While not one of the more notable fighters on the card and not competing in one of the more visible fights, UFC bantamweight Leandro Issa earned $100,000 by claiming two post-fight bonuses in his preliminary card bout on The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale on Sunday night in Las Vegas opposite Jumabieke Tuerxun.
The bout with Tuerxun and Issa opened with the two exchanging strikes, but as time moved on, it was the wild if heavy-handed native Mongolian who connected more, dropping the Brazilian early and forcing him into desperation takedowns. In fact, Issa had a point deducted in the second round as he blatantly used the cage to help secure a reversal, likely leaving him down two rounds to none heading into the third.
Issa, however, was never out of the fight. As time wore on, he was able in a scramble in an attempt of a Russian belly-down armbar, but Tuerxun refused to tap. Issa switched up the application of the submission, tucking Tuerxun’s arm into his own arm pit and twisting his hips and legs away to create separation and torque. With his arm badly hyperextended, Tuerxun had no choice but to tap late into what was a closely-contested fight.
The end came officially at 3:49 of the third round. For his efforts, Tuerxun earned $50,000 by sharing Fight of the Night honors with Issa. Issa’s record improves to 12-4 while Tuerxun drops to 14-2.
Earning the other Performance of the Night bonus was Adriano Martins, who knocked out Juan Manuel Puig Carreon in the first round, also on the preliminary portion of the card.
Puig and Martins traded early and while the bout was briefly halted when Martins suffered an inadvertent groin kick, the bout was all Martins. The Brazilian continued to find a home for his punches, rocking the Mexican national a number of times before a final right hook sent Puig crashing to the mat face first. The bout was called to halt at 2:21 of the very first round.
Martins’ record climbs to 26-7 while Puig slides to 11-3.
In terms of bonuses earned by the season 19 cast of The Ultimate Fighter during the filming of the reality show, UFC President Dana White announced at the post-fight press conference Dhiego Lima won $25,000 for his submission of Tim Williams. Lima earned an additional $25,000 for his submission of Roger Zapata.
Earning the final performance bonus for the TUF 19 cast were Matt Van Buren and Daniel Spohn who each claimed $25,000 for having the best fight of the season.