THE MOST UNBELIEVABLE KO IN UFC HISTORY #UFCFightIsland5 pic.twitter.com/O7BOJg8h9c
— UFC (@ufc) October 10, 2020
As it stands, Buckley received a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus for a “Knockout of the Year” candidate against Impa Kasanganay in a preliminary middleweight contest at UFC Fight Night 179 in Abu Dhabi. After Kasanganay caught a kick from his opponent, Buckley capitalized with a jumping spinning back kick to the face. The blow rendered Kasanganay unconscious before he hit the canvas, and the contest ended at the 2:03 mark of Round 2.
Meanwhile, headliner Cory Sandhagen received a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” award for a spectacular knockout of his own. The Elevation Fight Team product finished former World Series of Fighting champ Marlon Moraes with a spinning wheel kick and follow-up punches 1:03 into the second round of their featured bantamweight encounter.
Elsewhere, the rejuventated Tom Breese pocketed a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” check on the strength of a quick finish of the previously unbeaten K.B. Bhullar in a preliminary middleweight encounter. Breese dropped his opponent with a devastating jab and sealed his victory with a barrage of hammerfists 1:42 into the opening stanza.
Finally, Chris Daukaus received the card’s fourth $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus for making short work of Rodrigo Nascimento Ferreira in a preliminary heavyweight clash. Daukaus dropped the Brazilian once with a left hook, battered him with punches and elbows and floored his foe with another left hook to force the stoppage 45 seconds into the first frame.