UFC 285 Bonuses: Jon Jones, Alexa Grasso Lead $50K Award Winners

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.

After a three-year absence, Jones returned in style with a first-round submission of Ciryl Gane to claim the vacant heavyweight title in Saturday’s headliner at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. That work earned Jones a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” check, which he pledged to donate to his Albuquerque-based charity on the ESPN+ post-fight show.

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.”