Paddy Pimblett choked out Benoit Saint-Denis on Saturday night, securing a slick D’Arce choke that earned him a $100,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus. The lightweight co-main event delivered exactly the rebound Pimblett needed.
The card played out inside a sold-out T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Over 20,000 fans packed the stands.
Pimblett walked into the octagon carrying serious pressure. His seven-fight win streak evaporated in January following a grueling five-round loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 324. But his flawless execution against Saint-Denis instantly re-established his standing in the crowded lightweight division.
He wasn’t the only fighter walking away heavier in the pockets. King Green secured his own performance bonus following a buzzer-beating, first-round knockout over Terrance McKinney. Meanwhile, the flyweight scrap between Brandon Royval and Lone’er Kavanagh took home “Fight of the Night” honors.
UFC CEO Dana White confirmed the event generated a $26.4 million gate. Because of that financial success, White authorized additional $25,000 finishing bonuses for fighters lower on the card, including Robert Whittaker and Adrian Yanez.
But a dark cloud hung over the end of the night. The energy in the arena shifted violently when Conor McGregor suffered a catastrophic knee injury in the first round against Max Holloway. That abrupt main event conclusion served as a grim echo of McGregor’s UFC 264 bout against Dustin Poirier five years prior, ending the card on a somber note despite Pimblett’s earlier heroics.