Strikeforce CEO would like to see "Fight Night" bonuses by Steven Marrocco on Apr 07, 2011 at 8:45 pm ET In the past, Strikeforce fighters had their win bonus, the roar of the crowd and a smiling promoter to look forward to if they gave their all inside the cage. But that promoter would like to give them a little extra incentive – like extra cash. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said he's lobbying for "Fight Night" bonuses at future events, and the promotion's new owner, Zuffa, LLC, could make that happen. "I'm definitely going to talk to (Zuffa co-owner) Lorenzo (Fertitta) about it," Coker told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "That would be great, wouldn't it?" In the UFC, three bonuses are up for grabs: "Fight of the Night," "Knockout of the Night," and "Submission of the Night." Fighters can win anywhere from an extra $10,000 to $100,000 for big-ticket pay-per-view events. The promotion has also been known to award more than one fighter or fight a bonus in the case where both delivered spectacular results. With more promotional muscle behind the California-based organization following its buyout this past month, Coker said his goal to add incentives might arrive more quickly. "It's something that Strikeforce would have done, but it might have been another year or two," he said. The UFC's former sister promotion, WEC, began handing out bonuses at WEC 35, though its payouts were more modest, ranging between $7,500 and $10,000. Zuffa, LLC is also known to award discretionary bonuses to fighters, though they are not disclosed to state athletic commissions or the public. In any case, the prospect of an extra check would certainly come as welcome news to Strikeforce fighters.
