UFC on ESPN 12 bonuses: Dustin Poirier vs. Dan Hooker slugfest earns ‘Fight of the Night’

“Fight of the Night” was locked up after the third round of UFC on ESPN 12’s headliner between lightweights Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker, and the promotion only needed to make it official afterward.

The 155-pound standouts each earned $50,000 bonuses for a five-round battle that left both bloodied and Poirier with a unanimous decision victory. Praise for the guts and heart on display at UFC APEX was also united.

In other bonuses, Julian Erosa got a ticket back into the UFC and wound up winning a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus for his third-round submission of Sean Woodson to open the main card. The Dana White Contender Series vet took a short-notice opportunity after Woodson’s original opponent, Kyle Nelson, was forced off the card due to visa issues. His previous UFC stint came to an end in 2019 at 0-3. Saturday’s octagon win was his second.

The final $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus went to Kay Hansen, who made her octagon debut at 20 and upset veteran Jinh Yu Frey via third-round armbar.