The new bonus structure is a serious game-changer for the mid-tier fighters. Here is how the extra cash was distributed last night:
| Bonus Type | Amount | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Fight of the Night | $100,000 each | Justin Gaethje & Paddy Pimblett |
| Performance of the Night | $100,000 each | Adam Fugitt & Josh Hokit |
| Finish Bonus | $25,000 each | Alex Perez, Nikita Krylov, Waldo Cortes-Acosta |
Dana admitted he was “badly wrong” about not raising these sooner. Looking at the violence on display last night, I’d say the money was well spent.
The Main Event: The Price of Violence
“The Highlight” lived up to his name. Justin Gaethje is one of the few guys on the roster who guarantees chaos, and he is paid accordingly. While Paddy Pimblett took the loss on the scorecards, his bank account certainly won. Even in defeat, proving he can hang with the elite for 25 minutes has likely skyrocketed his value.
Here is the estimated breakdown for the main event stars:
| Fighter | Result | Base Pay (Est.) | Win Bonus | PPV Share (Est.) | Perf. Bonus | Total Payout (Est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Gaethje | Win | $750k – $900k | $750k – $900k | $300k – $1.2M | $100k (FOTN) | $1.9M – $3.1M |
| Paddy Pimblett | Loss | $350k – $450k | N/A | $100k – $300k | $100k (FOTN) | $550k – $850k |
Gaethje was pretty cool post-fight, brushing off talk about pay by saying, “We’re getting paid to fight – that’s the dream.” When you are clearing nearly $3 million for a night’s work at age 37, the dream is definitely alive.
Co-Main Event: The Suga Show Cashes Out
Sean O’Malley bounced back from his title loss with a slick decision win over Song Yadong. While he didn’t get the finish, his value to the company is undeniable. He brings the younger demographic, and the UFC pays a premium for that influence. Song Yadong, meanwhile, is stuck in that tough spot—paid well as a contender, but needing a streak to hit superstar money.
| Fighter | Result | Base Pay (Est.) | Win Bonus | PPV Share (Est.) | Total Payout (Est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O’Malley | Win | $600k – $800k | $600k – $800k | $200k – $500k | $1.4M – $2.1M |
| Song Yadong | Loss | $160k – $200k | N/A | $40k – $80k | $200k – $280k |
Main Card: Heavyweights and Upsets
The rest of the main card was a mixed bag of veteran paydays and rising stars cashing in on upsets. Waldo Cortes-Acosta had the night of his life, knocking out the legendary Derrick Lewis. That win didn’t just put him on the map; it padded his wallet with a nice finish bonus.
| Fighter | Opponent | Result | Base + Win (Est.) | Bonuses | Total Payout (Est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waldo Cortes-Acosta | Derrick Lewis | Win (KO) | $120k – $200k | $25k (Finish) | $145k – $225k |
| Derrick Lewis | W. Cortes-Acosta | Loss | $325k – $350k | N/A | $325k – $350k |
| Natalia Silva | Rose Namajunas | Win (Dec) | $110k – $150k | N/A | $110k – $150k |
| Rose Namajunas | Natalia Silva | Loss | $225k – $300k | N/A | $225k – $300k |
| Jean Silva | Arnold Allen | Win (Dec) | $200k – $300k | $20k (Incentive) | $220k – $350k |
| Arnold Allen | Jean Silva | Loss | $300k – $325k | N/A | $300k – $325k |
The Undercard Hustle: Prelim Payouts
This is where the new bonus structure really shines. In the past, prelim fighters often fought for peanuts. At UFC 324, the finishers ate good. Umar Nurmagomedov kept his undefeated record, but the guys who finished their fights—Krylov and Perez—got that sweet $25k kicker.
| Fighter | Result | Method | Base + Win (Est.) | Bonuses | Total Payout (Est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umar Nurmagomedov | Win | Decision | ~$160,000 | $20k (Incentive) | ~$180,000 |
| Deiveson Figueiredo | Loss | Decision | ~$200,000 | N/A | ~$200,000 |
| Nikita Krylov | Win | KO R3 | ~$120,000 | $25k (Finish) | ~$145,000 |
| Alex Perez | Win | KO R1 | ~$100,000 | $25k (Finish) | ~$125,000 |
The Life-Changing Early Prelims
I have to give a special shout-out to Josh Hokit and Adam Fugitt. These guys were on the early prelims—the fights usually played in front of empty seats while fans are still finding their seats or grabbing beers. Because they had the most spectacular finishes of the night, they both snagged the $100,000 Performance of the Night bonuses.
Check out the difference a bonus makes for fighters on entry-level contracts:
| Fighter | Base Pay (Est.) | Win Bonus | POTN Bonus | Total Payout (Est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Hokit | ~$20,000 | $20,000 | $100,000 | ~$140,000 |
| Adam Fugitt | ~$25,000 | $25,000 | $100,000 | ~$150,000 |
Imagine waking up knowing you multiplied your paycheck by seven just because you let your hands go. That is the beauty of the fight game.
Final Thoughts: The 2026 Pay Landscape
So, what does UFC 324 tell us about the future? With an estimated $8M – $12M paid out to the roster, the Paramount era is starting off healthy.
The gap between the “haves” (Gaethje, O’Malley) and the “have-nots” (prelim fighters) is still massive. However, that new $25k finish bonus and the doubled performance bonuses are a massive lifeline for the undercard. It incentivizes the kind of violence we love to watch and gives unranked fighters a chance to change their lives in a single night.
Critics will say it’s still not enough compared to boxing or other major sports, and they aren’t wrong. But for now, seeing guys like Adam Fugitt turn a $25k contract into a $150k night puts a smile on my face.
What’s your take on these payouts? Did Gaethje deserve more for that war? Hit me up on X @maincardmoney and let me know!
Catch you for the next card, Jake
