Israel Adesanya earned a bonus for his main event knockout at UFC 287.
UFC 287 took place on Saturday, and as always, UFC president Dana White announced the performance-based bonuses post-fight. In this event, Israel Adesanya stood out among others, earning a bonus for his main event knockout against Alex Pereira.
Chris Curtis and Kelvin Gastelum received the Fight of the Night honor for the middleweight bout that headlined the preliminary fight card. After a long match, Gastelum won by unanimous decision, breaking a two-fight skid. Rob Font, on the other hand, earned Performance of the Night as he blasted Adrian Yanez with jabs and right hands, causing him to crash to the canvas and earning an extra $50,000.
The main event featured a middleweight title bout between Alex Pereira and former titleholder Israel Adesanya. After a competitive first round where Pereira connected with damaging leg kicks, Adesanya stopped his nemesis with a right hand followed by a left, causing Pereira to fall to the canvas. Adesanya delivered a followup shot, leaving Pereira unconscious on the canvas. Dana White praised Adesanya’s performance, and as a result, he earned a bonus.
Adesanya became a two-time UFC middleweight champion after winning back the belt in brutal fashion. His victory marked a significant moment in the fighter’s career and will undoubtedly help propel him forward. UFC 287 was held at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, marking the first time the promotion hosted a fight card in the area for two decades.