UFC on ESPN+ 34 was an evening filled with fine performances, so it only makes sense the promotion handed out four “Performance of the Night” bonuses after the event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Brian Kelleher, Andre Muniz, Michel Pereira and Ovince Saint Preux all scored impressive finishes in their fights, and all four earned an extra $50,000 for their efforts.
Performance of the Night: Brian Kelleher
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 05: (R-L) Brian Kelleher secures a guillotine choke against Ray Rodriguez in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on September 05, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
The Long Island-based competitor wasted little time Saturday night as he earned a submission victory over late replacement Ray Rodriguez at the 39-second mark of the opening round in their featherweight fight.
Kelleher (22-11 MMA, 6-4 UFC) had his fifth career post-fight bonus after winning for the third time in his past four fights.
Performance of the Night: Andre Muniz
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 05: (R-L) Andre Muniz of Brazil attempts to secure a guillotine choke against Bartosz Fabinski of Poland in a middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on September 05, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
If they actually taught armbars in textbooks, Muniz’s armbar of Bartosz Fabinksi might be the one the used to demonstrate the move.
It was perfectly executed finish by Muniz (19-4 MMA, 2-0 UFC) as he earned the tap at 2:42 of the opening round in their middleweight main card bout. That’s his first UFC bonus, and we suspect it won’t be his last.
Performance of the Night: Michel Pereira
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 05: (R-L) Michel Pereira of Brazil punches Zelim Imadaev of Russia in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on September 05, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Pereira (24-11 MMA, 2-2 UFC) is known for being both eccentric and entertaining, and he was certainly both in his win over Zelim Madaev.
Pereira dominated his fight before getting a victory with a rear-naked choke at the 4:39 mark of the third round. The replay made the tap ruling questionable, but Pereira’s efforts sure weren’t. That’s Pereira’s third career post-fight bonus.
Performance of the Night: Ovince Saint Preux
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 05: (R-L) Ovince Saint Preux punches Alonzo Menifield in a light heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on September 05, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
If you land a one-hitter quitter, there’s a good chance you’re leaving with some extra money.
That was the case for the veteran Saint Preux, who used a wicked counter left to drop Menifield late in the second round of their light heavyweight co-feature.
That’s two win in the past three for OSP, and eight career bonuses.