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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Matt Erickson

UFC on ESPN 53 bonuses: Andre Lima bites into an extra $50,000 in Las Vegas

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, UFC on ESPN 53

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

 

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 23: (R-L) Fernando Padilla of Mexico battles Luis Pajuelo of Peru in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on March 23, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

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, UFC on ESPN 53

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, UFC on ESPN 53

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.

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