UFC Kansas City had a number of high-octane, action-packed fights on the card, leaving plenty of candidates for Fight of the Night.
While the main event between Max Holloway and Arnold Allen might otherwise have been in the conversation, it was another featherweight affair that took home Fight of the Night. That was Bill Algeo vs. T.J. Brown, a frantic scrap that ended with an Algeo submission in the second round.
Following the win, “Senor Perfecto” stripped off his gloves, feigning retirement before announcing that he would “never retire in a dump like Kansas City.” Perhaps motivated by UFC parent company Endeavor announcing they were acquiring a 51% stake in WWE, Algeo executed the perfect heel turn — though whether fight fans are up for pro wrestling-style antics remains to be seen.
There was an extra Performance of the Night bonus handed out at UFC Kansas City, with three fighters taking home 50K for their individual efforts. Gillian Robertson earned one for her arm-bar submission of Piera Rodriguez; the Canadian continues to extend her lead as the overall submissions leader among women in UFC history, with seven. Mackenzie Dern has four, Ronda Rousey three, showing just how dangerous on the ground “The Savage” truly is.
Flyweight Brandon Royval was also rewarded for a stunning knockout of #5-ranked Matheus Nicolau. That ending was set up by a knee, not at all dissimilar to Edson Barboza’s knee-strike finish of Billy Quarantillo in the evening’s co-main event. Which also picked up a Performance of the Night bonus.
