The UFC handed out four bonuses after Saturday’s card, including to some of the biggest highlight-reel moments of the year so far.
After UFC on ESPN 67, four fighters picked up an extra $50,000 for their performances in Des Moines, Iowa. Check out the winners below.
Performance of the Night: Quang Le
Quang Le def. Gaston Bolanos via technical submission (rear-naked choke) – 1:54, Round 1
Quang Le’s (9-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) first octagon victory was an impressive one as he became the first to submit Gaston Bolanos (8-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC) by choking the Bellator veteran unconscious in the second round of their bantamweight bout on the prelims.
Performance of the Night: Azamat Bekoev
Azamat Bekoev def. Ryan Loder via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:44
After pleading for the UFC to sign him, Azamat Bekoev (20-3 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is proving he belongs. His second octagon appearance saw him score a second consecutive first-round knockout when he floored “The Ultimate Fighter” winner Ryan Loder (7-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) less than three minutes into the opening round of their middleweight bout.
Performance of the Night: Reinier de Ridder
Reinier de Ridder def. Bo Nickal via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 1:53
Reinier de Ridder (20-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) pulled off the stunner of the night when he lit up highly touted middleweight prospect Bo Nickal (7-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC). The former two-division ONE Championship titleholder worked the body before a final knee sent Nickal crumpling to the mat for the TKO, giving him his first octagon bonus in an upset.
Performance of the Night: Cory Sandhagen
Cory Sandhagen def. Deiveson Figueiredo via TKO (injury) – Round 2, 4:08
Cory Sandhagen (18-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC) delivered a ruthless destruction of Deiveson Figueiredo (24-5-1 MMA, 13-5-1 UFC) in the bantamweight main event, battering the former flyweight champion in the first, then tangling his leg for an injury TKO finish in the second. Sandhagen becomes the ninth bantamweight to be awarded five or more fight-night bonuses.