Top 10 UFC PPV buys of all time, ranked (2024)

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), established in 1993, has staged pay-per-view (PPV) events for the past three decades — about 15 shows during a modern calendar year. These PPV events are special broadcasts that require viewers to pay a fee to watch the event live. These events typically feature high-profile fights between top-ranked fighters, particularly division champions, in UFC.

Indeed, UFC PPV events often feature title fights, where the champions defend their belts against top contenders in their weight class. Some of the most popular UFC PPV events include:

• UFC 229: “Khabib vs. McGregor”
• UFC 202: “McGregor vs. Diaz”
• UFC 257: “Poirier vs. McGregor 2”

See a common theme? Yes, former “champ-champ,” Conor McGregor, is far and away the promotion’s biggest box office draw ... ever.

In addition to the PPV events, UFC also holds other events throughout the year that are broadcast on cable and streaming services. These events are typically not as high-profile as the PPV events, but still feature top-ranked fighters and can be watched with a subscription to the UFC’s streaming service, UFC Fight Pass and/or ESPN+.

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#1 — UFC 229: “Khabib vs. McGregor”

PPV buys: 2.4 million buys

Date: Sat., Oct. 6, 2018
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Results: Live stream updates, highlights, fight videos

The Lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor generated a record-breaking number of PPV buys because of the intense rivalry between the two fighters.

The rivalry between McGregor and Khabib was one of the most heated and intense in the history of the sport. McGregor — an Irish mixed martial artist — and Nurmagomedov — a Dagestani wrestler — had a long-standing personal and professional animosity that culminated with their highly publicized and controversial 155-pound showdown.

The feud began in early 2018 when McGregor attacked a bus carrying Nurmagomedov and other UFC fighters, throwing a metal dolly through the bus window and injuring several people (full details here). McGregor was arrested and faced legal charges for the incident, but he and Khabib continued to exchange insults and taunts on social media and in interviews leading up to their fight.

In Oct. 2018, the two finally faced off in a highly anticipated bout at UFC 229 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Khabib dominated McGregor throughout the fight, eventually submitting him in the fourth round with a neck crank. However, the post-fight events were even more dramatic, as Khabib jumped over the cage and attacked McGregor’s teammate, Dillon Danis, while members of Nurmagomedov’s team attacked McGregor inside the cage.

The incident sparked a huge backlash from fans and UFC, with both fighters facing disciplinary action and Khabib being stripped of his title for a brief period. The feud continued to simmer for months afterward, with both fighters continuing to trade insults and call for a rematch, but ultimately a second fight between the two never materialized.

Overall, the McGregor-Khabib rivalry was fueled by personal animosity, cultural and nationalistic differences, and a fierce desire to prove dominance in UFC’s Lightweight division. While their first fight was one of the most highly watched and anticipated in UFC history, the controversy and chaos surrounding the post-fight events ultimately overshadowed their performances in the Octagon.

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

#2 — UFC 202: “Diaz vs. McGregor 2”

PPV buys: 1.6 million buys

Date: Sat., Aug. 20, 2016
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Results: Live stream updates, highlights, fight videos

The second fight between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz was highly anticipated after Diaz won their first match via Earth-shattering submission at UFC 196 in March 2016 (watch highlights). Five months later, McGregor won the rematch via controversial majority decision.

Indeed, the first fight upset many fans and shook up UFC’s Featherweight division, as McGregor had moved up two weight classes to fight Diaz at Welterweight.

The rematch at UFC 202 was highly anticipated, as it was seen as a chance for McGregor to redeem himself and prove that he could beat Diaz. The fight was held at Welterweight again, and McGregor trained specifically for the rematch, focusing on his conditioning and grappling skills.

The fight itself was a back-and-forth battle, with both fighters landing significant strikes and takedowns throughout the five rounds. However, McGregor was able to edge out Diaz on the scorecards, winning via majority decision. This victory cemented McGregor’s status as one of UFC’s top fighters and helped set up future high-profile fights for the Irish sports star.

Overall, the rematch between McGregor and Diaz at UFC 202 was a highly anticipated and exciting fight that had a significant impact on UFC’s Featherweight and Welterweight divisions.

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

#3 — UFC 257: “McGregor vs. Poirer 2”

PPV buys: 1.6 million buys

Date: Sat., Jan. 23, 2021
Location: Ethiad Arena on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Results: Live stream updates, highlights, fight videos

The rematch between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 was a highly anticipated fight between two of the top fighters in UFC’s Lightweight division.

The first time these two fighters met was in Sept. 2014 at UFC 178, where McGregor won via technical knockout in the first round. Since then, both fighters had established themselves as elite fighters in UFC and had gone on to have successful careers.

In the lead-up to UFC 257, there was a lot of trash talk and tension between McGregor and Poirier. McGregor had been out of UFC for more than one year and was returning to the Octagon after his high-profile boxing match against Floyd Mayweather in 2017. Poirier, on the other hand, had been fighting regularly and was coming off a win against Dan Hooker.

The fight itself was highly competitive, with both fighters exchanging blows and grappling for position. However, in the second round, Poirier landed a series of leg kicks that visibly affected McGregor and slowed him down. Poirier then took advantage of the weakened McGregor and landed a flurry of punches, ultimately winning the fight via technical knockout in the second round (watch highlights).

The rematch between McGregor and Poirier was significant for both fighters’ careers, as it established Poirier as a legitimate contender in the 155-pound division and raised questions about McGregor’s future in the sport.

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

#4 — UFC 264: “McGregor vs. Poirer 3”

PPV buys: 1.5 million buys

Date: Sat., July 10, 2021
Location: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
Results: Live stream updates, highlights, fight videos

McGregor faced off against Poirier in the main event of the night once again. The bout was a highly anticipated rematch, as the two fighters had previously fought in Jan. 2021 with Poirier coming out on top.

The fight started off with both fighters exchanging strikes, but it was Poirier who was able to land some heavy shots, causing McGregor to stumble. However, McGregor was able to regain his footing and get back to his feet. As the round progressed, Poirier continued to attack McGregor with punches and leg kicks, while McGregor tried to counter with his own strikes. In the final moments of the round, Poirier was able to take down McGregor and land some ground-and-pound strikes.

In the second stanza, McGregor came out aggressively and was able to land some solid strikes on Poirier. However, Poirier was able to weather the storm and responded with a flurry of his own strikes, eventually causing McGregor to stumble and fall to the ground.

As McGregor was getting up, he appeared to suffer a gruesome leg injury, as his lower leg snapped and he fell back to the canvas (see it here). The fight was immediately stopped, and Poirier was declared the winner via technical knockout because of the injury.

The aftermath of the fight was filled with controversy, as McGregor and Poirier (and Poirier’s wife) exchanged heated words in the post-fight interviews. McGregor underwent surgery for his leg injury and has been out of action ever since.

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#5 — UFC 246: “McGregor vs. Cowboy”

PPV buys: 1.35 million buys

Date: Sat., Jan. 18, 2020
Location: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
Results: Live stream updates, highlights, fight videos

UFC 246’s main event featured a Welterweight bout between former two-division champion, Conor McGregor, and fan favorite, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. McGregor won the fight via technical knockout just 40 seconds into the first round (watch highlights), marking his return to the Octagon after a 15-month hiatus.

The fight started with both fighters being aggressive, but McGregor quickly took control with a series of shoulder strikes, followed by a head kick and a barrage of punches that sent Cerrone to the ground. McGregor then landed several more strikes on the ground, causing the referee to stop the fight.

The win was significant for McGregor, who had not won a fight since 2016 and had only fought once in the previous three years because of various legal and personal issues. The victory also solidified his status as one of the biggest draws in the sport, and he immediately called out several potential opponents, including then-Lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

#6 — UFC 196: “McGregor vs. Diaz”

PPV buys: 1.31 million buys

Date: Sat., March 5, 2016
Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
Results: Live stream updates, highlights, fight videos

The first fight between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz was initially scheduled to be a Lightweight bout, but Diaz stepped in on tequila-inspired short notice and won via submission in the second round (watch highlights).

The backstory to this fight began in Dec. 2015 when McGregor defeated Jose Aldo to become Featherweight champion.

Following his victory, McGregor expressed interest in moving up in weight to fight for the Lightweight title. However, UFC officials were hesitant to make the fight happen and instead booked Rafael dos Anjos to defend his Lightweight title against McGregor in March 2016.

However, just two weeks before the fight, dos Anjos was forced to withdraw because of a broken foot, and UFC scrambled to find a replacement opponent for McGregor. Enter Nate Diaz, who was already scheduled to fight on the same card, but at a lower weight class.

Despite being a last-minute replacement, Diaz was considered a tough opponent for McGregor. The two fighters engaged in a heated pre-fight rivalry, with McGregor famously trash-talking Diaz and predicting a first-round knockout victory.

On the night of the fight, however, Diaz proved to be a formidable opponent, withstanding McGregor’s punches and eventually forcing him to submit to a rear-naked choke in the second round. Diaz’s victory was considered a major upset and cemented his status as one of UFC’s top fighters.

The pair would go on to have a rematch later that year, with McGregor winning via majority decision in a closely contested bout. The McGregor-Diaz rivalry remains one of the most memorable in UFC history, and their two fights are considered among the most exciting and dramatic in the sport’s history.

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

#7 — UFC 205: “McGregor vs. Alvarez”

PPV buys: 1.3 million buys

Date: Sat., Nov. 12, 2016
Location: Madison Square Garden in New York, New York
Results: Live stream updates, highlights, fight videos

UFC 205’s main event between Conor McGregor and Eddie Alvarez was for the Lightweight championship, with Alvarez as the defending champion and McGregor as the challenger. It was a highly anticipated bout, marking the first time that UFC had held an event in New York City following the state’s decision to legalize professional mixed martial arts (MMA).

The fight itself was a one-sided affair, with McGregor dominating from the opening bell. He used his signature movement and striking to keep Alvarez on the back foot and unable to mount any offense of his own. In the second round, McGregor caught Alvarez with a devastating left hand that sent him crashing to the canvas. From there, McGregor pounced on his opponent and landed a series of vicious ground strikes that forced the referee to step in and stop the fight.

With the victory, McGregor became the first fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two weight classes simultaneously (he was also the Featherweight champion at the time). The win cemented his status as one of the sport’s all-time greats and further solidified his place as the biggest draw in UFC.

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

#8 — UFC 251: “Masvidal vs. Usman”

PPV buys: 1.3 million buys

Date: Sat., July 11, 2020
Location: Ethiad Arena on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Results: Live stream updates, highlights, fight videos

Kamaru Usman — also known as “The Nigerian Nightmare” — was UFC’s reigning Welterweight champion at the time, with a record of 16 wins and 1 loss. He had won the title in March 2019, defeating Tyron Woodley and had since defended it against Colby Covington in Dec. 2019.

Jorge Masvidal — also known as “Gamebred” — was a veteran UFC fighter with a record of 35 wins and 13 losses. He had recently gained significant popularity for his impressive performances and his “BMF” title fight against Nate Diaz in Nov. 2019.

The fight itself was a rematch, as the two fighters had previously met in a non-title fight in July 2019, which Usman had won via unanimous decision.

In UFC 251’s main event, Usman utilized his dominant wrestling skills to control Masvidal for the majority of the fight. Masvidal had some success early on — landing some strikes and defending takedowns — but as the fight went on, Usman’s grappling became more effective. Usman was able to take down Masvidal and keep him there, landing ground-and-pound strikes and working for submissions.

Masvidal showed a lot of heart and toughness, but he was unable to mount any significant offense and ultimately lost the fight via unanimous decision. Overall, the fight was a testament to Usman’s grappling skills and dominance as a 170-pound champion. Masvidal, meanwhile, proved to be a tough opponent, but he was unable to overcome Usman’s takedowns and ground control.

Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

#9 — UFC 100: “Mir vs. Lesnar”

PPV buys: 1.2 million buys

Date: Sat., July 11, 2009
Location: Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada
Results: Live stream updates, highlights, fight videos

UFC 200 was a major mixed martial arts event that took place on July 9, 2016, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was the 200th numbered event in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and featured a stacked lineup of fights with some of the biggest names in the sport.

The main event of UFC 200 was a highly anticipated rematch between Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir in the heavyweight division. Lesnar was a former UFC heavyweight champion who had made a name for himself as a dominant force in the sport, while Mir was a former champion in his own right and a skilled submission specialist.

In the fight, Lesnar used his size and strength advantage to dominate Mir, taking him down and landing powerful ground and pound strikes. Mir was unable to mount any significant offense, and eventually, the referee stepped in to stop the fight in the second round, awarding Lesnar a TKO victory.

The win was a significant moment for Lesnar, who had previously retired from MMA competition in 2011 and had not fought in the UFC for over four years. It also marked the second time he had defeated Mir, having previously defeated him in their first meeting at UFC 81 in 2008.

Overall, UFC 200 was a historic event for the UFC, featuring a lineup of high-profile fights and marking a major milestone in the organization’s history.

Photo by Sportsfile/Corbis/Sportsfile via Getty Images

#10 — UFC 194: “Aldo vs. McGregor”

PPV buys: 1.2 million buys

Date: Sat., Dec. 12, 2015
Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
Results: Live stream updates, highlights, fight videos

Conor McGregor won the Featherweight title in the main event, knocking out Jose Aldo in just 13 seconds, which was a record for the fastest finish in a UFC title fight (watch highlights).

The 145-pound fight was expected to be a clash of two of the best fighters in the sport, with McGregor’s brash trash-talking style and powerful striking against Aldo’s technical prowess and legendary defensive skills.

However, the fight ended up being a quick one.

Just 13 seconds into the first round, McGregor landed a powerful left hook that caught Aldo flush on the jaw and sent him crashing to the canvas. The referee quickly stopped the fight, and McGregor was declared UFC’s new Featherweight roost-ruler.

The knockout was one of the most shocking in UFC history, and McGregor’s victory was seen as a massive upset. Many fans and experts had predicted that Aldo would win the fight, and McGregor’s quick victory cemented his status as one of the most dominant and exciting fighters in the sport.

Overall, UFC 194 was a memorable event that showcased some of the best talent in MMA, with McGregor’s stunning knockout of Aldo serving as the main highlight of the night.

Keep in mind: UFC does not release official figures for PPV buys. The actual number of PPV buys for each event is typically only known to a select few individuals within UFC and its broadcast partners.

One possible reason UFC does not make PPV buys public is to maintain control over the narrative around its events. For example, if a particular event did not perform as well as expected, UFC may choose not to release official numbers to avoid negative publicity.

Another reason may be related to negotiations with its broadcast partners. If UFC releases official figures for PPV buys, it may weaken its negotiating position when it comes to future broadcasting deals. By keeping this information private, UFC may have more leverage in negotiations with broadcasters that are interested in exclusive access to its events.

Ultimately, the decision to keep PPV buys private is up to UFC and its management team. It is possible that it may choose to release official numbers in the future if they believe it would be beneficial to the business.

Note: ChatGPT — a natural language processing tool driven by Artificial Intelligence technology — was used in this article to help describe what UFC PPV events are and the reason(s) UFC rarely discloses PPV figures, as well as descriptions for the 10 historical events listed.

For more upcoming UFC PPV events, among others, check out our calendar right here.