UFC Vegas 118 seemed like something of a stopgap card between Macau and the upcoming White House spectacle next weekend, but a weak event on paper paid off with plenty of action in the cage.
Seven finishes and some exciting fights gave those who tuned in something to stick around for, with Ketlen Souza getting the ball rolling with a head kick finish in her rematch with Ariane Carnelossi.
Souza didn’t end up with a Performance of the Night bonus on Saturday, but main card opener Iwo Baraniewski did. His finish of Junior Tafa was set up with a nasty leg kick that spun Tafa right around; a deluge of punches to the downed Tafa followed.
Edgar Chairez picked up the other Performance bonus at UFC Vegas 118, for his submission of Bruno Silva. Set up with a knockdown, Chairez pounced, took the back and locked up a rear-naked choke for the win.
Fight of the Night honors at UFC Vegas 118 went to Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan, who made up the night’s co-main event. The spirited affair saw Allen come away with a unanimous decision win.
The remaining finishers on the card all pick up $25,000 extra. Those are Souza, Joanderson Brito, Chelsea Chandler, Alessandro Costa, and Bryce Mitchell. Brito called for a bonus after his win, a move that more often than not results in the UFC passing fighters over for a performance bonus.
