Following last night’s UFC Fight Night 171 event in Jacksonville the recipients of the evening’s $50,000 bonus awards were announced.
Earning ‘Fight Of The Night’ honors on this occasion was a preliminary card encounter between Brian Kelleher and Hunter Azure.
Azure got off to a good start, but Kelleher took his time and in the second round blasted his opponent with a left hook and then follow-up punches to seal a KO victory.
The first ‘Performance Of The Night’ bonus went to Glover Teixeira, who had to weather a high-tempo start from Anthony Smith in the opening two rounds, and did well to then start to open up with his offense in a big way against his now tiring opponent.
Teixeira floored Smith in the third round and in the fourth rocked him again and was all over him with brutal offense that by it’s conclusion left many watching feeling like Smith’s corner should throw in the towel, especially when he revealed his teeth were falling out! Nevertheless, he was allowed to continue and after Teixeira continued to dish out more punishment in the fifth the fight was mercifully waved off for the TKO finish.
Also earning a performance bonus was Drew Dober, who found himself in a very competitive fight with Alexander Hernandez, but demonstrated the continual improvements in his game as he battled his way to a hard-hitting TKO stoppage late in the second round.
