UFC 128 Bonuses: Koch, Schaub, Barboza, Njokuani Each Net $70K
Mike Whitman Mar 19, 2011
Brendan Schaub (above, file photo) took home a $70,000 bonus for
“Knockout of the Night.” | Sherdog.com
Four fighters took home $70,000 apiece in post-fight bonuses for their performances at UFC 128, as Erik Koch and Brendan Schaub shared “Knockout of the Night” honors, while Edson Barboza and Anthony Njokuani were awarded “Fight of the Night” for their three-round affair at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
A product of Milwaukee’s Roufusport camp, Koch knocked out Raphael Assuncao with a beautiful counter right hook just 2:32 into their featherweight bout. After an extended feeling out process that saw neither man land a significant strike, the end came abruptly as the Brazilian charged forward. Koch took a small step backward and drilled his fist into Assuncao’s left temple. The Brazilian fell flat, unconscious before he hit the ground.
One of the UFC’s top heavyweight prospects, Schaub took out Mirko Filipovic in the third round of the pay-per-view’s opening bout. After dictating the pace of the first frame, Schaub suffered a nose injury in the second round courtesy of a “Cro Cop” elbow. After securing multiple takedowns in the final stanza, “The Hybrid” caught the former Pride Fighting Championships star behind the ear with a straight right hand. Out before he hit the floor, the Croat was saved by Herb Dean at 3:44 of the third round.
Barboza walked away with a razor-thin unanimous decision victory over World Extreme Cagefighting import Njokuani. The Brazilian landed a wild spinning heel kick at the fight’s conclusion that may have swayed the judges’ scorecards in his favor. While Barboza asserted himself in the first frame, it was Njokuani who came on strong in the second. Round three was a toss-up, but in the end all three judges saw the fight 29-28 for Barboza.
No “Submission of the Night” bonus was awarded on Saturday night, as no fighter at the event scored a victory by submission.
Related Articles
