Tim Means says UFC paid his win bonus for UFC-Belem split-decision loss to Moraes

Tim Means forever will have a loss on his resume at UFC Fight Night 125, but at least now his bank account won’t know the difference.

Means (27-10-1 MMA, 9-7 UFC) today posted on Twitter that the UFC sent him his win bonus despite a split-decision loss to Sergio Moraes (13-3-1 MMA, 7-2-1 UFC) at the event a month ago in Brazil. Means lost to Moraes thanks to a pair of 29-28 scores in the Brazilian’s favor. Means got a dissenting 29-28 of his own.

“Thankyou @ufc and @danawhite for sending me my win bonus. #ufcbelem #realwinner,” Means posted.

UFC Fight Night 125 took place Feb. 3 at Mangueirinho Gymnasium in Belem, Para, Brazil. The Means-Moraes fight aired on FS2 following an additional prelim on UFC Fight Pass and ahead of a main card on FS1.

Moraes got the fight to the canvas early, but Means worked back to his feet. When Moraes wanted to be back on the mat and willingly went there, Means had none of it. In the third round, when Moraes appeared to tire out in the striking game, Means kept firing away – and Moraes again dropped to the mat hoping for his opponent to follow.

Means no doubt was hoping his more technical striking would be the difference when the scores were read, but it was Moraes who took the decision. It was Means’ second straight loss by split call.

MMAjunkie scored the fight for Means, 29-28. And of the 14 media outlets tracked by MMADecisions.com, 13 scored the fight for him, including a Brazilian site that had it for him 30-27.

It seems as if some members of the UFC brass weren’t too sure of the scoring against Means, either. Fight purses weren’t released for UFC Fight Night 125. But for Means’ decision win over Alex Garcia at UFC Fight Night 112 in Oklahoma two fights prior, he made $39,000 to show and another $39,000 for his win. So it stands to reason the extra check from the UFC was not at all an inconsequential one.

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 125, check out the UFC Events section of the site.