Personally, I think that anyone who steps into the Octagon as an MMA fighter has to be insane. I mean, while it has to be a thrill, the fact that you could leave with something completely out of whack on your body doesn’t sound too fun to me. For that reason, anyone who is a professional gets paid a fair amount for doing so. That’s why you should see what some of the richest female fighters in the world earn, which is a heck of a lot for the possibility of getting their face smashed in.
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15. Sarah Kaufman – $100,000
After earning the first Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight title, Sarah Kaufman has had a steady career that has included a record of 17-2, with her two losses coming to title fights. While she doesn’t hold a belt now, Sarah hopes to get another crack at some of the fighters she lost to in the past, most-notably, Ronda Rousey—whose name will show up a lot on this list.
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14. Carla Esparza – $125,000
The current UFC Strawweight Champion, don’t let her small frame confuse you—because she’s one tough cookie. In fact, her nickname is Cookie Monster, as she has eaten up her opponents to a tune of a 10-2 career record and earning $125,000 over her five years as a pro.
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13. Shayna Baszler – $180,000
One of the most feared fighters in the UFC, Shayna Baszler has had the same trouble in the biggest bouts that others on this list have had, hurting her chances at redemption against some of the top names. That doesn’t discount what she has done, though, with her career record standing at 15-9, which has earned her $180,000.
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12. Liz Carmouche – $190,000
Ranked No. 7 in the world, Liz Carmouche has accomplished a lot in her MMA career, yet carries a record of just 9-5. Her achilles heel have been the premier bouts, where she has stumbled against big names that have dropped her reputation as someone who can seriously challenge for the Bantamweight title.
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11. Bethe Correia – $250,000
With a perfect 9-0 record since first competing in MMA back in 2012, Brazilian Bethe Correia. She hasn’t fought since last August when she won against Shayna Baszler, but she has been rumored to want the opportunity to take on Ronda Rousey for the Bantamweight Championship—but only time will tell.
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10. Sara McMann – $800,000
A former Olympic wrestler who won the silver medal at the 2004 Athens Games, Sara McMann made the transition to MMA in 2011 and has seen decent success, only losing to the top-two fighters in the world, Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate, respectively. Still 10-2 overall, it will be interesting to see if she gets a rematch with those two in the future.
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9. Hitomi Akano – $950,000
Although Hitomi Akano retired back in 2012 following back-to-back losses to Sara McMann and Alexis Davis, she is still one of the highest-earning female fighters in MMA history. With a career record of 18-10, she accomplished plenty during her eight-year career.
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8. Alexis Davis – $1 million
Currently ranked No. 3 in the world, Canadian fighter Alexis Davis, like others on this list, lost to Ronda Rousey in her last match back in the summer of 2014 in the Bantamweight Championship, but she’s still a top-notch fighter. With a net worth of $1 million, Davis should have more premier fights in her future.
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7. Jessica Aguilar – $1.3 million
Carrying a 19-4 record in her nine-year MMA career, Jessica Aguilar is currently ranked No. 4 in the world and hasn’t lost since a split decision defeat back in 2010. Defeating the likes of prized fighters like Carla Esparza and Kalindra Faria since, Jessica shows that she’s still a force to be reckoned with.
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6. Cat Zingano -$1.2 million
Recently losing to Ronda Rousey a few weeks ago in the Bantamweight Championship bout, Cat Zingano still holds a 9-1 career record and shouldn’t be overlooked as a fighter who can, one day, rematch and defeat Rousey. Worth a net worth of $1.2 million, Cat may have taken a shot to her career ego, but she’ll be back, believe that.
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5. Marloes Coenen – $1.5 million
While Marloes Coenen is 33 years old and has been an MMA fighter since 2000, that doesn’t mean that she is washed up and can’t hold her own. With 28 fights in her career and a 22-6 overall record, Marloes is currently ranked No. 2 in the world and is recognized as one of the best ever.
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4. Gina Carano – $3 million
Gina Carano is more than just a pretty face. While she is an actress and has appeared in a number of different ad campaigns, Carano doesn’t sit back or fear anyone. The daughter of a former NFL player, Gina might not be active in MMA any longer, but she holds a career record of 12-1-1, making her as successful in the Octagon as she has been off of it.
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3. Cristiane Justino – $3.5 million
With just one loss in her 10-year MMA career, Cristiane Justino has shown that she is one of the better female fighters on the planet. Also a professional kickboxer, Cristiane has had a decent career on that circuit, too, making her dynamic and athletic for whoever she faces off against.
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2. Miesha Tate – $5 million
One of the most entertaining female fighters, Miesha Tate has had epic showdowns with Cat Zingano and Ronda Rousey, earning her a spot as the second-highest earning females on the planet, with endorsements helping add to her net worth of $5 million.
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1. Ronda Rousey – $8 million
Hands-down the most famous female MMA fighter on the planet, Ronda Rousey has even hinted at trying to step into the Octagon with the men. While that might not be a possibility because of the weight differences, Rousey has proven to be quite the attraction and has a budding rivalry with the aforementioned Miesha Tate.
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