UFC 170 Fighter Bonuses: Rousey, MacDonald, Maia and Thompson Earn $50,000 Each
The Ultimate Fighting Championship released the performance-based fighter bonuses following UFC 170: Rousey vs. McMann on Saturday. Ronda Rousey, Demian Maia, Rory MacDonald and Stephen Thompson took home the $50,000 bonus checks.
Fight of the Night was awarded to welterweights Rory MacDonald and Demian Maia for their main card performance. Jiu-jitsu ace Maia was able take MacDonald down in the opening round and put the Canadian in bad positions. MacDonald fended off Maia’s takedown attempts throughout the next two rounds and picked the Brazilian apart on the feet earning a unanimous decision win.
The first Performance of the Night bonus went to women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey for her first-round stoppage of fellow Olympic medalist Sara McMann. McMann tested Rousey’s chin in the opening moments, but Rousey controlled the clinch position. The champion delivered a knee to the liver of McMann that sent the wrestling standout to the canvas and ended the fight. It was the first time in Rousey’s career that she didn’t win by her signature armbar.
Stephen Thompson logged the second Performance of the Night award for his first round TKO of Robert Whittaker in the fight that kicked off the pay-per-view portion of the fight card. Thompson utilized his footwork and speed to dispatch Whittacker with punches. After sending Whittaker to the canvas twice, Thompson finished with a series of strikes on the ground.
