UFC 173: Predictions for Fight Night Bonuses
Someone's going to walk away richer after UFC 173—and we don't mean from their normal fight salary. We're talking about Fight Night bonuses.
In cause you've missed it, the UFC did away with the old KO of the Night and Submission of the Night awards back in February.
Now the two individual awards available after every UFC event are called Performance of the Night awards. It doesn't have to be a spectacular KO or submission—though that still helps—but any thing the powers deem to be POTN worthy can bring home the additional $50,000.
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The Fight of the Night award remained as is.
With that said, here are the two fighters to watch for POTN, and the bout that looks like a prime candidate for FOTN.
Anthony Njokuani
Back in his WEC days, Njokuani once won three-straight KO of the Night awards.
The long, lean and athletic 34-year old has gained a much-deserved reputation for being a dangerous striker. Duane Finley of UFC.com wrote this about the pride of Garland, Texas:
"Njokuani is undoubtedly one of the premier strikers in the lightweight division and those skills have melted and crumbled more than a few notable fighters.
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On Saturday, Njokuani faces Vinc Pichel, and the former may be set to light up the UFC Fight Pass prelims.
Njokuani will enjoy a two-inch height advantage, per Tapology.com, and an edge in speed. It could be a short night for Pichel.
Njokuani is in a good position to grab his first KOT..err, I mean POTN in the UFC.
Renan Barao
TJ Dillashaw is challenging Barao for the UFC bantamweight title in the main event. Dillashaw has made his name in the UFC as a dangerous striker.
Barao hears the compliments his opponent has received for his striking, but he doesn't seem too impressed.
He told Bleacher Report, via translator:
"I believe T.J. [Dillashaw] thinks he is a striker now, and he isn't. I think he will mess up and make mistakes in this fight, and this will present the chance for me to finish him. I'm very calm and ready for this fight, and I believe I will win this fight because I'm the better fighter.
"
It sounds as if Barao is going to make it his business to show who the most deadly striker is between him and Dillashaw.
Smart money goes on Barao in that contest.
We've already seen the champ stop Urijah Faber and Eddie Wineland in his last two bouts. Striking is the part of his game that has shown the most improvement since he first arrived in the UFC.
He has gone from a guy primarily noted for his submissions, to an explosive stand-up fighter who can end a night with one shot from his fists or feet.
There's good reason to believe we'll see an awesome display on Saturday, and the result will be a spectacular stoppage win for Barao.
Chris Holdsworth vs. Chico Camus
Contrasting styles can make for great fights. Holdsworth used his impressive submission and battling skills to win The Ultimate Fighter 18, and now he looks to tame the active and aggressive Camus.
Like a bull, Camus will keep coming. That approach will force Holdsworth to strike a little more than he may want to, but it'll help him prove he's efficient in that regard.
Up to this point, all five of his wins have come by submission.
Watching these two try to gain control of this potentially bloody bout should make for the best scrap of the night.
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