After an event packed with surprising outcomes, the UFC Vegas 121 post-fight bonuses were announced following the conclusion of the card.
The event featured 12 bouts, with eight ending in finishes. Here’s a breakdown of the fighters who earned bonus money.
Fight of the Night ($100,000 each): Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Raoni Barcelos
In the headline fight, Raul Rosas Jr. secured a fifth-round TKO win over Raoni Barcelos, marking the most significant victory of his MMA career so far. Rosas took the opening round, but Barcelos responded by winning the next three rounds, forcing Rosas to score a stoppage in the fifth to claim the fight. He succeeded by taking Barcelos down, leading to Barcelos hitting his head and being knocked out. Both fighters were rewarded with $100,000 bonuses for delivering a thrilling Fight of the Night encounter. UFC is currently awaiting a medical update on Barcelos, who appeared to sustain a head injury or another serious health issue during the bout.
Performance of the Night ($100,000): Luis Hernandez
At light heavyweight, Luis Hernandez earned a first-round submission victory over Sedriques Dumas with a standing guillotine choke. Hernandez accepted the fight on just two days’ notice after Mickey Gall withdrew for health reasons and made an impressive UFC debut by securing a dominant submission win.
Performance of the Night ($100,000): Yazmin Jauregui
Opening the card in a women’s strawweight fight, Yazmin Jauregui returned after a two-year hiatus and delivered a devastating first-round knockout against Vanessa Demopoulos. The Mexican fighter overwhelmed her opponent with a relentless 20-punch combination, culminating in a ground-and-pound KO finish.
Finish Bonus ($25,000 each): Tina Black, Brady Hiestand, Christian Edwards, Elves Brener, Montel Jackson
In the TUF 34 women’s strawweight finale, Tina Black knocked out Melissa Amaya with powerful strikes in the second round. Both competitors had their moments, but Black’s heavy shots ultimately sealed the victory.
At bantamweight, Brady Hiestand shocked many by submitting Rinya Nakamura in the second round with a rear-naked choke. Returning after more than two years away from competition, Hiestand delivered one of the biggest upsets of the night.
Light heavyweight Christian Edwards rallied after losing the first round to knockout Rodolfo Bellato in the third and final round. Edwards’ late-round aggression turned what seemed like a certain decision loss into a stunning KO victory.
In lightweight action, Elves Brener scored a first-round KO over Josiah Harrell, landing a crushing punch that left his opponent airborne before the fight was stopped.
Finally, at bantamweight, Montel Jackson avenged a previous loss by knocking out Ricky Simon in the second round of their rematch. Simon had won their 2018 UFC debut via decision, but this time Jackson dominated with an emphatic KO finish.
This article originally appeared on HEAVY.
Fan Take:
These bonus announcements highlight the rising stars and exciting finishes that keep fans engaged and hungry for more. Upsets and comeback performances like these inject fresh energy into the sport, promising an unpredictable and thrilling future for MMA.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
