UFC Fight Night 40 Bonuses: Nelson, Nijem, Guida, Kawajiri Earn $50K Post-Fight Awards

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Four fighters were awarded an additional $50,000 for their efforts on Friday at UFC Fight Night 40, including headliner Roy Nelson, who took home a “Performance of the Night” bonus following his first-round stoppage of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at the DU Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Nelson nuked Nogueira in their heavyweight main event, flooring the onetime Pride Fighting Championships titlist three times in the opening period. The final knockdown would bring the fight to a decisive end, as “Big Country” felled the taller Nogueira with his patented overhand right, rendering “Minotauro” unconscious before he hit the ground.

The event was broadcast live on UFC Fight Pass and saw Ramsey Nijem secure the evening’s second performance bonus, as “The Ultimate Fighter 13” finalist quickly dispatched the previously unbeaten Beneil Dariush with a furious standup attack and brutal ground-and-pound.

In the co-main event, Clay Guida and Tatsuya Kawajiri pocketed “Fight of the Night” honors for their grappling-heavy featherweight affair. Though “Crusher” acquitted himself well against the longtime UFC talent, it was Guida who came out on top in most of the scrambles after flooring the Japanese veteran with a hard right hand in round one. “The Carpenter” earned scores of 30-27 across the board, bringing his featherweight record to 2-1 inside the Octagon.