UFC Fight Night 197 bonuses: Max Holloway, Yair Rodriguez an all-time obvious ‘Fight of Night’ winner
The UFC handed out four post-fight bonuses after Saturday’s card, including to the main event fighters.
After UFC Fight Night 197, four fighters picked up an extra $50,000 for their performances in Las Vegas. Check out the winners below.
'Performance of the Night': Andrea Lee
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 13: (R-L) Andrea Lee punches Cynthia Calvillo in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on November 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Andrea Lee (13-5 MMA, 5-3 UFC) put on one of the best performances of her career against Cynthia Calvillo (9-4-1 MMA, 6-4-1 UFC). Lee’s striking was on point, and she had Calvillo, who was a slight favorite, battered and bloodied after two rounds. In between the second and third, Calvillo’s or her corner indicated to referee Herb Dean she wasn’t going to answer the bell for the final round, which gave Lee the TKO win.
'Performance of the Night': Khaos Williams
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 13: (L-R) Khaos Williams punches Miguel Baeza in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on November 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Khaos Williams (13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) had a precarious moment against Miguel Baeza (10-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC), but worked through it and added to his highlight reel. Baeza had been working calf kicks throughout the fight, and also had a strong submission attempt. He went back to the low kicks in the third. He landed a couple, but Williams countered with a right, then a left, then a right that put Baeza on the canvas. It took only a few punches on the mat for him to have the TKO win.
'Fight of the Night': Max Holloway vs. Yair Rodriguez
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 13: (L-R) Max Holloway punches Yair Rodriguez of Mexico in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on November 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Max Holloway (23-6 MMA, 19-6 UFC) and Yair Rodriguez (13-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) went back and forth for 25 minutes, and both of them wore the damage all over their faces by the time things had wrapped. Rodriguez threw all kinds of unorthodox strikes, as he’s wont to do. Holloway’s striking was on point, too – and he peppered in a career-best three takedowns and had submission attempts, as well. But in the end, Holloway picked up a unanimous decision and stayed in contention for a shot at the featherweight title he used to hold.
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