UFC Oklahoma City Bonuses: Du Plessis Leads $100k Winners

After UFC Fight Night 281 at Oklahoma City’s Paycom Center, the promotion awarded a total of six bonus checks. Four fighters claimed $100,000 Performance of the Night honors, while two earned $25,000 finish bonuses. The payouts highlighted standout victories and a decisive main‑event decision.

Performance of the Night: Felipe Franco ($100,000)

Felipe Franco (11‑2 MMA, 1‑1 UFC) secured the first $100,000 award with a second‑round TKO of Levi Rodrigues (5‑1 MMA, 0‑1 UFC). After a setback in his UFC debut at heavyweight, Franco returned at 205 pounds and dominated the fight on the ground. He mounted Rodrigues and finished the bout with a relentless series of punches.

Performance of the Night: Tommy McMillen ($100,000)

Tommy McMillen (11‑0 MMA, 2‑0 UFC) captured the second $100,000 prize. He set a new promotional record for significant strikes in a three‑round featherweight contest. After weathering a rough opening round from Alberto Montes (11‑2 MMA, 1‑1 UFC), McMillen unleashed a torrent of stand‑up strikes that ended the fight roughly 90 seconds before the final bell.

Finish Bonus: R.J. Harris ($25,000)

The $25,000 finish bonus went to R.J. Harris (6‑0 MMA, 1‑0 UFC), who made an immediate impact in his heavyweight debut. Harris landed an uppercut that sent Alvin Hines (7‑2 MMA, 0‑2 UFC) reeling and secured the knockout just 100 seconds into the opening round. The swift finish impressed fans and earned Harris his inaugural UFC bonus.

Finish Bonus: Dione Barbosa ($25,000)

Dione Barbosa (10‑4 MMA, 4‑2 UFC) earned the second $25,000 finish bonus with a dominant first‑round victory. She quickly forced Alice Melisano (6‑2 MMA, 0‑1 UFC) to the canvas and completed a rear‑naked choke. Barbosa entered the night as a 7‑to‑1 betting favorite and converted that expectation into a clean, finished win.

Main Event: Du Plessis Defeats Usman in a Unanimous Decision

The headline bout saw Dricus Du Plessis (24‑3 MMA, 10‑1 UFC) outpoint former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (21‑5 MMA, 16‑4 UFC) by unanimous decision. One scorecard favored Du Plessis 50‑45, a margin Usman publicly contested. Despite the loss, the broadcast praised Usman for his grit, especially in the third round. The result marked a successful return for Du Plessis and ended Usman’s middleweight comeback on a losing note.

Overall, the Oklahoma City show distributed $300,000 in bonuses, rewarding spectacular finishes, high‑impact performances, and a hard‑fought title‑fight decision. The payouts underscore the UFC’s commitment to recognizing standout moments across its Fight Night cards.