Bonus Round
Show Me the Money: While the 34 “Fight of the Night” bonuses issued in 2022 did not exceed 2018’s record 35, the 131 “Performance of the Night” checks meant the total bonuses awarded this year were more than any other year by a wide margin. The UFC awarded more bonuses than any year in its history.
Diaz Cashed Out: Nate Diaz returned at UFC 279 to submit Tony Ferguson with a guillotine choke, and he subsequently earned POTN for his handiwork. His 16 post-fight bonuses set him alone with the third-most in UFC history, behind only Donald Cerrone and Charles Oliveira (18 each).
An Extra $150k Isn’t Bad: Three separate competitors each topped the year-end tally with three post-fight bonuses apiece. Roman Dolidze earned three POTNs for three knockouts, while Njokuani and Holland both claimed two POTNs and a FOTN in a losing effort.
Spreading the Wealth: No fighter at year’s end pocketed double bonuses after a victorious thrilling battle. Instead, the UFC broke tradition by doling out POTN awards for every fighter to finish a fight at three events: UFC Fight Night 204 in March, UFC on ESPN 37 in June and UFC 282 in December. UFC 275 in June and UFC on ABC 3 in July nearly had the same situation, just without those headlining finishers gaining POTNs too.
Flushing Money Down the Drain: Steven Peterson missed weight ahead of his UFC Fight Night 200 banger with Julian Erosa, and Erosa ended up claiming both halves of the FOTN check. This situation repeated itself at UFC on ESPN 35, when Rob Font came in heavy to forfeit his half of his eventual FOTN to the victorious Marlon Vera.
Good to Be Featured: Unlike most years since bonuses have been enacted, fighters in the main or co-main event slots of UFC cards did not take home the most total bonuses. The “featured fight” or third-to-last match of a UFC event accounted for more post-fight honors than any position on the lineup.
All Eyes on the Marquee: A sharp upswing from years past, only six FOTNs were issued to fights starting at the curtain jerker and stretching to the sixth-to-last spot on the card. More FOTNs did go out to the headliner than any other card placement.
Making It Rain: Two events this year – UFC on ESPN 37 and UFC 282 – exceeded the UFC’s all-time high of bonus money awarded after an event of $516,000 following UFC 129. Both of those fight cards ended with $550,000 in extra checks issued to its combatants.
Continue Reading » Odds, Weights & Walkouts