UFC Fight Night 31 bonuses: Kennedy, Chiesa, Khabilov, Masvidal win $50,000

FORT CAMPBELL – Tim Kennedy, Michael Chiesa, Rustam Khabilov and Jorge Masvidal each earned $50,000 bonuses for their performances at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 31 event.

Kennedy earned the “Knockout of the Night,” Chiesa won “Submission of the Night” and Khabilov and Masvidal picked up “Fight of the Night” honors.

UFC President Dana White announced the winners at the night’s post-event news conference, which MMAjunkie.com attended.

“UFC Fight Night 31: Fight for the Troops 3? took place on the base at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. The main card aired on FOX Sports 1 following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and MMAjunkie.com.

Kennedy (17-4 MMA, 2-0 UFC) wasn’t having an easy go of things against Rafael Natal (17-5-1 MMA, 5-3-1 UFC) in the first round of the main event. But then out of nowhere, he leaped into a left hand that was on the button. Natal immediately dropped to the canvas, and Kennedy, a 10-year Army veteran, had an emotional win in front of the troops.

In a battle of “TUF” winners, Chiesa 10-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) proved the better fighter, scoring an impressive second-round tapout of Colton Smith 3-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC). Chiesa finished the fight with a smooth scramble to the back, quickly moving in for a rear-naked choke and forcing a tap to earn the night’s “Submission of the Night,” the second such bonus of his UFC career.

White said the choice for “Fight of the Night” was a hard one, but Khabilov (17-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and Masvidal (25-8 MMA, 2-1 UFC) took the honor for their main-card fight, which Khabilov won by unanimous decision in a fight that was perhaps closer than the three 30-27 scores indicated.

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 31, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

(Pictured: Rustam Khabilov and Jorge Masvidal)