UFC Fight Night 107 Bonuses: Manuwa, Nelson, Vera, Diakiese Receive $50K Checks

Jimi Manuwa’s power paid off in more ways than one.

“Poster Boy” knocked out fellow light heavyweight contender Corey Anderson with a clean left hook in the first round of their headlining encounter at UFC Fight Night 107 in London on Saturday, earning himself a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” award. A glancing punch to the temple appeared to have Anderson in trouble earlier in the bout, and the heavy-handed Brit capitalized as his opponent circled away by connecting with the left hook to end the contest at the 3:05 mark.

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.