Khabib Nurmagomedov Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Net Worth, Salary, and Career Earnings?

With a net worth estimated at $40 million, Khabib Nurmagomedov is a renowned Russian mixed martial artist. He is often celebrated as one of the greatest fighters ever to compete in the octagon, having achieved an unbeaten record of 29 victories and no defeats before his retirement from the UFC in 2020. He remained the longest-reigning UFC Lightweight Champion, holding the title from 2018 until his retirement in 2020.

Many outlets have labeled Nurmagomedov as the top pound-for-pound fighter in UFC history and the greatest lightweight fighter ever. An ethnic Muslim Avar hailing from Dagestan, Russia, Khabib’s fighting technique heavily emphasizes grappling, wrestling, and sambo. As of today, he commands a massive following, boasting over 24 million Instagram followers, making him one of the most recognized Russians worldwide.

Career Earnings

Throughout his MMA career, Khabib has amassed an impressive income, totaling $14,770,000. While this figure may seem substantial, it’s crucial to understand that a significant portion of his earnings came from just his final two fights. Below is a summary of Nurmagomedov’s financial gains from various bouts:

In 2014, Khabib secured a total of $64,000 after fighting Rafael dos Anjos, receiving $32,000 for showing up and another $32,000 as a victory bonus.

His 2016 fight against Darrell Horcher netted him $135,000, including $65,000 for attendance, $65,000 for winning, and a promotional bonus of $5,000.

In the same year, Khabib earned $170,000 when he defeated Michael Johnson at UFC 205, which consisted of a guaranteed payout of $80,000, an additional win bonus of $80,000, and a promotional bonus of $10,000.

In 2017, he walked away with $230,000 following his victory over Edson Barboza at UFC 219, which included an $85,000 base payout, an $85,000 win bonus, a $10,000 promotional bonus, and a performance bonus of $50,000.

For his subsequent fight in 2018 against Iaquinta, Nurmagomedov earned $530,000, comprising a guaranteed payout of $500,000 coupled with a $30,000 fight week incentive.

Later in 2018, after beating Conor McGregor, Khabib garnered a total of $1,540,000, which consisted of a $2,000,000 show-up bonus along with a $40,000 incentive. However, due to a post-fight incident, he was fined $500,000, resulting in a net amount of $1,540,000.

Following his victory over Poirier in 2019, Khabib received $6,090,000, which included a guaranteed payout of $6 million plus $90,000 in bonuses.

In 2020, he earned a similarly impressive amount of $6.09 million after defeating Gaethje, although some sources claim his earnings were even higher than in previous fights, marking a career high before his retirement.

Early Life

Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov was born on September 20, 1988, in Sildi, Dagestan ASSR, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union. From a young age, Khabib immersed himself in wrestling, receiving guidance from his father.

Nurmagomedov engaged in unconventional training methods, including wrestling bears. At 15, after moving to Makhachkala, Khabib began his judo training.

MMA Career

In 2008, Nurmagomedov’s MMA journey commenced when he fought in Russia. After achieving a record of 16-0 in Russia and Ukraine, Khabib transitioned to the UFC in 2011. His inaugural fight occurred in 2012 against Kamal Shalorus. In the years that followed, he triumphed over fighters such as Gleison Tibau, Thiago Tavares, Abel Trujillo, and Pat Healy, primarily through TKOs and submissions.

Following his victory over Rafael dos Anjos in 2014, Nurmagomedov began pursuing a title shot. He secured wins against Darrell Horcher, Michael Johnson, and Edson Barboza before finally earning a title match against Al Iaquinta. He won this bout, becoming the new UFC Lightweight Champion. In the subsequent years, Khabib defended his title against Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje with success. In 2020, Nurmagomedov announced his retirement. Notably, Khabib has never fought Tony Ferguson, another prominent contender for the Lightweight title, despite numerous unsuccessful attempts to schedule a match.

Fighting Style

Khabib consistently relies on his wrestling skills, regardless of the opponent. Once he takes his opponent to the ground, Nurmagomedov effectively immobilizes their arms and legs, striking them while they cannot defend themselves. He is also recognized for conversing with his opponents while they are ensnared by his grappling technique.

Controversy

In 2018, while seated on a bus at the Barclays Center in New York City, Khabib and several other fighters were attacked by Conor McGregor. McGregor hurled a metal dolly at the bus, breaking windows and injuring Michael Chiesa and Ray Borg. This incident was reportedly McGregor’s attempt to retaliate against Khabib for a prior altercation in which Nurmagomedov and his associates assaulted Artem Lobov, a close friend of McGregor. Following McGregor’s escape, a warrant was issued for his capture. Conor subsequently surrendered and faced charges of three counts of assault and one count of criminal mischief.

Upon Khabib’s victory over McGregor in 2018, he leaped over the octagon fence to confront Dillon Danis, McGregor’s cornerman. As a substantial brawl erupted, McGregor attempted to exit the octagon but was confronted by Khabib’s cousin. After exchanging blows, Conor was ambushed from behind by two of Nurmagomedov’s cornermen. When the chaos subsided, Khabib’s fight payment was withheld. Although his $2 million payout was eventually released, Nurmagomedov incurred a $500,000 fine and received a nine-month suspension from the UFC. McGregor was levied a $50,000 fine and faced a six-month suspension.