The UFC handed out four post-fight bonuses after Saturday’s card, including one to a Brazilian former champion who called it a career.
After UFC 283, four fighters picked up an extra $50,000 for their performances in Rio de Janeiro. Check out the winners below.
Performance of the Night: Ismael Bonfim
Ismael Bonfim def. Terrance McKinney via knockout (knee) – Round 2, 2:17
Ismael Bonfim (19-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) set the tone for his family when he drilled Terrance McKinney (13-5 MMA, 3-2 UFC) with a double flying knee and a second-round knockout in his UFC debut. The Dana White’s Contender Series product fought just a few bouts before his brother, who one-upped him at least in terms of time in the cage with a 49-second submission. But McKinney’s big knee that put McKinney out cold was the flashier of the two finishes and netted him $50,000 extra in his pay bucket.
Performance of the Night: Jailton Almeida
Jailton Almeida def. Shamil Abdurakhimov via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:56
Jailton Almeida (18-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) was the biggest favorite on the entire card in his heavyweight fight against Shamil Abdurakhimov (20-8 MMA, 5-6 UFC), and he showed why with a second-round TKO. Almeida picked Abdurakhimov up for a couple slams, then dominated him on the canvas to stay perfect in the UFC.
Fight of the Night: Jamahal Hill def. Glover Teixeira
Jamahal Hill (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) needed all 25 minutes to become a UFC champion, but he was mostly dominant in his unanimous decision win over Glover Teixeira (33-9 MMA, 16-7 UFC) to take home the vacant light heavyweight title. Teixeira, a former champ fighting in front of his home fans, couldn’t be put away, though he left the cage a bloody mess after Hill set a new UFC record for total strikes in a 205-pound fight. Hill swept all five rounds, including a 10-8 from one judge, to become the first fighter from Dana White’s Contender Series to win a UFC title. He fought Teixeira, who retired after the loss, for the belt vacated by Jiri Prochazka, who never defended the strap after he won it against Teixeira in 2022.
