At the conclusion of their featherweight bout at UFC 223, Zabit Magomedsharipov and Kyle Bochniak received a standing ovation from those in attendance at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
A little bit later, both men received a much-deserved boost to their bank accounts in the form of $50,000 “Fight of the Night” bonus checks. Magomedshapirov, a highly touted prospect, improved to 3-0 in the UFC with a unanimous decision triumph, but Bochniak never backed down during the 15-minute affair. The bout concluded with both men swinging away wildly, much to the delight of the crowd.
Elsewhere, Chris Gruetzemacher garnered a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus for a bloody stoppage victory of Joe Lauzon in a lightweight duel. Gruetzemacher punished his foe with punches and standing elbows for two frames, and Lauzon wore the damage on his face. At the conclusion of the second stanza, Lauzon’s corner called off the contest.
Finally, Olivier Aubin-Mercier received the evening’s other $50,000 “Performance of the Night” award for showing off a different element to his game. The noted submission specialist rocked opponent Evan Dunham with a straight left hand before sending him to the canvas with a pair of knees to the body. A series of punches on the ground brought an end to the lightweight scrap 53 seconds into round one.