The UFC was in a giving mood after its fighters laid it all on the line at one of the biggest shows of the year.
Two extra $50,000 Performance of the Night bonuses were handed out following Saturday’s blockbuster UFC 268 event, with Chris Barnett, Bobby Green, Alex Pereira, and Marlon Vera all collecting extra checks along with Fight of the Night winners Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler.
The Fight of the Night award came as no surprise after Gaethje and Chandler left the Madison Square Garden crowd wishing for two more rounds following their slugfest to open the evening’s main card. Gaethje won a unanimous decision over Chandler and also collected his 10th UFC fight night bonus in his ninth appearance for the promotion.
Barnett electrified the crowd from the moment he walked out, dancing furiously down to the cage and then sending Gian Villante into retirement with a spinning wheel kick. The affable heavyweight then celebrated with a front flip onto his own backside.
Green and Pereira also starred on the preliminaries, with Green scoring a first-round knockout of Al Iaquinta and former Glory Kickboxing champion Alex Pereira making his UFC debut with an incredible flying knee knockout of Andreas Michailidis.
Vera announced himself as a top 10 contender at 135 pounds with a third-round knockout of Frankie Edgar, sending the former UFC lightweight champion to his fourth loss in five fights.