The spotlight at UFC London was firmly on jiu-jitsu expertise, as evidenced by the quartet of athletes who received bonus awards on Saturday.
Sean Brady, Alexia Thainara, Shauna Bannon, and Kevin Holland each walked away with a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, recognizing their exceptional wins at the UFC London event.
Instead of a Fight of the Night accolade, the UFC opted to distribute four individual Performance of the Night bonuses.
Brady headlined the bonus winners with a remarkable finish against former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards. He achieved a historic feat, becoming the first competitor to defeat Edwards inside the distance. This victory served as a powerful statement for Brady, solidifying his position as a top contender in the 170-pound division after securing his third consecutive win.
Thainara and Bannon also showcased their submission prowess, both securing victories via submission. Thainara, in her UFC debut, demonstrated her formidable ground game by submitting veteran Molly McCann with a choke, contributing to McCann`s decision to retire. Bannon, displaying resilience, recovered from a head kick knockdown to execute a smooth armbar on Puja Tomar.
In an unusual instance of a Performance of the Night bonus awarded for a victory that wasn`t a knockout or submission, Holland expanded his bonus collection with a dominant unanimous decision win over Gunnar Nelson. Holland proved his grappling capabilities, matching Nelson hold-for-hold and ultimately out-grappling him to secure an exciting victory.
This marks the eighth occasion Holland has been awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.
