Kamaru Usman and Rose Namajunas authored back-to-back candidates for “Knockout of the Year” at UFC 261, and both received some extra financial compensation for their efforts.
Usman retained his welterweight crown with a knockout of Jorge Masvidal in Saturday’s headliner at Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, earning a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” award in the process. A right hand from Usman dropped Masvidal, and several follow-up hammerfists sealed the deal 62 seconds into Round 2, giving “The Nigerian Nightmare” his 14th straight UFC triumph.
In the co-main event, Namajuas garnered the evening’s other $50,000 “Performance of the Night” check thanks to a title-winning finish of Weili Zhang.