Anderson Silva, one of the greatest names in MMA history, has always been recognized for his sporting impact, but not always for his financial gains. During his UFC reign, many of his purses were well below what lesser-known athletes receive today. This contrast became even more evident when the Brazilian switched to boxing.
As a veteran, Silva began earning higher sums in single fights. Against Julio César Chávez Jr. in 2021, he received approximately $500 (R$2,7 million at the time) in fixed purse, plus $100 for Chávez Jr. missing weight, and a portion of the pay-per-view, totaling approximately $600. In the duel with Jake Paul, in 2022, received 500 thousand, from a fixed grant, plus 35% of the revenue from pay-per-view, reaching around 1,5 million dollars (R$7,744 million, at the time).
While exact UFC pay-per-view figures are not fully public, these figures indicate that in some boxing matches, Silva received more than the fixed purse for many of his title defenses.
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This scenario of late appreciation connected to another important chapter in its trajectory: the class action lawsuit filed by former fighters against the UFCThe antitrust lawsuit, aimed at combating anticompetitive practices and monopolies, accused the UFC of restricting the market and limiting athletes' earnings. In 2024, the court ruled in favor of the fighters, and Anderson was among the beneficiaries, receiving millions in compensation.
Thus, Anderson Silva He ends his career with a legacy that transcends victories and knockouts. From boxing to legal battles, the martial arts legend turned the fight for financial recognition into yet another achievement, demonstrating that, even past his peak, he continued to win in and out of the ring.
It's not just Anderson Silva! Understand the antitrust case against the UFC
Dana White is president of the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/UFC
The class action lawsuit alleged that the UFC, controlled at the time by Zuffa (now part of the TKO Holdings group), monopolized the market and restricted competition among promoters, harming fighters' pay and mobility.
The UFC has been accused of practices such as exclusive contracts with restrictive clauses, threats of retaliation against athletes who fight for other organizations, and acquisitions of competitors (Pride, WEC, Strikeforce) to centralize the market.
The case covered fighters who fought between December 2010 and June 2017, a period in which the UFC established itself as the world's leading MMA organization.
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