UFC 134 bonuses were paid out tonight to the tune of $100,000, tying UFC 100 for the second highest amount ever for bonus amounts. “Fight Night” bonuses were handed out to Antonio Rodrigo Noguera, Edson Barboza and Ross Pearson at tonight’s event.
There would be no “Submission of the Night” award tonight, but the stunning KO of Brendan Schaub by Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira would earn him “Knockout of the Night” honors, while Edson Barboza and Ross Pearson battled over three rounds to share the “Fight of the Night” award.
Nogueira proved that he is still a factor in the UFC’s heavyweight division with his stunning KO over Schaub. Nogueira turned the tables on Schaub in the first round, coming forward and landing a staggering right hand that put the brakes on Schaub’s momentum. Nogueira followed up with an alternating combination of lefts and rights, but it was a flush left hand that connected and dropped Schaub, rendering him unconscious on the mat and giving “Big Nog” the “Knockout of the Night” award.
Barboza and Pearson earned every penny of their $100,000 “Fight of the Night” award, engaging in a three-round stand up battle that would end up in the judge’s hands. Pearson showed his toughness, absorbing multiple kicks to the body from Barboza, and kept the pressure on the young brazilian throughout. Barboza got the better of the exchanges however, along with stuffing every single take down attempt from Pearson en route to a split decision victory with scores of 29-28, 28-29 and 29-28.