For the second time in one month, the UFC didn’t hand out a “Fight of the Night” bonus at the end of an event.
Four fighters – Brian Kelleher, Andre Muniz, Michel Pereira and Ovince Saint Preux – each received additional $50,000 checks for “Performance of the Night,” but the award for a hard-fought battle went unclaimed, according to bonuses announced by the UFC after Saturday’s event at UFC APEX in Las Vegas.
Co-headliner Saint Preux undoubtedly delivered the highlight of the night, stopping Alonzo Menifield with a left hook while going backward in the second round of the ESPN+ event. The win put him back on the right foot after a one-off at heavyweight went south against Ben Rothwell.
Kelleher, Muniz and Pereira all flexed their submission skills, though the latter didn’t even have to get a clear tap to earn the win. Pereira had his arms cinched for a hook-less rear-naked choke against Zelim Imadaev, but the Russian’s move to fight hands was interpreted as a submission. Still, it was an emphatic win for the Brazilian, who conserved his energy and delivered a dominant performance.
Muniz made a brilliant adjustment less than three minutes into his fight with Bartosz Fabinski, using the threat of a triangle to set up an armbar. And finally, Kelleher picked up another quick win with a guillotine of Ray Rodriguez – his third scheduled opponent – in just 39 seconds.
UFC Vegas 6, which took place Aug. 8 at the UFC APEX, was the most recent event with no “Fight of the Night” bonuses handed out.
