UFC doubles Post‑Fight Bonuses to $100K, adds new finish bonus for fighters.
The UFC has officially announced a major boost to its fighter bonus structure, doubling post-fight bonuses from $50,000 to $100,000.
The UFC has introduced a new finish bonus to reward fighters who secure knockouts or submissions, even if they don’t earn one of the traditional Performance or Fight of the Night awards.
The move comes as the UFC enters its Paramount+ era under a $7.7 billion media rights deal, aiming to further incentivize fighters and encourage exciting performances.
The first event to feature the new bonus structure will be UFC 324 that took place at the T‑Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday 24 January 2026.
UFC CEO Dana White told Sports Business that the bonuses are doubling from $50,000 to $100,000 starting with UFC 324 on Saturday night. That means the UFC plans to hand out at least $400,000 in bonuses per event with two Performance of the Night awards and a Fight of the Night award handed out after each show”
Previously, fighters received $50,000 for Fight of the Night or Performance of the Night, with only four awards handed out per event. The new structure not only doubles the money for those bonuses but also adds a $25,000 finish bonus for knockouts and submissions, even if a fighter doesn’t receive one of the main awards.
White also mentioned that he expects fighter pay to go up under the new Paramount+ broadcast deal, but the UFC doesn’t share exact figures publicly.
The news came as a welcome surprise after White claimed he didn’t know what the post-fight bonuses would be when asked about that number during the UFC 324 pre-fight press conference on Thursday.
”I don’t have that number right now,” White told reporters for many fighters especially those further down the card with smaller base salaries, these bonuses have been a critical part of their earnings. Doubling them makes the rewards significantly more impactful and could influence fighters’ strategies to chase finishes over playing it safe.
With post-fight bonuses doubling and a new finish bonus on the table, the UFC is sending a clear message which means exciting performances will be rewarded like never before. Fighters now have even more reason to go for the finish, and fans can expect UFC 324 and beyond to be full of action, drama, and unforgettable moments inside the Octagon.
