Dana White blames UFC 304 fighters for harsh decision about post-fight bonuses
UFC President Dana White has no intention of going forward with his recent trend of increasing post-fight bonuses. Despite offering a $100,000 bonus for the UFC 304 card, White was unimpressed by the action, which saw seven straight decision victories.
The CEO expressed his frustration in the post-fight press conference, blaming the fighters for a lack of urgency and intensity. White had previously increased bonuses at UFC 300, offering a staggering $300,000 for standout performances. However, the lack of impact from the bonus increase at UFC 304 has led him to reverse course.
White declared:
“I think tonight’s show that we should not. 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, the dast day that I’m doing that. I’m not saying that in the future, the bonuses couldn’t get up, but I’m not gonna be at a press conference, say, ‘200, 300’.F***ing never again. You can thank everybody on this card for that. Nobody fought any harder. There was no sense of urgency. ‘Holy s**t! I want the $100K!’”
White also dismissed suggestions that the early start time of UFC 304, designed to cater to the North American PPV market, could have contributed to the lackluster performances.
“Who gives a f**k, it’s f***ing seven o’clock in Vegas. So whatever. Never again. Seven straight f*cking decisions. The hundred thousand was a real big f***ing ‘woo-hoo, let’s get it boys.’ F**k that s**t. Never again.”
Check out Dana White's comment below:
The move marks a significant shift in the UFC's bonus strategy, with White indicating that future increases will depend on the quality of the fights rather than being offered as a pre-event incentive.
How much did Dana White offer for UFC 304 bonus winners?
Paddy Pimblett’s night just got a whole lot better. The Liverpool fan favorite not only secured a first-round submission victory over Bobby Green at UFC 304 but also walked away with a hefty $200,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
UFC President Dana White doubled down on his bonus offer, initially promising $100,000 to any fighter who could deliver an exceptional performance. Pimblett’s impressive submission, which marked the third time Green had been submitted in his 50-fight career, evidently impressed White enough to warrant an additional $100,000.
Tom Aspinall and Mick Parkin were also rewarded for their standout performances, each receiving the standard $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus.