Prelim winners Magomed Ankalaev and David Zawada collected $50,000 bonuses at Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 21 event, as did headliners Zabit Magomedsharipov and Calvin Kattar.
Ankalaev and Zawada took home “Performance of the Night” awards.” Magomedsharipov and Kattar earned “Fight of the Night” honors. UFC officials announced the winners following the event, which took place at CSKA Arena in Moscow.
Ankalaev (11-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) closed out the night’s prelim card in spectacular fashion, using a devastating front kick to send Dalcha Lungiambula crashing to the canvas. A few additional punches followed on the way down to seal the result and the bonus win.
Zawada (17-5 MMA, 1-2 UFC) was given a tough assignment, facing a highly touted Abubakar Nurmagomedov on foreign spoil. He responded in fin fashion, locking up a threatening armbar in the opening round before switching to a triangle choke and earning the submission, as well as the bonus.
Meanwhile, highly touted featherweights Magomedsharipov (18-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and Kattar (20-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC) turned an entertaining battle worthy of a main event. Unfortunately, because it was originally scheduled as the co-headliner, the contest was only scheduled for three rounds. Magomedsharipov rushed out to an early start, and while Kattar starting coming on late, he didn’t have enough time to turn the scores, and “Zabeast” was given a unanimous decision. Still, both fighters took home an extra $50,000.
