UFC bantamweight Rob Font missed out on a $50,000 performance bonus for his fight with Chito Vera after missing weight.
Font weighed in 2.5lbs above the bantamweight limit ahead of his main event clash with Vera in Las Vegas on Saturday night. The UFC's performance bonus policy means fighters who miss weight are disqualified from winning bonuses.
It meant Font's decision loss to Vera hurt that little bit more as he handed over his $50,000 'Fight of the Night' bonus to the Ecuadorian. Font landed 100 more strikes than Vera over five rounds, but was dropped three times in the fight as Vera's damage the deciding factor in his unanimous decision win.
Font has now lost consecutive fights whilst Vera extends his unbeaten run to three fights. Vera will likely break into the top five at 135-pounds for the first time in his career, a rank that is currently held by Font.
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Speaking after his win, Vera said: "It's been a long road for me, a long journey. A lot of hard work, but when you work hard you have the most chance to survive here. When you do everything to win and put everything aside, life gives you victory.
"I had a lot on my plate coming to this fight, my whole family flew here. All my three kids were here too, so I had a reason to fight hard. When the fights over those emotions come out."
Elsewhere on the card, MMA legend Andrei Arlovski won a controversial decision against Jake Collier in the co-main event. Collier landed more strikes than Arlovski and took him down twice, but two judges scored the fight in Arlovski's favour.
Joanderson Brito picked up his first UFC win since being signed from the Contender Series by knocking out veteran Andre Fili in just 41-seconds. The win banked him a $50,000 'Knockout of the Night' bonus.
Grant Dawson submitted Jared Gordon on the main card whilst there were decision wins for Darren Elkins and Krzysztof Jotko. On the prelims, Alexander Romanov proved why he was the biggest betting favourite in UFC history by submitting Chase Sherman in the first round.
Francisco Figueiredo, the brother of UFC flyweight champion Deiveson, took home the other $50,000 bonus on the card for submitting Daniel Lacerda in just over a minute with an impressive kneebar.
