The UFC’s 549th event, UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor 2 was held on Saturday, January 24, 2021 at the Etihad Arena 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 $50,000 Performance Bonuses. Usually, there is a Fight of the Night in which both fighters are given a performance bonus, and a performance bonus to the winner in two fights. This event instead had four performance bonuses.
For the record, “Performance Bonus” is for the moment that made you go “HOLY F@$%ING $#!@.”
The winners are shown below, in bold.
$50,000 Performance Bonus
Dustin Poirier defeated Conor McGregor by KO (Punches), Round 2, 2:32)
$50,000 Performance Bonus
Michael Chandler defeated Dan Hooker by TKO (Strikes, Round 1, 2:30)
$50,000 Performance Bonus
Makhmud Muradov defeated Andrew Sanchez by TKO (Strikes, Round 3, 2:59)
$50,000 Performance Bonus
Marina Rodriguez defeated Amanda Ribas by TKO (Strikes, Round 2, 0:54)
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 257, all bonuses went to the main card.
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;
•Less commonly than in the past fighters get discretionary locker room bonuses of varying amounts, which, despite their name, 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, which this one was not.
The next league event is UFC Vegas 18, also known as UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov, UFC Fight Night 184, and UFC on ESPN+ 42; it will take place in two weeks on February 6, 2021, at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.
