UFC 169 bonuses: Abel Trujillo banks $125K, Varner gets $75K
NEWARK, N.J. – Abel Trujillo and Jamie Varner each earned bonuses for their performances at Saturday’s UFC 169 event – and Trujillo doubled up for a big payday.
Trujillo earned the “Knockout of the Night†for his second-round one-punch comeback finish of Varner, and the two also took “Fight of the Night†honors. Without a submission on a card that set the UFC record for most decisions with 10 of 12 fights, there was no “Submission of the Night†award.
UFC President Dana White announced the winners at the night’s post-event news conference, which MMAjunkie attended. White upped the ante for “Fight of the Night,†giving Trujillo and Varner each $75,000. Trujillo got the standard $50,000 for his “Knockout of the Night†award.
UFC 169 took place at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.
Varner (21-9-1 MMA, 3-4 UFC) and Trujillo (12-5 MMA, 3-1 UFC) threw bombs early in their fight. But when Varner got the better position after a takedown, he had a lengthy choke attempt that Trujillo had to survive. When he got back to his feet, the two continued to swing for the fences. That trend continued in the second round, and Varner had Trujillo on the ropes and nearly finished. But Trujillo survived, and with one wild swing, dropped Varner with one punch.
