This Is How Much Boxing And UFC Ring Card Girls Earn

There are people doing work that usually goes unnoticed at all sporting events.

Stewards are tasked with making sure crowds aren't too rowdy, ensuring things don't kick off, and helping people get to their seats. There are also the ticket guys who get you in quickly and efficiently, so that you can find your way and get prepared.

At boxing and MMA events, there are also Ring Card Girls. Similar to Grid Girls in the likes of Formula 1 and other races, they're hired as models to parade advertisement boards and fight round numbers.

Credit: PA

The models are used to raise the sex appeal of the event somewhat, as well as signalling what round or fight is coming up.

Perhaps the best known is UFC ring girl Arianny Celeste, real name Penelope López Márquez. She made her UFC debut in 2006 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Paradise, Nevada, going on to be voted 'Ring Girl of the Year' in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. During that time, she became the epitome of the ring girl division.

Back in 2015, during the height of fighter Ronda Rousey's career, she spoke about ring girls, claiming that some were paid more than actual competitors.

"I don't know if the ring girls get paid too much or the fighters don't get paid enough," she told Fox Sports. "But, yeah, there's definitely a lot more in what the fighters do than what they do. So, I think that's one thing that's unfair."

KGB Answers went on to claim that Arianny Celeste is very well paid, with a reported net worth of $1 million. However, some of this pay will come from other modelling work with the likes of Maxim, Sports Illustrated and FHM, as well as being ranked #18 in the former's annual Hot 100 in 2013.

The site claims that "the average UFC ring girl salary is $20,000 a year, while the average salary for ring girl jobs is $18,000." Obviously, pay depends on company, location, industry, experience and status, but it's a pretty tidy sum.

Not a bad gig, to be honest, and I bet there's one hell of a piss up after it.

Topics: UFC

Mark McGowan

Mark is a journalist at LADbible, who joined in 2015 after a year as a freelance writer. In the past he blogged for independent football fan channel Redmen TV, after graduating from Staffordshire University with degrees in journalism and English literature. He has worked on campaigns such as UOKM8? and IIOC.