UFC on FOX 29 was a fight card that promised fireworks and it delivered on Saturday in Glendale, Az.
The main event featured two of the most exciting fighters on the UFC roster, regardless of division. Lightweight contenders Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje are both known for frequently fighting more with their hearts than with their heads, but that has only served to endear them to fans.
Gaethje had a solid strategy of chopping away at Poirier’s lead leg, which he did to great effect throughout the fight, all the while, both men lit each other up with powerful punch combinations. Poirier, however, found the crack in Gaethje’s armor early in the fourth round, rocking him with a brutal punch, and then following up with an onslaught that he couldn’t answer.
Poirier scored the fourth-round knockout, putting him on the precipice of a title shot, but both men were awarded for their efforts, each receiving a $50,000 bonus for being awarded the Fight of the Night honor.
There was no drop-off in excitement in the bout leading into the main event, even though Carlos Condit lost his original opponent, Matt Brown, because of a knee injury a few weeks ago.
Alex Oliveira stepped in and provided a back-and-forth battle before earning the biggest victory of his career, upsetting Condit with a fight-ending guillotine choke in the second round.
In addition to the win, Oliveira was also awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.
The other Performance of the Night honor went to Early Prelim fighter Adam Wieczorek, who scored only the second omo plata victory in the history of the UFC, when he submitted Arjan Bhullar in the second round.
UFC on FOX 29: Poirier vs. Gaethje Bonuses
- Fight of the Night: Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje
- Performance of the Night: Alex Oliveira
- Performance of the Night: Adam Wieczorek
