Coach reveals Alex Pereira got secret $303,000 bonus for UFC 303 knockout over Jiri Prochazka

Alex Pereira is on top of the world.

UFC 303 continued to enhance the absurd legacy of Brazil’s “Poatan.” The Light Heavyweight champion, Pereira, successfully defended his title for the second time when he knocked out Jiri Prochazka for the second time in round two (watch highlights) this past weekend (June 29, 2024).

Ahead of the International Fight Week event UFC Featherweight contender, Brian Ortega, proposed a bonus increase to $303,000. “T-City’s” proposal wasn’t answered by UFC CEO, Dana White, but the boss didn’t concede with a second $50,000 Fight of the Night award, which didn’t end up getting handed out. Despite White’s dismissal of the lofty raise, he caved on it for Pereira after all, according to his coach, Plinio Cruz.

“He was talking to Dana in the back, and they were talking about a bunch of stuff, and Dana said, ‘As a matter of fact, you won Performance of the Night.’ And he said, ‘$303,000?’ He goes, ‘No, no, no, $50,000,’” Cruz said on The MMA Hour.

”But reality of the fact is, he did not — they gave $300,000 bonuses for [UFC] 300 and [Pereira] did not get Performance of the Night,” he continued. “They gave two to Max [Holloway], so he was a little bit salty about that. And I think because of all their history and then taking the fight on two weeks’ [notice], Dana looked at him and said, ‘You know what, man? I’m going to take care of you. You’ve got the $303,000.’ He even joked, he said buy a supercar with that money. [Pereira] goes, ‘I’ve got enough supercars.’ He wants a Cybertruck.”

Pereira, 36, has quickly etched his name into mixed martial arts (MMA) history books by claiming UFC titles in two divisions. Now, the attempt at a third is more alive than ever.

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