The bonuses are official for UFC London, and one heavyweight who promised a cash reward to fans if he earned 100K was left on the outside looking in.
Well, not quite. Still, Brando Peričić will have to settle for a $25,000 finishing bonus, as he was not one of two Performance of the Night bonus winners on a ho-hum card at the O2 Arena in London, England on Saturday.
Instead, it was newcomer Shanelle Dyer and Judoka Iwo Baraniewski claiming Performance bonuses at the Fight Night event. Dyer kicked off the card (almost literally), landing a head kick on a slightly overweight Ravena Oliveira then putting her away with a knee and punches to start the night. That got Londoners on their feet, and seemed to set the table for a big night, only for a couple of plodding decisions to stall momentum throughout the evening.
Peričić and Danny Silva were bright spots and also had TKO finishes on the card, but it was Poland’s Baraniewski who truly stunned, putting away former heavyweight Austen Lane in just 28 seconds in a 205lb scrap.
Fight of the Night honors, meanwhile, went to Mason Jones and Axel Sola. The fight left Sola bloodied and needing multiple stitches, in particular to close up a nasty gash on his face.
All four bonus winners pocket $100,000 for their efforts. Bonuses were announced by UFC CEO and President Dana White at the night’s post-fight press conference. White listed 18,000 in attendance for a $4.5 million U.S. gate.
