UFC Fight Night 95 performance bonuses, highlights, and Reebok money

Fighters in the UFC get paid their contracted amount to show and win, plus Reebok money, and in addition sometimes get “locker room” bonuses of varying amounts that come in the mail. Four $50,000 performance bonuses are given at each event. And for the most elite fighters, a cut of the PPV.

The locker room bonuses are informal, and not public. The cut of the PPV, if any, is likewise private, although details have been made public via court cases more than once.

Most athletic commissions make public the show and win money, usually early in the following week, delaying reporting.

The four $50,000 performance bonuses are publicly announced. Usually, there is one bonus each to the fighters in the Fight of the Night, and then one each to winners in two outstanding fights.

The Reebok money is based on tenure, and can thus be readily calculated.

Performance bonuses often do not go to the most elite fighters. At UFN 95, the fight of the night was from the FOX Sports prelims, one performance bonus went to a UFC Fight Pass prelim, and the other went to a fighter who was 0-1 in the UFC.

$50,000 Fight of the Night
Erick Silva defeated Luan Chagas by Submission (RNC, Round 3, 3:57)

https://twitter.com/UFCONFOX/status/779839371759333376

“>September 25, 2016

$50,000 Performance of the Night
Eric Spicely defeated Thiago Santos at 6-1 odds by Submission (RNC, Round 1, 2:58)

https://twitter.com/UFCONFOX/status/779873761130446848

“>September 25, 2016

$50,000 Performance of the Night
Vicente Luque defeated Hector Urbina by Knockout (Punches, Round 1, 1:00)

https://twitter.com/ufc/status/779821364081336322

“>@VicenteLuqueMMA lands in the pocket! #UFCBrasiliahttps://t.co/Qkv2R8b3yb

— UFC (@ufc)

OH MY LUQUE!!!! @VicenteLuqueMMA lands in the pocket! #UFCBrasiliahttps://t.co/Qkv2R8b3yb

— UFC (@ufc) September 24, 2016

“>September 24, 2016

Reebok Pay

Under the UFC Athlete Outfitting policy, fighters are compensated for wearing Reebok apparel in the Octagon, and during fight week. The income is based on ZUFFA-era tenure in the UFC, or top tier promotions ZUFFA has acquired like Strikeforce and WEC.
1-5 bouts gets $2,500
6-10 bouts gets $5,000
11-15 bouts gets $10,000
16-20 bouts gets $15,000
21 bouts + gets $20,000
Champions earn $40,000 while title challengers get $30,000

UFC Fight Night 95 Reebok Pay:

Cristiane Justino: $2,500
beat Lina Lansberg: $2,500

Renan Barao: $10,000
beat Phillipe Nover: $5,000

Roy Nelson: $15,000
beat Antonio Silva: $10,000

Francisco Trinaldo: $10,000
beat Paul Felder: $5,000

Eric Spicely: $2,500
beat Thiago Marreta Santos: $5,000

Godofredo Pepey: $5,000
beat Mike De La Torre: $5,000

Michel Prazeres: $5,000
beat Gilbert Burns: $5,000

Rani Yahya: $10,000
beat Michinori Tanaka: $2,500

Jussier Formiga: $5,000
beat Dustin Ortiz: $5,000

Erick Silva: $10,000
beat Luan Chagas: $2,500

Alan Patrick: $2,500
beat Stevie Ray: $2,500

Vicente Luque: $2,500
beat Hector Urbina: $2,500

Gregor Gillespie: $2,500
beat Glaico Franca: $2,500

Total: $137,500

The first three fights of the night, on UFC Fight Pass, paid out $2,500 to each of the fighters. They are just getting started in the league. It makes sense. But at UFC Fight Night 95, the two main event fighters made a combined $5,000. That does not make sense and adds to the list of things that are wrong with The Reebok Deal. If there cannot be some massive do-over, perhaps with apparel that does not appear inspired by Uno cards, and it does appear that there cannot, then the main event fighters should be in some new category. Pay the winner $25k and the loser a minimum of $15k. Paying the main event fighters, the faces on the poster, a combined $10,000 does not make the league or Reebok look good.

H/T MMAjunkie