UFC featherweight [autotag]Steve Garcia[/autotag] has the idea of changing the promotion’s bonus structure so that more fighters can benefit financially from their performances.
Garcia (16-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC) is coming off a 96-second knockout of Seung Woo Choi at UFC on ESPN 60. It was his fourth consecutive knockout, establishing the longest current streak in the UFC. Most importantly for Garcia, he earned a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, which he described as a “financial blessing.”
The UFC typically hands out four $50,000 bonuses, with a general structure of one Fight of the Night award and two Performance of the Night awards. Depending on how the event plays out, this could change for all POTN bonuses without FOTN.
For certain pay-per-view events, the UFC increased the reward at the request of fighters at press conferences. Most recently, at UFC 304, UFC CEO Dana White agreed to increase bonuses to $100,000. However, after the event concluded, White promised to never increase bonuses again in a press conference.
Garcia has an idea to change things. In a finish-based structure, Garcia’s idea could potentially pay each card winner extra money.
“If you really want to encourage submissions, you don’t need to make $50,000,” Garcia told MMA Junkie Radio. “You can win $25,000, and if you were the best of the night, then definitely win $50,000.
“I think everyone who gets a finish like that on the card should get extra money because they’re trying their hardest. I mean, I know I am. I don’t know if anyone else is out there just nonchalantly trying to finish people off, but I’m literally trying to kill the person in front of me, so I like that idea.”
Garcia earned his second bonus in seven fights with the promotion for knocking out Choi. His was a first-round knockout over Chase Hooper in October 2021.
For Garcia, the idea of changing the bonus structure is simply to give fighters a little more money. Like many others on the cast, Garcia has an additional role outside of fights, which prevents him from focusing solely on competing in the main MMA promotion on the planet.
“It’s very difficult for me to talk about this because fighter salaries are almost a delicate subject,” Garcia said. “If I can get more, I’ll get more, right? But in my head, I like to meet in the middle, you know what I mean? I go.
“…I truly believe that even when you start in the UFC, you should honestly be able to do this full time without having to worry about working. Even when I was in the UFC, I worked – I still work. . . . Financially, this is mostly what I do. This is where all my eggs are. It’s very difficult.
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This article was originally published on MMA Junkie: Knockout artist Steve Garcia proposes change to UFC bonus structure based on submissions
