UFC 253: Adesanya vs. Costa took place on September 26 at the Flash Forum on Fight Island, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
In addition to being paid a fixed amount to show and another, usually equal amount to win, each UFC event also awards four $50,000 Performance Bonuses. Usually, there is a Fight of the Night in which both fighters are given a performance bonus, and a performance bonus to the winner in two fights. “Performance Bonus” means the fight made you go “HOLY F@$%ING $#!@.”
One of the primary differences between the UFC model and the boxing model is the depth of the card. Sometimes in MMA the greatest fight isn’t the main event, or close to it. However, at UFC 253, for the first time in memory, all bonus went to the main, co-main, and third to last fight.
$50,000 Fight of the Night
Brandon Royval defeated Kai Kara-France by Submission (Guillotine Choke, Round 2, 0:48)
$50,000 Performance Bonus
Israel Adesanya defeated Paulo Costa by TKO (Strikes, Round 2, 3:49)
$50,000 Performance Bonus
Jan Blachowicz defeated Dominick Reyes by TKO (Strikes, Round 2, 4:36)
In addition, to the bonuses and purses, fighters earn:•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.
The next league event is UFC on ESPN 16, also known as UFC on ESPN: Holm vs. Aldana, will be hend on October 4 at the Flash Forum on Fight Island, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
