Nazim Sadykhov defeated Nikolas Motta at UFC Baku, earning both fighters an extra $100,000 for their thrilling Fight of the Night performance.
Nazim Sadykhov and Nikolas Motta left everything in the octagon, and now they’re heading home from Azerbaijan with hefty six-figure checks. Quite the payday, right?
On a UFC Baku card filled with tight—and sometimes dull—decisions, Sadykhov and Motta stole the spotlight. Their main card bout went deep into the second round before Sadykhov finished Motta with strikes. It was a nail-biter, almost ending in Round 1 with Motta unleashing a barrage of punches as Sadykhov covered up against the fence.
At the post-fight press conference, UFC CEO Dana White showered them with praise, announcing an extra $100,000 each for their Fight of the Night performance. Typically, winners get $50,000, but with few finishes on the card, these two took all the bonus money. Jackpot!
Out of 12 bouts at UFC Baku, only two ended early: Sadykhov’s TKO over Motta and Myktybek Orolbai‘s submission of Tofiq Musayev with a kimura. However, Orolbai missed out on a bonus due to weight issues, leading to a catchweight bout at 165 pounds.
Sadykhov has now snagged three Fight of the Night awards in just five UFC appearances. Meanwhile, Motta earns his first-ever post-fight bonus. Not too shabby!