In a surprising turn of events, the highly anticipated main event at UFC Vegas 90 between Brendan Allen and Chris Curtis was not awarded the Fight of the Night bonus, despite many considering it the “Fight of the Year.” The two fighters put on a spectacular show, with Allen ultimately avenging his previous loss to Curtis in December 2021 with a hard-fought split decision victory at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Despite the incredible performance put on by both fighters, the UFC opted to award the Fight of the Night bonus to a featherweight bout between Chepe Mariscal and Morgan Charriere, which saw Mariscal narrowly emerge victorious in a split decision.
Following the conclusion of the Allen-Curtis 2 fight, many current and former fighters took to social media to express their admiration for the performance put on by both competitors. The fight was lauded as one of the best of the year, with many fans and analysts considering it a potential Fight of the Year candidate. However, despite the widespread acclaim and recognition from the MMA community, the UFC ultimately chose to award the Fight of the Night bonus to the Mariscal vs. Charriere bout, leaving many perplexed and disappointed by the decision.
In a twist of fate, Curtis ended up leaving the arena on a stretcher after sustaining a leg injury in the final 30 seconds of the fight. The injury added insult to injury for Curtis, who also reportedly suffered a torn hamstring during the bout. With the prospect of an extended period of recovery ahead, Curtis was hoping to at least walk away with the Fight of the Night bonus as a consolation prize. However, the decision to award the bonus to Mariscal and Charriere instead left many feeling that Curtis and Allen had been unfairly overlooked for their exceptional performance in the main event.
Despite missing out on the bonus, both Charriere and Mariscal will receive additional compensation for their entertaining bout. While many acknowledged that their fight was indeed thrilling, the decision to overlook the Allen-Curtis 2 fight for the bonus drew criticism from fans and fighters alike. The competitiveness and back-and-forth action of the main event left many feeling that it was more deserving of the recognition and reward that comes with winning the Fight of the Night bonus. Ultimately, the decision by the UFC to award the bonus to a different fight has sparked debate within the MMA community about the criteria used to determine such accolades and bonuses.
As Curtis faces a potentially lengthy layoff due to his injuries, the absence of the Fight of the Night bonus further compounds his disappointment. With the recognition and financial incentive that comes with winning such a bonus, Curtis and Allen were left feeling overlooked and undervalued for their efforts in putting on an outstanding performance for the fans. Despite the setback, Curtis can take solace in the knowledge that he gave his all in the fight and earned the respect and admiration of his peers and fans. Moving forward, the debate over the Fight of the Night bonus at UFC Vegas 90 will likely continue to resonate within the MMA community as fans and fighters alike question the decision-making process behind such awards.
