UFC bonuses explained (Fight of the Night, Performance of the Night, amounts & exceptions)

If you watch the post-fight presser, you’ll hear “bonuses are in!”—but how do they work, who decides them, and why do the figures change? This guide gives UFC bonuses explained in clear terms: the core awards, the $50,000 standard, when the UFC bumps payouts, how ties/doubles work, and what “discretionary” or locker-room bonuses mean. Official UFC pages and long-running reports back everything below so UFC bonuses explained stays accurate over time.

The two core awards (most nights)

• Fight of the Night (FOTN): goes to both athletes in the evening’s best bout.
• Performance of the Night (POTN): typically two individual awards for standout finishes or dominant wins.

Since 2014, the public, announced standard is $50,000 per bonus—though the promotion can change this any night. That’s the baseline for UFC bonuses explained.

When the UFC increases payouts (and by how much)

The UFC occasionally raises bonuses for special cards or by CEO Dana White’s call at pressers:

• UFC 262 (2021): one-time jump to $75,000 after Tony Ferguson asked; UFC confirmed the increase.
• UFC 300 (2024): historic bump to $300,000 per bonus, confirmed by UFC’s own bonus wrap and multiple outlets. Some fighters even double-dipped, taking two $300k checks.
• UFC 304 (2024): doubled to $100,000 after fighter lobbying, then followed by public insistence not to make raises a habit.

These increases are event-specific. The default remains $50k unless the UFC announces otherwise—key for readers searching UFC bonuses explained before each event.

Can there be more (or fewer) than four bonuses?

Yes. While four is common (1 FOTN = 2 checks, plus 2 POTN), the UFC sometimes:

• Issues only POTN awards (no FOTN) if one-off performances stand out more than a single back-and-forth fight.
• Hands out extra POTN checks on wild cards (five or six winners).
• Awards double bonuses to the same athlete (e.g., FOTN + POTN) on special nights.

UFC’s year-end “Bonus Coverage” pages show these variations clearly.

Who decides? How are winners picked?

It’s discretionary—UFC leadership names the winners after the event, usually announced by Dana White at the press conference and posted on UFC website. Criteria are entertainment value, technique, risk-taking, and decisive endings. That’s the practical meaning of “discretionary” in UFC bonuses explained.

“Locker-room” (discretionary) bonuses, explained

Beyond the public bonuses, the UFC has long issued private discretionary bonuses—not always announced, and amounts vary. Over the years, White and multiple outlets have discussed these payments publicly (ranges from a few thousand dollars upward, case-by-case). Treat them as possible add-ons, separate from the public FOTN/POTN checks.

Frequently asked questions — UFC bonuses explained

Is $50,000 still the standard?
Yes. Since 2014, $50k per bonus is the default—unless the UFC announces a higher amount for that event.

Can both fighters in a war also get POTN?
Yes. The promotion can stack awards. On mega-cards with raised payouts (e.g., UFC 300 at $300,000), some fighters received two separate bonuses.

How do I know the amount for tonight’s card?
Listen for the post-fight presser and check UFC.com/News bonus wraps; if there’s a raise, it’s usually stated on camera and in the recap.

Do finishes matter more than decisions?
Finishes often win POTN, but a razor-close, action-packed decision frequently lands FOTN. The call is discretionary.

Are bonuses taxed?
They’re income. While tax details vary by jurisdiction and athlete residency, bonuses are paid and reported like other event earnings (separate from any private discretionary payments discussed publicly). (General information; not tax advice.)

Practical checklist (editors & fans)

• Assume $50k unless told otherwise; watch the presser for changes.
• On special cards, confirmed raises have included $75k, $100k, and $300k. Embed that context when previewing or recapping.
• It’s normal to see extra POTN or no FOTN some nights—link to UFC’s “Bonus Coverage” so readers can scan patterns.

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