There was stiff competition for performance bonuses at UFC Vegas 19, but Derrick Lewis’ jaw-rattling knockout of Curtis Blaydes was a shoo-in for a $50,000 performance bonus on Saturday night at UFC APEX.
Lewis was one of four “Performance of the Night” bonuses handed out by the promotion for his second-round stoppage of Blaydes. Lewis holds the record for most knockouts in the heavyweight division with 12 and is tied with Vitor Belfort for the most in UFC history.
It was Lewis’ fourth straight win and second straight stoppage win. But in a career full of knockout victories, it was certainly one of the most spectacular – and brutal.
In other “Performance of the Night” bonuses, two of Lewis’ heavyweight colleagues took home extra $50,000 paychecks. Chris Daukaus was a winner for stopping Aleksei Oleinik inside two minutes on the event’s main card, and fast-rising contender Tom Aspinall also collected for a lightning-quick submission of ex-champ Andrei Arlovski; it was just the second time Arlovski tapped out in his UFC career.
The fourth and final bonus went to Aiemann Zahabi, who knocked out Drako Rodriguez to snap a two-fight skid. The brother of famed coach Firas Zahabi landed a right hand that dropped his opponent in the first.
Despite four decisions on the card, no bout received “Fight of the Night” honors.