UFC champ Ilia Topuria boldly declares his ambition to outshine Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the highest-paid athlete by 2025.

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Ilia Topuria vows to become the highest-paid athlete by the year 2025.

UFC fighters are typically not among the highest-paid athletes globally. However, UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria aims to change that narrative. He boldly declared his intention to surpass Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the highest-paid athlete in the world by the end of 2025.

Despite being informed of Ronaldo’s projected earnings of over $130 million for the year, Topuria remained undeterred, expressing confidence in his ability to achieve this ambitious goal. Such a declaration is particularly bold given that in recent years, no UFC fighter has ranked within the top 25 highest-paid athletes worldwide.

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Look, I can tell you that I have no doubt that in 2025, I will be the highest-paid athlete in the world… I would be really surprised if I didn’t do it.                –Ilia Topuria via El Podcast de Webpositer

 

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Topuria’s proclamation may seem outlandish given the UFC’s notoriously lower payouts compared to other major sports leagues. However, the confident champion’s recent knockout of Alexander Volkanovski has propelled him into stardom. He would likely need even more than stardom, more like the superstardom akin to Conor McGregor, to fulfill his prophecy.

 

Topuria is eyeing a fight with the current BMF champion, Max Holloway. He recently asked that both their belts be put on the line for the bout. Whether that happens or not is another question. Nevertheless, if that fight materializes and Topuria wins, it would surely positively impact his stock in a major way. This would get him closer to his dream of becoming the highest-paid athlete for 2025.

How much did Ilia Topuria make at UFC 298?

Ilia Topuria recently had the biggest fight of his life yet. The undefeated fighter from Spain challenged the Australian champion Alexander Volkanovski. This bout was for the UFC featherweight title. Topuria pulled off an intense KO victory over the fan-favorite Aussie. While the belt was a career-defining accomplishment, the purse wasn’t too shabby either.

Ilia Topuria payout for UFC 298 (via Sports Illustrated)

According to the salaries disclosed by the California State Athletic Commission, Topuria earned a substantial $350,000 for his knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski. This impressive sum represents Topuria’s disclosed base purse alone, excluding potential additional earnings such as PPV points and other bonuses typical for UFC champions, which could significantly elevate his total earnings. Nonetheless, a $350,000 payday marks a remarkable leap for the 27-year-old athlete.

 

 

 

 

That $350,000 figure for Topuria’s recent victory matches his total UFC earnings from his first six octagon appearances combined. Just a couple of years ago, he was a prospect competing for minimal pay on the regional circuit. Now, he’s ascended to the featherweight throne, accompanied by significant wealth. While a payout nearing half a million dollars still falls short of his goal to become the world’s highest-paid athlete by 2025, as his profile continues to soar, so will his earnings.