Performance bonuses were given to four competitors on the UFC 287 pay-per-view card by the Ultimate Fighting Championship[UFC]. For his spectacular middleweight title victory, Israel Adesanya won an additional $50,000. With a string of devastating punches in the second round, “The Last Stylebender” miraculously knocked out Alex Pereira. Top bantamweight contender Rob Font also received $50,000 in addition for stopping Adrian Yanez via TKO in the very first round.
Two MASSIVE knockouts earn the #UFC287 POTN bonuses!
[ B2YB @PrimeHydrate ] pic.twitter.com/wFOdoG7ag5
— UFC (@ufc) April 9, 2023
Chris Curtis and Kelvin Gastelum won the award for the battle of the night. In a competitive featured prelim bout between the two middleweights, Gastelum ultimately prevailed victorious by unanimous decision.
Adesanya’s victory allowed him to revenge his earlier loss to Pereira inside the octagon in addition to regaining the UFC middleweight championship. Adesanya had previously lost to Pereira in two kickboxing fights as well as their first MMA bout, so this was also his first victory over him. After a close first round, Adesanya caught Pereira moving forward with two powerful right hands, sending “Poatan” permanently to the ground. For the first time since defeating Paulo Costa at UFC 253 back in September 2020, Adesanya won by knockout.
What’s next for Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira?
In light of the fact that the two competitors’ MMA series is tied at one victory each, UFC president Dana White was questioned about the possibility of a rubber match after the main event. White who is stationed at matchmaking duties said that the trilogy might not even be a choice.
White said, “Honestly, I think that Pereira probably moves to 205 after this fight,” White told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a news conference. “He’s a monster. I know that he still had two pounds to cut leading up to when there was like an hour left in weigh-ins. Yeah. I’m not saying he’s moving to 205, but I’d assume he is. You guys can ask him, himself. But it wouldn’t surprise me. … I would bet anything he moves to 205 after this fight.”
Are satisfied with decision of Israel Adesanya and Rob Font taking home Performance of the Night (POTN) bonuses? Let us know in the comment section.
