Dana White adds $50K to Sean Sharaf’s bonus for shocking UFC 331 upset

UFC 331 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on September 19 delivered several memorable performances rewarded by UFC management and broadcast partners. The main event between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja earned Fight of the Night honours, with both fighters receiving $100,000 bonuses. Arman Tsarukyan claimed a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus for his spectacular knockout of Mauricio Ruffy in the co-main event. After eating an early right hand that visibly damaged him, Tsarukyan clinched Ruffy and finished with two elbows on the break.

Casey O'Neill earned the other $100,000 POTN bonus for submitting Eduarda Moura on the preliminary card. Despite being taken down early after Moura caught her kick, O'Neill recovered and caught her opponent in an armbar while flipping her over.

Sean Sharaf received special recognition for his shocking upset victory over Gable Steveson. The former U.S. Marine knocked out the favoured Steveson with a left hook in just 12 seconds. Paramount+, the UFC's broadcast partner promoting the new season of "MobLand," awarded Sharaf a $50,000 bonus. Dana White then added another $50,000 from his own pocket, bringing Sharaf's total bonus to $100,000. White noted that Sharaf had reportedly been $600,000 in debt, saying the bonus would "knock $100k off that."