Highest-paid athletes in 2026 only features 2 boxers, 0 MMA fighters again

Combat sports athletes remain largely absent from the highest-paid lists in professional sports. According to Forbes' 2026 earnings rankings, only two boxers cracked the top 50 globally, while no MMA fighters appeared on the list at all—a trend that has now repeated for multiple consecutive years.

Soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo topped the overall list for the fourth straight year, reportedly earning $300 million over the tracked period through a combination of salary, fight purses, sponsorships, and endorsements. Among combat sports competitors, boxing's Canelo Alvarez ranked second overall with $170 million in earnings, of which $160 million came from fight purses and $10 million from sponsorships and endorsements.

The disparity underscores the ongoing gap between boxing and MMA in terms of fighter compensation and earning potential. While top boxers like Alvarez command nine-figure purses, even elite UFC and other MMA promotion fighters struggle to reach the threshold needed for these highest-paid rankings, reflecting fundamental differences in how revenues are distributed across the two combat sports.