Dana White ‘agrees to one-time 50 per cent increase of fighter bonuses’ following Tony Ferguson’s plea ahead of his UFC 262 co-main event clash with Beneil Dariush
- UFC fighters have received $50,000 bonuses since a cap introduced in 2013
- But Tony Ferguson made a plea to Dana White for an increase ahead of UFC 262
- The UFC president has listened and will grant a 50 per cent rise, reports state
- The ‘Performance of the Night’ and ‘Fight of the Night’ are the two available
UFC president Dana White has bowed to Tony Ferguson‘s pre-fight plea and will allow a one-off 50 per cent increase of fighter bonuses for the first time in eight years, according to reports.
Fighters have taken away $50,000 (£35,000) in bonuses from UFC events ever since a cap on them was implemented back in 2013.
But now Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte are reporting that it will increase to $75,000 (£53,000) for Ferguson’s co-main event clash with Beneil Dariush on Saturday night.
Dana White (left) will allow a one-time fighter bonus increase at UFC 262 following a plea from Tony Ferguson (right)
Bonuses worth $75,000 will be up for grabs when Ferguson takes on Beneil Dariush (above) at UFC 262
Speaking on Thursday during his pre-match press conference, Ferguson told White: ‘(Last time when I fought in Houston), we were here for the performance-bonus meeting,’.
‘[Travis Browne] said, ‘You know, everything is bigger in Texas, Dana, right?’ Right, you remember that? He said, ‘How about a bigger bonus?’ So, I’m going to ask you, Dana. Since we are here, like last time, can we have a bigger bonus this time?’
Ferguson’s comments resonated with the crowd and received a rapturous reception from fans in attendance, and now reports claim White is also on board.
Fighters like Ferguson and Dariush have taken away $50,000 ever since a cap was introduced in 2013
The ‘Performance of the Night’ and ‘Fight of the Night’ are the two bonuses available to fighters, but they are both expected to return to the normal $50,000 following UFC 262.
Before the cap was implemented eight years ago, bonuses went as low as $25,000 (£18,000) and could rocket up to $160,000 (£113,000).
Ferguson’s plea came amid a fiery press-conference in which he came out all guns blazing, telling Dariush he ‘will hit him so f****** hard’.
Ferguson is in desperate need of a win at the Toyota Centre in Houston or he risks sliding into irrelevance in the lightweight division having been well beaten by Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira in his last two fights.
Ferguson needs a win in Houston, having lost to Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira (above) in his last two fights
He said: ‘You think you f****ing know me, you want to spinning s***, you think I’m unorthodox… kid, I am going to hit you so f***ing hard, that’s it.
Dariush responded: ‘I love it Tony, I love it. I want to see every bit of it and I hope you show up like you say you will. I’ll be there for everything.’
Ferguson added: ‘I’m going to slam you. I’m going to slam you like I did my student, I broke his f*****g rib.’