‘TUF 18’ Finale Bonuses: Benoit Earns $100,000 in Defeat; Diaz, Holdsworth Take $50K

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Ryan Benoit may not have walked away with a victory at “The Ultimate Fighter 18” finale, but he did pocket $100,000 in post-fight bonus money.

Benoit was awarded two $50,000 shares for “Fight of the Night” following his hard-fought flyweight bout with Josh Sampo, who failed to make weight ahead of their duel. As a result, UFC President Dana White gave Sampo’s bonus money to Benoit, who submitted to a second-round rear-naked choke in the evening’s opening contest.

“TUF 18” finalist Chris Holdsworth earned “Submission of the Night” honors for his rear-naked choke finish of Davey Grant, while lightweight headliner Nate Diaz roughed up Gray Maynard with a violent barrage of punches to secure “Knockout of the Night.” Both winners were awarded $50,000 for their efforts.

The “TUF 18” finale took place Saturday night at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and also saw Julianna Pena crowned as the first female winner of the long-running reality show.