Biggest UFC Fights of All Time That Broke Pay-Per-View Records

There are fights, and then there are events. The difference is measured in millions.

In the world of mixed martial arts, pay-per-view buys are the ultimate scorecard. Championship belts measure athletic achievement. Title defenses measure dominance. But pay-per-view numbers measure something else entirely: cultural impact.

When a fight breaks PPV records, it means something larger than sport is happening. It means casual fans who never watch MMA are finding a reason to tune in. It means water cooler conversations from coast to coast. It means the fighters have transcended their division and become part of the broader cultural conversation.

In 2026, the UFC’s biggest PPV events remain the stuff of legend. These are the fights that stopped the world, even if only for a few hours on a Saturday night. These are the rivalries that captured imaginations and produced moments that fans will never forget.

At Ringside Wrestler, we have analyzed the numbers, studied the buildup, and relived the moments that made these events unforgettable. This is the definitive ranking of the biggest UFC fights of all time, measured by the only metric that truly captures mainstream appeal: pay-per-view buys.

How Pay-Per-View Became the UFC’s Scoreboard

To understand why these numbers matter, it helps to understand the economics of the UFC. Unlike traditional sports that rely on television rights deals and ticket sales, the UFC’s financial engine has always been powered by pay-per-view.

When fans pay seventy or eighty dollars to watch a fight, they are making a statement. They are saying that this event, these fighters, this moment is worth their money. Every buy represents a individual decision to invest in the experience.

The numbers add up quickly. A million buys means eighty million dollars in revenue before the first punch is thrown. Two million buys means one hundred sixty million. At that scale, the economics become almost incomprehensible.

But the numbers also tell a story. They reveal which fighters have transcended the sport, which rivalries captured the public imagination, and which moments became part of something larger than MMA itself.

The Undisputed King of Pay-Per-View

Before we dive into the list, one pattern becomes immediately obvious: Conor McGregor appears on this list more than any other fighter. The Irish superstar did something that no one else in UFC history has accomplished—he became a mainstream celebrity whose fights were events regardless of the opponent.

McGregor’s appeal crossed boundaries that usually contain MMA. He attracted casual fans who had never watched a fight. He drew viewers who cared more about his personality than his fighting style. He became the face of the sport, and his PPV numbers reflect that status.

Of the top five highest-selling UFC pay-per-views of all time, McGregor headlines four. That dominance is unprecedented and may never be matched.

10. Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir II – UFC 100

Date: July 11, 2009
Pay-Per-View Buys: Approximately 1.6 million
Main Event: Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir (Heavyweight Championship Unification)

UFC 100 was more than just a fight card; it was a statement. The organization had spent years building toward this moment, and the milestone event delivered in every possible way.

The main event featured Brock Lesnar, the former WWE champion who had taken the MMA world by storm, against Frank Mir, the man who had submitted him in their first meeting. The stakes were personal, the history was real, and the hatred was genuine.

Lesnar’s journey to this moment had been remarkable. Critics said he did not belong in MMA, that his wrestling background was not enough, that he would be exposed by real fighters. Instead, he became champion and positioned himself as the biggest draw in the sport.

The fight itself delivered. Lesnar dominated, using his overwhelming size and wrestling to control Mir before securing the TKO victory. But what fans remember most is the post-fight moment, when Lesnar grabbed the microphone and delivered a profanity-laced promo aimed at the crowd and his critics.

That moment captured something essential about Lesnar: he was not a traditional fighter, and he was not going to pretend to be. He was a personality, a draw, a force that transcended the sport.

UFC 100 also featured one of the greatest knockouts in history when Dan Henderson sent Michael Bisping into unconsciousness with a right hand that is still replayed today. The card was stacked, the moment was historic, and the numbers reflected it.

9. Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz – UFC 244

Date: November 2, 2019
Pay-Per-View Buys: Approximately 1.7 million
Main Event: Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz (BMF Title)

The BMF title was a marketing creation, a belt designed to recognize the fighter who best embodied the violence and spirit of the sport. But when Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz agreed to fight for it, the concept became something real.

Masvidal had captured the imagination of fans with a series of spectacular performances. His five-second knockout of Ben Askren was the fastest in UFC history, a flying knee that went viral and made him a star. His beatdown of Darren Till at London further cemented his status.

Diaz brought his own following. The Stockton native had been part of the biggest fights in UFC history, including two legendary bouts with Conor McGregor. His everyman appeal, his willingness to fight anyone, and his durability made him a fan favorite.

The buildup was personal. The BMF concept gave both fighters something to fight for beyond rankings or titles. They were competing to be recognized as the baddest mother in the sport, and fans bought in completely.

The fight itself was competitive and violent. Masvidal’s precision striking gradually broke Diaz down, opening a horrific cut over his eye that eventually forced the doctor to stop the fight after the third round. Diaz protested, wanting to continue, but the damage was too severe.

The BMF belt found its first home, and UFC 244 joined the ranks of the biggest PPV events in history.

8. Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz II – UFC 202

Date: August 20, 2016
Pay-Per-View Buys: Approximately 1.65 million
Main Event: Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz (Welterweight)

The first fight between McGregor and Diaz had shocked the world. McGregor, the featherweight champion moving up in weight, had been submitted by Diaz in the second round, tapping to a rear naked choke that sent shockwaves through the sport.

The rematch was inevitable. McGregor needed to avenge the loss. Diaz needed to prove the first result was not a fluke. The stakes were personal, and the buildup was electric.

What made this rivalry special was the authenticity. These two genuinely did not like each other. Their press conferences were unpredictable, their exchanges were personal, and the tension was real. Fans could not look away.

The fight itself delivered everything fans hoped for. McGregor came out aggressively, landing early and often. Diaz absorbed the punishment and kept coming, just as he always does. The back-and-forth battle saw both men have moments of dominance, and the decision was close enough to spark debate.

McGregor won by majority decision, evening the score and setting up a potential trilogy that fans still discuss. The fight drew massive numbers, proving that McGregor’s appeal extended beyond championship bouts.

7. Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone – UFC 246

Date: January 18, 2020
Pay-Per-View Buys: Approximately 1.35 million
Main Event: Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone (Welterweight)

After a lengthy layoff following his loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov, McGregor’s return was always going to be massive. The question was whether he could recapture the magic that had made him the biggest star in the sport.

The answer came in 40 seconds.

McGregor walked through Cerrone, landing a shoulder strike, a head kick, and a flurry of ground strikes that forced the referee to stop the fight almost immediately. It was the kind of performance that reminded everyone why McGregor had become a superstar in the first place.

The numbers reflected the anticipation. Fans had waited nearly two years to see McGregor compete again, and they showed up in droves. UFC 246 became one of the biggest PPV events of all time, even with a main event that was not for a championship.

6. Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje – UFC 254

Date: October 24, 2020
Pay-Per-View Buys: Approximately 1.35 million
Main Event: Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje (Lightweight Championship Unification)

No one knew it at the time, but UFC 254 would be the final chapter in the greatest lightweight career in UFC history. Khabib Nurmagomedov entered the cage against Justin Gaethje with the lightweight title on the line and something else at stake: his father’s memory.

Khabib’s father and trainer, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, had passed away earlier that year. The loss devastated Khabib, but he chose to continue competing, carrying his father’s legacy into the cage with him.

Gaethje was supposed to be the toughest test. He had knockout power, wrestling credentials, and a durability that made him dangerous for anyone. He had stopped Tony Ferguson in dominant fashion to earn the interim title and the shot at Khabib.

The fight lasted two rounds. Khabib took Gaethje down, controlled him on the ground, and eventually locked in a triangle choke that forced the tap. It was a masterclass, a demonstration of why Khabib was unbeatable.

Then came the moment that shocked the world. Khabib removed his gloves, placed them in the center of the Octagon, and announced his retirement. He was 29-0, undefeated and undisputed, and he was walking away at his peak.

The emotion of the moment, combined with the significance of the event, drove massive PPV numbers. Fans wanted to see Khabib one last time, even if they did not know it would be the last.

5. Conor McGregor vs. Eddie Alvarez – UFC 205

Date: November 12, 2016
Pay-Per-View Buys: Approximately 1.65 million
Main Event: Conor McGregor vs. Eddie Alvarez (Lightweight Championship)

History was made at Madison Square Garden. UFC 205 marked the organization’s first event in New York City after decades of legal battles, and the card was stacked with the biggest names in the sport.

But the main event carried special significance. Conor McGregor was moving up to lightweight to challenge Eddie Alvarez for the title. A victory would make him the first simultaneous two-division champion in UFC history, a feat that had never been accomplished.

The buildup was classic McGregor. He predicted the knockout, promised history, and delivered on both counts. His performance against Alvarez was flawless, a striking clinic that overwhelmed the champion and ended with a fourth-round TKO.

When McGregor raised both belts above his head, the image became iconic. He had done what no one else had done, and he had done it on the biggest stage in the sport’s history.

UFC 205 drew massive numbers, cementing McGregor’s status as the biggest draw in MMA history.

4. Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz – UFC 196

Date: March 5, 2016
Pay-Per-View Buys: Approximately 1.65 million
Main Event: Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz (Welterweight)

This fight was never supposed to happen. McGregor was scheduled to face Rafael dos Anjos for the lightweight title, but an injury forced dos Anjos out. Diaz stepped up on short notice, accepting the fight at welterweight, and the MMA world collectively lost its mind.

The size difference was obvious. Diaz was a natural welterweight who had competed at the weight for years. McGregor was moving up two divisions, giving up significant size and reach. The risk was enormous.

But McGregor had never shied away from challenges. He accepted the fight, and the buildup became must-see television. Their press conference exchanges were legendary, with both fighters trading insults and promises of violence.

The fight itself was a classic. McGregor dominated the first round, dropping Diaz with a left hand and seeming on the verge of a finish. But Diaz’s durability, his granite chin, allowed him to survive. In the second round, he took McGregor down, locked in a rear naked choke, and forced the tap.

The upset sent shockwaves through the sport. McGregor had been beaten, and the loss only made the eventual rematch bigger. UFC 196 proved that McGregor’s appeal transcended winning and losing. Fans would watch him regardless of the outcome.

3. Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor – UFC 229

Date: October 6, 2018
Pay-Per-View Buys: Approximately 2.4 million
Main Event: Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor (Lightweight Championship)

This is the one. The biggest fight in UFC history. The most purchased pay-per-view event the organization has ever produced. And for good reason.

The buildup to UFC 229 was unlike anything MMA had ever seen. The feud between Khabib and McGregor was deeply personal, rooted in cultural differences, family honor, and genuine hatred. When McGregor attacked a bus carrying Khabib and other fighters at UFC 223, the violence became real.

Khabib, for his part, had never engaged in the kind of personal warfare that McGregor specialized in. He stayed focused, stayed disciplined, and let his actions speak. But the tension was palpable, and the press conferences were electric.

The fight itself delivered on every level. McGregor had moments, landing early and showing that he could compete with the undefeated champion. But Khabib’s pressure, his relentless grappling, slowly broke McGregor down. By the fourth round, Khabib had locked in a neck crank, and McGregor tapped.

Then came the chaos. Khabib leaped out of the cage and attacked a member of McGregor’s team, sparking a brawl that spilled into the audience. McGregor was attacked from behind by members of Khabib’s team. The post-fight scene was pure pandemonium.

The combination of the rivalry, the fight, and the aftermath made UFC 229 unforgettable. The 2.4 million buys remain the standard by which all other PPV events are measured.

2. Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor III – UFC 264

Date: July 10, 2021
Pay-Per-View Buys: Approximately 1.8 million
Main Event: Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor (Lightweight)

The trilogy between Poirier and McGregor had been years in the making. Their first fight, way back in 2014, had seen McGregor win by knockout. Their second fight, at UFC 257, had seen Poirier avenge that loss with a second-round TKO.

The rubber match was inevitable. Both fighters had legitimate claims to superiority, and the lightweight division needed clarity. The buildup was personal, with both men exchanging barbs and promising violence.

The fight ended in heartbreaking fashion. In the final seconds of the first round, McGregor stepped awkwardly and broke his leg. The injury was severe, gruesome enough that the referee stopped the fight immediately. McGregor sat on the canvas, screaming in pain and frustration.

Poirier won by TKO, but the victory felt hollow. Fans were denied the conclusion they had waited years to see. The trilogy ended not with a bang, but with a snap.

Despite the anticlimactic ending, the fight drew massive numbers. McGregor’s star power, combined with the significance of the trilogy, drove 1.8 million buys.

1. Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov – UFC 229

Date: October 6, 2018
Pay-Per-View Buys: Approximately 2.4 million
Main Event: Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor (Lightweight Championship)

It deserves its own section because it stands alone. UFC 229 is not just the biggest fight in UFC history; it is one of the biggest events in combat sports history.

The numbers tell the story. 2.4 million pay-per-view buys in the United States alone. Millions more internationally. The gate at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas exceeded $17 million. The post-fight press conference drew more viewers than most UFC events.

But the numbers only capture part of the story. What made UFC 229 special was the cultural moment. This was not just a fight between two athletes. It was a clash of worlds, of styles, of values. Fans who had never watched MMA tuned in because the story was too compelling to ignore.

Khabib represented tradition, discipline, and the old school. McGregor represented flash, controversy, and the new school. Their conflict felt like something larger than sport, and the world responded.

The fight itself delivered. McGregor had his moments, landing early and showing that he could hang with the undefeated champion. But Khabib’s pressure was relentless, his grappling suffocating. By the fourth round, McGregor was exhausted, and the end was inevitable.

When Khabib locked in the neck crank and McGregor tapped, the arena erupted. Then the chaos began, and the moment became legendary.

UFC 229 remains the standard. No fight has matched its numbers, and it may be years before any fight does.

The Rivalries That Built the UFC

Behind every great fight is a great rivalry. These are the feuds that elevated the sport and produced unforgettable moments.

McGregor vs. Khabib

The greatest rivalry in UFC history. Two men from opposite sides of the world, with opposite personalities, opposite values, opposite styles. Their conflict transcended sport and became something cultural. The fight delivered. The aftermath was chaos. The memory endures.

McGregor vs. Diaz

The everyman versus the superstar. Diaz represented the streets of Stockton, the fighters who grind without recognition. McGregor represented fame, fortune, and the bright lights. Their two fights were classics, and fans still hope for a trilogy.

Jones vs. Cormier

Two Olympic-level wrestlers who genuinely hated each other. Their rivalry produced two memorable fights and one of the most heated feuds in UFC history. The double-champ status of both men added stakes that few rivalries can match.

Lesnar vs. Mir

The former WWE champion versus the submission specialist. Their first fight saw Mir submit Lesnar. Their second saw Lesnar dominate. The personal animosity was real, and UFC 100 captured lightning in a bottle.

How UFC Promotes Super Fights

The UFC has mastered the art of building fights into events. The formula is consistent and effective.

The Embedded Series

In the weeks before a major fight, the UFC releases daily “Embedded” videos that follow fighters through training camp, media obligations, and the final days before the fight. These videos build investment by showing fighters as humans, not just athletes.

The Press Conference Tour

Major fights are announced with press conferences in multiple cities. The confrontations, the staredowns, the verbal exchanges—all of it builds anticipation and creates moments that go viral.

The Countdown Show

The final week before the fight brings the Countdown show, a documentary-style deep dive into both fighters’ journeys, their training camps, and the stakes of the upcoming battle.

The Weigh-In

The ceremonial weigh-in has become an event unto itself. The final staredown, the crowd reaction, the tension in the air—it sets the stage for the following night.

The Economics of a Super Fight

When a fight breaks PPV records, the financial implications are enormous.

For UFC 229, the 2.4 million buys generated approximately $180 million in PPV revenue alone. Add ticket sales, merchandise, sponsorships, and international broadcast rights, and the total approaches $250 million.

The fighters share in this revenue through PPV points, a percentage of the buys that goes to the main event participants. For McGregor and Khabib, UFC 229 was a life-changing payday, with each earning tens of millions of dollars.

These economics explain why the UFC pursues super fights so aggressively. When they work, they are the most profitable events in combat sports.

Future Blockbuster Fights

The UFC is always looking for the next super fight. These are the matchups that could challenge the PPV records.

Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall

Jones’s heavyweight debut was massive. A fight against Aspinall, the rising British star, would pit the greatest light heavyweight of all time against the future of the division.

Conor McGregor’s Return

McGregor remains the biggest draw in UFC history. Whenever he returns, the PPV numbers will be massive. The question is who he will face.

Islam Makhachev vs. Anyone

As Khabib’s successor, Makhachev carries the Dagestani legacy. A super fight with a star from another division could produce huge numbers.

Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya IV

Their rivalry has produced three classic fights across two sports. A fourth meeting would be massive, especially if Pereira continues his dominance.

The Legacy of the Super Fight

The biggest UFC fights are more than just sporting events. They are cultural moments that transcend the sport.

When 2.4 million people pay to watch something, they are making a statement. They are saying that this matters, that these athletes matter, that this moment matters.

The fights on this list delivered moments that fans will never forget. Khabib tapping McGregor. McGregor winning two belts. Diaz submitting the biggest star. Lesnar grabbing the microphone and telling the world what he thought.

These moments are why we watch. These fights are why the UFC became what it is today.

And as long as there are athletes willing to step into the cage and risk everything, there will be more moments, more fights, more records to break.

The super fight era is not over. It is just getting started.

The Complete List of Top PPV Fights

For easy reference, here are the top ten biggest UFC pay-per-view events of all time:

Final Thoughts

The biggest UFC fights are more than just statistics. They are memories. They are moments that fans will replay for years, decades, generations.

Khabib leaping out of the cage. McGregor raising two belts. Diaz flipping off the world. Lesnar telling the crowd what he really thought.

These moments cannot be manufactured. They cannot be planned. They happen when the stakes are highest, when the fighters are most invested, when the moment demands something extraordinary.

That is why we watch. That is why we pay. That is why the numbers keep growing.

The next super fight is always around the corner. The next record is waiting to be broken.

And when it happens, fans will be ready.

Ringside Wrestler is your home for UFC coverage, PPV analysis, and comprehensive breakdowns of the sport’s biggest moments. Check back daily for updates on the fights that matter most.