UFC 321 wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea and not just because of an unsatisfying main event.
By now, everyone has had their say about Tom Aspinall being poked in the eyes by Ciryl Gane and left unable to continue in their heavyweight championship fight, but even before that debacle, the action from Saturday’s main card was uneven. Mackenzie Dern vs. Virna Jandiroba and Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Mario Bautista were high-level affairs, but neither is likely to end up on any Fight of the Year lists. And the less said about the dreary Alexander Volkov vs. Jailton Almeida matchup, the better.
Suffice to say, for those viewers who prefer standup action, there wasn’t much to speak of in the final four fights and the event as a whole set a UFC record for most successful takedowns:
On his JAXXON podcast, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and his co-hosts lamented the lack of highlights produced by UFC 321’s bigger names, and he suggested the promotion should ante up if it wants fighters to prioritize action.
“I’m going to tell you how the UFC could fix it,” Jackson said. “If I was a promoter, and I had the bankroll the UFC had, I would up the Fight of the Night bonus. They just made seven billion more dollars just for rights, right? I would up the Fight of the Night bonus to a million dollars. So there’s two more million dollars per show, they can afford it. You’re going to get more exciting fights.”
Jackson is referring to the six-year, $7.7 billion dollar broadcasting partnership deal the UFC recently signed with Paramount, which begins in 2026. It remains unclear how much fighters will benefit from the enormous profits the organization is due to make, though UFC CEO Dana White has said fight night bonuses—which have traditionally been set at $50,000 with the occasional exception—will go up.
At best, Jackson thinks the bonuses will double.
“I would say they’re going to up it [100 percent], like, [$100,000], right?” Jackson said. “I would do a million if I make seven billion dollars just off selling the rights?”
The debate over whether fighters should prioritize entertainment over victory has raged for years and is only complicated by the UFC’s show and win system. There’s little incentive for a fighter to be reckless if it means potentially only receiving half their pay check. Add in the fact that a large chunk of the current roster are currently on low-end Contender Series contracts and one can understand why a seven-figure incentive might make throwing caution the wind irresistible.
Jackson, who earned three Fight of the Night awards in his eight-year UFC career, sees only upside to the UFC shelling out more for bonus-winning fighters.
“I think this is how you fix it,” Jackson said. “You want more exciting fights? … Because that Fight of the Night bonus be bigger than some people’s purse.”
TOP STORIES
Yikes. According to Tom Aspinall’s father Andy, the heavyweight champ is still struggling with his vision after UFC 321 eye poke.
Top-5? Mackenzie Dern is a UFC champion, but where does she land on MMA Fighting’s Women’s Pound-for-Pound list?
Silence. Matt Brown is irritated by critics piling on Aspinall for being on the receiving end of a foul.
Ronin. UFC legend Carlos Newton goes in on the promotion’s business practices.
Harsh. Paddy Pimblett deems UFC 321 “one of the worst pay-per-views” ever.
VIDEO STEW
Speaking of Rampage…
David Onama and Steve Garcia headline UFC Vegas 110 this Saturday.
Have you heard enough opinions about the UFC 321 main event yet?
Chael Sonnen weighs in on the great Paddy Pimblett debate.
FLAVOR IN YOUR EAR
Fighter vs. Writer. MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin talks to Matt Brown about the controversy surrounding Tom Aspinall being unable to continue after an eye poke at UFC 321, plus the potential Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira fight, Conor McGregor’s UFC White House plans, and more.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
The definitive fight week schedule.
I don’t know, what.
Aged like milk.
This was legitimately insane when it happened.
Get well, soon.
I admit I don’t understand fashion.
Let him know!
FINAL THOUGHTS
More money for the fighters please, whether that means pumping up contracts or handing out more and bigger bonuses. I’ve always been of the mind that every finish should receive a bonus, even if it’s a quick or controversial stoppage. The UFC can afford it.
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