UFC on ESPN 3 Bonuses: Ngannou, Benavidez, Menifield, Anders Nab $50K Checks

Four “Performance of the Night” checks were awarded at UFC on ESPN 3 on Saturday, as Francis Ngannou, Joseph Benavidez, Alonzo Menifield and Eryk Anders all received $50,000 for their efforts in Minneapolis.

Ngannou capitalized on Junior dos Santos’ aggression in the heavyweight headliner, as he rocked “Cigano” with several heavy shots and finished him with follow-up shots on the mat 71 seconds into the first frame to pad his bank account. It was the third consecutive first-round finish for “The Predator,” who once again looks like a top contender in the division

Meanwhile, Benavidez garnered a performance award thanks to a second-round TKO of Jussier Formiga in the flyweight co-main event. Benavidez rocked the Brazilian with a head kick and then finished him with a barrage of punches at the 4:47 mark of the period.

Menifield continued to establish himself as a light heavyweight prospect to watch, earning a bonus check for a first-round knockout of Paul Craig. The Fortis MMA product capitalized on an ill advised spinning kick from his opponent, rocking Craig with a right hand and hammering away with more punches on the mat until the contest was halted 3:19 into round one.

Finally, Eryk Anders halted a three-bout skid, as he knocked out Vinicius Moreira to capture a performance bonus in a preliminary light heavyweight duel. The former University of Alabama linebacker rocked Moreira with a left hand on the feet and sealed his victory with a series of blows on the canvas that brought an end to the contest 78 seconds after it began.