The UFC held a Fight Night in Sacramento on Saturday night. The promotion announced its bonuses post-fight.

The main event featuring hometown favorite Anthony Hernandez and Gregory Rodrigues earned the Fight of the Night. The 5-round fight ended up in favor of the underdog, Rodrigues. Each earned $100K.

MarQuel Medeiros earned a $100K Performance Bonus for his stoppage of Mason Jones in the second round of their matchup.

Carli Judice used a front-kick bodyshot to end the night for Jesla Chaves in the first round of their main card flyweight matchup.

The $25K bonuses went to Reinder de Ridder, Anthony Wint, Jamall Emmers, Shamil Gaziev, Chris Padilla, Marcia Barbosa, Jackson McVey and Shanelle Dyer.

The event at the Golden 1 Center drew 16,867 for a gate of $3.3M as announced by the UFC.

Turning Point, USA, the conservative nonprofit thinktank that podcaster Charlie Kirk made famous was once again on the mats in the UFC. This time, it was part of the sponsors on the UFC BJJ mats during its event last night at The Apex.

Turning Point, USA first appeared in the UFC Octagon this past June at the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House.

Last night, during UFC BJJ 10, it once again was a part of the sponsors.

Turning Point USA logo on the mats at the #UFC #BJJ event tonight…first time I've seen this

— MMA Payout (@MMAPayout) August 21, 2026

TKO/UFC is an unambiguously right-wing organization. pic.twitter.com/LFluGf1j1G

— Luke Thomas Gets Political (LTGP) (@LTGetsPolitical) August 21, 2026

Notably, next to the Turning Point, USA on the mat was defense contractor Anduril Industries. It is the controversial tech company that utilizes Artificial Intelligence to patrol the US-Mexican border.

If it hasn’t been made clear to you, the UFC has been able to draw revenue from a roster of conservative/right-leaning companies. The Turning Point association shows that the company is comfortable with the perception. Will it be willing to go the long-run (past this administration) with the association? We will see.

The Sports Business Journal reported the UFC Belgrade event that took place this past June in Serbia.

In an article which touted the international growth of the company, the UFC disclosed the gate and attendance of the UFC Belgrade event on August 1. The Belgrade Arena drew 18,623 fans for a gate of $2.5 million per the UFC.

The UFC sporadically reveals gate and attendance numbers for international events. Notably, it rarely discloses gate and attendance numbers for Brazil events.

However, as part of this article for the SBJ it touts the strong overseas interest in the sport and the requests for it to come to different countries. At recent press conferences, reporters have asked Dana White about holding events in Italy and Germany. Prior to his loss this June, the UFC were looking into holding an event in Spain featuring Ilia Topuria.

This all comes down to one of the key areas that TKO, the parent company of the UFC, is targeting. Site fees. One of the key revenue drivers at this point for TKO with its sports properties are site fees. The UFC benefits from site fees it receives. Last quarter it went to Abu Dhabi and Azerbaijian as part of deals with those countries. It is likely hoping for more of the same. Last year, WWE held Premium Live Events in international countries and reaped the benefits of those events.

This is another example of the flywheel at work.

Welcome to another edition of Payout Perspective. This time we take a look at UFC 330 from the XFinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Islam defeats Garry

Islam Makachev earned a unanimous decision victory over Ian Machado Garry as the welterweight champion controlled most of the fight including a decisive fifhth round.

However, the story was that there are fissures in the once impenetrable Makachev wrestling. It was clear that bigger men in the 170 pound division could be a problem for Islam. Garry was able to get out of takedowns that the champion usually is able to finish. Also, Garry’s striking with a mix of leg kicks were able to keep the champion at bay from takedown attempts. It was a good gameplan from Garry although he likely should have upped the volume of leg kicks and used combinations to score points. Easier said than done.

For Makachev, the potential challenger in the division are lining up to face him. No longer a fearsome opponent, Michael Morales

Dern defeats Robertson, coach throws her under bus

Mackenzie Dern successfully defended her UFC strawweight title over Gillian Robertson. Dern dominated both on the feet and on the ground. Robertson did not have a sound strategy going into the fight as she attempted takedowns on Dern in the first round. Of course, this is Dern’s specialty. But, even on the feet Dern won exchanges with what should have been Robertson’s strength.

The unfortunate end to Robertson’s match is coach Din Thomas’ comments on the poste-event show. Thomas announced that he would be retiring from coaching after Robertson’s performance. Notably, Thomas added nothing to Robertson attempting to achieve her career dream of winning the championship. Moreover, he made it about himself and then dissed Robertson saying that’s the best she can do. Coming from a mid-card fighter, that is something to say Din. It reminded me of Floyd Mayweather, Sr. coaching Ricky Hatton for his fight with Manny Pacquiao. Essentially a “coach” as a hanger-on to a fighter. But, even if it was Thomas’ persuasion with the company that got her the fight, it was bad form for Thomas to speak bad of their fighter.

Din Thomas announced that he is retiring from cornering fighters

@paramountplus pic.twitter.com/zdkW27eVxk

— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) August 16, 2026

As for Dern, it is inevitable that she will have to fight Weili Zhang for her next offense.

Attendance and gate

The UFC announced that UFC 330 was a sellout with 19,238 fans attending for a gate of $6.7M. The gate shattered the old record for the arena by $2M.

Sponsorships

Sponsors in the Octagon include Toyo Tires, Smith+Nephew, Bud Light, Ram Trucks, Crypto.com, Stake.us, Bet 365, Anduril, Monaco, Exodus, SuperSure, Aviator, Total Wireless, Black Rifle Coffee Company, New Amsterdam Vodka, Bud Light, Budweiser, Polymarket, the show the Uprising, Pennsylvania travel board, FRE Nicotine patches, Superfile and Monster Energy with Casey’s at the bottom of the center of the Monster can in the center.

Notably, no sponsor for the UFC Embedded episodes.

Uniform Compliance Pay

Bonuses

The $100K bonuses went to Charles Johnson, Jalin Turner, Dustin Stoltzfus and Jeremiah Wells. Notably, Johnson earned his bonus with the unique Scottish Twister over Eduardo Chapolin. Wells, a Philly native, was the biggest underdog on the card and pulled off a unique standing choke for the upset.

The $25K bonuses went to Estaban Ribovics, Donte Johnson, Lucas Fernando and Neil Magny.

Notably, Wells and Magny were big underdogs and pulled out the upsets.

Odds and ends

Governor Josh Shapiro was on hand for UFC 330. Notably, he was part of the group with Dana White to announce the event coming to Philadelphia on the Pat McAfee show. In addition, the State of Pennsylvania had its travel bureau slogan, “PA, Its a trip” in the Octagon.

Ian Machado Garry shot a commercial for PETA which further pushed him into the UFC fan “hate” category. He signed with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency for representation.

Jeremiah Wells earned a special victory in front of his hometown crowd as he submitted heavy favorite Myktybek Orolbai.

Edson Barboza’s loss against Estaban Ribovics was his 4th in a row. He announced that it would be his last of his MMA career. Barboza’s UFC career spanned over 16 years as he debuted at UFC 123 in November 2010.

Conclusion

UFC 330 produced some good early fights and the main and co-main were disappointing if you were looking for action. The Garry-Makachev fight provided an interesting technical analysis on how one might be able to defeat Makachev. The Dern-Robertson fight made one wonder about the strawweight division. The overall card provided some good stoppages but nothing that the promotion could sell if they were still doing PPVs.

UFC 330 took place last night in Philadelphia. The promotion handed out 4 $100K bonuses.

Charles Johnson led the $100K bonuses with a rare submission to defeat Eduardo Chapolin. The fight could have been a Fight of the Night candidate. Regardless, Johnson used the Scottish twister to submit Chapolin.

Jalin Turner earned his $100K with a huge uppercut that put Kaue Fernandes on the canvas and Turner followed up with a quick first round stoppage.

Dustin Stoltzfus earned his $100K victory with a second round submission over Mansur Abdul-Malik.

Jeremiah Wells was a huge underdog in the first round of the night against Myktybek Orolbai. After two rounds, it seemed as though the odds were correct. However, Wells pulled off a guillotine in the third round to earn the win and $100K.

The $25K stoppage bonuses went to Estaban Ribovics, Donte Johnson, Lucas Fernando and Neil Magny.

The Motion for Preliminary Injunction request desired by CSI Entertainment to ensure that Floyd Mayweather would not enter in a contract to fight another individual until he satisfied its contract has been taken off the Court’s calendar.

According to a letter from Mayweather’s attorneys, the attorney for CSI Entertainment withdrew its Motion. Mayweather’s attorneys are now requesting a status conference in light of the withdrawal. The concern for Mayweather is that CSI Entertainment cost time and money for their side to brief a motion which was withdrawn after all of the papers were submitted.

The issue is that CSI Entertainment claims to have reserved its right to bring the motion at some point.

Mayweather’s attorneys write, “…CSI can simply remain on the sidelines until Mayweather has committed substantial resources to an event and then use another emergency application to disrupt it,” adding, “This is not hypothetical.” Mayweather’s attorneys cite the cancelled Zambidis fight in Greece as a consequence of the threat of an injunction.

Mayweather’s attorneys argue that CSI Entertainment realized that the law was not on their side when filing the “irreparable-harm theories” as requested by the Court and decided to withdraw its motion. The Court issued an order denying an emergency hearing for an injunction because “CSI’s alleged commercial reputational harm is compensable through monetary damages.”

Mayweather’s attorneys cite that the lawsuit should continue in regular course with fact discovery. MPO will continue to monitor.

In another example of making something out of nothing, Dana White announced that the promotion has come up with another big event that may be just as huge as Freedom 250, the White House event.

The event’s producer for The White House event, Craig Bosari has come up with the UFC’s next big production. Dana White praised Bosari in an interview and inferred that he has another event that would be on a similar level. According to White, the event would be in the United States.

Nothing else was disclosed but one might infer that with the UFC’s next number event occurring this weekend in Philadelphia, the promotion would make the announcement this weekend. However, White did state that he had to work over some more information so the announcement could be on hold.

Recently, the promotion has announced cards in Los Angeles in September, a return to Salt Lake City, Utah in October and multiple events in Arizona. Hence, the UFC event could be happening by the end of the year or in 2027.

Payout Perspective:

Could we be heading into another big event similar to Freedom 250 or UFC Noche I at the Sphere. Both of those events, the venue and production (i.e., the UFC) was the main attraction and not the fights. Hence, the emphasis is on the experience and production and not making the fighters, the stars. It goes to the argument by fans that the UFC is no longer making stars like Conor McGregor, Jon Jones or Ronda Rousey. Rather, it is a subtle way to suppress the potential star power of fighters. This goes to potential issues with pay down the road. We will see what exactly is the buzz of this event and if its actually warranted.

UFC Vegas 120 took place at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main and co-main events came through with bonuses.

Quillian Salkilld earned his $100K bonus with a first round submission over Mateusz Gamrot. The Aussie’s ascendancy has been quick and if he keeps it up he may be up for a lightweight title shot in 2026.

The co-main event drew the Fight of the Night with Diego Ferreira getting the victory over Billy Quarantillo. Ferreira had a career high in strikes in the co-main an drew the unanimous decision.

Ty Miller drew the last $100K bonus with a third round stoppage of Billy Ray Goff. Miller remains undefeated in his pro career.

$25K finishes went to Yadier del Valle, Diyar Nurgozhay, Jose Montanha, Miles Johns and Julianna Miller.

Bloomberg Law reports that the total settlement in the WWE shareholder settlement was $147.5M. In a letter to the court dated August 6, 2026, the Plaintiffs advised the court of the total and a request that Defendants execute the agreed-upon settlement papers “by a date certain.”

The shareholder lawsuit filed in 2023 alleged that McMahon forced his return to WWE after he was ousted for alleged sexual misconduct. The lawsuit claims that McMahon led the movement to sell the WWE to Endeavor. An SEC filing earlier this week stated that WWE contributed $105 million to the settlement of the lawsuit. A portion of the letter from Plaintiffs’ counsel indicates that McMahon and his insurers paid an additional $42.5M.

Despite the hefty payout, McMahon, who remains in exile from WWE, made out well from the sale of the company. Estimated payouts from equity in the company are estimated at $2 Billion.

Janel Grant’s lawsuit against McMahon was sent to private arbitration with the lawsuit being dismissed.

Earlier this week, TKO released its earnings for the second quarter for 2026. Business is still up for the company despite two big hiccups in the quarter.