MMAJunkie
Marcus Davis, Chris Lytle, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Mark Coleman, Dennis Siver and Alan Belcher each earned $40,000 "fight night" bonuses for their performances at "UFC 93: Franklin vs. Henderson."
UFC 93 took place Saturday at the O2 Arena in Dublin, and aired live on pay-per-view. The bonus amounts were down from the $60,000 awards issued at UFC 92 in December, but on par with the bonuses issued in the organization's last trip to Europe at UFC 89 in October 2008.
The UFC announced the bonuses at the UFC 93 post-fight press conference and the awards were confirmed by MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
Everyone's pre-event "Fight of the Night" on paper played out just as expected in the cage. Welterweights Davis (16-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC) and Lytle (26-17-5 MMA, 5-9 UFC) lived up to the terms of their "gentleman's agreement" to put on a stand-up brawl. Lytle landed the heavier blows, but Davis was consistent in his counter-striking and elusiveness. Each fighter shined in moments, and both made their case for victory. In the end, Davis edged out Lytle via split decision, but both fighters cashed an extra check for their "Fight of the Night" performance.
A surprise winner of a second "Fight of the Night" award was the grudge match between Rua (17-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and Coleman (15-9 MMA, 6-4 UFC). While most observers expected Rua to dominate his 44-year-old opponent, "The Hammer" showed ample heart in lasting to the bitter end. Obviously winded at the close of the opening frame, Coleman continued to battle back and repeatedly take Rua to the mat. After nearly ending the contest with a submission in the second round, a tired Rua landed a combination in the final minute of the fight that forced a halt to the action.
While the contest did not make it to air, Siver (13-6 MMA, 2-3 UFC) and Nate Mohr (8-6 MMA, 1-3 UFC) battled back and forth for three rounds. As Mohr began to fade in the final frame, Siver landed a spinning back kick that rocked his opponent. A barrage of punches followed, and Siver walked away with the victory and the evening's "Knockout of the Night."
Belcher (14-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC) had earned a reputation as a dangerous striker in his previous seven trips to the octagon, but the 24-year-old made use of a slick submission game in earning the evening's "Submission of the Night." Despite losing the first round -- and appearing well on his way to dropping the second -- Belcher defended a takedown from Denis Kang (31-11-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) and immediately locked in a guillotine choke. Despite Kang having his arm inside of the hold, Belcher squeezed tight and forced his foe to tap.
They actually handed out bonuses for those fights?
I don't ever want to hear about the UFC's money problems...
Shogun vs Coleman fight of the night?
maybe in a retirement centre..
I'm happy for Coleman.
Baki
Shogun/Coleman, as ugly as it was, was by far the most exciting and emotional fight on the card.
orcus - Shogun/Coleman, as ugly as it was, was by far the most exciting and emotional fight on the card.
agreed!