UFC
UFC 123 BONUSES: $80,000 bonuses handed out to B.J. Penn, Phil Davis, George Sotiropoulos and Joe Lauzon
Nov 21, 2010 - 9:23:20 AM UFC 123 BONUSES: $80,000 bonuses handed out to B.J. Penn, Phil Davis, George Sotiropoulos and Joe Lauzon

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

On Dana White's third video blog for UFC 123, Matt Hughes is seen convincing White to up the bonus money for UFC 123 to $80,000 for the traditional "Fight Night" bonuses. White conceded, and Hughes' opponent B.J. Penn wound up as one of the beneficiaries of that move.

Penn, Phil Davis, George Sotiropoulos and Joe Lauzon each earned the $80,000 bonuses for their efforts on Saturday's card from The Palace at Auburn Hills just outside of Detroit, Mich. The awards were announced at the post-fight press conference.

Penn took home the "Knockout of the Night" award for his 21 second destruction of Hughes in the night's co-main event. The conclusion of their trilogy was over as soon as Penn landed a counter-right to the jaw of Hughes and sent him to the ground. A series of punches on the ground put Hughes out cold quickly and the fight was stopped.

Davis took home the "Submission of the Night" on a card filled with such stoppage victories. His unique modified hammerlock from the north-south position on Tim Boetsch, which Joe Rogan dubbed the "Mr. Wonderful" after the fight, was extremely impressive and earned him his second "Submission of the Night" bonus in four fights in the UFC.

Sotiropoulos and Lauzon took home the "Fight of the Night" for their main card scrap. Lauzon poured on the offense in the first round, staggering Sotiropoulos a few times on the feet. The two then battled for position on the ground in a highly entertaining round. But Lauzon ran out of gas after the first round, and Sotiropoulos dominated him on the ground in the second. Moving from position to position, Sotiropoulos set up perfect kimura, wrenched the hold and forced the immediate tap.

Penick's Analysis: All four bonus winners were very deserving, and Sotiropoulos even had a case for "Submission of the Night" himself. Penn was the far and away KO of the Night winner, despite a few TKO stoppages on the card. The way he blasted through Hughes was incredible, and slightly unexpected, and it was just overall the best win he's had in a long time. Davis' unique hammer lock submission deserved the nod as well, so it's good to see him get rewarded for his efforts. And I agree with the Sotiropoulos-Lauzon fight getting FOTN. The first round was really excellent, and although Lauzon faded after the first round, Sotiropoulos provided the excitement in the second. It was just a really good night of fights on Saturday.