Quick Definition
KO of the Night was a UFC cash bonus given to the fighter who scored the best knockout on an event card. The award was discontinued in 2014 and folded into the Performance of the Night bonus.
What is KO of the Night?
KO of the Night, often shortened to KOTN, was one of the UFC’s original post-fight bonuses. After every card, UFC management picked the single most impressive knockout and handed that fighter an extra check on top of their contracted pay. Knockout of the Night is the full name, and the two refer to the same award.
The bonus existed to reward fighters for finishing fights in spectacular fashion. A judge’s decision paid nothing extra, but a highlight-reel head kick or a one-punch stoppage could double or triple a fighter’s purse for the night. Alongside Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night, it formed the group of awards the UFC used to encourage aggressive, fan-friendly fighting.
KOTN ran from 2006 until early 2014. It was not a title or a ranking. UFC officials simply decided it backstage and usually announced the winner at the post-fight press conference.
How the bonus worked
There were no formal scoring rules for KO of the Night. UFC officials, led by Dana White, chose the winner based on how clean or violent the finish looked. A flatline knockout in the opening seconds usually beat a late-round stoppage, but the call came down to whatever the matchmakers found most memorable.
The payout changed over the years. Early on, the amount floated with the event. Fighters collected $25,000 at UFC Fight Night 14 in 2008, according to Sports Illustrated, while Pat Barry earned $60,000 at UFC 104 in 2009, as reported by Yahoo Sports. In 2013, Dana White confirmed the UFC would level every bonus at a flat $50,000, also per Yahoo Sports.
Only one knockout per card won the award, and it went to a single fighter rather than both competitors. Anderson Silva holds the all-time record with seven Knockout of the Night bonuses, according to SQaF, a mark that reflects how often the former middleweight champion ended nights early during his peak. For most of the award’s run, only fighters on the main card were eligible, which meant plenty of preliminary-card knockouts went unrewarded.
KO of the Night vs. Performance of the Night
This is where most of the confusion starts. The two awards look alike, but they reward different things.
KO of the Night went only to knockouts. A slick submission or a dominant decision, however good, did not qualify. Performance of the Night changed that. Introduced in 2014, it rewards the best individual showing regardless of how the fight ends. A knockout still qualifies, but so does a submission or a lopsided decision.
| KO of the Night | Performance of the Night | |
|---|---|---|
| Active years | 2006 to 2014 | 2014 to present |
| Rewards | Best knockout only | Best individual performance, any method |
| Winners per card | Usually one | Usually two |
| Typical amount | $25,000 to $65,000, later $50,000 | $50,000, raised to $100,000 in 2026 |
The switch gave the UFC more room to move. Instead of being locked into naming one knockout and one submission every night, officials could reward the two performances that actually stood out, whatever form they took.
Why the UFC discontinued KO of the Night
The UFC announced the change on February 11, 2014, and it took effect that month at UFC Fight Night 36 in Brazil, according to the promotion’s official statement. Knockout of the Night and Submission of the Night both disappeared. Two Performance of the Night bonuses took their place.
The reasoning was practical. Some cards produced two brilliant knockouts and no submissions worth rewarding, and others flipped that around. Forcing one award into each category meant the UFC occasionally paid out for a forgettable finish just to fill the slot. Performance of the Night let the promotion hand checks to whichever two fighters earned them.
There was a quieter factor too. As Bleacher Report observed at the time, cutting a check specifically for the best knockout sat awkwardly against rising concern over head injuries in combat sports. Rewarding a “performance” rather than a “knockout” eased that tension without changing much in practice.
Is KO of the Night coming back?
Not under that name, though the idea partly returned. Beginning in January 2026, at UFC 324, the promotion raised Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses to $100,000 and added a separate $25,000 bonus for any knockout or submission that did not already claim one of the four main awards, according to Wikipedia’s bonus records and ESPN. A clean knockout can once again earn a dedicated payout, even if the KO of the Night label is gone for good.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much was the KO of the Night bonus?
It varied. Early payouts ran from roughly $25,000 to $65,000 depending on the event, before the UFC settled every bonus at $50,000 in 2013.
When did the UFC stop giving KO of the Night?
The award was discontinued in February 2014 and replaced by Performance of the Night.
Who won the most KO of the Night bonuses?
Anderson Silva, with seven, the most of any fighter, according to SQaF.
Did the WEC have a KO of the Night bonus?
Yes. The WEC, the UFC’s former sister promotion, handed out its own Knockout of the Night awards. Jose Aldo won one for his eight-second flying-knee knockout of Cub Swanson at WEC 41.
Is KO of the Night the same as Performance of the Night?
No. KO of the Night rewarded knockouts only. Performance of the Night rewards the best individual display by any method, including submissions and decisions.
Sources
- UFC. “UFC Statement on Fight Night Bonuses.” Accessed August 2026.
https://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-statement-fight-night-bonuses - Wikipedia. “List of UFC bonus award recipients.” Accessed August 2026.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_UFC_bonus_award_recipients - Fox Sports. “UFC scraps KO and Submission bonuses, adds ‘Performance Of The Night’.” Accessed August 2026.
https://www.foxsports.com/stories/ufc/ufc-scraps-ko-and-submission-bonuses-adds-performance-of-the-night - Bleacher Report. “UFC Announces Major Changes to Post-Fight Bonus Structure.” Accessed August 2026.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1956896-ufc-announces-major-changes-to-post-fight-bonus-structure - SQaF. “Do UFC Pay Bonuses for Knockouts and Submissions?” Accessed August 2026.
https://sqaf.club/ufc-bonuses-knockouts-submissions/ - ESPN. “UFC to award record fight night bonuses at White House event.” Accessed August 2026.
https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/49046865/ufc-award-record-fight-night-bonuses-white-house-event - Yahoo Sports. “UFC 104 bonuses: Barry scores big.” Accessed August 2026.
https://sports.yahoo.com/news/ufc-104-bonuses-barry-scores-172100028–mma.html - Yahoo Sports. “UFC Post-Fight Bonuses Now Set at $50,000 for Every Event.” Accessed August 2026.
https://sports.yahoo.com/news/ufc-post-fight-bonuses-now-030421521–mma.html - Sports Illustrated. “UFC announces Fight Night 14 bonuses of $25K.” Accessed August 2026.
https://www.si.com/mma/2008/07/21/ufn14-bonuses
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