Justin Gaethje had a performance for the ages on Sunday. |
Getty/UFC
Justin
Gaethje was the man of the hour at
UFC White House.
By authoring an all-time upset and being one-half of a “Fight of
the Year” candidate, the newly-crowned
UFC lightweight champion earned a whopping $825,000 in
post-fight bonuses on Sunday. Not only did Gaethje receive a
$425,000 “Performance of the Night” award for his fourth-round
stoppage of Topuria in the evening’s lightweight headliner, but he
and his opponent shared “Fight of the Night” honors and $400,000
apiece.
UFC CEO Dana White announced the elevated bonus structure ahead of
the landmark event.
Gaethje survived some serious adversity in the second stanza when
Topuria landed multiple damaging body shots and later threatened
with ground-and-pound and submissions after assuming full mount.
Gaethje showcased his resolve and took control down the stretch,
battering Topuria to a point where his corner waved off the bout
after the fourth stanza.
French Licks
Elsewhere, Ciryl Gane
garnered the evening’s other $425,000 “Performance of the Night”
award by virtue of his stoppage of Alex
Pereira in the co-headliner. After a measured but effective
opening round, the Frenchman claimed interim heavyweight gold by
rocking “Poatan” with a series of punches to earn a TKO victory
1:27 into Round 2.Read More
