UFC Denver bonuses: Jean Silva, Drew Dober win Fight of the Night for thrilling slugfest
UFC Denver fans weren’t left disappointed when it came to all-out action and that was reflected in Saturday’s bonus winners.
Four fighters are leaving Ball Arena with an extra $50,000 for their efforts, that being Fight of the Night winners Jean Silva and Drew Dober, and Performance of the Night winners Charles Johnson and Montel Jackson.
Silva and Dober winning Fight of the Night should come as no surprise to anyone who watched their bloody battle, which ended early in Round 3 after doctors ruled that Dober could not continue due to a gnarly cut over his eye that was caused by a Silva elbow. Prior to the stoppage, the lightweights hit each other with several dynamic strikes that looked like they would have finished other opponent on the spot.
This is the first Fight Night bonus for Silva, who likely cost himself one two weeks ago when he came in heavy for a featherweight contest with Charles Jourdain. Silva knocked Jourdain out in spectacular fashion, but was ineligible for a bonus due to missing weight. This time, he was rewarded for his quick turnaround and his spectacular performance.
Dober is no stranger to bonus checks. He captures his fourth Fight of the Night and eighth fight night award overall.
Johnson and Jackson both received Performance of the Night for very different reasons, with Johnson scoring a comeback win late and Jackson ending his fight early.
Up against top prospect Joshua Van, Johnson needed a late finish after being out-struck for two rounds and he found in the final frame, catching Van with an uppercut that put him down just 20 seconds into Round 3. Johnson also earned a Fight of the Night bonus this past February when he upset the previously unbeaten Azat Maksum.
Jackson lived up to the nickname “Quik,” needing just 18 seconds to author a one-punch knockout of Da’Mon Blackshear. That’s now back-to-back bonuses for Jackson after he also won one for a first-round knockout of Rani Yahya in April 2023.