UFC Tampa bonuses and aftermath: Four fighters get $50k, Max Holloway's record tied, event makes Fight Night history, and more
UFC Tampa closes out the promotion's 2024 calendar year in style delivering adrenaline-rasing knockouts and displays of heart, grit, and resilience. The event has also turned out quite lucrative for the organization breaking a notable record.
The event racked in a live gate of $3.06 million with an 18,625-strong sold-out Tampa crowd in attendance, becoming the highest-grossing North American Fight Night card in history.
Check out the UFC Tampa stats below:
In the main event, surging welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley dominated former interim champion Colby Covington. 'New Mansa' was granted a TKO (doctor stoppage) win after the ringside physician advised the referee to call off the fight in the third round due to a cut on Covington's eyelid.
Buckley is now riding a six-fight win streak. Moreover, the St. Louis native currently has more KO/TKO wins than any other UFC fighter since 2020, with eight.
Of the plethora of great performances at the event, the co-main event between Cub Swanson and Billy Quarantillo stood out. Delivering a fast-paced barn burner from the get-go, the pair duked it out for almost three rounds, giving a spectacle fight fans won't soon forget.
After facing initial adversity, 'Killer' ultimately emerged as the victor knocking out his opponent with a nuclear right hand to the button at three minutes and 34 seconds of the closing round. The fight bagged the Fight of the Night bonus.
The 41-year-old has now tied with Max Holloway for the most number of UFC/WEC featherweight wins, with 20. Following the fight, Swanson teased retirement noting that UFC Tampa might be his last rodeo.
The Performance of the Night bonuses went to Michael Johnson and Dustin Jacoby.
Johnson clinched a second-round KO over Ottman Azaitar in the headlining bout of the prelims card, while Jacoby turned the tide in a tough match-up against Vitor Petrino via a third-round knockout.
All four performance bonus winners will take home an extra $50k on top of their regular fight purses.
While she didn't claim a performance bonus, women's flyweight Miranda Maverick also had a great night out at the Amalie Arena. With her unanimous decision win over Jamey-Lyn Horth, 'The Fear' has tied with Maycee Barber and Gillian Robertson for the third most wins in women's flyweight history, with eight.