Bellator MMA has made it clear they aim to challenge the UFC for the top talent in the sport. Purses are a point of comparison, as are apparel sponsorships. And the UFC offers four $50,000 bonuses at each event, characteristically one each for both athletes in the Fight of the Night, and then two other bonuses for best performance. The $50,000 was set on after varying from $40,000 to as high as $100,000 or even, once, $129,000.Bellator offers no such bonuses at present, although it has been discussed

Bellator offers no such bonuses at present, although it has been discussed. Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Freire says the time is right, and will benefit the promotion by attracting further top talent.

I think Bellator is overdue in establishing ‘of the night’ bonuses, said featherweight champion Patricio Freire to Matt Erickson and Christian Stein for MMAjunkie. Bjorn Rebney talked about it. Scott Coker talks about it. Bellator has the best event production in North America, and most of its fights are exciting. It’s rare to see someone fight not to lose in Bellator. Imagine knowing that if you put on a show, you get to keep your job, plus there’s a financial incentive to go above and beyond – a bonus for fight, knockout, or submission of the night.

A free agent in the UFC, who is known for earning bonuses, if he finds out that’s also a possibility in Bellator, wouldn’t that be extra incentive to come over? I think Bellator should add all these kinds of bonuses – for finishes and best fight of the night. The funding is there. Bellator belongs to a gigantic conglomerate. It will be another step in the growth of the organization.

His older brother Patricky Freire concurs.

I believe Bellator should have done this already, he said.