The UFC will raise its post-fight bonus payouts as it begins its new broadcast partnership with Paramount+, according to reporting tied to comments from Justin Gaethje and a confirmation provided by the promotion. The standard Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night awards will increase to $100,000 each, up from $50,000. The UFC will also introduce an additional $25,000 bonus for fighters who score a TKO or submission if they do not already receive one of the two headline bonuses. The change matters because it directly affects fighter pay structure entering the UFC 324 era and signals a more aggressive incentives model under the new media deal. The update was reported ahead of UFC 324, where Gaethje is scheduled to face Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title.
The UFC is reportedly set to double its post-fight bonus payouts and introduce a new finishing incentive as it enters a fresh broadcast partnership with Paramount+, though the promotion's full confirmation of every detail has not been officially locked in.
According to the report, the standard Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses will rise from $50,000 to $100,000 each. On top of that, the UFC plans to introduce a separate $25,000 award for any fighter who earns a TKO or submission finish but does not collect one of the two primary bonuses. The changes are said to reflect a more aggressive fighter incentives model tied to the new media deal.
The news surfaces ahead of UFC 324, where lightweight champion Justin Gaethje is scheduled to defend against Paddy Pimblett in an interim title contest. Gaethje, 37, carries a 28-5 record and is among the division's most productive strikers, landing 6.48 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. The American from Genesis Training Center stands five-foot-eleven with a 70-inch reach.
Pimblett, ranked sixth at lightweight, enters at 23-4 and has built a reputation as an entertaining, high-output fighter. The 31-year-old Liverpudlian lands 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and averages 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, giving him a notable finishing threat on the ground.
Why it matters
- Both fighters are natural finishers, making the new $25,000 TKO/submission bonus directly relevant to their UFC 324 matchup
- Doubling the headline bonuses raises the financial stakes for every fighter on the card
- The shift signals a broader change in UFC pay structure entering the Paramount+ era
- Rankings implications are significant: a Pimblett win would elevate the sixth-ranked contender to interim champion status
