UFC eliminates bonuses for knockouts and submissions and starts rewarding athletes for performance

Dana White (photo) opens the press conferences with the announcement of the bonuses. Photo: YouTube/Reproduction

The Ultimate organization announced, on Tuesday night (11), a drastic change to its post-event prize structure. In a statement published on its official website, the UFC announced that it will not offer the “Fight of the Night” and “Submission of the Night” bonuses, which will give way to a new bonus system, based on the fighters' performance on the night. The changes will come into effect from UFC Fight Night 36, next Saturday (15), in Jaraguá do Sul (SC).

Among the already known bonuses, only the “Fight of the Night” bonus will continue to be delivered by Ultimate, with the value maintained at US$50 (around R$120). The other two event prizes, valued at the same amount, will be awarded to the two fighters who have the best individual performance. The new bonus is now known as “Performance of the night”.

The UFC began offering a cash prize to athletes for the best fight, submission and knockout of the night in 2006, at UFC Fight Night 3. The record holders for bonuses in the organization's history are the Brazilian Anderson Silva and the North American Joe lauzon, awarded 12 times each. If bonuses granted in the extinct WEC, also controlled by Zuffa, the “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone now leads the category, with 13 achievements.