UFC on FOX 9 bonuses: Johnson, Faber, Barboza, Castillo win $50,000

SACRAMENTO – Demetrious Johnson, Urijah Faber, Edson Barboza and Danny Castillo each earned $50,000 bonuses for their performances at Saturday’s UFC on FOX 9 event.

Johnson earned the “Knockout of the Night,” Faber won “Submission of the Night” and Barboza and Castillo picked up “Fight of the Night” honors.

UFC officials announced the winners at the night’s post-event news conference, which MMAjunkie attended.

In the main event, Johnson (19-2-1 MMA, 7-1-1 UFC) stopped Joseph Benavidez (19-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC) for his first knockout win since February 2010 – and it made him $50,000 richer. In a punch very few people saw coming, Johnson drilled Benavidez with a right hand that dropped him instantly. Four more shots on the ground were academic at that point, and “Mighty Mouse” had the third defense of his UFC flyweight title.

Faber (30-6 MMA, 6-2 UFC) looked as good as he’s ever looked in the UFC against young gun Michael McDonald (16-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC). In the second round, Faber drilled McDonald with a right hand, then stormed him with punches, sending him flying into the cage. From there, Faber pounced on him and dropped on a guillotine choke. He needed to adjust it, then rolled over to force the tap. It was Faber’s 11th submission win combined between the UFC and WEC – a record.

On the preliminary card, Castillo (16-6 MMA, 6-3 UFC) turned in a huge first round against Barboza (13-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC), dropping him with punches and staying on him to bloody him up in a big way. But he may have punched himself out, and Barboza survived to see the second. In that round, the Brazilian took his turn to light Castillo up, mostly with brutal kicks to the lead leg and body. Barboza’s kicking display continued in the third, and he held on for a majority decision win – with one judge giving Castillo a 10-8 first round to have it a 28-28 draw.

UFC on FOX 9 took place at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento. The main card aired on FOX following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and MMAjunkie.

For complete coverage of UFC on FOX 9, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

(Pictured: Demetrious Johnson)