UFC champ Ilia Topuria eyes Cristiano Ronaldo’s $275 million earning to become highest-paid athlete in 2025

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

UFC champ Ilia Topuria eyes Cristiano Ronaldo’s $275 million earning to become highest-paid athlete in 2025

Ilia Topuria aims to surpass Cristiano Ronaldo as the highest-paid athlete (via X/ The Week/ TransferMarkt)

UFC fighters are usually not known for being among the highest-paid athletes in the world. However, the UFC featherweight champion promised to change that. Ilia Topuria boldly declared his intention to become the highest-paid athlete in the world by the end of 2025. This ambitious goal would see the 27-year-old Spaniard surpass the earnings of global superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Ilia Topuria was informed that Cristiano Ronaldo was projected to make north of $250 million this year. Ronaldo earned around $275 million in 2023. The Spaniard remained unfazed and remained confident in his ability to surpass this target and become the highest-paid athlete of 2025. It was such a bold claim, as the last couple of years didn’t see a single fighter from the UFC in the Top 25. 

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
YouTube video

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
Ilia Topuria payout for UFC 298 (via Sports Illustrated)

According to the salaries released by the California State Athletic Commission, Topuria pocketed a cool $350,000 for his knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski. Of course, that substantial sum is just Topuria’s disclosed base purse. The PPV points and other earnings that come with being a UFC champion could push his total haul much higher. Still, a $350K payday is an incredible jump for the 27-year-old.

For context, that figure matches Topuria’s combined UFC earnings from his first six octagon appearances. Just a couple of years ago, he was a prospect fighting for peanuts on the regional circuit. Now, he’s conquered the featherweight throne and its accompanying riches. A payout of nearly half a million dollars is still a long way from his desire to become the highest-paid athlete in the world by 2025. However, as his stock keeps rising, so will his payday. 

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