British Heavyweight Pinto, Headliner Kape Earn Bonuses at UFC Vegas 103

UFC Vegas 103 struggled to hold things together coming into Saturday, with not one but two fights cancelled on weigh-in day.

What was left was a 10-fight card where, outside of main event flyweights Manel Kape and Asu Almabayev, perhaps the biggest name was former LFC champ Andrea “KGB” Lee. Given she entered the night on a five-fight skid and dropped a decision to JJ Aldrich, Lee’s likely on her way out of the promotion. What it boils down to, however, is that the UFC lacks star power for some of their Fight Night events, especially noticeable on a night where another TKO Group company, WWE, was running a Pay-Per-View event in Toronto.

Regardless, the show must go on, and it did, sluggish out of the gate until debuting heavyweight Mario Pinto, a Brit who appeared on Dana White’s Contender Series last year, got into it with Austen Lane. While Lane had him hurt in the opening round, Pinto roared back in the second, landing a downright punishing right hand that left Lane sprawled out on the canvas, trying to figure out how the truck that had run him over made its way into the octagon.

Luckily, Lane was okay. Pinto, meanwhile, earned a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. As did Manel Kape, who secured a TKO win over Asu Almabayev in the UFC Vegas 103 main event. Although marred by some uncalled eye pokes, there’s little question Kape was well ahead in the fight.

Fight of the Night at UFC Vegas 103 went to Nasrat Haqparast vs. Esteban Ribovics. Haqparast came away with a split decision win in that one.

All four bonus-winners pocked $50,000 U.S. on top of show/win money, outfitting pay, and any other earnings.