UFC Vegas 69 proved to be another explosive event of the year, leaving fans on the edge of their seats with a number of nail-biting fights. However, it was the preliminary lightweight scrap between Evan Elder and Nazim Sadykhov that had everyone talking. Going head-to-head, ‘The Phenom’ dominated the majority of the fight, but things took a turn for the worse in the third round when the 25-year-old Elder suffered a deep cut right above his eye.

The doctor had to step inside the octagon, and the fight was halted, declaring debutant Sadykhov the winner by TKO via doctor stoppage. Despite the unfortunate turn of events for Elder, the night ended sweetly for him as he was awarded the Fight of the Night bonus, which moved him to tears. This heartwarming sight left fans divided in their reactions, with some feeling as though Elder had been dealt a bad hand while others acknowledged the deserved reward.

Fans have mixed feelings seeing Evan Elder in tears upon winning FOTN

The tables turned on Evan Elder in the octagon, but the fighter’s fortunes quickly changed when he received unexpected news from his coach. Despite losing a fight he had dominated, Elder was named the recipient of the coveted ‘Fight of the Night’ bonus. The 25-year-old was left in disbelief, shedding tears of joy as he processed the news.

Fans of ‘The Phenom’ celebrated his victory, but others criticized the UFC for the emotional impact a $50,000 bonus had on their fighter.

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Check out how the fans reacted to this feel-good moment of Evan Elder:

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Regardless of the controversy, ‘The Phenom’ undoubtedly earned the bonus with his impressive performance, even in the face of an unfortunate stoppage that left Dana White questioning the decision.

Dana White questioned the stoppage until he saw the cut

Dana White may have initially questioned the controversial stoppage of Evan Elder’s fight against Nazim Sadykhov, but a closer look at the 25-year-old’s injuries quickly changed his tune. The UFC President took to his Instagram story to share photos of Elder’s deep cut, which served as all the evidence he needed to confirm the validity of the decision.

White wrote in his story, “I was questioning the stoppage… I will STFU now”.

While he may have lost the battle, he won the hearts of those who watched his brave and unrelenting performance.

What are your thoughts on Evan Elder vs. Nazim Sadykhov? Do you think the stoppage was valid? Let us know in the comments below.

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