MANCHESTER, England – Seven straight decisions were all UFC CEO Dana White needed to see to the pull the plug on impromptu performance bonus increases going forward.
From the fifth fight of UFC 304 to the 11th, the judges did not get a break. In the end, three fighters split the four $100,000 performance bonuses White was coaxed into giving by King Green and Leon Edwards at Thursday’s pre-fight news conference.
The bonuses increase was the third time in 2024 that White upped the ante at a UFC pre-fight news conference – and it will be the last, according to him.
“I think that tonight showed that we should not,” White told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “Upping them doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t make anybody fight any harder. It doesn’t change anything. I’m not doing this again ever. Today was the last day that I’m doing that. I’m not saying in the future the bonuses couldn’t get up. But I’m not going to be at a press conference and say, ‘$200, $300 (thousand).’ Never again. Never again.
“So you can thank everybody on this card for that. Nobody fought any harder. There was no sense of urgency, ‘Holy sh*t. I want the $100,000.’ Who gives a f*ck? It’s f*cking seven-o-clock in Vegas. So, whatever. Yeah, never again. Seven straight f*cking decisions. The $100,000 was a real big f*cking, ‘Woohoo. Let’s get it, boys.’ F*ck that sh*t. Never again.”
Since 2013, UFC performance bonuses have remained largely consistent at $50,000. Though White did indicate in his answer Saturday the standard amount may increase in the future, there are no publicly known plans for that.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
