When the bonuses were announced following UFC Vegas 96, Chinese newcomer Wang Cong was not among the recipients — but she is now.
After knocking out Victoria Leonardo in barely a minute to kick off Saturday’s Fight Night card at the UFC Apex, Cong felt like a heavy favorite for a bonus. Her debut followed an impressive showcase showing on Road to UFC 3 earlier this year, and with the promotion investing heavily in the Chinese market, “The Joker” appears to have all the makings of a potential star.
Still, whoever selected the bonuses on Saturday passed Cong over in favor of Gerald Meerschaert and Michael Morales. That’s something UFC President and CEO Dana White, who was not in attendance at the event, has now put right.
“Wake up and find out there is no POTN,” Wang Cong wrote on social media. “Next fight you will see more spectacular finish [UFC]. Don’t play with Joker again!”
White replied to the post several hours later, announcing she would pick up $50,000 for the finish. “I was out of town and watched the fight [at Mystique Boston] on TV. You looked AMAZING. I’m adding another PON bonus for [you]. Congrats [you] get 50k.”
Flyweight Cong, a world champion in Sanda, improved to 6-0 with Saturday’s victory. She holds a win over former UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko in kickboxing. That win came in 2015, with the Kunlun Fight women’s lightweight (60kg) championship on the line.
