UFC 257 bonuses: Michael Chandler, Dustin Poirier lead ‘Performance’ parade

  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

A memorable first UFC pay-per-view event of 2021 is in the books, and with it comes four post-fight bonus winners.

Post-fight bonuses come either one of two ways: A “Fight of the Night” and two “Performance of the Night” awards, or four “Performance of the Night” honors.

Saturday was one of the latter nights, and four competitors will go home with an extra $50,000 in their pockets: the lightweight winners at the top of the card, Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler, and two more main carders in Makhmud Muradov and Marina Rodriguez.

UFC 257 took place Saturday at Etihad Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

Without further ado then, here is a look at all four bonus winners:

'Performance of the Night': Dustin Poirier

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 23: Dustin Poirier reacts after his knockout victory over Conor McGregor of Ireland in a lightweight fight during the UFC 257 event inside Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 23, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

The former UFC interim lightweight champion is still at the top of his game. Poirier (26-6 MMA, 18-5 UFC) became the first person to finish Conor McGregor with strikes, taking his time in the first round and then turning things on in the second to earn a TKO at the 2:32 mark of the frame in the evening's main event. That marked Poirier's second straight win, and his 12th career post-fight bonus. [listicle id=583189]

'Performance of the Night': Michael Chandler

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 23: (L-R) Dan Hooker of New Zealand punches Michael Chandler in a lightweight fight during the UFC 257 event inside Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 23, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

The UFC debut was worth the wait for Chandler (22-5 MMA, 1-0 UFC). The man synonymous with Bellator and a three-time former champion in his previous organization acted like he was in a rush once he finally got into the UFC's octagon. Chandler needed a mere 2:30 to finish Dan Hooker in the evening's lightweight co-feature bout, That's the first UFC post-fight bonus for Chandler, and we bet it won't be his last. [listicle id=583191]

'Performance of the Night": Marina Rodriguez

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 23: (L-R) Marina Rodriguez of Brazil punches Amanda Ribas of Brazil in a strawweight fight during the UFC 257 event inside Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 23, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

The opening bout of the main card figured to be the christening of a new star in the strawweight division in the streaking Amanda Ribas. Instead, the fight turned the spotlight on a super-tough competitor who has been on the cusp of big things for awhile, as Rodriguez had the biggest win of her career. Rodriguez (13-1-2 MMA, 3-1-2 UFC) stopped Ribas in the opening minute of the second round. She's only lost once in her six UFC bouts, and she earned her first post-fight bonus.

'Performance of the Night': Makhmud Muradov

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 23: (R-L) Andrew Sanchez punches Makhmud Muradov of Uzbekistan in a middleweight fight during the UFC 257 event inside Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 23, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

The Floyd Mayweather Jr.-backed middleweight won for the 14th straight time Saturday night, and he's finally starting to get recognition for more than just his connection to The Money Team. Muradov used a flying knee followed with punches to earn a second-round finish of veteran Andrew Sanchez. That's two straight "POTN" awards for Muradov, and one middleweight division which has been put on notice.