UFC 309 post-fight bonuses: Jon Jones, Charles Oliveira, Michael Chandler among those awarded in Madison Square Garden

Daniel Yanofsky

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UFC 309 post-fight bonuses: Jon Jones, Charles Oliveira, Michael Chandler among those awarded in Madison Square Garden image

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, NEW YORK — UFC 309 featured some of the toughest fighters giving it their all in New York.

The main event saw Jon Jones successfully defend the UFC heavyweight title against former champion and heavyweight "G.O.A.T." Stipe Miocic.

Jones used leg kicks to attack the body of Miocic, who hadn't fought in two years. One liver shot later in the third, and it was all over. Miocic retired shortly after. 

There was something special in the air through the night as the fighters elevated their games. With the UFC returning to the old gloves for PPV events, there were more knockouts compared to when the new gloves were adopted. 

The fighters took advantage, as they were ready to impress the fans, UFC CEO Dana White, and President-elect Donald Trump, who was in attendance. Following the event, there were plenty of performance bonuses to hand out. 

White either gives a bonus to a few select fighters or multiple, depending on the situation. Who earned an additional $50,000 to their guaranteed purse?

Here's a breakdown of all the special winners at UFC 309. 

UFC 309 post-fight bonus winners

Fight of the Night

Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler 

It may have seemed like a one-sided fight given the outside, but Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler was an exciting bout that captivated the 20,000+ people in MSG. 

It had been over 735 days since Michael Chandler competed inside the octagon. Oliveira used crafty offense, including multiple combinations, to neutralize Chandler. "Do Bronx" brought Chandler to the floor and almost ended the fight with multiple submission attempts. 

To his credit, Chandler persevered, landing crisp shots of his own. Chandler looked like a man possessed in the fifth round, collecting the energy of the crowd who cheered him on all night. He fought out of multiple submission attempts and dropped him twice while on his back in the end. 

Oliveira won via unanimous decision, but both felt like winners following an epic clash. Oliveira earned his 20th post-fight bonus, another UFC record for him. Chandler earned his fourth straight fight bonus. 

Performance of the Night

Jon Jones

The UFC heavyweight champion was dominant against Stipe Miocic in his first fight since March 2023. Dana White has called him the greatest of all time, and it was hard to deny that statement following that performance. 

For a full recap of his performance and all the action from UFC 309, click here for more. 

Oban Elliott

About 40 seconds into the third round, Oban Elliot landed a massive right that crushed Bassil Hafez, putting him to the floor. He landed a few extra shots for good measure.

"The Welsh Gangster" has now won eight in a row. 

Ramiz Brahimaj 

Right after the Elliott fight, Ramiz Brahimaj only needed one round to take out New Jersey's Mickey Gall. He landed a shot to the collarbone, followed by two hard shots to the face of Gall. 

Brahimaj, from The Bronx, is now 2-2 in his last four fights. 

Daniel Yanofsky

Daniel Yanofsky Photo

Daniel Yanofsky is the Combat Sports Editor for The Sporting News since late 2021. Prior to working for TSN, Daniel provided insight on combat sports for Fightful, FIGHT SPORTS, and Wrestling Inc. A proud Ithaca College alum, when he isn’t working on his golf game, Daniel is advocating for three-minute rounds in women's boxing.

You can follow him on Twitter via @DanYanofsky.