UFC on ESPN 16, also known as UFC Fight Island 4, and UFC on ESPN: Holm vs. Aldana, was held on October 3 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 $#!@.” UFC on ESPN 16 offered no Fight of the Night and instead went with four Performance Bonuses, show immediately below, in bold.
$50,000 Fight of the Night
Germaine de Randamie defeated Julianna Pena by Technical Submission (Guillotine choke, Round 3, 3:25)
$50,000 Performance Bonus
Kyler Phillips defeated Cameron Else by TKO (Punches, Round 2, 0:44)
$50,000 Performance Bonus
Dusko Todorovic defeated Dequan Townsend by TKO (Punches, Round 2, 3:15)
$50,000 Performance Bonus
Luigi Vendramini defeated Jessin Ayari by TKO (Head Kick & punches, Round 1, 1:12)
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. At UFC on ESPN 16 the main and co-main earned no bonuses; instead the main card earned three, and the fourth went to the very first fight on the 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 on ESPN+ 37, also known as UFC Fight Island 5, UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen, and UFC Fight Night 179, will be held on October 10 at the Flash Forum on Fight Island, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
