The old UFC bonus system is gone, replaced in the Paramount+ era with a new, higher paying bonus system.
In addition to every finish generating a $25,000 bonus, performance bonuses and Fight of the Night bonuses were also jacked up from $50,000 to $100,000. But UFC CEO Dana White would like everyone to know that the old system was actually a lot better than many thought it was.
White is often very tight lipped when it comes to the amount of money fighters make. So it was a surprise to many when he revealed
at the UFC 324 post-fight press conference that every fighter used to get some amount bonus money, even if they didn’t get one of the two $50,000 performance bonuses or $50,000 for being part of Fight of the Night.
“So what has been happening forever in the company, since we started this company, is every night I would tell you guys, ‘Oh, these guys won these bonuses,’” White said. “But everybody on the card would get a check for different dollar amounts depending on how they fought. Ranging anywhere from $5000 to $25,000. Every event.”
“So, those are going away. And now finishes will get a $25,000 bonus.”
Back in the Fertitta era of the UFC, big locker room bonuses were infamous and could often equal more than a fighter was being paid by their contract. Randy Couture was once given a $500,000 bonus, while Daniel Cormier earned multiple six and seven figure bonuses. Those big amounts largely disappeared once Endeavor bought UFC in 2016, and the discretionary bonuses the UFC has been handing out are much more modest.
The good news? Now fighters don’t have to wonder whether they’ll get $3000 or $10,000 based on what UFC execs thought of their performance. It’s now very straight forward: finish your opponent, and you get an extra $25,000. For new UFC fighters making $10,000 to show and $10,000 to win, that’s a big deal. And while we can still hope that the promotion finally improves the amount starting fighters make after a 10 year increase freeze, this is still a decent step in the right direction.
