Even defeated, Benoit earns a $100 bonus after rival doesn't make weight

R. Benoit is beaten by J. Sampo at TUF 18 Finale; bantamweight earned the biggest bonus of the night. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

An unusual situation, to say the least, involved bantamweight Ryan Benoit at the TUF 18 Finale, last Saturday (30). Defeated by Josh Sampo in the first fight of the event, Benoit won the biggest prize of the event, the equivalent of US$100 (around R$233). This occurred because Ryan took his share of the “Fight of the Night” bonus and that of his opponent, who did not make weight for the fight.

The day before, at the official weigh-in for the TUF 18 Finale, Sampo was just over a pound (approximately half a kilo) above the weight allowed for the bantamweight category. Thus, in addition to losing 10% of his purse, the “Gremlin”, as he is known, was unable to receive the amounts of money relating to any of the night's awards.

In addition to the fight between Benoit and Sampo, awarded “Fight of the Night”, two other prizes were offered at the TUF 18 Finale: Nate diaz won the “Knockout of the Night” bonus for the devastating sequence of punches on Gray Maynard and Chris Holdsworth took the “Submission of the Night” due to the rear naked choke that guaranteed him the victory over davey grant and the title of the TUF 18 men's tournament. Each of those chosen won an extra prize of US$50 (approximately R$116,5).