In addition to being paid a fixed amount to show and another, usually equal amount to win, each UFC event also awards four $50,000 Performance Bonuses. Usually, there is a Fight of the Night in which both fighters are given a performance bonus, and a performance bonus to the winner in two fights. “Performance Bonus” means the fight made you say “HOLY F@$%ING $#!@.”
This was that at UFC on ESPN+ 15 in Shenzen, China:
Performance of the Night: Weili Zhang
Performance of the Night: Li Jingliang
Fight of the Night: Alateng Heili vs. Danaa Batgerel
$50,000 Fight of the Night
•Heili Alateng defeated Danaa Batgerel by Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1167823032552812557
$50,000 Performance Bonus:
•Li Jingliang defeated Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos by TKO (Strikes, Round 3, 4:51)
https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1167771082767704064
$50,000 Performance Bonus:
•Weili Zhang defeated Jessica Andrade by TKO (Strikes, Round 1, 0:42)
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1167777758979620864
One of the differences between boxing and MMA is that in big boxing events, only the main event is the draw. In Shenzen, the fight of the night was only the second fight on the card. The other two bonuses however went to the main card, including one to the main event.
In addition, to the bonuses and purses, there are:
•Reebok pay, based on tenure, for wearing the distinctive apparel during fight week and in the Octagon;
•Sometimes fighters get discretionary locker room bonuses of varying amounts; despite their name, locker room bonuses actually come in the mail now;
•In some cases there is an LOA [Letter of Agreement] on the contract for additional income; and,
•The most elite fighters get points on the pay per view for PPV events, although this event was on ESPN+, not PPV.
The next league event is UFC 242 on September 7, 2019 at The Arena, Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
