Fight fans came to the Ball Arena in bunches anticipating a barnburner of a fight card, and they weren’t disappointed. The UFC Denver card had all the bells and whistles for a blockbuster and Dana White complimented the fighters generously with bonuses for their splendid performances. All in all, a total of $200,000 was given away just as performance bonuses!
While the main and co-main events warranted judges’ decisions, the 12-bout fight card ticked all the boxes, giving fans their money’s worth. Following the bonanza, the UFC announced $50k for four fighters including the home-boy Drew Dober and his opponent, Jean Silva for producing one hell of a back-and-forth war. The three-round banger was announced as the Fight of the Night.
A vicious elbow from Silva busted open Dober, forcing the officials to hand the win to the 46-year-old via TKO in R3. Similarly, Charles Johnson earned an extra $50k for his third-round KO victory over fellow American Joshua Van in the flyweight category.
Last but definitely not least, Montel Jackson’s blistering 18-second KO of Da’Mon Blackshear snagged White’s $50k PON bonus from the undercard.
Meanwhile, the Denver event felt the reverberations of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump as a fighter pledged his allegiance to the Republican.
UFC Denver: Fighter pays tribute to Trump following the assassination attempt
20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, shocked the nation after he tried to gun down Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The scathing attack on the politician sent shockwaves across the country and even White dropped a note on his IG, condemning the attack.
The UFC event in Denver witnessed similar emotions, as lightweight fighter Evan Elder pledged his allegiance to the former president. Elder, after his submission win over Darrius Flowers in the prelims, paid homage to Trump with a classic all-American one-liner.
“I heard they just tried to whack my boy Trump. I’m glad that man is OK – long live Trump, let’s go, baby. Trump 2024!”
As per reports coming in, Trump is in good health now and national agencies are looking into the matter resolutely after apprehending the 20-year-old.
