BKFC is the largest bare knuckle fighting promotion in the world, and its fighter pay runs from modest entry-level purses to seven-figure paydays for headline stars. Prelim fighters typically earn $2,500 to $5,000 per fight. Contenders earn $20,000 to $75,000. Champions and marquee attractions like Mike Perry and Eddie Alvarez have reportedly cleared $1 million for a single night. Below is the full breakdown of what bare knuckle fighters actually make, how the pay is structured, and where the money beyond the purse comes from.
Per-Fight Pay Breakdown
BKFC pays a flat purse: one fixed figure per fight. On the two BKFC cards where a state commission released the payroll (New Mexico in 2022, California in 2024), every fighter was paid that way, with no separate win bonus. Individual contracts can differ, but no commission-released BKFC figure has shown a show/win split. Card position drives the number more than anything else.
| Card Position | Typical Purse (flat) |
|---|---|
| Prospect Series / debut | $2,000 - $5,000 |
| Prelim undercard | $5,000 - $10,000 |
| Main card opener | $10,000 - $20,000 |
| Co-main event | $25,000 - $100,000 |
| Main event | $50,000 - $200,000+ |
| Championship fight | $20,000 - $500,000+ |
| Headline star | $500,000+ |
Ranges combine those two commission releases (floors of $2,000 and $4,000; a women's title fight at $22,500 and $20,000; a top purse of $600,000) with industry reporting; actual pay varies by fighter, negotiation, and event. On top of the purse, fighters can earn performance bonuses, personal sponsorships, PPV points, and — since 2025 — equity in the promotion itself.
What BKFC has actually paid: commission-released purses
Most BKFC cards run in states or venues that do not publish fighter pay. When a commission does release it, the numbers are on the record — and they are the only BKFC pay figures that are. These are the most recent:
| Event | Fighter | Purse |
|---|---|---|
| KnuckleMania IV · Los Angeles · Apr 27, 2024 | Mike Perry (won) | $600,000 |
| Thiago Alves (lost) | $200,000 | |
| Ben Rothwell | $150,000 | |
| Mick Terrill | $100,000 | |
| Lorenzo Hunt | $100,000 | |
| Todd Duffee | $85,000 | |
| Lowest standard purse on the card | $4,000 | |
| BKFC 28 · Rio Rancho, NM · Aug 2022 | John Dodson (won) | $75,000 |
| Christine Ferea | $22,500 | |
| Taylor Starling | $20,000 | |
| Lowest on the card | $2,000 |
KnuckleMania IV figures were released by the California State Athletic Commission and reported by MMA Junkie (relayed by MiddleEasy and LowKick MMA); the full 24-fighter payroll showed "a fixed payment, with show money and win money excluded." (One fighter was listed at $500; the outlets gave conflicting explanations, so it is left out of the table.) BKFC 28 figures came from the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department (MMA Junkie): "All payouts consisted of flat purses – meaning no win bonuses." The whole BKFC 28 card was paid $210,500. BKFC 92 at Fenway Park in August 2026, the first sanctioned bare-knuckle card in Massachusetts, had no released payroll as of September 15, 2026.
Quick Answers
What is the typical pay range for BKFC fighters?
BKFC fighter pay spans a wide range:
- Debut/entry-level fighters: $2,500 - $5,000 per fight
- Mid-card fighters with records: $5,000 - $20,000 per fight
- Established fighters and contenders: $20,000 - $75,000 per fight
- Champions and title challengers: $75,000 - $250,000+ per fight
- Headline attractions and stars: $250,000 - $500,000+ per fight
These are guaranteed purses. Performance bonuses, sponsorships, PPV points, and the $25 million global tournament can push total earnings well beyond the guarantee for top fighters.
How much do bare knuckle fighters make per fight?
For BKFC, the largest bare knuckle promotion, a first fight pays $2,000 to $5,000. A prelim fighter with a record earns $5,000 to $20,000. Contenders in main-card and co-main slots earn $20,000 to $100,000. Championship-level fighters and crossover stars earn six or seven figures. Pay outside BKFC runs lower: smaller bare knuckle circuits pay less, and some backyard-style operations pay nothing at all.
What does BKFC pay per fight?
A flat purse, set in each fighter's contract. On the cards where a commission released the figures, winners and losers were each paid one fixed amount with no win bonus: at KnuckleMania IV, Mike Perry was paid $600,000 for knocking out Thiago Alves, who was paid $200,000, while the lowest standard purses on the card were $4,000. A debut fighter is looking at a few thousand dollars; a main-event fighter tens of thousands to a few hundred thousand.
How much does the highest-paid BKFC fighter make?
The biggest contract in BKFC history reportedly belongs to Mike Perry, signed for a deal reported at $8 million. At BKFC 56 in December 2023, Perry beat Eddie Alvarez and was reported on social media to have earned more than $1 million for the night; no commission figure for that fight has been released. His highest commission-released purse is $600,000, for KnuckleMania IV in Los Angeles in April 2024. Purses at that level are reserved for a small handful of crossover stars, not the typical roster fighter.
How much does Paige VanZant make in BKFC?
Paige VanZant said before her BKFC debut that she had spent six years in the UFC "getting paid $40,000 (to show) and $40,000 (to win)" and was "now getting 10 times that" (MMA Junkie, 2021). BKFC has not released her purse, so the exact figure is her own description, not a disclosed number. Her deal was reportedly the largest BKFC had offered at the time she signed in August 2020. VanZant's pay reflects her value as a crossover star with millions of social followers; it is not representative of what a typical BKFC fighter earns.
How much does Christine Ferea make?
Christine Ferea, widely regarded as the greatest female bare knuckle fighter in history, has one commission-released purse on record: $22,500 at BKFC 28 in New Mexico in August 2022, against Taylor Starling's $20,000. Figures for her later title fights have not been released by a commission, and the six-figure numbers that circulate online come from estimate sites rather than any official source. Her profile has grown alongside the expansion of BKFC's women's division, but no later purse of hers is on the record.
How much does Austin Trout make?
Austin Trout, the former WBA Super Welterweight boxing world champion who holds the #1 pound-for-pound ranking in BKFC, earns purses consistent with his championship status. Specific figures have not been publicly disclosed, but established BKFC champions with professional boxing credentials typically earn in the six-figure range per fight.
Do BKFC fighters get bonuses?
Yes. BKFC awards discretionary performance bonuses on most cards:
- Fight of the Night — awarded to both fighters in the most entertaining bout
- KO of the Night — for the most spectacular knockout finish
- Performance of the Night — for an outstanding individual performance
Reported bonus amounts have ranged from roughly $5,000 to $50,000 and have grown as the promotion has grown. Ferea's "Queen of Violence" title win at BKFC 82 earned her a Performance of the Night bonus on top of her purse. For an undercard fighter, a single bonus can double total earnings for the night.
What is the BKFC fighter equity program?
Announced in 2025 at the inaugural BKFC Champions Summit, the equity program offers champions and long-tenured fighters ownership stakes in BKFC itself, reportedly valued between $100,000 and $3 million. Because the stake scales with successful title defences, it is worth checking the BKFC champions list to see who has actually accumulated defences: Britain Hart's five and Dustin Pague's four put them well ahead of the champions who won their belts in the last year. It has no precedent in combat sports — fighters as owners — and directly addresses the sport's long-running fight over compensation. The value is potential future upside tied to the promotion's growth, not a cash purse, which makes it hard to compare directly against a UFC or boxing paycheck.
How much can a BKFC fighter make in a year?
A fighter competing three to four times per year at mid-tier pay ($20,000 to $100,000 per fight) can earn roughly $60,000 to $400,000 from purses alone, before bonuses and sponsorships. Net income is lower. After camp costs, coaching, travel, medicals, and a 15-20% management cut, a mid-tier fighter may keep $30,000 to $200,000 a year. That is a viable full-time income at the middle and upper levels; entry-level fighters generally need outside income.
Typical costs a fighter carries:
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Gym / coaching | $500 - $3,000/month |
| Nutrition / supplements | $300 - $1,000/month |
| Travel (per fight) | $500 - $3,000 |
| Training camp (per fight) | $2,000 - $10,000 |
| Management | 15-20% of purse |
| Health insurance | $200 - $800/month |
| Medical (fight injuries) | Variable |
Can BKFC fighters earn money outside their purses?
Yes, through several channels:
- Personal sponsorships: Unlike the UFC's exclusive apparel deal, BKFC fighters can wear sponsor logos on their trunks and walk-out gear. Fighters with large followings can command significant fees, and for some, sponsorship income equals or exceeds their fight purse.
- PPV points: Top-of-the-card fighters can negotiate a percentage of pay-per-view revenue.
- Social media monetization: Sponsored posts, brand deals, and content for fighters with a platform.
- Merchandise: Some fighters sell personal merchandise through their own channels.
- The $25 million tournament: BKFC's global tournament offers the largest prize pool in bare knuckle history.
How does BKFC pay compare to the UFC and other promotions?
The comparison depends on where a fighter sits on the card.
| Organization | Entry Level | Mid-Tier | Top Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| BKFC | $2,000 - $5,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | $100,000 - $600,000+ |
| UFC | $12,000 - $15,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | $500,000 - $10,000,000+ |
| Power Slap | $2,000 - $10,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | $50,000 - $150,000+ |
| Bellator | $10,000 - $15,000 | $30,000 - $100,000 | $200,000 - $1,000,000+ |
| Boxing (club level) | $1,000 - $5,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | Varies widely |
At entry level, UFC pays more, and in the middle the UFC's show-and-win money usually comes out ahead. At the very top, BKFC's biggest stars can out-earn many UFC fighters in comparable slots — Perry's commission-released $600,000 for one night is more than most UFC non-champions make in a fight, and VanZant says she earns ten times her UFC pay. The difference is volume: UFC fighters usually compete two to three times a year, and the UFC's larger overall purse structure and sponsorship payouts mean most fighters still earn more annually there.
Against other bare knuckle promotions, BKFC pays more than any of them:
- BKB: Generally lower than BKFC, though specific figures are not widely published.
- Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA: Jorge Masvidal's promotion is running $500,000 tournaments in 2026, with winner payouts that can rival BKFC's top purses.
- Top Dog FC: Russian promotion; pay is believed to be substantially lower than BKFC's.
- Streetbeefs: Fighters receive no payment.
For the full picture across every underground and bare knuckle organization, see our guide to underground fighter pay.
What percentage of revenue do BKFC fighters get?
BKFC has not publicly disclosed its revenue-share percentage. Its model is traditional purse-based pay supplemented by the equity program and PPV points for headliners. For context, the UFC has faced criticism for an estimated 16-20% revenue share to fighters, while boxing traditionally pays a higher share to top stars but much less to the undercard. BKFC's equity stakes complicate any direct comparison, because ownership represents potential future value beyond the immediate purse.
How much do BKB fighters make?
BKB (Bare Knuckle Boxing) pay is generally lower than BKFC's and less consistently reported. BKB is based in Miami and runs cards in both the US and the UK, and its purses have not been published in the detail BKFC's have. As a rule, expect figures below BKFC's card-for-card, especially outside the main event.
How has Conor McGregor's ownership affected fighter pay?
Conor McGregor's ownership stake, announced at KnuckleMania IV in April 2024, has coincided with higher pay at the top of the card. Growing revenue — driven by McGregor's platform, international expansion, and rising PPV sales — has created more money for purses and bonuses. The increase has been most pronounced at the headline level; entry-level pay has not risen proportionally, and the gap between top and undercard purses remains wide. McGregor has spoken about wanting to improve fighter pay, but structural changes such as minimum purse guarantees or formal revenue sharing have not been implemented.
What is the $25 million tournament worth to fighters?
BKFC's World's Baddest Man Tournament, announced in July 2025, is the single largest investment in bare knuckle fighting history. Thirty-two fighters compete in an open-weight format (185 to 265+ lbs) for a total prize pool of $25 million:
- Winner: $15 million
- Runner-up: $1 million
- Third and fourth place: $500,000+ each
The tournament was announced for a March 2026 start and did not begin. It has slipped to a FOX Nation series premiering in summer 2027, with no competition date confirmed and no purse restated by the broadcaster. If it is ever staged, it could reset the baseline for what top bare knuckle fighters expect to earn, but so far it has paid nobody. See the $25 million tournament status page.
Do BKFC fighters have contracts?
Yes. BKFC fighters sign contracts specifying guaranteed purses, the number of fights covered, and other terms. Structures vary with a fighter's experience, drawing power, and negotiating position. Top fighters and those with management can secure multi-fight deals with escalating purses and performance incentives. Entry-level fighters typically accept the promotion's standard offer, which carries less favorable terms.
Is BKFC fighter pay going up?
The trend is upward. BKFC's revenue has grown through international expansion, the McGregor stake, rising PPV sales, and new broadcast partnerships, and purses at the top of the card have climbed with it. The $25 million tournament and the equity program are the clearest signs of that investment. But the business model of bare knuckle fighting, like all combat sports, concentrates money at the top of the card. Even as overall revenue grows, the gap between headline and undercard purses is likely to persist.
For more on fighter compensation across the underground and bare knuckle fighting landscape, see our complete guide to underground fighter pay or our analysis of the underground fighting business model.
Related
- Underground Fighting by City: where underground and bare-knuckle cards actually run, city by city.
