Edson
Barboza and Shane
Burgos delivered as advertised, and the featherweights were
compensated handsomely for their efforts.
Barboza and Burgos received “Fight of the Night” honors and $75,000
apiece for their main card bout at
UFC 262 at the Toyota Center in Houston on Saturday night. In
an entertaining back-and-forth striking battle, Barboza hurt Burgos
with a right hand in Round 3, a blow that sent his foe staggering
backward to the mat following a delayed reaction. The Brazilian
sealed his win with a few follow-up blows on the ground 1:16 into
the period.
Elsewhere, newly-crowned lightweight champion Charles
Oliveira captured a $75,000 “Performance of the Night” check
for his comeback win over Michael
Chandler in the main event. After being on his heels on more
than one occasion in Round 1, “Do Bronx” dropped Chandler with a
left hook, then overwhelmed his foe with punches to secure the
finish 19 seconds into the second frame.
Finally, Christos
Giagos garnered the evening’s other $75,000 “Performance of the
Night” award thanks to a submission of Sean
Soriano in the evening’s opening bout at lightweight. After
struggling in the first five minutes, Giagos shot for a takedown
and then locked in a brabo choke following a scramble to elicit the
tapout 1:01 into Round 2.
Note: All fighters $75,000 bonuses at UFC 262 — a one-time increase
of $25,000 promised by UFC president Dana White at the request of
Tony
Ferguson ahead of Saturday’s card.