UFC welterweight Stephen Thompson didn’t just notch the biggest win of his career Sunday night at The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale when he stopped Jake Ellenberger in the first round, he also claimed $50,000 with a Performance of the Night bonus. The bonus was made official at the event’s post-fight press conference.
Thompson faced adversity early, getting dropped with a right hand from the power puncher in Ellenberger, but Thompson – showing a more complete wrestling game to neutralize Ellenberger’s attacks – dropped his opponent not once, but twice with a spinning hook kick. Ellenberger was able to scramble after being dropped the first time, but it was too little, too late. Thompson threw it again after they returned to their fight, planting Ellenberger back on the canvas. Thompson followed up with two punches, prompting a referee stoppage at 4:29 of the very first round.
He wasn’t the only fighter to claim $50,000 and a Performance of the Night bonus. Jorge Masvidal, Josh Samman and Kamaru Usman all earned identical honors.
Masvidal made his return to the welterweight division on Sunday night, besting Cezar Ferreira with a first-round stoppage of his own. ‘Mutante’ was able to partially control Masvidal, scoring an early takedown and pressing him against the fence. The American Top Team fighter was able to adjust and cracked Ferreira with an elbow from the clinch followed by a series of strikes that sent the Brazilian to the canvas and ultimately out of the fight. The official time of the stoppage is 4:22 of round 1.
Josh Samman continued his winning ways, stopping Caio Magalhaes with a rear naked choke. Samman controlled the contest from the get go, scoring with outside leg kicks and proactive punches. After a grappling exchange, Samman was able to find his way to the Brazilian’s back where he secured both hooks and a deep rear naked choke. Magalhaes tried to peel Samman’s hands apart, but it was all for naught. The end came at 2:52 of the very first frame.
Last, but certainly not least, Kamaru Usman not only won a bonus, but helped the Blackzilians beat American Top Team for season twenty one of The Ultimate Fighter, besting Hayder Hassan by submission. Usman, a decorated amateur wrestler, used his skills from the get go, mostly avoiding Hassan’s powerful right hand by taking the fight to the floor. While Hassan was able to occasionally land and made it to the second round, Usman’s takedowns and passing were too much as the Blackzilian passed to side control where he scored with a head and arm triangle at 1:19 of the second round.
The Ultimate Fighter 21 took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bouts discussed here aired on Fox Sports 1.