UFC Fight Night 128 bonuses: That wacky Simon-Dvalishvili bout was 'Fight of Night'

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Siyar Bahadurzada, David Branch, Ricky Simon and Merab Dvalishvili each earned $50,000 bonuses for their performances at today’s UFC Fight Night 128 event.

Simon and Dvalishvili earned the “Fight of the Night,” while Bahadurzada and Branch each won “Performance of the Night” honors.

UFC officials announced the winners following the event, which MMAjunkie attended.

Simon (13-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) pulled off a stunner against Merab Dvalishvili (7-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC). Dvalishvili was on his way to a decision victory. But with a minute left, Simon got the fight to the canvas, got on top and landed a mounted guillotine choke. For nearly a full minute, he squeezed – and Dvalishvili struggled and kicked his legs and appeared to stay conscious. The horn sounded, and it looked like he had been saved by the bell. But it was determined he was out when the horn sounded – and that gave Simon what was declared a TKO win.

Bahadurzada (24-6-1 MMA, 4-2 UFC) took out Luan Chagas (15-3-1 MMA, 1-2-1 UFC) with a nasty kick to the midsection, and while Chagas was falling to the canvas, doubled over, Bahadurzada landed an uppercut that put him out.

Branch (22-4 MMA, 4-3 UFC) was the underdog against Thiago “Marreta” Santos (17-6 MMA, 9-5 UFC), but the former two-division WSOF champion landed a massive right hand that put the Brazilian on the canvas, then followed up with big hammerfists to get a crucial stoppage.

UFC Fight Night 128 took place Saturday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. The card aired on FS1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 128, check out the UFC Events section of the site.