UFC 260 was a card brimming with bonus potential. In the end, it feels like a downright shame that only four men were rewarded — but it’s hard to find fault with the selections. Unless, perhaps, you’re Alonzo Menifield, who became one of four men to earn a win via Von Flue choke in the UFC — but didn’t earn a Performance Bonus.
Instead, those went to Francis Ngannou and Sean O’Malley. There was an argument to pay O’Malley twice, after he seemingly knocked out Thomas Almeida in the opening round of their main-card bantamweight bout. O’Malley raised his hands in celebration and actually walked away — without the ref stopping the bout. The affair continued, until late in the third round, when O’Malley dropped Almeida again. Once more, the “Sugar Show” fighter began to walk away, once more, the ref allowed the fight to continue, allowing a thunderous punch to land on an unprotected Almeida.
In the main event, a patient “Predator” emerged, as Francis Ngannou showed improved wrestling and better fight IQ in his rematch with Stipe Miocic. After landing several times on the champ in the opening round, Ngannou dropped him in the second round twice. The second time sealed the deal, leaving Miocic flat on his back, out cold. Long considered the future of the UFC heavyweight division, Ngannou has finally arrived at the top of the mountain.
Fight of the Night, meanwhile, went to the wild scrap between Tyron Woodley and Vicente Luque. Though it lasted less than five minutes, the welterweight fight was an exhilerating affair, with both fighters rocking each other. In the end, it was Luque who got the upper hand, submitting former champ Woodley with a D’arce choke.
All four fighters pick up $50,000 for their efforts, while Ngannou, of course, also picks up gold.
