UFC Mexico bonuses: Newcomers David Martinez, Ateba Gautier earn extra $50K
UFC Mexico saw several rising stars awarded for thrilling finishes, including octagon newcomers David Martinez and Ateba Gautier.
Four Performance of the Night bonuses were handed out Saturday at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, with Martinez, Gautier, Edgar Chairez, and Manuel Torres all earning an extra $50,000.
For Martinez and Gautier, their UFC debuts could not have gone better. Both are recent signings off of Dana White’s Contender Series and both delivered highlight-reel knockouts.
Martinez gave Saimon Oliveira a rude welcome back to competition after a two-year hiatus, needing a little less than a round to put Oliveira away with strikes. Gautier also found his finish in the first round as he closed out Saturday’s prelims with a brutal knockout barrage against Jose Daniel Medina.
An emotional Chairez cashed in after needing only half a round to submit CJ Vergara with an airtight rear-naked choke.
Torres is no stranger to bonuses having won one for each of his UFC wins so far. That gives him four in total after putting veteran slugger Drew Dober away in under two minutes.