UFC on Fuel TV 1 Bonuses: Ellenberger, Sanchez, Miocic and Menjivar take extra $50k

By Brian Lopez-Benchimol

The UFC made an effort to adhere to the fans by allowing a rarity in allotting a six-fight main card with no fights leaving fans thoroughly disappointed.

In the main event of the evening, Omaha’s own Jake Ellenberger took on perennial contender Diego Sanxhez in a welterweight affair, with the winner catapulting themselves on the short list of contenders to the title.

Ellenberger rocked and dropped Sanchez early with some powerful shots, though “The Dream” was unrelenting and made the California transplant work for every inch of the fight.

Behind on points leading into the third and final round, Sanchez came storming back with a vicious onslaught of hooks galore with many connecting before opting to take the fight to the canvas where he immediately took back-mount.

Sanchez earned the round, though in the end, Ellenberger walked away with the decision win with score cards of 29-28 across the board. Both men took home “Fight of the Night” for their efforts.

In a special heavyweight attraction, budding prospect Stipe Miocic took on Phil de Fries. The Brit in De Fries managed to score with success right hands early, backing up Miocic who answered in kind with a staggering right of his own, sending his opponent reeling against the fence before stumbling to the ground.

From there, it was all Miocic, who poured on with some heavy ground-and-pound blows, yielding the “Knockout of the Night” finish in less than one minute inside the Octagon.

Finally, bantamweight standout Ivan Menjivar met The Ultimate Fighter veteran John Albert. Though just 25 years of age, “Prince” Albert showed that he had the kind of gusto to compete amongst the best in his class, rocking Menjivar early with some heavy punches and knees to the dome.

His overzealous nature got the better of him, as Menjivar was able to regroup and eventually secure the back of Albert, punishing his opponent with some heavy leather before cinching in the fight-ending rear-naked choke, earning him “Submission of the Night.”

All bonus recipients took home $50k in additional earnings.