MMA STARS will never earn as much as boxers, according to legend of the ring Mike Tyson.
The popularity of mixed martial arts has never been higher, with hordes of fans devastated to once again be missing out on the hotly-anticipated match up of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson this month.
Mike Tyson has had his say on UFC pursesCredit: AP:Associated Press
McGregor earned around £100m for his crossover fight with Floyd MayweatherCredit: Getty – Contributor
But the biggest money remains in boxing, with Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder believed to have earned as much as £19.4million each for their rematch in Las Vegas back in February.
Conor McGregor, the UFC’s most marketable star, meanwhile pocketed a promotion record £3.8million for his comeback bout against veteran Donald Cerrone in January.
The Irishman’s top career purse remains from his crossover boxing match with Floyd Mayweather in 2017.
The Notorious was comfortably beaten as many predicted, but the blow of defeat was certainly softened by a pay-day of close to £100million.
And Tyson, speaking to podcaster Brant James, said: “MMA will always have more views and stuff than boxing, but boxers will always make more money than MMA fighters.”
Then quizzed on why that’s the case, he continued: “That’s tricky, it doesn’t make any sense.
“I don’t know, they don’t make enough money in my perspective. It’s exciting and sexy, but [UFC fighters] don’t make enough money.”
McGregor’s previous UFC return following his fight with Mayweather saw him take on Khabib Nurmagomedov in one of the most highly-anticipated match-ups of the modern era.
Tyson believes that the UFC is ‘sexy’Credit: Getty – Contributor
The Notorious pocketed £3.8m for his UFC comeback against Donald CerroneCredit: Getty Images – Getty
McGregor’s purse was £2.3m for his defeat to Khabib in UFC 229Credit: USA TODAY Sports
The Russian produced a thrilling performance to defeat the motor-mouthed McGregor by a fourth-round submission.
But even for this most mouthwatering of fights, McGregor, 31, pocketed £2.3million – a fraction of what a boxer in a fight of a similar magnitude would have.
Tyson himself, now 53, earned a staggering £24million for his infamous rematch with Evander Holyfield all the way back in 1997.
Tyson’s infamous 1997 rematch with Holyfield earned him £24mCredit: AFP – Getty
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Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
