UFC star receives special delayed bonus after highlight reel KO

Order was restored.

After watching the very entertaining UFC Vegas 96 fight match at APEX in Las Vegas, it seemed like Wang Cong was insulted for not receiving any of the “Performance of the Night” bonuses.

Fortunately, UFC general manager Dana White seems to have seen Cong’s 62-second knockout victory over Victoria Leonardo early in the preliminary fights, and it brought him to her social media channels.

Cong posted on Instagram a picture of DC’s Joker (the Heath Ledger version), a persona she assumes at the weigh-in. In the caption, Cong wrote, “Wake up and realize there is no POTN😠. Next fight you’ll see a more spectacular finish @ufc. Don’t play with the Joker again!”

After watching the fight and reading Cong’s caption, White added a performance bonus to the event to recognize the fighter’s dynamic main roster debut.

Jed I. Goodman took a screenshot of White’s response:

Cong, 32, made it to the UFC after winning her Road to the UFC fight against Paula Luna in May.

Cong won that fight with a mounted guillotine. Saturday’s fight was all about Cong’s hands, and a vicious combination spelled the end for Leonardo.

In case you missed it, here’s a look at the ending that gave Cong the win and the bonus, albeit belatedly.

With Cong, the UFC could have an up-and-coming star in its ranks. The 32-year-old Chinese has already defeated former women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko in kickboxing.

Cong started the fight as a professional in mixed martial arts with a record of 6:0 and made it clear after her victory that she would rather not take part in the preliminary fights again.

Cong may have to wait for that dream to become a reality, but you can bet MMA fans will remember the impressive young fighter wearing the Joker face paint at the weigh-in – especially because she pulled off an impressive win.

Here’s a look at all the results from UFC Vegas 96.

• Caio Borralho defeats Jared Cannonier by unanimous decision (49-45×2, 48-46) – FOTN
• Tabatha Ricci defeats Angela Hill by unanimous decision (29-28×3)
• Ryan Loder defeats Robert Valentin by TKO at 1:49 in Round 2
• Mairon Santos defeats Kaan Ofli by KO after 1:30 in round 2
• Michael Morales defeats Neil Magny by TKO at 4:39 in Round 1
• Gerald Meerschaert defeats Edmen Shahbazyan by submission after 4:12 in round 2 (arm triangle)
• Francis Marshall defeats Dennis Buzukja by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
• Zachary Reese defeats Jose Daniel Medina by unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)
• Viacheslav Borshchev defeats James Llontop by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
• Jacqueline Cavalcanti defeats Josiane Nunes by split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
• Wang Cong defeats Victoria Leonardo by KO after 1:02 in round 1

Expect UFC officials to have several opportunities for performance bonuses on August 31 as well. The promotion remains on the Apex card, the main event of which will be a decisive welterweight bout between Gilbert Burns and Sean Brady.

Even sooner, the Dana White Contender Series returns on August 27, with up to five contracts being awarded to outstanding participants on the show. Look for coverage of both events throughout the week.