Cody Durden’s latest Ultimate Fighting Championship experience could not have been more fulfilling—personally, professionally or financially.
The 33-year-old Covington, Georgia, native filled in for Alessandro Costa on less than a week’s notice and put away Matt Schnell with a ninja choke in the second round of their UFC Fight Night 242 bantamweight showcase on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Durden drew the curtain 29 seconds into Round 2, where he countered an ill-advised takedown attempt with the fight-ending choke. The UFC awarded him a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus for his efforts.
Meanwhile, Natalia Silva and Jessica Andrade pocketed $50,000 “Fight of the Night” bonuses in the aftermath of their three-round women’s flyweight co-main event. Silva outstruck the former 115-pound champion to a unanimous decision, walking away with 30-27 marks from all three judges. She now finds herself on a remarkable 12-fight winning streak.
Finally, Jackson-Wink MMA’s Steve Garcia continued his climb on the featherweight ladder and banked a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus by stopping an overweight Kyle Nelson with an elbow strike and follow-up punches in the first round of their featured attraction at 145 pounds. Nelson met his end 3:59 into Round 1. The 32-year-old Garcia has rattled off five consecutive victories, all of them finishes.
