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 $#!@.”
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. At UFC on FOX 31 the four bonuses were split evenly between the main card and prelim card.
$50,000 Fight of the Night
•Joaquim Silva defeated Jared Gordon by KO (Punches, Round 3, 2:39)
$50,000 Performance of the Night:
•Al Iaquinta defeated Kevin Lee by Unanimous Decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
Lee vs Iaquinta 2, our crew breaks down this main event! pic.twitter.com/hMa2RzzKZn
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) December 16, 2018
$50,000 Performance of the Night
•Charles Oliveira defeated Jim Miller by Submission (RNC, Round 1, 3:45)
Respect 🤝 #UFCMilwaukee pic.twitter.com/KpaWaLf3XC
— UFC (@ufc) December 16, 2018
In addition, to the bonuses and purses, there is:
•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.
The next league event is UFC 232: Jones vs. Gustafsson 2 on December 29, 2018 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
