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4 first-time UFC winners' highlight-reel prelim finishes passed over for bonuses

There was plenty of competition for post-fight bonus awards at UFC Fight Night 249 – no question about it.

In 14 fights at the promotion’s first event of 2025, there were nine finishes. Four of those nine came on the preliminary card at the UFC Apex, and all four were by fighters who won in the UFC for the first time. But five more finishes came on the main card, and those debuting fighters were left with their proverbial cheese out in the wind.

The UFC handed out four $50,000 bonuses after Saturday’s event in Las Vegas, all to fighters on the main card. Check out the winners below.

Performance of the Night: Cesar Almeida

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 11: (L-R) Cesar Almeida of Brazil punches Abdul Razak Alhassan of Ghana in a middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on January 11, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Cesar Almeida def. Abdul Razak Alhassan via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 4:16

Cesar Almeida (7-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) was knocked down by Abdul Razak Alhassan (12-7 MMA, 6-7 UFC) early in their fight on the main card. But he got back up, got his wits about him, then got into a firefight. He ate a whole bunch of punches right before he cocked back and threw a bomb, and it connected to put Alhassan out without the need for a follow-up. True, it’s the first major event of the year – but Alhassan fell and landed in the kind of way we’re likely to see again come December in the best-of-2025 conversation.

Fight of the Night: Roman Kopylov def. Chris Curtis

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 11: (R-L) Roman Kopylov of Russia punches Chris Curtis in a middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on January 11, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Roman Kopylov def. Chris Curtis via TKO (head kick) – Round 3, 4:59

Roman Kopylov (14-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) vs. Chris Curtis (31-12 MMA, 5-4 UFC) was a straight-up slugfest, but it will go down in history for its statistically crazy ending. Kopylov drilled Curtis and put him on the canvas in the last few seconds. He started to walk away, and when Curtis looked up toward the referee, the fight was waved off – with one second left for a Kopylov TKO win. Kopylov likely was headed toward a decision win, but the stoppage took the judges out of the equation – much to Curtis’ dismay.

Performance of the Night: Mackenzie Dern

Mackenzie Dern def. Amanda Ribas, UFC Fight Night 249 (via UFC)

Mackenzie Dern def. Amanda Ribas via submission (armbar) – Round 3, 4:56

Mackenzie Dern (16-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) exacted a measure of revenge on Amanda Ribas (12-7 MMA, 7-6 UFC) when she submitted her with a third-round armbar. Ribas beat Dern in their first fight in 2019, but that is like a lifetime in MMA. Dern seemed comfortable in the striking game, but when the fight hit the canvas she was always going to be in her world.