Copyright Yardbarker
ABU DHABI — UFC 321 will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. Between a no-contest heavyweight main event and a slate of grind-heavy fights, fans and fighters alike were left frustrated by the event’s lack of fireworks and former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson says he knows exactly how to fix it. A record-breaking night for takedowns, not excitement The event, headlined by Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane, ended abruptly when an eye poke forced Aspinall to stop fighting in the first round. But even before the anticlimax, much of the main card leaned heavily toward grappling over striking. Fights like Mackenzie Dern vs. Virna Jandiroba and Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Mario Bautista were technical clinics on the mat, while Alexander Volkov vs. Jailton Almeida drew criticism for its lack of action. The card even set a UFC record for most successful takedowns, an achievement that did little to excite fans seeking stand-up wars. Rampage’s solution: pay fighters to entertain Speaking on his JAXXON podcast, Jackson argued that the UFC should tap into its deep pockets to incentivize more thrilling performances. “If I was a promoter and I had the bankroll the UFC had, I would up the Fight of the Night bonus,” Jackson said. “They just made seven billion more dollars for rights, right? I would up the Fight of the Night bonus to a million dollars. That’s two more million dollars per show they can afford it. You’re going to get more exciting fights.” Jackson referred to the UFC’s $7.7 billion broadcasting deal with Paramount, which begins in 2026 and stands as one of the richest media agreements in combat sports history. Bonuses may rise but not that high UFC CEO Dana White has hinted that fighter bonuses will increase under the new deal, though most expect a modest bump from the standard $50,000 awards. Jackson doubts it will be more than a doubling. “I would say they’re going to up it 100 percent, like $100,000,” Jackson added. “But if I make seven billion dollars just off selling the rights? I’d do a million.” Fighter pay, risk, and entertainment The debate over fighter incentives is nothing new. Under the current show-and-win system, many fighters particularly those on Contender Series contracts earn modest base pay that discourages taking unnecessary risks. A seven-figure bonus, Jackson argued, would change that instantly. “You want more exciting fights? This is how you fix it,” he said. “That Fight of the Night bonus would be bigger than some people’s purse.” The bottom line UFC 321 highlighted a tension that’s long existed in MMA: the balance between strategy and spectacle. While high-level grappling and cautious game plans win fights, it’s highlight-reel moments that keep fans and fighters like Rampage Jackson calling for change. As the UFC heads into its billion-dollar future with Paramount, the question remains: will any of that money find its way to the fighters who make the show worth watching?
