It was at night to remember at UFC 285, and that was due in large part to the efforts of Jon Jones and Alexa Grasso.
Meanwhile, Grasso is the leader for “Upset of the Year” after shocking Valentina Shevchenko with a fourth-round face crank in the UFC 285 co-main event. Not only did Grasso become the third Mexican-born champion in promotion history, but she pocketed a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” award as a result.
Also receiving a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus was Octagon newcomer Bo Nickal, who tapped Jamie Pickett with an arm-triangle choke 2:54 into the opening stanza of their middleweight encounter.
Finally, Shavkat Rakhmonov and Geoff Neal earned “Fight of the Night” honors and $50,000 apiece for their back-and-forth welterweight clash. Both men landed their share of offense before Rakhmonov finished his opponent with a standing rear-naked choke at the 4:17 mark of Round 3. Although Neal missed weight on Friday, UFC president Dana White said at the post-fight press conference that the Fortis MMA standout would nonetheless receive his bonus check.
“Neal didn’t make weight, I don’t give a s—t,” White said. “I’m paying him anyway.”