Justin Gaethje once again showed his incredible skills at UFC 291, where he defeated Dustin Poirier with a spectacular head kick knockout in their rematch. This victory not only earned him the title of the second-ever “BMF” champion but also secured him the Performance of the Night bonus. Remarkably, this is the 12th time in 12 UFC appearances that Gaethje has earned a $50,000 bonus, making him one of the most consistent bonus winners in UFC history.
In addition to Gaethje’s impressive performance, three other fighters were also recognized with Performance of the Night bonuses at the event. Derrick Lewis returned to winning ways by delivering an exhilarating first-round knockout of Marcos Rogerio de Lima, using a flying knee right from the start. This victory also gave Lewis the UFC’s all-time knockout record with 14 knockouts, surpassing welterweight slugger Matt Brown.
Bobby Green secured an important win by submitting Tony Ferguson with just six seconds remaining in their fight, handing “El Cucuy” his sixth straight loss. Meanwhile, Kevin Holland turned the tables on submission specialist Michael Chiesa, forcing Chiesa to tap to an arm-triangle choke in Round 1. With no Fight of the Night awarded on this occasion, the four fighters who showcased exceptional performances in their respective bouts were rightly recognized and rewarded for their efforts.