Khabib Nurmagomedov’s second championship defense was made a little sweeter by his second $50,000 fight night bonus.
The reigning lightweight king successfully defended his title in a unification bout with interim champion Dustin Poirier on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, defeating Poirier by third-round submission in the main event of UFC 242.
It was a vintage performance by Nurmagomedov, now 28-0, who out-wrestled Poirier for the majority of their contest before finishing with a rear-naked choke.
This was Nurmagomedov’s first bonus since winning a lopsided decision over Edson Barboza at UFC 219.
Cashing bonus checks for the first time are welterweight Muslim Salikhov and debuting lightweight Ottman Azaitar. Salikhov punched out veteran Nordine Taleb inside of a round and Azaitar later topped that with a violent first-round KO of Teemu Packalen.
The evening’s fourth Performance of the Night bonus went to Belal Muhammad for his third-round rear-naked choke submission of Takashi Sato. It is Muhammad’s first bonus since earning a Fight of the Night award in a losing effort to Jouban in his UFC debut back in July 2016.
There was no Fight of the Night award given out at UFC 242.