Dana White raises UFC 300 fight bonuses from $50k to a whopping $300,000 live at press conference... leaving fighters delighted

Fighters were ecstatic after UFC president Dana White agreed to elevate the fight bonuses for UFC 300 on Saturday night in Las Vegas. 

During Thursday's press conference, White was asked if he would raise the typical $50,000 bonus for the monumental pay-per-view.

White initially replied: 'What should it be raised to?' In response, several fighters on stage began pitching numbers, including Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway, who will fight for the BMF title.

'300 (thousand), it's done,' White declared after getting flooded with outrageous amounts. 'Stop asking me questions.'

The crowd and the panel erupted in excitement after White agreed to raise the stakes in front of a live audience. On stage, the fighters celebrated as the opportunity to win a bonus six times bigger than the usual added to the magnitude of a star-studded card.

UFC president Dana White raised the fight bonuses to $300,000 for UFC 300 on Saturday 

BMF title holder Justin Gaethje suggested raising the bonuses in an interview with MMA Junkie

With the magnitude of the card, Gaethje's opponent Max Holloway echoed his sentiments 

The idea of bumping up the bonus came from Gaethje and Holloway, whose highly-awaited showdown has been hailed as the people's main event for Saturday.

Gaethje, who holds the symbolic title and has earned 12 fight bonuses in his career, called for the raise first in an interview with MMA Junkie on April 6.

'It's gonna be the most exciting fight of the night,' The Highlight told Kevin Iole. 'I'm just hoping that the UFC bumps that bonus up to $300,000'

His dance partner, Holloway, is a former featherweight champion and is making his sophomore effort at 155lbs with ten fight bonuses in his career. Like Gaethje, his Hawaiian counterpart promised to put on a show for the fans in Sin City.

'It is what it is. I'm just excited to be sharing the octagon with [Justin Gaethje] come UFC 300. On a big event like this, when you've got a card like this, a spotlight like this on us, being the people's main event already, we can steal the show,' Blessed stated at media day on Wednesday.

Holloway then echoed Gaethje's sentiments about raising the bonus for the top performers.

Gaethje is the No. 2 ranked lightweight contender and has 12 fight bonuses so far in the UFC 

Gaethje and Holloway's showdown for the BMF belt has been hailed the people's main event 

A holder of 10 fight bonuses, Holloway is making his second trip to the 155lb division

'The UFC is pushing, pushing, every time I see an ad for UFC 300, it's me and Justin,' Holloway continued. 'So at the end of the day, Tim [Simpson] or someone needs to get on the phone with Dana and Hunter because we've got to talk numbers about some things.'

'It's looking kinda funny. When we do the fighter meeting - because we always do the fighter meeting - I'm going to throw it out there. $500,000, so we can start going back like $400,000, $300,000, final offer $150,000 come on. It's UFC 300, it's huge!'

Two days before fight night, Gaethje and Holloway got their wish granted - not only for themselves but for everyone who puts on a bonus-worthy performance on Saturday.

This event would not be the first occurrence as the UFC raising bonuses for milestone cards has a precedent. In 2009, White doubled the $50,000 bonus for the UFC 100 card. However, they refused to change the bonus structure for the UFC 200 pay-per-view seven years later.