A great night of fights, a tragic ending to the main event, but someone had to come away with the bonus money at UFC 329.
The Las Vegas-based card was the return point for Conor McGregor, but his fight with Max Holloway was over almost before it started, due to a leg injury. Interestingly enough, not to the same leg McGregor had broken five years prior.
The co-main event fared much better, although Benoit Saint-Denis himself did not. An ill-conceived takedown attempt early in the fight saw him end up trapped in a slick d’arce choke by Paddy Pimblett. England vs. France, as the fight was billed, ended in favor of the British, with Saint-Denis going to sleep before he could tap.
Pimblett picks up a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus as a result. As does King Green, who was nearly put away by Terrance McKinney before battling back, drilling “T-Wrecks” to the body, and putting him out with one second left in the opening round.
Fight of the Night at UFC 329 was awarded to Brandon Royval vs. Lone’er Kavanagh. A thrilling back-and-forth flyweight fight made it to the third round before Royval forced a tap from the young upstart.
UFC 329 at the T-Mobile Arena was sold out with over 20,000 in attendance and a gate of $26.4 million US, per UFC CEO and President Dana White. Alessandro Costa, Ryan Gandra, Damian Pinas, Luke Riley, Adrian Yanez, Gable Steveson, and Robert Whittaker all earn $25,000 finishing bonuses.
