The UFC handed out four post-fight bonuses after Saturday’s card, including one to its former champ headliner.
After UFC on ABC 6, four fighters picked up an extra $50,000 for their performances in Saudi Arabia. Check out the winners below.
Performance of the Night: Felipe Lima
Felipe Lima def. Muhammad Naimov via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 1:15
Felipe Lima (13-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) was training for a different fight, and when he heard Muhammad Naimov (11-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC) needed an opponent, he made a call. He took the fight on just a week’s notice, and made a quick first impression with a first-round knockdown. After a slow second round, he got some urging from his corner, then turned on the gas in the third and locked in a rear-naked choke for his 13th straight win and a highlight reel from his UFC debut.
Performance of the Night: Volkan Oezdemir
Volkan Oezdemir def. Johnny Walker via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:28
Volkan Oezdemir (20-7 MMA, 8-6 UFC) made Johnny Walker (21-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC) go absolutely stiff with one of the most brutal knockouts in recent memory. Oezdemir hurt Walker and had him stumbling, but then he put him out with a huge punch. Walker hit the canvas, and Oezdemir landed essentially an uppercut to a motionless Walker just before the ref got in. Walker was out for a few minutes, but Oezdemir, a former title challenger, put himself back on the radar in the light heavyweight division.
Performance of the Night: Shara Magomedov
Shara Magomedov def. Antonio Trocoli via knockout (punches) – Round 3, 2:27
Shara Magomedov (13-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) was a big favorite against Antonio Trocoli (12-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who took the fight on just a few days’ notice and made a flight and weight cut that most fighters wouldn’t attempt. Ultimately, it appeared fatigue caught up to him and Magomedov put him out with a vicious combination of punches on the feet to stay unbeaten.
Performance of the Night: Robert Whittaker
Robert Whittaker def. Ikram Aliskerov via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:49
Robert Whittaker (26-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) stayed right in the hunt for the middleweight title with a stunning first-round knockout of Ikram Aliskerov (15-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC). Once Whittaker landed, he took his time with Aliskerov with a head kick, punches, then a final brutal uppercut to put his short-notice opponent out cold. Whittaker said he’ll be ready for the potential to fight for the title he used to hold at UFC 305, headlined by champ Dricus Du Plessis and former champ Israel Adesanya.
