In addition to being paid a fixed amount to show and another, usually equal amount to win, each UFC event also awards four $50,000 Performance Bonuses. Usually, there is a Fight of the Night in which both fighters are given a performance bonus, and a performance bonus to the winner in two fights, sometimes, as happened here, no fight of the night is awarded; rather, four performance bonuses were given. “Performance Bonus” means the fight made you say “HOLY F@$%ING $#!@.”
One of the primary differences between the UFC model and the boxing model is the depth of the card. Sometimes the greatest fight isn’t the main event, or close to it. However, at UFC on ESPN+ 17 three of four bonuses went to the main card, and two went to the co-main.
$50,000 Fight of the Night
•Carla Esparza defeated Alexa Grasso by Majority Decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28)
How did Esparza not tap?! Unreal! #UFCMexico pic.twitter.com/12LEqK4QSI
— UFC (@ufc) September 22, 2019
$50,000 Performance Bonus:
•Steven Peterson defeated Martin Bravo by KO (Spinning backfist, Round 2, 1:31). This is only the 7th spinning backfist KO in UFC history.
😱😱 @8ocho08 with a RIDICULOUS knockout!! #UFCMexico pic.twitter.com/umXG81lS4U
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) September 22, 2019
$50,000 Performance Bonus:
•Paul Craig defeated Vinicius Moreira by Submission (Rear Naked Choke, Round 1, 3:19)
Bear Jew!
Huge knees lead to @PCraigMMA finishing Moreira in round 1! #UFCMexico pic.twitter.com/A9JWaZRKkm
— UFC (@ufc) September 21, 2019
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 243 on October 6, at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.
