UFC 251 pay-per-view figures revealed with staggering 1.3m buys… the best since Conor McGregor vs Khabib

UFC 251 sold 1.3million pay-per-views - the most since Conor McGregor lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov.

The headliner at the UFCs inaugural Fight Island event in Abu Dhabi featured the grudge match between Jorge Masvidal and Kamaru Usman.

Promoter Dana White said before the event that it was trending towards a blockbuster and revealed only Nurmagomedov's win at UFC 229 in October 2018 was comparable.

As it turns out UFC 251 is the joint sixth highest PPV ever, matching the 1.3m buys 205 drew in 2015, the night McGregor beat Eddie Alvarez to become the first ever simultaneous two-weight champion.

Masvidal initially failed to agree terms with the UFC to main-event in the Middle East, rowing over his cut of the PPV sales.

But after Gilbert Burns was dramatically ruled out after a positive coronavirus test, the UFC finally cut a deal with the 35-year-old.

Masvidal only pocketed £280,000 through his purse but is believed to have had a mega-money bonus as part of his late notice deal.

The American, who was beaten on points, thanked his legion of loyal fans and critics as he emerges as the UFC's latest box office star.

Masvidal tweeted: "The overwhelming amount of support I have received before, during, and after this journey has been humbling.

"Still got a lot of goals to meet. All of you that tuned in to see me win, thank you.

"Those that tuned in to see me lose, thank you."