UFC Vegas 77 was a hard sell for many fight fans, a card that lacked star power and got a new co-main event just days out (and that only because Jack Della Maddalena lost a couple of opponents at last week’s UFC 290).
On top of that, the card got off to in inauspicious start when decision after decision piled up. The only finish on the prelims, in fact, was an injury TKO that came in a freak accident as Istela Nunes tried to post while being taken down by Viktoriia Dudakova.
Things picked up by the time the main card arrived, however, with the end result at least being watchable. And it was the late-addition co-main event that cashed in when it came to bonuses. Despite being brought in short notice like a lamb to the slaughter, Bassil Hafez put on a heck of a show, taking Jack Della Maddalena the distance for the first time in his UFC career.
Maddalena took home the split decision win, but given how Hafez had been written off, he came out of this one looking golden.
Performance of the Night bonuses at UFC Vegas 77 went to headliner Mayra Bueno Silva, for her ninja choke submission of former champ Holly Holm, and Francisco Prado, who finished Ottman Azaitar on the feet one fight prior.
All four bonus winners will pick up an extra $50,000 for their efforts, on top of their fight purse.
