The 55 best-selling pay-per-view fight nights in history
- The former boxing champion Floyd Mayweather has long been heralded as the pay-per-view king.
- Mayweather hung up his boxing gloves after his 10th round win over Conor McGregor in 2017. Now, a new fighter may be stealing Mayweather's crown as McGregor has turned into a PPV star in his own right.
- Mike Tyson, Manny Pacquiao, and, bizarrely, YouTube stars Logan Paul and KSI, also feature prominently in this list.
- But the top 10 is dominated by only two men - Mayweather and McGregor.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
55: Georges St-Pierre v Nick Diaz — 950,000 PPV buys
Sport: Mixed martial arts.
Event: UFC 158.
Date and venue: March 16, 2013, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.
Memorable moments: Nick Diaz, one of the biggest trash-talkers in combat sports, got silenced by Georges St-Pierre. Every time Diaz tried to verbally assault St-Pierre in the Octagon, GSP would throw a Superman jab in his face. GSP won a 5-round decision on points.
54: Wrestlemania 22 — 975,000 PPV buys
Sport: Professional wrestling / Sports entertainment.
Event: Wrestlemania 22.
Date and venue: April 2, 2006, at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.
Memorable moment: Mexican luchador Rey Mysterio won the World Heavyweight Championship in the Triple Threat match against Kurt Angle and Randy Orton.
=49: Forrest Griffin v Rashad Evans — 1 million PPV buys
Sport: Mixed martial arts.
Event: UFC 92.
Date and venue: December 27, 2008, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: The light heavyweight championship title changed hands as Rashad Evans beat Forrest Griffin by third round knockout in a 'Fight of the Night' spectacle.
=49: Buster Douglas v Evander Holyfield — 1 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: The Moment of Truth.
Date and venue: October 25, 1990, at The Mirage in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: Eight months after stunning Mike Tyson with a tenth round knockout, Buster Douglas turned up to the Evander Holyfield fight overweight. Holyfield, a former cruiserweight champion, picked up his first heavyweight championship titles after a dominant third round KO.
=49: Bernard Hopkins v Oscar de la Hoya — 1 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: History.
Date and venue: September 18, 2004, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: Bernard Hopkins knocked Oscar de la Hoya out with a perfectly-placed left hook to the liver in the 9th round.
=49: Floyd Mayweather v Robert Guerrero — 1 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: May Day.
Date and venue: May 4, 2013, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: Mayweather attracted the wrath of the Vegas crowd who booed the American's defensive-first strategy. Mayweather won a 12-round decision.
=49: Canelo Álvarez v Julio César Chávez Jr — 1 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: Civil War.
Date and venue: May 6, 2017, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: It was billed as an all-Mexican fight for the ages but only one boxer turned up on the night. Canelo Álvarez won every round en route to a comfortable 12-round decision victory over Julio César Chávez Jr.
48: Wrestlemania XX — 1.007 million PPV buys
Sport: Professional wrestling / Sports entertainment.
Event: Wrestlemania 20.
Date and venue: March 14, 2004, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Memorable moments: The World Heavyweight Championship Triple Threat match between Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and eventual winner Chris Benoit is considered one of the greatest matches of all time. The Undertaker's bone-chilling ring-walk against half-brother Kane was also must-see TV.
47: Randy Couture v Brock Lesnar — 1.01 million PPV buys
Sport: Mixed martial arts.
Event: UFC 91.
Date and venue: November 15, 2008, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: Former WWE superstar Brock Lesnar was thrust into a heavyweight title shot against decorated veteran Randy Couture when he had fought just twice in MMA. Lesnar knocked Couture out with a flurry of punches in the second round and left the cage with the UFC belt.
46: Chris Weidman v Anderson Silva II — 1.025 million PPV buys
Sport: Mixed martial arts.
Event: UFC 168.
Date and venue: December 28, 2013, at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moments: Chris Weidman scored back-to-back victories over previous middleweight ruler Anderson Silva, but their fight was overshadowed by Ronda Rousey's 'Fight of the Night' victory over Miesha Tate.
45: Wrestlemania X-Seven — 1.04 million PPV buys
Sport: Professional wrestling / Sports entertainment.
Event: Wrestlemania X-Seven.
Date and venue: April 1, 2001, at the Reliant Astrodome in Houston, Texas.
Memorable moments: Two of the most famous professional wrestlers ever, The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin, duked it out in a No Disqualification match for the WWF Championship belt. There were ring interventions, steel chair headshots, and masks of blood. Stone Cold even shared a beer with wrestling boss Vince McMahon at the end of the event.
44: Wrestlemania 29 — 1.048 million PPV buys
Sport: Professional wrestling / Sports entertainment.
Event: Wrestlemania 29.
Date and venue: April 7, 2013, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Memorable moment: John Cena beat The Rock in the main event to win a record 11th WWE Championship. The whole show was a huge financial success for the company as it became the highest grossing live event in WWE history, grossing $72 million.
=41: Brock Lesnar v Cain Velasquez — 1.05 million PPV buys
Sport: Mixed martial arts.
Event: UFC 121.
Date and venue: October 23, 2010, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Memorable moment: A true passing of the torch event as Cain Velasquez took the championship belt from Brock Lesnar with a first round knockout win. The event had a WWE feel, though, as there was a bizarre post-fight confrontation between The Undertaker and Lesnar.
=41: Rampage Jackson v Rashad Evans — 1.05 million PPV buys
Sport: Mixed martial arts.
Event: UFC 114.
Date and venue: May 29, 2010, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moments: Rashad Evans used lightning quick combinations to trouble Rampage Jackson and ground out a good three round decision win. Further down the card, British brawler Michael Bisping gave Dan Miller a sustained three round beating.
=41: Chuck Liddell v Tito Ortiz II — 1.05 million PPV buys
Sport: Mixed martial arts.
Event: UFC 66.
Date and venue: December 30, 2006, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: One of the first true stars of the UFC, Chuck Liddel retained his light heavyweight championship belt with a third round knockout win over Tito Ortiz. Later, it was discovered Liddel fought through a torn medial collateral ligament.
40: Wrestlemania XXIV — 1.058 million PPV buys
Sport: Professional wrestling / Sports entertainment.
Event: Wrestlemania 24.
Date and venue: March 30, 2008, at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida.
Memorable moment: Ric Flair lost a 'Career Threatening' match against Shawn Michaels, meaning he had to retire. However, world champion boxer Floyd Mayweather made an appearance against Big Show and, despite giving up a 16-inch height advantage, still found a way to win.
39: Wrestlemania XXVII — 1.059 million PPV buys
Sport: Professional wrestling / Sports entertainment.
Event: Wrestlemania 27.
Date and venue: April 3, 2011 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia.
Memorable moment: The Undertaker extended his Wrestlemania winning 'streak' to 19-0 with a No Holds Barred victory over Triple H.
38: Floyd Mayweather v Juan Manuel Márquez — 1.06 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: Number One / Número Uno.
Date and venue: September 19, 2009, at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: Despite a two-year layoff, Mayweather returned to the ring and did what he does best — he outclassed three-division champion Juan Manuel Márquez and banked another win.
37: Wrestlemania 21 — 1.085 million PPV buys
Sport: Professional wrestling / Sports entertainment.
Event: Wrestlemania 21.
Date and venue: April 3, 2005, at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Memorable moment: Tickets sold out within one minute of going on sale, making it the fastest selling event in WWE and Staples Center history at that point.
=35: Amanda Nunes v Ronda Rousey — 1.1 million PPV buys
Sport: Mixed martial arts.
Event: UFC 207.
Date and venue: December 30, 2016, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moments: The first openly gay champion in UFC history, Amanda Nunes, knocked out previous champion Ronda Rousey in one round. Cody Garbrandt took the bantamweight belt off Dominick Cruz's waist with a show-off performance.
=35: Canelo Álvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin II — 1.1 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: Canelo Álvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin II.
Date and venue: September 15, 2018, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moments: Álvarez defeated Golovkin on points, capturing the WBA, WBC, IBO, and the vacant The Ring Magazine middleweight world titles — it was the first time Golovkin lost a professional bout, in a back-and-forth battle for the ages.
=32: Bruce Seldon v Mike Tyson — 1.15 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: The Championship: Part II.
Date and venue: September 7, 1996, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: Though Mike Tyson scored a first round knockout, the fight is notable because of the ringside attendance of rapper Tupac Shakur who was murdered hours later.
=32: Manny Pacquiao v Antonio Margarito —1.15 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: The 8th Wonder of the World.
Date and venue: November 13, 2010, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Memorable moment: Manny Pacquiao brutally beat up Antonio Margarito in a savage 12-round performance. After the fight, Pacquiao said: "I did not want to damage him permanently." However, Margarito, who was hospitalised, suffered permanent damage to his right eye.
=32: Manny Pacquiao v Juan Manuel Márquez IV —1.15 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: The Fight of the Decade.
Date and venue: December 8, 2012, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Márquez IV had contested a huge trilogy beforehand. All three were considered close fights with Pacquiao winning twice and drawing the other. Here, Márquez got revenge with a violent sixth round finish.
31: Brock Lesnar v Shane Carwin — 1.16 million PPV buys
Sport: Mixed martial arts.
Event: UFC 116.
Date and venue: July 3, 2010, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: Former WWE wrestler Brock Lesnar underlined his status as an elite mixed martial artist by retaining his heavyweight title with a second round submission victory over Shane Carwin.
=28: WrestleMania 23 — 1.2 million PPV buys
Sport: Professional wrestling / Sports entertainment.
Event: Wrestlemania 23.
Date and venue: April 1, 2007, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.
Memorable moment: Here, we saw one of the more bizarre moments in WWE history as Donald Trump's wrestler Bobby Lashley beat WWE chairman Vince McMahon's wrestler Umaga in a "Hair versus Hair" match. Lashley won, meaning Trump got to shave McMahon's head.
=28: Dan Cormer v Anderson Silva — 1.2 million PPV buys
Sport: Mixed martial arts.
Event: UFC 200.
Date and venue: July 9, 2016, at the T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: There were many big-names competing on the UFC 200 card including Amanda Nunes, Brock Lesnar, Dan Cormier, Anderson Silva, and José Aldo, but most of the headlines that week focused on the sale of Zuffa owned UFC to WME-IMG for $4 billion.
=28: Evander Holyfield v Lennox Lewis — 1.2 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: Undisputed.
Date and venue: March 13, 1999, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Memorable moment: Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield fought to a controversial draw, despite a superior performance from Lewis. Rudy Giuliani, who was New York mayor at the time, said the result was "a travesty."
27: WrestleMania XXVIII — 1.217 million PPV buys
Sport: Professional wrestling / Sports entertainment.
Event: Wrestlemania 28.
Date and venue: April 1, 2012, at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Memorable moment: The main event match between John Cena and The Rock was advertised one year in advance with a tag "Once in a Lifetime." Despite this, they fought again one year after Wrestlemania XXVIII.
=24: Oscar de la Hoya v Manny Pacquiao — 1.25 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: The Dream Match.
Date and venue: December 6, 2008, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: At the time, there was concern Manny Pacquiao was biting off more than he could chew by challenging a fighter so much bigger than he was. In the end, Pacquiao forced a ninth round stoppage victory and announced his presence as a pay-per-view star.
=24: Manny Pacquiao v Miguel Cotto — 1.25 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: Firepower.
Date and venue: November 14, 2009, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: Manny Pacquiao scored a late stoppage victory when he was arguably at the peak of his powers.
=24: Floyd Mayweather v Victor Ortiz — 1.25 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: Star Power.
Date and venue: September 17, 2011 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: Oh boy. This fight. Victor Ortiz was penalised for headbutting Floyd Mayweather. Ortiz then hugged Mayweather to say sorry. The referee waved the fight back on. Ortiz wanted another hug but Mayweather knocked him out with an unforgiving two-punch combination.
=21: KSI v Logan Paul — 1.3 million PPV buys
Sport: Unlicensed Boxing.
Event: KSI vs. Logan Paul.
Date and venue: August 25, 2018 at the Manchester Arena in England.
Memorable moment: The end, when it was all over, so we could pretend we never watched it.
=21: Canelo Álvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin — 1.3 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: Supremacy.
Date and venue: September 16, 2017 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: Canelo Álvarez and Gennady Golovkin may have fought twice, with both results polarising boxing fans, but you know what? These two prizefighters deserve each other as they guarantee one thing — a wild brawl.
=21: Eddie Alvarez v Conor McGregor — 1.3 million PPV buys
Sport: Mixed martial arts.
Event: UFC 205.
Date and venue: November 12, 2016, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Memorable moment: Conor McGregor, already UFC featherweight champion, went up to lightweight to challenge Eddie Alvarez for the belt. McGregor won in dominant fashion to become the first same-time double champion in UFC history.
20: Manny Pacquiao v Shane Mosley — 1.34 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: The Undaunted.
Date and venue: May 7, 2011, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: Manny Pacquiao knocked Shane Mosley down in the third round, forcing Mosley to fight far more defensively for the rest of the contest. Pacquiao won a 12-round decision.
19: Frank Bruno v Mike Tyson II — 1.37 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: The Championship: Part I.
Date and venue: March 16, 1996, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: Mike Tyson finished Frank Bruno with a 13-punch combination in the third round. Bruno never fought again.
=14: Jose Aldo v Conor McGregor — 1.4 million PPV buys
Sport: Mixed martial arts.
Event: UFC 194.
Date and venue: December 12, 2015, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: The Irishman was not expected to beat long-reigning featherweight champion Jose Aldo so it shook up the MMA world when he knocked the Brazilian out in just 13 seconds. This was the performance that elevated Conor McGregor's fame.
=14: Floyd Mayweather v Shane Mosley — 1.4 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: Who R U Picking?
Date and venue: May 1, 2010, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: Shane Mosley buckled Floyd Mayweather's knees with powerful punches in the second round — one of the few times Mayweather seemed legitimately troubled in a professional fight. Mayweather still won a convincing 12-round decision, though.
=14: Oscar de la Hoya v Félix Trinidad — 1.4 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: The Fight of the Millennium.
Date and venue: September 18, 1999, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: An entertaining 12-round battle that could have gone either way, was eventually won by Félix Trinidad. The normally mild-mannered Oscar de la Hoya left the ring swearing in every direction and, though there were calls for a rematch, this was the only occasion these two fought each other.
=14: Evander Holyfield v George Foreman – 1.4 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: The Battle of the Ages.
Date and venue: April 19, 1991, at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Memorable moment: Round seven. Just watch it. And watch it again. That round won Round of the Year honours in 1991. A heavyweight slug-fest for the ages, in which Holyfield triumphed on points.
=14: Manny Pacquiao v Juan Manuel Marquez III – 1.4 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: The 25th Round Begins.
Date and venue: November 12, 2011, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Memorable moment: Another one of those fights that could have been scored either way, with writers divided as to who should have won. Even the judges were split 2-1 but Manny Pacquiao had the edge.
=12: Conor McGregor v Nate Diaz — 1.5 million PPV buys
Sport: Mixed martial arts.
Event: UFC 196.
Date and venue: March 5, 2016, at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: Conor McGregor had already won UFC world titles at featherweight and lightweight. Here, he went up another division to take on Nate Diaz at welterweight. The weight class was one jump too many as Diaz submitted him with a rear naked choke in the second round.
=12: Floyd Mayweather v Miguel Cotto — 1.5 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: Ring Kings.
Date and venue: May 5, 2012, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: This proved to be just another routine 12-round decision win for Floyd Mayweather.
11: Mike Tyson v Peter McNeeley — 1.55 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: He's Back.
Date and venue: August 19, 1995, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: This was the first time Mike Tyson had fought since serving three years in prison for a rape conviction. The fight lasted 89 seconds. Peter McNeeley's manager ran into the ring to save his fighter from taking any additional punishment, meaning Tyson won by disqualification.
10: Mike Tyson v Evander Holyfield — 1.59 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: Finally.
Date and venue: November 9, 1996, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: Evander Holyfield became the first fighter since Muhammad Ali to win the world heavyweight championship for the third time. Holyfield, the challenger, stood up to Mike Tyson's aggressive style and claimed a stunning 11th round knockout win.
9: Brock Lesnar v Frank Mir II — 1.6 million PPV buys
Sport: Mixed martial arts.
Event: UFC 100.
Date and venue: July 11, 2009, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
Memorable moments: UFC 100, the 100th pay-per-view event in the company's history, was considered to be the MMA Event of the Year. Georges St-Pierre retained his welterweight title against Thiago Alves, and Dan Henderson knocked out Michael Bisping with a savage, career-changing punch. In the headlining fight, Brock Lensar badly bloodied Frank Mir en route to a second round stoppage win.
8: Nate Diaz v Conor McGregor II — 1.65 million PPV buys
Sport: Mixed martial arts.
Event: UFC 202.
Date and venue: August 20, 2016, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: This is the night Conor McGregor avenged his earlier defeat. In his rematch against Nate Diaz, he knocked his opponent down and claimed a five-round decision victory. UFC 202 was the first event under the new ownership of WME-IMG, who had just spent $4 billion buying the company from Zuffa. It is the second best-selling MMA pay-per-view of all time.
7: Lennox Lewis v Mike Tyson — 1.97 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: Lewis–Tyson: Is On.
Date and venue: June 8, 2002, at the Pyramid Arena in Memphis, Tennessee.
Memorable moment: A press conference brawl involving both boxers and their respective entourages built more interest in Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson's ruckus. Lewis knocked Tyson down multiple times and claimed a big eighth round knockout win.
6: Evander Holyfield v Mike Tyson II — 1.99 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: The Sound and the Fury.
Date and venue: June 28, 1997, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: Mike Tyson bit off part of Evander Holyfield's ear. Why? Who knows, but maybe it had something to do with the fact that, up until that point, Holyfield was easily defeating Tyson (again). Nobody knows the event as "The Sound and the Fury." It's now called "The Bite Fight." Tyson was obviously disqualified.
5: Floyd Mayweather v Canelo Álvarez — 2.2 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: The One.
Date and venue: September 14, 2013, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: Canelo Álvarez was one of the rising stars of boxing. Floyd Mayweather was the veteran. It could have been a passing of the torch. Instead, it was classic Mayweather, handing yet another excellent opponent a 12-round decision loss.
=3: Oscar de la Hoya v Floyd Mayweather — 2.4 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: The World Awaits.
Date and venue: May 5, 2007, at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: Floyd Mayweather's split decision victory over Oscar de la Hoya propelled him to superstar status. The most lasting part of the fight was that it launched the hugely-popular "24/7" TV series on HBO. The programme followed the fighters around as they got on with their day-to-day lives before fight night. The platform is still used today.
=3: Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor — 2.5 million PPV buys
Sport: Mixed martial arts.
Event: UFC 229.
Date and venue: October 6, 2018, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: The UFC 229 main event between the reigning UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor attracted a massive amount of eyes to television sets on October 6, 2018 — and with good reason.
The rivalry between the two fighters was personal. Nurmagomedov dominated McGregor in the octagon, and even incited a riot cageside just moments later. It will likely remain the most talked about MMA fight for a long time.
2: Floyd Mayweather v Conor McGregor — 4.3 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: The Biggest Fight in Combat Sports History.
Date and venue: August 26, 2017, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: The build-up to Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor's landmark bout featured a four-city tour. The promotion was unprecedented and epic, but controversial. The fight, though, was nowhere near as exciting, as Mayweather coasted to a straight-forward tenth round stoppage victory.
1: Floyd Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao — 4.6 million PPV buys
Sport: Boxing.
Event: The Fight of the Century.
Date and venue: May 2, 2015, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Memorable moment: The bout was six years in the making and, judging by the fight, it was six years too late. Manny Pacquiao wasn't able to properly apply his swarming fighting style as Floyd Mayweather was expertly utilising his defensive game. Another 12-round decision win for the American.