UFC Fight Night Dublin Fighter Bonuses: McGregor and Nelson Win Performance Awards

The Ultimate Fighting Championship released the performance-based fighter bonuses for UFC Fight Night 46, which took place on Saturday at The O2 in Dublin. Conor McGregor, Gunnar Nelson, Cathal Pendred and Mike King took home the bonus money.

Fight of the Night went to The Ultimate Fighter 19 alums Pendred and King. King dropped Pendred in the opening round and was on the verge of a finish, but the Irishman weathered the storm and survived the round.

King may have expended too much energy trying to finish Pendred in the first round. He slowed in the second frame and Pendred applied pressure. After taking King down, Pendred locked on a rear-naked choke that rendered King unconscious.  Following the fight, UFC president Dana White said it was the greatest comeback he had ever seen.

Main event fighter McGregor was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus for his first-round finish of Diego Brandao. The two immediately went after it at the sound of the opening bell. After a few spirited exchanges, McGregor hurt Brandao with a body shot. He followed up with a left hand that crumpled the Brazilian and then finished with a series of left hands in front of his hometown crowd.

The second Performance of the Night bonus was awarded to co-main event fighter Nelson for his second-round submission of Zak Cummings. The Icelander took his time and landed straight right hands throughout the fight. During the second stanza, while both were working for a takedown along the cage, Nelson slipped around and took Cummings’ back. He softened up The Ultimate Fighter 17 contestant with punches before locking in a rear-naked choke that forced Cummings to tap out.

Each bonus award was worth $50,000, equaling $200,000 in total fighter bonus money awarded.