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Submissions of The Night

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship began awarding fighter bonuses for Submission of the Night, along with Fight of the Night and Knockout of the Night honors in October 2006, at the Tito Ortiz versus Ken Shamrock 3 live special on Spike. That night, ground technician Jason MacDonald tapped Ed Herman by first round triangle choke to pocket $30,000 for the first-ever Submission of the Night award. Since that time, the UFC has regularly awarded its SOTN honors, alongside Fight of the Night and KO of the Night, at the post-fight press conferences following each event. Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White regularly determines the awards - one in each category, though exceptions are not unusual - based on his view of the fights, and without any formal judging criteria. The monetary awards provide an incentive for fighters to look for the finish, and honor the night's best performances.

The UFC has given out well over $1,000,000 in post-fight bonuses to date, and the amounts of the awards have generally increased over time, with the $40K, $50K, $60K, $70K and $80K barriers all falling in succession in recent years. UFC 100 offered the single highest post-fight bonuses to date, with $100,000 per luck recipient, but the UFC brass made an exception for that landmark occasion and the awards were reduced for the next event.

Out of a total of 65 Submission of the Night awards given out from October 2006 through August 2010, inclusive, 32 were given to preliminary card fights (49%), 24 were given to televised main card fights excluding main events (37%), and 9 were given to main events (14%). UFCs 92 and 94 did not feature a submission; UFC 96 featured only one, by Tamdan McCrory, but White elected not to give out a submission bonus. Twin SOTN bonuses were given out at UFC 117, Ultimate Fight Night 22, and UFC 124, each in 2010.

The 65 Submission of the Night awards referenced above have been bestowed across the five UFC weight classes, plus catchweight bouts, as follows: lightweight, 22 (34%); welterweight, 14 (22%); middleweight, 20 (31%); light heavyweight, 4 (6%); heavyweight, 4 (6%); catchweight, 1 (1%). While the heavier weight classes dominate the Knockout of the Night awards (understandably, as they deliver a higher percentage of knockouts), the lighter weight classes tend to deliver the most Submission of the Night and Fight of the Night awards.

Many of the UFC's top stars have graced the Submission of the Night roll, including knockout specialists like Mirko Filipovic and wrestling aces Jake Rosholt and Brock Lesnar. "The Prodigy," BJ Penn, who holds four submissions in the Octagon (all by Rear Naked Choke) has garnered Submission of the Night honors two times, against Joe Stevenson at UFC 80 and Kenny Florian at UFC 101. Dustin Hazelett equaled Penn's number of awards, with "McLovin's" two Submissions of the Night both coming in 2008, at the TUF 7 Finale and UFC 91, respectively. The two slick finishes together netted Hazelett a cool $80,000 in extra bonus money.

Lightweight Jiu-Jitsu wizard Charles Oliveira burst out of the gates in 2010, going 2-for-2 in SOTN honors in his first two Octagon performances after tapping Darren Elkins and Efrain Escudero with a triangle and an RNC, respectively. Oliveira, who received a base pay of $6,000 for his Octagon debut against Elkins, made $40,000 for each of the two bonuses for a total of $80,000 in 2010 award money. Grappling deity Demian Maia did Oliveira one better to begin his UFC career, going 3-for-3 in Subs of the Night in his first three appearances for Zuffa beginning in 2007. Maia holds the current record with four total SOTN awards inside the cage. The unluckiest man in the history of the Submission of the Night award is surely UFC pioneer Royce Gracie, not because he ever tapped inside the Octagon, but because his UFC record 11 wins by submission never netted him an extra dime - they all came before the award was established.

Submissions of The Night (131)

Bout		Event		Award		Forum
Chan Sung Jung vs. Dustin Poirier		UFC on FUEL TV 3: Korean Zombie vs. Poirier		$40,000		View
Kurt Jones vs. Craig Williams		Samurai Fight Night 5: There Will Be Blood		$0		View
Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller		UFC on FOX 3: Diaz vs. Miller		$65,000		View
Travis Browne vs. Chad Griggs		UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans		$65,000		View
John Maguire vs. DaMarques Johnson		UFC on FUEL TV 2: Silva vs. Gustafsson		$50,000		View
Vladimir Starcencov vs. Stéphane Tessier		Ringside MMA 13: Saint Patrick’s Day Beatdown		$0		View
Ryan Starkell vs. Zachery Vaudrin		Hard Knocks 21		$0		View
Martin Kampmann vs. Thiago Alves		UFC on FX 2: Alves vs. Kampmann		$50,000		View
Vaughan Lee vs. Norifumi Yamamoto		UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson		$65,000		View
Ivan Menjivar vs. John Albert		UFC on FUEL TV 1: Ellenberger vs. Sanchez		$50,000		View
Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway		UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit		$65,000		View
Charles Oliveira vs. Eric Wisely		UFC on FOX 2: Evans vs. Davis		$65,000		View
Jim Miller vs. Melvin Guillard		UFC on FX 1: Guillard vs. Miller		$45,000		View
Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio		UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes		$65,000		View
Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira II		UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida		$75,000		View
Diego Brandao vs. Dennis Bermudez		The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale		$40,000		View
Urijah Faber vs. Brian Bowles		UFC 139: Shogun vs. Henderson		$70,000		View
Ricardo Lamas vs. Cub Swanson		UFC on FOX 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos		$65,000		View
Terry Etim vs. Edward Faaloloto		UFC 138: Leben vs. Munoz		$70,000		View
Donald Cerrone vs. Dennis Siver		UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz		$75,000		View
Joe Lauzon vs. Melvin Guillard		UFC 136: Edgar vs Maynard 3		$75,000		View
Stefan Struve vs. Pat Barry		UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson		$65,000		View
Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi		UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage		$75,000		View
TJ Waldburger vs. Mike Stumpf		UFC Fight Night 25: Battle on the Bayou		$55,000		View
Eric Kelly vs. Mitch Chilson		One FC 1: Champion vs Champion		$5,000		View
Chris Lytle vs. Dan Hardy		UFC on Versus 5: Hardy vs. Lytle		$65,000		View
Tito Ortiz vs. Ryan Bader		UFC 132: Cruz vs Faber II		$75,000		View
Joe Lauzon vs. Curt Warburton		UFC on Versus 4: Barry vs. Kongo		$50,000		View
Chris Weidman vs. Jesse Bongfeldt		UFC 131: Carwin vs. Dos Santos		$70,000		View
Reuben Duran vs. Francisco Rivera		The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale		$40,000		View
Gleison Tibau vs. Rafaello Oliveira		UFC 130: Rampage vs Hamill		$70,000		View
Pablo Garza vs. Yves Jabouin		UFC 129: St. Pierre vs. Shields		$129,000		View
Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia II		UFC Fight Night 24: Nogueira vs. Davis		$55,000		View
Brian Bowles vs. Damacio Page II		UFC on Versus 3: Sanchez vs Kampmann		$40,000		View
Kyle Noke vs. Chris Camozzi		UFC 127: Penn vs Fitch		$75,000		View
Jon Jones vs. Ryan Bader		UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort		$75,000		View
Yves Edwards vs. Cody McKenzie		UFC Fight Night 23: Fight for the Troops 2		$30,000		View
Clay Guida vs. Takanori Gomi		UFC 125: Resolution		$60,000		View
Shane Roller vs. Jamie Varner		WEC 53: Henderson vs. Pettis		$10,000		View
Jim Miller vs. Charles Oliveira		UFC 124: St. Pierre vs. Koscheck 2		$50,000		View
Mark Bocek vs. Dustin Hazelett		UFC 124: St. Pierre vs. Koscheck 2		$50,000		View
Cody McKenzie vs. Aaron Wilkinson		The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale		$30,000		View
Phil Davis vs. Tim Boetsch		UFC 123: Rampage vs. Machida		$80,000		View
Dennis Siver vs. Andre Winner		UFC 122: Marquardt vs. Okami		$60,000		View
Urijah Faber vs. Takeya Mizugaki		WEC 52: Faber vs. Mizugaki		$10,000		View
Daniel Roberts vs. Michael Guymon		UFC 121: Lesnar vs. Velasquez		$70,000		View
Paul Sass vs. Mark Holst		UFC 120: Bisping vs. Akiyama		$60,000		View
Miguel Torres vs. Charlie Valencia		WEC 51: Aldo vs. Gamburyan		$10,000		View
C.B. Dollaway vs. Joe Doerksen		UFC 119: Mir vs Cro Cop		$70,000		View
Charles Oliveira vs. Efrain Escudero		UFC Fight Night 22: Marquardt vs. Palhares		$40,000		View
Cole Miller vs. Ross Pearson		UFC Fight Night 22: Marquardt vs. Palhares		$40,000		View
Joe Lauzon vs. Gabe Ruediger		UFC 118: Edgar vs. Penn 2		$60,000		View
Anthony Pettis vs. Shane Roller		WEC 50: Cruz vs. Benavidez		$10,000		View
Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen		UFC 117: Silva vs Sonnen		$60,000		View
Matt Hughes vs. Ricardo Almeida		UFC 117: Silva vs Sonnen		$60,000		View
Charles Oliveira vs. Darren Elkins		UFC on Versus 2: Jones vs. Matyushenko		$40,000		View
Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin		UFC 116: Lesnar vs Carwin		$75,000		View
Josh Grispi vs. L.C. Davis		WEC 49: Varner vs Shalorus		$10,000		View
Court McGee vs. Kris McCray		The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale		$25,000		View
Mirko Filipovic vs. Pat Barry		UFC 115: Liddell vs Franklin		$85,000		View
Ryan Jensen vs. Jesse Forbes		UFC 114: Jackson vs Evans		$65,000		View
Alan Belcher vs. Patrick Cote		UFC 113: Machida vs Shogun 2		$65,000		View
Ben Henderson vs. Donald Cerrone II		WEC 48: Aldo vs Faber		$65,000		View
Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Terry Etim		UFC 112: Invincible		$75,000		View
Kenny Florian vs. Takanori Gomi		UFC Fight Night 21: Florian vs Gomi		$30,000		View
Kurt Pellegrino vs. Fabricio Camoes		UFC 111: St-Pierre vs Hardy		$65,000		View
Clay Guida vs. Shannon Gugerty		UFC on Versus 1: Vera vs Jones		$50,000		View
Joseph Benavidez vs. Miguel Torres		WEC 47: Bowles vs Cruz		$10,000		View
Chris Lytle vs. Brian Foster		UFC 110: Nogueira vs. Velasquez		$50,000		View
Paulo Thiago vs. Mike Swick		UFC 109: Relentless		$60,000		View
Myung Ho Bae vs. Yoshitomo Watanabe		Legend FC 1		$		View
Evan Dunham vs. Efrain Escudero		UFC Fight Night 20: Maynard vs Diaz		$30,000		View
Urijah Faber vs. Raphael Assuncao		WEC 46: Varner vs Henderson		$10,000		View
Cole Miller vs. Dan Lauzon		UFC 108: Evans vs Silva		$50,000		View
Brad Pickett vs. Kyle Dietz		WEC 45: Cerrone vs Ratcliff		$10,000		View
DaMarques Johnson vs. Edgar Garcia		UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez		$65,000		View
Mark Bocek vs. Joe Brammer		The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale		$25,000		View
Josh Koscheck vs. Anthony Johnson		UFC 106: Ortiz vs Griffin 2		$70,000		View
Shane Roller vs. Danny Castillo		WEC 44: Brown vs. Aldo		$10,000		View
Terry Etim vs. Shannon Gugerty		UFC 105: Couture vs Vera		$40,000		View
Stefan Struve vs. Chase Gormley		UFC 104: Machida vs Shogun		$60,000		View
Anthony Njokuani vs. Muhsin Corbbrey		WEC 43: Cerrone vs. Henderson		$10,000		View
Rick Story vs. Brian Foster		UFC 103: Franklin vs. Belfort		$65,000		View
Nate Diaz vs. Melvin Guillard		UFC Fight Night 19: Diaz vs. Guillard		$30,000		View
Jake Rosholt vs. Chris Leben		UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira		$60,000		View
Rani Yahya vs. John Hosman		WEC 42: Torres vs. Bowles		$10,000		View
BJ Penn vs. Kenny Florian		UFC 101: Declaration		$60,000		View
Tom Lawlor vs. C.B. Dollaway		UFC 100		$100,000		View
Terry Etim vs. Justin Buchholz		UFC 99: The Comeback		$60,000		View
Seth Dikun vs. Rolando Perez		WEC 41: Brown vs. Faber 2		$10,000		View
Brock Larson vs. Mike Pyle		UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida		$60,000		View
Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Brian Stann		UFC 97: Redemption		$70,000		View
Rani Yahya vs. Eddie Wineland		WEC 40: Torres vs. Mizugaki		$10,000		View
Rob Kimmons vs. Joe Vedepo		UFC Fight Night 18: Condit vs. Kampmann		$30,000		View
Mike Brown vs. Leonard Garcia		WEC 39: Brown vs. Garcia		$7,500		View
Demian Maia vs. Chael Sonnen		UFC 95: Sanchez vs. Stevenson		$40,000		View
Joe Lauzon vs. Jeremy Stephens		UFC Fight Night 17: Lauzon vs. Stephens		$30,000		View
Urijah Faber vs. Jens Pulver II		WEC 38: Varner vs. Cerrone		$7,500		View
Alan Belcher vs. Denis Kang		UFC 93: Franklin vs. Henderson		$40,000		View
Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Shane Primm		The Ultimate Fighter 8 Finale		$25,000		View
Steve Cantwell vs. Razak Al-Hassan		UFC Fight Night 16: Fight for the Troops		$30,000		View
Brian Bowles vs. Will Ribeiro		WEC 37: Torres vs Tapia		$7,500		View
Dustin Hazelett vs. Tamdan McCrory		UFC 91: Couture vs Lesnar		$60,000		View
Rani Yahya vs. Yoshiro Maeda		WEC 36: Faber vs Brown		$7,500		View
Spencer Fisher vs. Shannon Gugerty		UFC 90: Silva vs Cote		$65,000		View
Jim Miller vs. David Baron		UFC 89: Bisping vs Leben		$40,000		View
Wilson Gouveia vs. Ryan Jensen		UFC Fight Night 15: Diaz vs. Neer		$30,000		View
Jason MacDonald vs. Jason Lambert		UFC 88: Breakthrough		$60,000		View
Demian Maia vs. Jason MacDonald		UFC 87: Seek and Destroy		$60,000		View
Brian Bowles vs. Damacio Page		WEC 35: Condit vs Miura		$7,500		View
C.B. Dollaway vs. Jesse Taylor		UFC Fight Night 14: Silva vs. Irvin		$25,000		View
Cole Miller vs. Jorge Gurgel		UFC 86: Jackson vs. Griffin		$60,000		View
Dustin Hazelett vs. Josh Burkman		The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale		$20,000		View
Kevin Burns vs. Roan Carneiro		UFC 85: Bedlam		$50,000		View
Rousimar Palhares vs. Ivan Salaverry		UFC 84: Ill Will		$75,000		View
Demian Maia vs. Ed Herman		UFC 83: Serra vs. St. Pierre 2		$75,000		View
Nate Diaz vs. Kurt Pellegrino		UFC Fight Night 13: Florian vs. Lauzon		$20,000		View
Anderson Silva vs. Dan Henderson		UFC 82: Pride of a Champion		$60,000		View
Frank Mir vs. Brock Lesnar I		UFC 81: Breaking Point		$60,000		View
BJ Penn vs. Joe Stevenson		UFC 80: Rapid Fire		$35,000		View
Georges St. Pierre vs. Matt Hughes III		UFC 79: Nemesis		$50,000		View
Akihiro Gono vs. Tamdan McCrory		UFC 78: Validation		$55,000		View
Demian Maia vs. Ryan Jensen		UFC 77: Hostile Territory		$40,000		View
Forrest Griffin vs. Mauricio Rua I		UFC 76: Knockout		$40,000		View
Marcus Davis vs. Paul Taylor		UFC 75: Champion vs Champion		$40,000		View
Thales Leites vs. Ryan Jensen		UFC 74: Respect		$40,000		View
Chris Lytle vs. Jason Gilliam		UFC 73: Stacked		$40,000		View
Ed Herman vs. Scott Smith		UFC 72: Victory		$40,000		View
Din Thomas vs. Jeremy Stephens		UFC 71: Liddell vs Jackson		$40,000		View
Terry Etim vs. Matt Grice		UFC 70: Nations Collide		$30,000		View
Jason MacDonald vs. Ed Herman		UFC The Final Chapter: Ortiz vs Shamrock 3		$30,000		View