After an action-packed night at UFC on ABC 9 in Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena, the promotion rewarded four fighters with performance bonuses, including one historic achievement. Each of the standout athletes earned an additional $50,000 for their efforts, recognizing the best moments of the evening. Here’s a rundown of those who walked away with the extra cash.
Fight of the Night: Shara Magomedov def. Marc-Andre Barriault
Middleweights Shara Magomedov (16-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) and Marc-Andre Barriault (17-10 MMA, 6-9 UFC) delivered an absolute slugfest on the main card, battling through three chaotic rounds in one of the night’s most memorable wars. What began as a tactical first round quickly turned violent in the second, with both men trading momentum and nearly finishing each other. Barriault crushed Magomedov’s nose during a wild exchange, but Magomedov roared back with heavy offense as the round closed. Somehow, both fighters made it to the final horn—bloodied, exhausted, but swinging until the end. Magomedov emerged with the unanimous decision win, and both competitors were rewarded with $50,000 Fight of the Night bonuses for their gutsy performance.
Performance of the Night: Steven Nguyen
Steven Nguyen (10-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) made a statement in his sophomore UFC appearance, delivering a record-setting performance that left no doubt about his place on the roster. Facing Mohammad Yahya (12-6 MMA, 0-3 UFC), Nguyen showcased surgical precision with his striking, sending Yahya crashing to the canvas six separate times—the most knockdowns ever recorded in a single UFC fight. The onslaught was so severe that the cageside doctor waved off the contest after the second round, awarding Nguyen a TKO victory via medical stoppage. With this win, the Fortis MMA standout now has two UFC fights, two performance bonuses, and his name officially etched in the UFC record books.
Performance of the Night: Muslim Salikhov
Muslim Salikhov (22-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC) defied the odds—and Father Time—on Saturday night. At 41 years old, the veteran striker entered his matchup with Carlos Leal (22-7 MMA, 1-2 UFC) as a sizable underdog, but made quick work of the challenge. Leal came out aggressive, but Salikhov stayed sharp, landing a perfectly timed counter that dropped his opponent for a knockout victory in under a minute. It was Salikhov’s second straight first-round finish, and once again, it earned him a Performance of the Night bonus—further proof that “The King of Kung Fu” still has plenty left in the arsenal.
