Jul 28, 2018; Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Islam Makhachev (blue gloves) defeats Kajan Johnson (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

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Islam Makhachev Demands Daniel Cormier’s $50K After One Punch KO

Islam Makhachev demands Daniel Cormier’s $50K after a stunning one-punch knockout: What’s behind this bold request?

The UFC bonus system has always been a fun topic of debate among fighters and fans alike. Back at UFC 220 in 2018, two spectacular finishes lit up the Boston crowd on the same night. Daniel Cormier, then the light heavyweight champion, delivered a dominant ground-and-pound victory over Volkan Oezdemir in the co-main event.

Meanwhile, on the prelims, a rising Islam Makhachev scored a lightning-quick knockout over veteran Gleison Tibau with a single, perfectly placed left hand. When the $50,000 performance bonuses were handed out that night, DC’s methodical victory got the nod over Makhachev’s highlight-reel finish.

Also Read: UFC 311: 3 Fights That Will Impact The Course Of UFC 2025 Calendar Year!

Islam Makhachev Asks Daniel Cormier For His Fight Bonus

Fast forward to today, and Makhachev hasn’t forgotten about that bonus snub. During a recent interaction with ‘DC’ ahead of UFC 311, the now-lightweight champion playfully brought up that night, demanding his share of the bonus money. These two AKA teammates have always had a deep chemistry, and this interaction was no different.

Makhachev pointed out that his one-punch knockout should have earned him the bonus over Daniel Cormier’s ground-and-pound win. DC, never one to back down from some good-natured ribbing, defended his performance, saying they both got the job done by their fists.

“That night, I didn’t get the bonus. Now I don’t need but that time I need the bonus. You have to come to my room and say ‘Hey I don’t deserve this and [give me the 50K])

The whole exchange shows the special bond between these fighters, where a seven-year-old bonus dispute can turn into comedy gold. Of course, with Islam Makhachev now sitting pretty as the UFC’s pound-for-pound king and raking in champion’s pay, that $50K fight bonus probably doesn’t sting quite as much anymore.

The heart of this story really shows how far both fighters have come since that night in TD Garden in Boston. Daniel Cormier went on to become a double champion and is now one of the UFC’s most beloved commentators. Islam Makhachev followed in his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov’s footsteps to capture and defend the lightweight crown.

At UFC 311, Islam Makhachev defended his lightweight strap against #10 ranked lightweight Renato Moicano via a D’arce Choke submission. Makhachev got his name etched in history as he became the champion with most number of title defenses at lightweight.

(Image Credit: Sergei Belski -Imagn Images)

Daniel Cormier

Islam Makhachev

UFC 311

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!