Jimi Manuwa’s power paid off in more ways than one.
Elsewhere, Gunnar Nelson pocketed a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” paycheck for his second-round submission of Alan Jouban in the welterweight co-main event. The Iceland native buckled Jouban with a straight right hand, and then used a headlock to pull his dazed foe to the canvas. From there, Nelson secured a guillotine and rolled to full mount to elicit the tapout 46 seconds into the frame.
Marlon Vera received a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus for spoiling the final bout of Brad Pickett’s career. After losing the first two rounds on the scorecards, the short-notice Ecuadorian dropped Pickett with a high kick and finished his foe with hammerfists on the mat 3:50 into the third round.
Finally, Marc Diakiese was an easy selection for a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus thanks to his spectacular knockout of Teemu Packalen in a preliminary lightweight clash. “Bonecrusher” opened the abbreviated contest by throwing a couple flashy spinning kicks at his Finnish opponent before connecting with a counter-right hand on the jaw. That blow sent Packalen crashing to the canvas in slow motion and brought an end to the bout 30 seconds after it began.