There are several ways to get paid in the UFC, beyond the obvious X/X, fixed amount to show, with another generally equal amount to win. This sum is usually made public, although it depends on the governing rules of the commission.
In addition, there are:
•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;
•The most elite fighters get points on the pay per view; and
•Four discretionary $50,000 performance bonuses are given at each event.
Usually, there is a Fight of the Night in which both fighters are given a performance bonus, and a performance bonus to the winner in two fights. “Performance Bonus” is a phrase for fights that made you say “HOLY F@#$ING $#!@.”
One of the primary differences between the UFC model and the boxing model is the depth of the card. Sometimes the best fights are all the way down on the UFC Fight Pass prelims. In fact, at UFC Fight Night 106 the very first fight of the night won a performance bonus. Then the FS1 prelims won another. And the main card won two.
In a departure from the usual bonuses, no Fight of the Night was awarded; instead, two separate bonuses were awarded.
Performance of the Night: $50,00
Edson Barboza defeated Beneil Dariush by Knockout (Flying Knee, Round 2, 3:35)
https://twitter.com/UFCONFOX/status/840790302549917697
Performance of the Night: $50,00Michel Prazeres defeated Josh Burkman by Submission (North-South Choke, Round 1, 1:42)
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/840730948060688384
Performance of the Night: $50,000 bonus
Paulo Borrachinha defeated Garreth McLellan by TKO (Strikes, Round 1, 1:17)
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/840717538879197184
Performance of the Night: $50,000 bonus
Kelvin Gastelum defeated Vitor Belfort by TKO (Strikes, Round 1, 3:52)
https://twitter.com/FS1/status/840805182686416896
The next UFC event is UFC Fight Night 107: Manuwa vs. Anderson on March 18, 2017 at The O2 Arena in London, England.
