The UFC decided to forgo the Fight of the Night award and hand out four Performance of the Night bonuses at UFC 226.
It should come as no surprise that Daniel Cormier pocketed an extra fifty grand following UFC 226. If ever there was a showing worthy of a Performance of the Night bonus, well, it’s one that captured a second title. That was the case with Cormier, whose first round knockout of Stipe Miocic thrust him into double-champion status, and the history books.
Only two men in history have held dual gold in the UFC. Conor McGregor was the first. Now Daniel Cormier is the second. Somewhere, Jon Jones is gritting his teeth. For not only did Cormier do what Jones himself has long dreamed of, he did it without controversy. With style, and class. He avoided the perils of USADA, and even managed to snag a dream fight with Brock Lesnar. Something Jones has long coveted.
And despite that last paragraph, D.C. may even have the Jones monkey off his back. It’s not really necessary to compare them any longer, is it?
In any case, Cormier picked up one of four Performance of the Night bonuses at UFC 226 on Saturday in Las Vegas. Anthony Pettis claimed one as well, for dropping and submitting Michael Chiesa. Chiesa will head up to welterweight after the fight, though he’s another candidate for a potential 165lb division. Pettis, meanwhile, has at least momentarily re-established himself at lightweight.
Paulo Costa is a little richer also; despite some ugly low blows, he got the job done against Uriah Hall, standing toe-to-toe with the dangerous ‘Prime Time’ and eventually dropping him.
These Equalizers earned 50k tonight.
B2YB @TheEqualizer #TheEqualizer2 in theaters July 20. Get Tickets: https://t.co/3qZ5ysq7Fb #ad pic.twitter.com/H5t3swfFMn
— UFC (@ufc) July 8, 2018
And for knocking out one of the greatest kickboxers of all time? You’d better believe Khalil Rountree Jr. picked up a Performance of the Night award as well.
With four Performance bonuses, no Fight of the Night award was handed out, no doubt breaking the hearts of Francis Ngannou and Derrick Lewis.
