UFC on ESPN 27: Darren Elkins gets third bonus check in 24 fights
The UFC handed out four post-fight bonuses after Saturday’s card, including one to a fighter known for his comebacks.
After UFC on ESPN 27, four fighters picked up an extra $50,000 for their performances in Las Vegas. Check out the winners below.
‘Performance of the Night’: Darren Elkins
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 24: (R-L) Darren Elkins punches Darrick Minner in their featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on July 24, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Darren Elkins (26-9 MMA, 16-8 UFC) did what he does best, and it came at the expense of Darrick Minner (26-12 MMA, 2-2 UFC). Elkins has become known for taking plenty of damage – hence, his nickname – only to mount comebacks and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. He did it again Saturday when he rallied for a second-round TKO against Minner on the main card. Minner had plenty of success in the first round, and Elkins was bloodied up going into the second. But Minner also may have burned himself out going for submissions against Elkins, and the blue-collar Indiana native took advantage and pounded his way to his second straight win. The bonus was just Elkins’ third in 24 UFC fights and first since January 2018.
‘Performance of the Night’: Adrian Yanez
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 24: (L-R) Adrian Yanez punches Randy Costa in their bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on July 24, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Adrian Yanez (14-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and Randy Costa (6-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) made waves online ahead of their fight with a fun side bet. As it turned out, Yanez got a month’s worth of his favorite vice – Dr Pepper – and didn’t have to turn over a month’s worth of Reese’s to Costa after a second-round TKO win. Costa won the first round, but Yanez rallied in the second and stayed perfect in the UFC. Yanez now has bonuses in all three of his UFC fights – all knockouts.
‘Fight of the Night’: Raulian Paiva vs. Kyler Phillips
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 24: (L-R) Raulian Paiva of Brazil punches Kyler Phillips in their bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on July 24, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Raulian Paiva (21-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) was the second biggest underdog on the card against Kyler Phillips (9-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC), and the odds seemed to bear out in the first round, which Phillips dominated – including a 10-8 score from one of the judges. But Paiva rallied in the second and third, and won the striking battle in both those rounds. The comeback after the rough start was enough to get him the second and third from two judges and a majority decision in a fun fight that left Phillips with his first UFC loss. The bonus was Paiva’s first. Phillips picked up his third extra check in four UFC fights – thought this is the first to come in a losing effort. [vertical-gallery id=649318] [vertical-gallery id=649290]
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