UFC CEO Dana White has announced the list of fighters who took home performance bonuses following an eventful night at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi.
The pay-per-view card took place at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island and featured plenty of drama, even if it wasn’t the kind of spectacle fans hoped for. The heavyweight title fight between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane ended in chaos after an accidental double eye poke left the champion unable to continue. The bout was ruled a no-contest just minutes into the first round, leaving both fighters and fans frustrated.
Despite the disappointing finish, Dana White praised the rest of the event and confirmed that several fighters delivered standout performances worthy of bonuses.
“Obviously, the main event didn’t end the way anyone wanted, but the card still had some incredible fights,” White said at the post-fight press conference. “We reward fighters who show up and perform, and a few of them definitely did that tonight.”
According to the UFC CEO, four fighters earned $50,000 performance bonuses each for their efforts inside the Octagon. First is Lightweight fighter Ľudovít Klein and Mateusz Rebecki, who took home $50,000 apiece for their three-round war on the preliminary card where Klein ultimately secured the victory by majority decision.
For POFN, Valter Walker earned $50,000 for his first-round submission win over Louie Sutherland, locking in a slick heel hook that forced the tap. Last on the list is Quillan Salkilld, who also pocketed $50,000 after delivering a brutal first-round head-kick knockout against Nasrat Haqparast.
In the co-main event, Mackenzie Dern captured the vacant strawweight title with a hard-fought unanimous decision win over Virna Jandiroba. The victory marked a major comeback for Dern, who now reigns as the new 115-pound champion.
The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payout for UFC 321 totaled $294,500, and the event drew an announced attendance of 13,220. No live gate figures were released.
UFC 321 may not be remembered for its ending, but under Dana White’s leadership, the night still delivered thrilling performances, breakout moments, and well-deserved recognition for fighters who made the most of their opportunities inside the cage.
