UFC 317 bonuses include a Fight of Night winner worthy of HOF discussion
International Fight Week wraps with a bonus for a new two-division champ
The UFC handed out four bonuses after Saturday's card in Las Vegas to wrap up International Fight Week.
After UFC 317, four fighters picked up an extra $50,000 for their performances at T-Mobile Arena. Check out the winners below.
Performance of the Night: Ilia Topuria
With another masterful performance, Ilia Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) needed less than half a round to knock out former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira (35-11 MMA, 23-11 UFC). With that Topuria cemented himself as not just the 10th two-division champ in UFC history, but as the UFC's new global superstar.
Performance of the Night: Gregory Rodrigues
Gregory Rodrigues (17-6 MMA, 8-3 UFC) knocked out Jack Hermansson (24-9 MMA, 11-7 UFC) with one punch in the first round. Then he delivered one on the canvas that was so absurdly unnecessary that it almost certainly contributed to Hermansson's extra-lengthy time on the canvas and hourlong observation by medical staff backstage. The one that put Hermansson out was sickeningly on point, though, and worthy of some extra cheddar.
Fight of the Night: Joshua Van def. Brandon Royval
Joshua Van (14-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) and Brandon Royval (17-8 MMA, 7-4 UFC) turned in one of the best fights not just of the year – but maybe one that will be talked about being worthy of enshrinement in the UFC Hall of Fame some day. Van booked the fight against two-time title challenger Royval just three weeks after his most recent win, then engaged in a shootout with him that set a record for most combined significant strikes in a flyweight fight. Ultimately, Van kept rolling with a unanimous decision win – then only about 35 minutes later came back out cageside – and had a faceoff with four-time defending flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja after his win over Kai Kara-France. In the span of just three weeks, Van has two UFC wins, a bonus and now a likely title shot.
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