The UFC St. Louis card on Saturday featured a number of fights that went the distance, but the five stoppages that did occur were quite memorable. The fighters who won by stoppage ended up taking home the majority of the bonuses for the evening. There were two particularly impressive first-round knockout victories, but only one of them landed a bonus.
One of the explosive first-round KO victories came from Carlos Ulberg, who defeated Alonzo Menifield in just 12 seconds. Despite Menifield’s aggressive approach, Ulberg landed a vicious left hook that ultimately finished his opponent. This win pushed Ulberg’s professional record to 11-1, with a 6-1 record in the UFC and six straight victories. The victory should secure Ulberg a spot in the Top 15 rankings, and he also took home a $50,000 performance bonus for his efforts.
Diego Ferreira delivered a buzzer-beating knockout victory against Mateusz Rębecki, despite already being ahead on all three judges’ scorecards. Ferreira’s decision to go for the finish instead of coasting to a decision win paid off, as he secured a TKO from strikes in the final moments of the fight. This win improved Ferreira’s record to an impressive 19-5, after enduring a tough three-fight losing streak.
The fight between Trey Waters and Billy Ray Goff was deemed Fight of the Night, with Waters ultimately winning a unanimous decision. Goff’s relentless attack and toughness kept him competitive, but the judges favored Waters’ striking throughout the bout. Both fighters received $50,000 for their efforts. Derrick Lewis also secured a stoppage victory in the main event against Rodrigo Nascimento, but despite the exciting finish, Lewis did not receive a bonus.
Esteban Ribovics delivered a devastating first-round finish with a head-kick KO against Terrance McKinney. Despite the impressive nature of the finish, Ribovics did not win a bonus for his performance. Overall, the event showcased a mix of thrilling finishes and competitive fights throughout the card, leaving fans excited for future UFC events.
