Although UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson started off slow, the pace picked up by the time the main card started, meaning there were plenty of candidates for performance bonuses. With no stand-out for Fight of the Night, the UFC instead opted to award four fighters with a Performance of the Night bonus.
Uriah Hall, Josh Barnett, Diego Brandao and Keita Nakamura all won an extra $50,000 for their performances. Josh Barnett was the lone winner who did not finish his opponent, as his fight with Roy Nelson lasted all five rounds.
Uriah Hall had arguably the most spectacular performance of the night as he knocked out Gegard Mousasi with a jumping spinning back kick followed by a flying knee. It is the first time that Hall has won a UFC performance bonus.
Diego Brandao took home an extra $50,000 in just 28 seconds of work. That’s how much time it took him to dispatch of Katsunori Kikuno. The knockout win was Brandao’s 11th of his MMA career. Brandao won a Fight of the Night and a Submission of the Night award in his first UFC fight against Dennis Bermudez.
The most surprising finish of the night came from Keita Kakamura, who after getting roughed up for two rounds, pulled of a rear-naked choke victory in the 3rd. The win is his first as a UFC fighter, with three previous losses coming back in the mid to late 2000’s.