Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White announced the gate totals and “Fight Night” bonuses for Saturday nights “UFC 123: Rampage vs. Machida” event as part of the post-fight press conference.
UFC 123 took place at The Palace of Auburn Hills in the Detroit suburb of Auburn Hills, Michigan bringing in a total of 16,404 fans into the arena, for a live gate of $2.1 million.
If you missed White’s latest video blog for UFC 123, then you missed the part when Matt Hughes talked the UFC president into handing out $80,000 “Fight Night” bonuses for the event.
Just a few quick notes from the post-fight press conference:
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– Dana White declined the immediate rematch between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Lyto “The Dragon” Machida.
– Lightweight winner George Sotiropoulos will face Dennis Siver at UFC 127 in Australia.
– BJ Penn will face Jon Fitch to headline the Australian event at UFC 127.
Earning the “Fight Night” bonuses were BJ Penn, Phil Davis, George Sotiropoulos and Joe Lauzon.
Co-main event winner BJ Penn earned the “Knockout of the Night” after stopping Matt Hughes in their rubber match by knocking his opponent out in just 21 seconds of the first round. Penn connected from the first exchange with several punches and eventually caught the Hall of Famer with a solid strike sending him to the mat. Penn would dive in to drop a few more hammerfists but the fight was already over. This would be Penn’s first “Knockout of the Night” bonus.
Phil Davis received the “Submission of the Night” for his use of a modified kimura on opponent Tim Boetsch. Davis was able to trap Boetsch arm behind his back forcing the tap in the second round.
George Sotiropoulos and Joe Lauzon earned the “Fight of the Night” honors for their bout. Lauzon controlled the pace in the first controlling the fight but seemed to fade in the second round. This allowed Sotiropoulos to take over the fight taking it to the mat. The Greek-Australian would secure a kimura after a failed attempt to end the fight in the second round at 2:43.
UFC 123: Rampage vs. Machida took place at The Palace of Auburn Hills in the Detroit suburb of Auburn Hills, Michigan.