The UFC handed out four bonuses after Saturday’s card in China, including one to the main event upset winner.
After UFC Fight Night 257, four fighters picked up an extra $50,000 for their performances at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai. Check out the winners below.
Performance of the Night: Uran Satybaldiev
Uran Satybaldiev (10-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) put his name in the UFC history books when he submitted Diyar Nurgozhay (10-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC) with just the fifth Ezekiel choke ever in the promotion to open the card with a thrilling finish. The former LFA light heavyweight champion picked a major way to get his first UFC win, and it came with an extra $50K.
Performance of the Night: Kyle Daukaus
Kyle Daukaus (16-4 MMA, 3-4 UFC) was bounced out of the UFC in 2022 after successive losses. But he won a CFFC title while he was away, and Saturday in his return, he took out the favored Michel Pereira (31-14 MMA, 9-5 UFC) in just 43 seconds with a vicious TKO.
Performance of the Night: Charles Johnson
Charles Johnson (18-7 MMA, 7-5 UFC) had a rough first round against the unbeaten Lone’er Kavanagh (9-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC). But late in the second round, while he was backing up from a Johnson attack, Kavanagh dropped his hands and Johnson drilled him on the button to put his lights out for the first loss of his career.
Performance of the Night: Johnny Walker
Johnny Walker (22-9 MMA, 8-6 UFC) was basically counted out in the main event against China’s home hero, Zhang Mingyang (19-7 MMA, 3-1 UFC). When he shot for what seemed like an ill-advised takedown in the opening few seconds and wound up on his back much of the round, the odds seemed appropriate. But in the second, he landed a hard calf kick on Mingyang and knew well enough to follow it up. After a third successive one took Mingyang down, Walker pounced and finished for the upset.
