One of the biggest upsets in Ultimate Fighting Championship history proved to be quite profitable for Sean Strickland. In addition to earning championship hardware, Strickland received a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus for his shocking unanimous decision victory over Israel Adesanya in the UFC 293 headliner at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on Saturday night. As a significant underdog heading into the fight, Strickland outperformed Adesanya over the course of five rounds to become the 13th middleweight title holder in promotion history.
Strickland’s Impressive Victory
Strickland’s victory over Adesanya was quite the upset, as he was considered a significant underdog going into the fight. Despite this, he managed to outland Adesanya over five rounds, ultimately securing the middleweight title and a $50,000 bonus for his impressive performance.
Fight of the Night and Other Performances
Elsewhere in the event, Manel Kape and Felipe dos Santos earned “Fight of the Night” honors and $50,000 apiece for their spirited flyweight scrap. Kape, originally set to face Kai Kara-France, got all he could handle from dos Santos. However, the ex-Rizin Fighting Federation champion ultimately landed with superior power and accuracy to secure the win on the scorecards.
In another standout performance, Justin Tafa captured the evening’s other $50,000 “Performance of the Night” check by quickly defeating Austen Lane in a heavyweight rematch. After their first meeting earlier in the year ended prematurely due to an eye poke, Tafa left nothing to chance this time around. He dropped Lane with a left hook and finished the job with standing-to-ground punches just 1:22 into the first round.
Overall, UFC 293 proved to be an exciting event, with several standout performances earning well-deserved bonuses. Strickland’s upset victory and the other memorable fights of the night certainly left a lasting impression on both fans and fighters alike.