As of now, there is an undisclosed amount. However, Rousey gave a hint on a record-breaking payday. Speaking to Alex Sherman of CNBC, Rousey said, “Well, I’m not allowed to say specifically, exactly what it is. I’m definitely blowing any kind of records of whatever record there was before for whatever a woman has been paid to fight in any kind of combat sport.”

However, Rousey also stated that we will all know in due time, as California requires to publicize the pay amount after the fight. Rousey has been selling this fight like crazy, while sending shots to TKO’s UFC, though stating she has no issue with Dana White.

We have a clue of how much Rousey is making to fight Carano

According to BBC, Rousey’s last UFC reported paycheck was a $3 million bag. Hence, it’s more than that if we take her words at face value. Rousey was the first female superstar in MMA, and laid the foundation for women in the UFC, though she is now competing against that very company.

Hence, we can assume is more than $3 million. But there’s more. Rousey said it’s the most any woman has ever been paid for a combat sport appearance. Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor got $5 million for their trilogy boxing fight. Hence, we could be looking at more than $5 million as well.

How much is Carano making to fight Rousey?

Carano is also poised to get the best payout of her career. Carano hasn’t fought since 2009, and then she transitioned into a rather successful Hollywood career, appearing in the Fast and Furious saga, alongside other big-time shows like The Mandalorian.

It’s not clear if she will make the same amount of money as Rousey. She is still, at worst, the second-highest paid fighter in this card due to her main event status.

During the press conference ahead of the fight, Rousey was clear on her stance. “I would want to make something abundantly clear and that’s I owe Dana White and the Fertitta’s immensely. I would be caught dead before you ever heard me say a bad thing about any of them. But my loyalty is to them and not the company that they sold. I do not owe TKO’s UFC a damn thing.”

White sold the company almost a decade ago for $4.6 billion to TKO, but he remains the president. Still, Rousey is not fond of the direction the UFC has been going ever since White is no longer the end-all-be-all of the UFC.

Where is Ronda Rousey fighting?

If not the UFC, who can give Rousey the paycheck she is asking for? Enter Jake Paul, one of Dana White’s nemesis, and his MVP promotions. Rousey will be the main event on what can be called a stacked card due to the names involved, though not precisely due to the fighters’ actual forms.

She will headline the MVP event against Gina Carano, with Francis Ngannou, Philippe Lins, Nate Diaz, and Mike Perry also involved in the event. Ngannou also had a very public feud with Dana White and the UFC, which led to the release of his contract.

MVP MMA main card

The event, which will be broadcasted on Netflix worldwide, has a plethora of huge matchups. From UFC veterans, to underground fighters making their way up, it surely promises to be one of the best non-UFC cards of all time.

Main Event: Ronda Rousey (12-2) vs. Gina Carano (7-1) (Featherweight)
Co-Main: Nate Diaz (21-13) vs. Mike Perry (14-8) (Welterweight)
Heavyweight Bout: Francis Ngannou (18-3) vs. Philippe Lins (18-5) (Heavyweight)
Heavyweight Bout: Junior Dos Santos (23-10) vs. Robelis Despaigne (5-2 (Heavyweight)
Lightweight Bout: Salahdine Parnasse (22-2) vs. Kenneth Cross (17-4) (Lightweight)

Per ESPN, “Sean Strickland is the only fighter since 2008 with multiple title fight wins as a 3-1 underdog or longer.” Hence, if you want the unlikely to happen, better call Strickland. The other fight was when he was a +520 underdog against Israel Adesanya.

That time, Strickland made a huge upset as he outstruck Adesanya, who was arguably the best striker in UFC at the moment. Now, Strickland managed to do the unfathomable, avoid Chimaev’s grappling and control the distance on the backfoot.

Strickland gassed Chimaev

By the second round, Chimaev takedown attempts looked predictable and he looked slower. Strickland, who has a huge gas tank took the opportunity to lead the fight where he wanted, to boxing range.

Strickland has really good striking defense, and an even better range control. So, from round three and onwards, it was the fight he wanted. Even though Chimaev stood and banged with Strickland, it seems like the American had the best of each exchange in the pocket.

Strickland etched his name among middleweight’s greatest

Just two fighters have been able to win UFC middleweight gold after losing the title once: Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland. Not only that, Strickland has beaten two of the best fighters the 185-pound division has ever seen.

Whether you like him or not, Strickland will forever be remembered in the UFC as the ultimate underdog story. From a bad childhood, to beating the odds (quite literally), and becoming a two-time champion. His career has certified him a spot in the Hall of Fame in the future.

Hokit’s personality is very polarizing, and the surging heavyweight is not shy to run his mouth. He earned a spot in the UFC White House by beating Curtis Blaydes and making a huge splash within the UFC confines.

However, Hokit’s appearance was short but memorable. However, after insulting Derrick Lewis, Alex Pereira, and Ilia Topuria, security had to intervene and got him out of there. Hokit was still in screaming slurs as he was leaving.

Why is Josh Hokit getting so much traction?

Hokit is the perfect storm that the heavyweight division needed. This division has been bad for years with inactive champions, old fighters and few blockbuster fighters. To make it worse, Jon Jones retired and Tom Aspinall has been sidelined due to an eye injury. Then came Hokit.

Hokit is a brawler, with a fan-friendly style of fighting, finishing power, and a loud personality. He talks the talk, and walks the walk. As a trash-talker, he is second to none. As a fighter, he is undefeated. He brought life to the division.

Who will Josh Hokit face at UFC White House?

While he jabbed at Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria on the microphone, the fact is Hokit is fighting against fan-favorite Derrick Lewis. This was Donald Trump’s idea. It was the United States President the one who asked Dana White to get Lewis on the card.

Hokit answered the call just minutes after his fight of the year candidate against Curtis Blaydes. Now, Hokit will have the chance to get a huge win against Lewis, who holds the UFC record for most knockouts in history.

According to the Times of India, Joshua Van scored a $1.2 million after earning the title against Alexandre Pantoja. Hence, now that he is the defending champion, he should see somewhat of a pay bump.

Van comes into this fight as one of the fastest-surging stars in the UFC. The flyweight division was in need of exciting fighters, and Van filled that hole perfectly all the way to the title.

How much is Tatsuro Taira making for his fight at UFC 328?

Tatsuro Taira is the one reportedly facing the biggest increase in his paycheck. He reportedly earned around $176,000 for his win against Brandon Moreno. Hence, now that he is challenging for a title, he should get the biggest purse in his career.

Taira could be on the verge of the biggest win in his career, which would make him the first-ever Japanese UFC champion. He is facing the opportunity to make absolute history, while collecting he biggest purse of his life.

The flyweight division is entering a new era

After years of Deiveson Figueiredo, Brandon Moreno, and Alexandre Pantoja dominating the division, it’s time for new blood to take over. It all started with Van getting the belt. Now, Taira can get his shot.

However, there is more to that. Flyweights like these two, Manel Kape, Lone’er Kavanagh, Amir Albazi, and Steve Erceg can take the protagonism in this division. The flyweights are entering a much more dynamic era.

Chimaev’s mercurial rise on the sport has gone hand-in-hand with his increased earnings. According to KhelNow, Chimaev is projected to earn around $3 million, including his base show/win fee, PPV revenue share (under new Paramount+ alignments), and any potential bonuses.

Chimaev’s title-winning performance against Dricus Du Plessis reportedly earned him $2.6 million. As champion, he is scheduled to earn more. Also, he attracts many eye balls, solidifying him as one of the biggest stars in the UFC.

How much will Sean Strickland make for UFC 328 fight?

Strickland is also a box-office attraction for the UFC at 185 lbs. When he beat Israel Adesanya to become UFC middleweight champ, he bagged $1.5 million. Strickland has established himself as a household name.

For his rematch against Du Plessis, Strickland earned $1.032 million at UFC 312. He is projected to earn around $1.5 million if he wins, with his base payout estimated to be around $750,000 to $900,000.

The feud between Chimaev and Strickland is very personal

Chimaev and Strickland have gone to deep waters in the buildup of this fight. Chimaev has even called out the fact that Strickland’s father was abussive, while Strickland has accused Chimaev of being a terrorist, and plenty more.

Taira is a young prospect that has already beaten the likes of Brandon Moreno by stoppage. With lightning-speed, a well-rounded skillset, and finishing ability, the Japanese has taken the UFC by storm all the way to a title shot.

While he is at the door of UFC glory, his story is more than just banging it out in the octagon. He already is a big-time fighter, but he hasn’t even reached his peak yet. Here’s all you need to know about Tatsuro Taira.

How old is Tatsuro Taira?

Born on January 27th, 2000, Taira is 26 years old. Out of Okinawa, Japan, Taira started to train in martial arts thanks to his older brother, a kickboxer. Taira played baseball in his early days, but he wasn’t passionate enough. It was his introduction to MMA which gave him a career path.

How tall is Tatsuro Taira?

Taira is 5’7″ (170cm), making him one of the tallest flyweights in the UFC. The Japanese has a 70-inch reach (178cm), making him a range-based striker, with the ability to explode in level-changes to get takedowns.

What is Tatsuro Taira’s weight?

Taira competes in the flyweight division, meaning he has to weigh 125 lbs a day before his fights. Of course, thanks to rehydration, Taira weighs a bit more on fight night.

Tatsuro Taira could make history

If Taira wins his bout at UFC 328 bout against Joshua Van, he will become the first Japanese to become undisputed champion in MMA’s biggest promotion. Seven Japanese fighters have fought for a title without any success.

Kyoji Horiguchi, Yushin Okami, Caol Uno x2, Hayato Sakurai, Kenichi Yamamoto, and Yuki Kondo all fought for UFC gold but where unsuccessful. Brazilian Lyoto Machida, of Japanese descent, did have a UFC championship belt around his waist.

Tatsuro Taira’s biggest accomplishments

Taira has an 18-1 record with six knockouts, eight submissions, and four decisions. His lone defeat against Brandon Royval was a split decision. Taira also became the only man to knock out former UFC champion Brandon Moreno so far.

In a post-press conference video posted by Adam Zubayraev via Championship Rounds, Chimaev explained the reason for his kick. “If I didn’t do this, he’s gonna do more and more bad things. If I let him do it, he’s gonna speak about my mom, my dad, everyone. That’s why I just had to stop him.“

Chimaev and Strickland went hard on each other during the press conference until the beef reached physical heights. Chimaev threw an oblique kick, which is designed to hyperextend the knee of the opponent. Hence, he is lucky Strickland’s knee didn’t suffer any damage, otherwise the main event could’ve gotten canceled.

Why do Chimaev and Strickland hate each other so much?

The fighting business is not precisely known for fighters being friendly to each other. After all, they punch each other in the face. However, there are some fights where the bad blood boils more than others.

The fact is these two have been insulting each other for years, including personal stuff, bitter gym sparring sessions and just opposite personalities. There is an unwritten code that sparring videos shouldn’t be disclosed. However, Chimaev leaked a video sparring with Strickland saying he was “bullying weak people,” hence propeling the feud even further.

Strickland is a massive underdog, but he’s defied the odds before

Strickland is a former champion, but Vegas odds still have him as a +425 underdog in comparison to Chimaev, who comes in at -600. Still, it wouldn’t be the first time that Strickland comes in as a massive underdog and delivers a masterclass.

When he won the belt against Adesanya, he was a +540 underdog. He ended up putting on a show, nearly finishing Adesanya and dominating on the scorecards (49-46 x3) in Adesanya’s home soil.

Being a top contender for years pays off. For his headline fight at UFC Fight Night 242: Burns vs. Brady in September 2024, Burns received $157,500 in Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay. It’s rumored that his paycheck for the Michael Morales fight was along those amounts as well.

Mike Malott’s pays haven’t been disclosed, but he earns significantly less, due to his UFC ranking. Given that this is a main event though, it’s wildly speculated that this will undoubtedly be Malott’s biggest check in the UFC.

Burns vs. Malott is a battle of momentums

While Burns is the known face, his prime is gone. In fact, he has lost his last four fights, though he’s been highly competitive in pretty much all of them. Burns’ record now stands at 22-9 with 15 finishes. He is a very well-rounded fighter, but his biggest strength is his Jiu-Jitsu.

As for Malott, his hype train was derailed by a loss to Neil Magny in 2024, but after that, he’s bounced back with three-straight wins. Malott has a 13-2-1 record with 11 finishes. He is regarded as a prospect despite being 34 years old.

When was the last time that UFC made an event in Canada?

This marks the return of the UFC to Canada after a six-month span. The last event on Canadian soil was UFC Fight Night: De Ridder vs. Allen, which took place in Vancouver, British Columbia, back in October, 2025.

As for the Winnipeg area, it’s the first event since 2017, when UFC held UFC on Fox: Lawler vs. Dos Anjos. Malott will be the hometown hero and will hope to deliver a happy ending to the night to his fellow Canadiens in the stands.

During UFC 327’s press conference, Dana White revealed that it was United States President, Donald Trump, who was in attendance, the one that asked Dana “Why is Derrick Lewis not in the White House card?”

So, White told Lewis Trump wanted him on the card, to which Lewis replied “I absolutely want to fight on the card.” However, matchmaker Nick Maynard couldn’t find Lewis a fight quick enough, because soon thereafter, Hokit won against Blaydes in one of the best fights of all time.

After that, Joe Rogan (commentator for the UFC) said “is there another slot open on the White House card?” That prompted White to go back to Maynard and sent him to Hokit’s dressing room to negotiate. “Hokit was getting into an ambulance and said yes,” White said.

Josh Hokit vs Curtis Blaydes is arguably the best heavyweight bout of all time

When you think heavyweights, you usually think knockouts, and not that much cardio. Hokit and Blaydes threw for more than 300 significant strikes combined, and both guys showed cardio, resiliency, power, and grit. It was an amazing fight all around and Hokit’s personality was matched by his skill.

Josh Hokit is rising crazy-fast within the UFC confines

With an unapologetic, trash-talking, cringey, and loud personality, Josh Hokit has rapidly became one of the most mediatic names in the UFC. His weigh in clip alone did more than 15 million views across all platforms. A PR dream and nightmare at the same time, Hokit is already a huge name to follow.

However, as Dana White said, “once he fights, we all forget about it” and he also stated that he is not precisely a fan of Hokit shtick but that he can “talk the talk.” Hokit is 9-0 with eight finishes and a huge figure rising.

Alex Pereira reigned over the 205-pound division for years (barring a loss to Magomed Ankalaev, which he avenged). However, Alex Pereira will go up a weight class to try to achieve the heavyweight crown. Hence, he vacated his title to not hold the division back.

This gave the opportunity to Prochazka to be once again considered for UFC gold. Prochazka’s only two losses in the UFC came to Alex Pereira, so the fact that his boogeyman is out of the division is great news for him. Carlos Ulberg, on the other hand, is on a nine-fight win streak, so he deservedly earned this shot.

Alex Pereira is ready for heavyweight

Alex Pereira is weighing 251 pounds right now. He is ready to roll and has a massive fight scheduled already for his heavyweight debut. Alex Pereira will fight Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC heavyweight title on the White House card.

If Pereira wins, he would be in line for a mega fight against Tom Aspinall for the undisputed champion. However, it’s more than that. If Pereira beats Gane, he would become the first UFC fighter in history to be a champion in three different weight classes. He has held the middleweight and light heavyweight titles already.

UFC light heavyweights champions in history

There have been 18 different undisputed light heavyweight champions. However, after a decade-long dominance from Jon Jones with a couple of Daniel Cormier stints, the division has opened up. From 2020 until now, there’s been six different champions.

• Frank Shamrock 1997-1999
• Tito Ortiz 2000-2003
• Randy Couture 2003-2004
• Vitor Belfort 2004
• Chuck Liddell 2005-2007
• Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson 2007-2008
• Forrest Griffin 2008
• Rashad Evans 2008
• Lyoto Machida 2009
• Maurico ‘Shogun’ Rua 2010
• Jon Jones 2011-2015, 2016, 2018-2019
• Daniel Cormier 2015-2018
• Jan Blachowicz 2020-2021
• Glover Teixeira 2021
• Jiri Prochazka 2022
• Jamahal Hill 2022
• Alex Pereira 2023-2025 and 2025-2026
• Magomed Ankalaev 2025