Dana White: UFC to double performance bonuses, in the Paramount era

Jan 24, 2026 11:23 AM

UFC will double performance bonuses and add a new incentive to fighters who finish their opponent but don’t get one of the main bonuses, President and CEO Dana White told Sports Business Journal.

UFC is ramping up its support for athletes as it enters the Paramount era, beginning Saturday night with UFC 324 at T-Mobile Arena. Historically, the company distributed $200,000 in post-event bonuses: $50,000 each to the two fighters in the fight of the night, and $50,000 each to two athletes recognized for outstanding individual performances.

UFC President Dana White announced Friday that the organization will double those bonuses to $100,000 each, boosting the total payout to at least $400,000 per event. In addition, UFC is introducing a new $25,000 bonus for any fighter who scores a knockout or submission but is not chosen for fight or performance of the night, expanding opportunities for athletes to be rewarded.

Over the past several years, White has occasionally increased bonus payouts, sometimes in response to fighters’ requests at press conferences. Notably, UFC 300 in April 2024 saw bonuses rise to $300,000. These performance bonuses are awarded in addition to fighters’ contractual salaries.

This substantial increase in fighter bonuses comes on the heels of UFC’s new media rights agreement with Paramount, which nearly doubles the company’s annual revenue compared to its previous deal with ESPN. Under the new contract, Paramount will pay UFC $1.1 billion through 2031. The partnership officially began with TKO Group Holdings’ first combat sports event under Paramount, featuring Zuffa Boxing’s debut at the Meta Apex on Friday.