The UFC's 5 best-selling pay-per-views of the decade (2010-2019)

#3 UFC 196: McGregor vs Diaz – 5th March, 2016 – 1,317,000 buys

Diaz choked out McGregor in the main event of UFC 196, which broke UFC 100's buyrate record

UFC 196 was initially going to see UFC Featherweight champion Conor McGregor aiming to become a double champion by challenging Lightweight kingpin Rafael Dos Anjos for his title, but when the Brazilian withdrew with a broken foot, the promotion were forced to find a replacement on late notice.

Veteran Nate Diaz stepped in to fight McGregor, and with the fight becoming a non-title affair at 170lbs – where the Irishman had never fought previously – all expectations went out of the window. That’s why it came as such a shock when the show became the UFC’s first to top their pay-per-view buyrate record for 7 years, beating out UFC 100’s record by just 17,000 buys.

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That wasn’t the only shock of the night; not only did Diaz surprise everyone by withstanding the punching power of ‘The Notorious One’ to submit him with a rear naked choke, but in the co-main event, Miesha Tate surprisingly overcame Holly Holm, choking her out in the fifth round of their Women’s Bantamweight title match to claim the crown.

The McGregor/Diaz rivalry would largely define the UFC’s fortunes in 2016, and UFC 196’s success was the first sign of that.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by A. Ayush Chatterjee