The UFC handed out five post-fight bonuses after Saturday’s card, including one to a disqualification victim.
After UFC on ESPN 53, five fighters picked up an extra $50,000 for their performances – and tattoo decisions – in Las Vegas. Check out the winners below.
Fight of the Night: Jarno Errens def. Steven Nguyen
Jarno Errens def. Steven Nguyen via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Jarno Errens (14-5-1 MMA, 1-2 UFC) and Steven Nguyen (9-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) slugged it out for 15 minutes and combined to throw 435 total strikes in the slugfest that Errens swept on the scorecards for his first UFC win.
Performance of the Night: Fernando Padilla
Fernando Padilla def. Luis Pajuelo via submission (D’Arce choke) – Round 1, 2:45
Fernando Padilla (16-5 MMA, 2-1 UFC) was a madman when he kept Luis Pajuelo (8-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) locked up as they got back to the feet and cranked on a brutal D’Arce choke that had Pajuelo tapping in a hurry.
Performance of the Night: Payton Talbott
Payton Talbott def. Cameron Saaiman via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 0:21
Payton Talbott (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) was confident all week for his fight against South Africa’s Cameron Saaiman (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC). He brutalized him at the end of the first round and needed only 21 seconds in the second to put him away and stay unbeaten
Performance of the Night: Andre Lima
Andre Lima def. Igor Severino via disqualification (biting) – Round 2, 2:52
Andre Lima (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) hardly could believe it, it appeared, when Igor Severino (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) separated his mouth from his arm. Severino bit Lima and got disqualified. The bite marks were bad enough that Dana White said he was going to give Lima the UFC’s first bite bonus for $25,000. But after Lima went out and got a tattoo around the bite mark, White was impressed enough to bump him to a full bonus.
