UFC fighters get paid a fixed amount to show and another fixed amount to win. They also get Reebok pay, based on tenure, for wearing the distinctive apparel during fight week and in the Octagon. Sometimes fighters get locker room bonuses of varying amounts; despite their name locker room bonuses actually come in the mail. And the most elite fighters get a cut of the PPV that can run into millions.
In addition, four $50,000 performance bonuses are given at each event. Usually, there is a Fight of the Night in which both fighters are given a performance bonus, and two performance bonuses to winners in two fights. However, at UFC Fight Night 100, four $50,000 performance bonuses were given out, with no Fight of the Night.
In a sign of the depth that is one of the primary differences between the UFC and boxing, a bonus went to the co-main event, two bonuses were from the FOX Sports 1 prelim card, and one bonus was from the UFC Fight Pass prelims.
$50,000 Performance Bonus
Thomas Almeida defeated Albert Morales by TKO (Strikes, Round 2, 1:37)
$50,000 Performance Bonus
Pedro Munhoz defeated Justin Scoggins by Submission (Guillotine Choke, Round 2, 1:55)
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/800119886655590401
“>November 19, 2016
$50,000 Performance Bonus
Cezar Ferreira defeated Jack Hermansson by Submission (Arm Triangle, Round 2, 2:11)
https://twitter.com/UFCONFOX/status/800152818724184064
“>November 20, 2016
$50,000 Performance Bonus
GadzhimuradAntigulov defeated Marcos Rogerio de Lima by Submission (Guillotine Choke, Round 1, 1:07)
https://twitter.com/UFCONFOX/status/800143264594690050
“>November 20, 2016
With the $50,000 bonus, Cezar Ferreira can hopefully quit his second job as an Uber driver.
“Fighting is how I make a living,” said Ferreira to Combate, as translated by Dan Hiergesell for Bloody Elbow. “After two losses in a row, I started to make less money. I was spending too much, too, because I spent almost one year injured. When I lost to Masvidal, last year, I asked the UFC for some time out until I felt 100% again. Those were some hard times, I was penniless.”
“I had to start teaching classes, I couldn’t ask for a sponsorship because of my last performance. Everyone travels in the end of the year, so I started working as an Uber driver to make some money. I never told this to anyone. I was never picky with jobs, I could’ve made some money fighting, but I wanted to return 100%.”
‘Mutante’ is now three in a row and can test himself against the top 15, where hopefully the paydays are now better than Uber.
