UFC CEO Dana White has announced that $300,000 performance bonuses will be awarded at UFC 300, in response to calls from fighters for increased bonuses at the event.
You asked for it, you got it. That’s the mantra at UFC 300 this Saturday. Dana White, the UFC CEO, dropped a bombshell. He’s upping the ante with a whopping $300,000 performance bonus. This historic card is happening at the T-Mobile Arena, right in the heart of Las Vegas.
The big reveal? It happened at the UFC 300 pre-fight press conference. Some fighters had been vocal, calling for bigger bonuses for this mega event. It’s a star-studded lineup, with 12 current or former champions.
Here’s a fun fact. At UFC 100, the promotion handed out $100,000 bonuses. So, White decided to put the ball in the fighters’ court for UFC 300. He turned to the 26 athletes on stage and asked, “What should it be raised to?”
Their response? A resounding “$300,000!” And just like that, White agreed, “It’s done!”
But wait, there’s more. Featherweight contender Sodiq Yusuff tried to sweeten the deal. He asked for bonuses for all three parts of the card – early prelims, prelims, and the main card. White, however, wasn’t ready to go all in just yet.
“There’s $1.2 million in bonuses,” White retorted, “Fight your ass off.”
The UFC has a history of upping the stakes for special events. There’ve been times when White awarded a bonus to every fighter who scored a finish. This time, the UFC 300 fighters are in for a treat. They’re competing for a chance at $300,000 for the two “Performance of the Night” bonuses. Plus, another $300,000 each for the fighters in the “Fight of the Night.”