Most Fight Night Bonuses in UFC History
In the UFC, post-fight bonuses are more than just extra money. Indeed, they show that a fighter truly entertained the crowd. Moreover, awards such as Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night (which replaced the previous Knockout and Submission bonuses) reward fighters with $50,000. As a result, fighters are motivated to deliver the most thrilling finishes or battles inside the Octagon. Ultimately, these bonuses highlight not only skill but also the ability to captivate fans. Furthermore, Charles Oliveira holds the record for the most Fight Night bonuses in UFC history earning 21 in total.
Photo Credit: Renan Silva, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Top 5 Most Fight Night Bonuses in UFC History
Here are the top 5 fighters with the most fight night bonuses in UFC history, celebrating the fighters who turned every bout into must-watch action.
| Rank | Fighter | Total Bonuses |
| 1 | Charles Oliveira | 21 |
| 2 | Donald Cerrone | 18 |
| 3 | Nate Diaz | 16 |
| 4 | Jim Miller | 15 |
| 4 | Joe Lauzon | 15 |
Charles Oliveira – 21 Bonuses
Weight Class: Featherweight, Lightweight, Welterweight
Charles Oliveira is known as the bonus king in the UFC having the all-time record of 21 post-fight awards. He has received 14 Performance of the Night bonuses, 4 Fight of the Night bonuses and 3 Submission of the Night bonuses. His most recent bonus was awarded after he choked out Mateusz Gamrot in October 2025. Now, he is preparing to face Max Holloway for the BMF belt at UFC 326 in March 2026 under the new bonus system that offers $100,000 for Performance of the Night.
Donald Cerrone – 18 Bonuses
Weight Class: Lightweight, Welterweight
Donald Cerrone retired as one of the most beloved fighters in history. He earned 18 UFC bonuses making him the first fighter to win all four categories – Fight of the Night, Knockout of the Night, Submission of the Night and Performance of the Night. His collection featured 6 Fight of the Night, 3 Knockout, 2 Submission and 7 Performance awards. He was willing to fight anyone at any time and even had two separate streaks of four consecutive bonus fights.
Nate Diaz – 16 Bonuses
Weight Class: Lightweight, Welterweight
Nate Diaz became a cult figure thanks to his toughness from Stockton and his jiu-jitsu skills earning a total of 16 bonuses in the UFC. This includes a record-tying 8 Fight of the Night awards, 5 Submission of the Night along with one Knockout and one Performance bonus. Diaz’s streak of bonuses began in 2007 after he won The Ultimate Fighter 5. Since then, he has built a reputation for thrilling performances. His most memorable moment came at UFC 196 where he stunned Conor McGregor and took home both Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night
Jim Miller – 15 Bonuses
Weight Class: Lightweight
Jim Miller is a legendary UFC fighter and has just achieved his 15th career bonus. To begin with, his impressive awards include 7 Fight of the Night, 3 Submission of the Night and 5 Performance of the Night. In addition, he’s even received bonuses in defeats such as his intense match against Scott Holtzman and memorable fights like the one with Dustin Poirier at UFC 208. Moreover, Dana White once mentioned that Miller made “millions” because he consistently delivers exciting fights.
Joe Lauzon – 15 Bonuses
Weight Class: Lightweight
Joe Lauzon may not have held a championship title but he is recognized as one of the top bonus earners in UFC history. He ended his career with 15 post-fight bonuses which includes a UFC record of 6 Submission of the Night awards along with 7 Fight of the Night, 1 Knockout, and 1 Performance bonus. Throughout his career, Lauzon made around $720,000 from bonuses showing that you don’t have to be a champion to make significant money in the sport.
