UFC scraps KO and Submission bonuses, adds 'Performance Of The Night'
And with a wave of the hand (or a tapping of the keyboard), the UFC’s nightly Knockout Of The Night and Submission Of The Night bonuses have vanished into history.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the promotion announced changes to its bonus structure that will eliminate those two awards effective immediately. In their place will be “Performance Of The Night” bonuses awarded to the two best individual performances of the card.
The bonus amounts will remain at $50,000 apiece, the UFC confirmed, and the change would not affect the Fight Of The Night award, which will continue on.
The UFC declined any additional comment on the impetus for change, but the new structure will certainly offer the promotion newfound flexibility in rewarding the night’s best.
For example, there have been many shows that have featured only a single submission or knockout, which ensured the fighter a bonus even if the finish was routine or controversial. Under the new plan, the promotion can bypass those types of stoppage wins and reward a more deserving performance.
The banished rewards fade into history with Anderson Silva at the head of the all-time KO Of The Night award, taking seven of them over the years, while lightweight Joe Lauzon notched the most Submission Of The Night Awards, with six.
Lauzon and Silva are currently tied for the most nightly bonus awards all-time, with 12 apiece.
