The weigh-ins for UFC 328 on Friday went quite smoothly. Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland both weighed in at 185 pounds for their middleweight title fight, while co-main event flyweights Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira also made championship weight without much drama.

Well… almost no drama. Veteran Jeremy Stephens weighed in at 160 pounds, four pounds more than the lightweight limit for his bout against King Green. The fight is still on, but Stephens will have to give up 30% of his purse, which is a rather devastating blow to the wallet before even throwing a punch.

So, with the card set and the penalties known, here’s what fighters are likely making on one of the UFC’s biggest nights of the year.

Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland’s payout at UFC 328

Let’s begin with the obvious money fight. Khamzat Chimaev has officially reached superstar status. When he steamrolled Robert Whittaker, he earned a million dollars, and at UFC 319, he reportedly made roughly $2 million, which includes compliance pay and a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.

‘Borz’ is no longer competing for six figures; instead, he’s in the big leagues now. More importantly, the UFC now treats him like a premium attraction rather than just another elite contender. That distinction matters because once a fighter becomes a proven PPV mover and headline generator, the pay scale changes dramatically. For UFC 328, another payout in the $1.5 million to $2.5 million bracket appears to be extremely possible, maybe even more if bonuses are included.

And honestly, the projection makes sense when you look at the circumstances surrounding this card. Chimaev entered UFC 328 undefeated, carrying championship momentum, massive international popularity, and one of the UFC’s strongest fan engagement numbers. Fighters with that kind of leverage rarely stay in the lower seven-figure range for long, especially when they are positioned as the centerpiece of a marquee PPV.

Across from him, Sean Strickland isn’t exactly hurting financially either. According to reports from his most recent outing, ‘Tarzan’ earned approximately $1.12 million, including base purse, bonus money, and compliance pay.

Given that this is a title fight and one of the biggest headliners on the calendar, Strickland is probably looking at something around $1.5 million, with potential for more if he snatches another bonus. And unlike many challengers who are simply filling a championship slot, Strickland has genuine drawing power now. The UFC trusts him to sell fights, dominate headlines, and keep audiences engaged during promotion week, even when the attention turns chaotic. That kind of promotional value almost always translates into stronger negotiating leverage behind the scenes.

There is also the simple reality that Strickland has become one of the company’s most bankable personalities, whether fans love him or hate him. The UFC has leaned heavily into that unpredictability because controversy keeps people watching, and fighters who consistently generate attention tend to remain financially protected at the top end of cards.

Joshua Van, Alexander Volkov, and payouts for other UFC 328 fighters

The co-main event also comes with serious money attached to it. Joshua Van has evolved from a young prospect to the flyweight champion in record time, and his pay is catching up fast. After earning approximately $145,000 in his previous fight, his first title defense should easily put him well over $250,000, especially with champion pay and co-main billing attached right next to his name.

That jump would not be surprising at all because the UFC historically rewards champions who rapidly become fan favorites. Van is no longer being marketed as a developmental talent; he is now carrying championship responsibility on one of the biggest cards of the year. Once fighters move into that category, their compensation structure naturally begins to climb alongside their visibility.

His opponent, Tatsuro Taira, is also due for a good jump. His recent basic pay was reportedly around $110,000, but title challengers in a co-main event slot typically receive a higher base pay. He can expect the payout to be around $180,000 or more if he wins the title at UFC 328 and receives further incentives.

And in Taira’s case, the UFC clearly views him as an important international asset, particularly for the Japanese market. Fighters who help expand the promotion’s reach globally often receive stronger placement and better pay progression than their disclosed salaries initially suggest.

Then there’s heavyweight veteran Alexander Volkov, who quietly keeps cashing healthy checks. A typical Volkov payday ranges between $225,000 and $300,000, before win bonuses, sponsorship money, and any locker room bonuses. Realistically, ‘Drago’ could walk away with $350,000 or more if everything goes his way.

Volkov’s situation is interesting because he represents the kind of veteran stability the UFC values heavily in the heavyweight division. He may not always dominate headlines, but reliable ranked heavyweights who consistently stay active and remain relevant tend to become financially secure over time. The UFC does not have an endless supply of dependable contenders at heavyweight, and that usually works in a veteran’s favor during negotiations.

As for his opponent, Waldo Cortes-Acosta is expected to earn between $120,000 and $200,000, depending on bonuses. His exact pay is a lot more difficult to predict, considering that his recent outings ended up with over $100,000 in bonuses. And seeing his tendency to secure that incentive, do not be surprised if he ends up crossing the $200K mark as well.

That unpredictability is exactly why estimating his payout becomes tricky. Fighters who consistently produce entertaining finishes or fan-friendly performances often end up outperforming their disclosed base salaries by a significant margin once bonuses are factored in.

Sean Brady is another guy due for a bump. After earning roughly $80,000 in his previous outing, a massive PPV card like UFC 328 should easily propel him into the six figures, most likely around $100,000 or somewhat higher. Brady’s recent positioning on bigger cards also suggests the UFC sees him as more than just roster depth at welterweight. Increased visibility usually comes with gradual financial growth, particularly for contenders who continue climbing toward title relevance.

As for Joaquin Buckley, he is expected to earn between $50,000 and $100,000, depending on how his contract is structured.

King Green remains one of those veterans who quietly makes a really good living. His base income is thought to be between $100,000 and $150,000, but when sponsorships and bonuses are factored in, he often ends up earning close to $200,000 in total. That’s probably where he lands again after UFC 328.

What helps Green financially is longevity. Fighters who survive multiple UFC eras and remain consistently active often develop contracts that are significantly healthier than newer roster names, even if they are no longer title contenders.

But his opponent, Jeremy Stephens, is the most interesting one here. He’s made a lot of money outside of the UFC, from BKFC to boxing, and has reportedly earned between $100,000 and $500,000 for fights in recent years.

For UFC 328, a purse of around $200,000 feels about right, except he’s losing 30 percent of that because of the weight miss, making a large payday far less enticing for ‘Lil Heathen.’

And that deduction matters more than people think because weight-miss penalties can drastically reshape a veteran fighter’s actual take-home pay. Once percentages are removed and additional expenses are accounted for, the headline purse number suddenly looks far less impressive.

As always, these are estimates based on declared payouts, known contracts, and UFC trends, not official figures. However, one thing is clear: UFC 328 is not only filled with big names but also with big money.