UFC on ESPN 2 Bonuses: Gaethje, Barboza, Hermansson, Craig Earn $50K Awards

Justin Gaethje vs. Edson Barboza was touted as a can’t miss all-action bout, and it met those expectations while it lasted.

Gaethje and Barboza received “Fight of the Night” honors and $50,000 apiece for their lightweight headliner at UFC on ESPN 2 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Saturday night. Gaethje attacked Barboza’s legs with kicks and staggered his foe with a right hand in the bout’s opening moments. Later, “The Highlight” put a final stamp on the fight, knocking out Barboza with a right hand at the 2:30 mark of round one.

Elsewhere, Jack Hermansson garnered a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” check for a quick submission of former World Series of Fighting two-division titlist David Branch in the co-main event. Hermansson landed a takedown and secured an arm-in guillotine when Branch attempted to return to his feet. Hermansson then tightened his squeeze and forced the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt to tap just 49 seconds into the opening frame.

Finally, Paul Craig earned the evening’s other $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus for his come-from-behind submission of Kennedy Nzechukwu in a featured light heavyweight affair. Likely down on the scorecards late in the third stanza, the Scotland native lured Nzechukwu into his guard and locked in a triangle choke. From there, Craig rolled into top position and forced the tapout at the 4:20 mark of the final period.