Zabit Magomedsharipov and Calvin Kattar might have had an even more interesting bout over five rounds, but their 15-minute affair was entertaining enough to pad the bank accounts of both featherweights.
Magomedsharipov and Kattar received “Fight of the Night” honors and $50,000 apiece for their three-round battle in the UFC Fight Night 163 headliner in Moscow on Saturday. Magomedsharipov confounded his foe with a varied striking game at range for two rounds before fending off a furious rally from Kattar in the final frame to capture a unanimous decision triumph.
Elsewhere, Magomed Ankalaev received a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus for a knockout that brought back memories of Anderson Silva in a preliminary light heavyweight clash against Dalcha Lungiambula.