The Former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos recently claimed that boxing legend Mike Tyson convinced the UFC not to provide him a post-fight bonus. Dos Santos was released from the UFC earlier this year after a recent losing streak to the likes of Ciryl Gane and Jairzinho Rozenstruik. He hasn’t ruled out signing with another MMA promotion but has hinted at a transition to boxing before his career ends. Nick Diaz Drops UFC 269 Fight Bombshell
Junior Dos Santos claims Mike Tyson directed UFC to give KO Bonus
Dos Santos drew attention during a recent interview with The Sun, in which he hailed Tyson responsible for convincing UFC president Dana White to give him just one post-fight bonus instead of two for his knockout over Mark Hunt at UFC 160:
“Back in the day, Mike Tyson took from me $50,000 because of Dana White!” dos Santos said. “When I fought Mark Hunt I had two Bonuses of the Night – Best Fight of the Night, and Best Knockout of the Night. And Mike Tyson was there watching the fight and at the press conference after the fights, Dana White said, ‘Junior Dos Santos has won two bonuses of the night. Best Fight of the Night, and Best Knockout of the Night.’
“But I was asking Mike Tyson and he told me to give the Knockout of the Night to somebody else!” dos Santos continued. “He said, ‘Why give two bonuses to just one guy?’ So he took away from me $50,000. So he owes me $50,000!”
Tyson and White share a cordial relationship and ‘Iron Mike’ has made his presence felt in several UFC events, including Dos Santos’ win over Hunt at UFC 160.
