Headliner Francis Ngannou and popular Chinese welterweight Li Jingliang were among the bonuses winners at UFC Beijing on Saturday.
UFC Beijing had come and gone before some fans in the west even rolled out of bed Saturday morning. Those that slept in, however, missed a pair of heavyweights return to form. And one of those big men cashed in when it came time for the bonuses to be handed out.
That would be the hulking French-Cameroonian striker Francis Ngannou. After struggling through most of 2018, Ngannou got back to doing what he does best at UFC Beijing. That would be knocking opponents out, of course. An overhand right placed just above the ear sent Curtis Blaydes to the ground early in their main event fight. While Blaydes would regain his feet, he was as defenses as a baby deer while Ngannou swung away. End result, a referee stoppage, and the TKO win for Ngannou. That, and a Performance of the Night bonus.
💰 B O N U S E S 💰
POTN: @Francis_Ngannou and @UFCJingliang
FOTN: @AlexMoronoMMA vs Song Kenan#UFCBeijing pic.twitter.com/JPmclqhCF6
— UFC (@ufc) November 24, 2018
Popular welterweight Li Jingliang earned the other Performance of the Night bonus. He set up the finish of David Zawada with a kick to the body that caused his opponent to lock up and crumple to the mat.
Fight of the Night honors, meanwhile, went to Alex Morono and Song Kenan, on the UFC Beijing preliminary card. The featured prelim went the distance, with Morono earning a unanimous decision win, 30-27 on all three scorecards.
