Ciganão fattened his wallet with another 50 big ones. Photo: Josh Hedges

Bonuses for the first installment of UFC on Versus, to take place this Sunday in Colorado, USA, were unusual. This is because, for example, there was no fight of the night. However, three fighters earned the award for best knockout, garnering for them an extra 50 thousand dollars each.

The beneficiaries were Junior Cigano, who overcame Gabriel Gonzaga in one of the marquee fights, as well as Jon Jones and John Howard, who beat Brandon Vera and Daniel Roberts, respectively.

The submission of the night award went to Clay Guida, for his arm-and-neck choke on Shannon Gugerty.

Cigano gets the knockout again. Photo: Josh Hedges

This Sunday UFC on Versus took place in Colorado, USA. It’s the first installment of the event to be broadcast live in the United States on the Versus cable channel. Check out how the main events went and the complete results below:

Jon Jones vs Brandon Vera

22-year-old Jon Jones, tipped to be a major obstacle in the already packed light heavyweight division of the UFC, put on a clear display of his wrestling prowess. Despite Vera having the style among his main weapons, Jones took his opponent down with ease. On the ground, he had to recover from an illegal upkick, resulting in Brandon being docked a point. In what ensued after the stoppage, Jon worked the ground and pound and threw a concussive elbow that ended Vera’s chances, all in the first round.

Junior Cigano vs Gabriel “Napao” Gonzaga

In the all-Brazilian fight, Junior Cigano stuck with tradition and got his fifth knockout in a row in the UFC. Gabriel Napao tried for the takedown to use his highly touted Jiu-Jitsu, but the fight played out on the feet. Napao tried to work in his dangerous high kick, while Cigano threw precision punches. When Gabriel tried for another kick, Junior landed a spot-on left that knocked his opponent to the canvas, where he continued to rain down with punches until the referee called an end to the action, still in the first round.

“Master, I dedicate this win to you,” he would say after the triumph, in homage to coach Luiz Alves, who passed away last Friday.

“I want to fight the best. When the UFC feels I’m ready to fight for the title, I’m ready,” he said in finishing.

Check out the complete results:

UFC on Versus 1: Vera vs. Jones
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Broomfield, Colorado

Jon Jones defeated Brandon Vera via TKO at 3:19 min of R1
Junior Dos Santos defeated Gabriel Gonzaga via TKO at 3:53min of R1
Cheick Kongo defeated Paul Buentello via TKO (desistance) at 1:16min of R3
Alessio Sakara defeated James Irvin  via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) at 3:11 min of R1

Preliminary bouts

Clay Guida submitted Shannon Gugerty via arm-and-neck choke at 3:40min of R2
Vladimir Matyushenko defeated Eliot Marshall via split judges’ decision
Darren Elkins defeated Duane “Bang” Ludwig via TKO at 0.44min of R1
John Howard defeated Daniel Roberts via KO at 2:20 of R1
Brendan Schaub defeated Chase Gormley via TKO at 0.47min of R1
Mike Pierce defeated Julio Paulino via unanimous decision
Jason Brilz defeated Eric Schafer via unanimous decision

UFC on Versus 1: Vera vs. Jones
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Broomfield, Colorado

Jon Jones vs. Brandon Vera
Junior Dos Santos vs. Gabriel Gonzaga
Paul Buentello vs. Cheick Kongo
James Irvin vs. Alessio Sakara

Preliminary card
Shannon Gugerty vs. Clay Guida
Eliot Marshall vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
Darren Elkins vs. Duane “Bang” Ludwig
John Howard vs. Daniel Roberts
Chase Gormley vs. Brendan Schaub
Julio Paulino vs. Mike Pierce
Jason Brilz vs. Eric Schafer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V-Mm6EgNH0

Cigano hits Yvel hard. Photo: Josh Hedges

You will practically not have any rest after your last victory. Do you feel that will hinder you?

I’m happy to have this next opportunity. It’s a good fight for me. Napão is a tough and dangerous guy, but I’m in rhythm and I believe it will be enough time to prepare myself. I’m happy about the UFC’s decision.

You were supposed to have faced Napão in your last matchup, but he had a health problem and gave up his place to Gilbert Yvel. Does the fact you’ve studied and trained for him help?

I think so. As you said, I was already studying him and my training was totally geared to facing him. I’ll take that up again and focus on his way of fighting again to set up my strategy.

Your success in the UFC, up until now, has come by way of striking and your only loss in 11 fights came on the ground. Have you applied yourself to Jiu-Jitsu, which may be Gonzaga’s main weapon this fight?

I’ve done a lot of ground fighting, very frequently. Also, I train Jiu-Jitsu every day, just as I train boxing. Before the fight with Yvel, for example, Demian Maia dropped by Bahia and I trained with him. In Rio Feijão helps me out a lot. I have the help of a lot of first-rate black belts. I think I’m up to date on the ground and I may even surprise people there.

Minotauro by submission,” Junior Cigano

Your teammate who is also in your division in the UFC Rodrigo Minotauro faces Cain Velasquez on February 20. What is your assessment of Velasquez for this fight?

Cain is a great fighter, has a lot of gas and really good wrestling. He’s from the top team in the United States. I believe his strategy will be to fight for three rounds. He will surely get the takedown, but the fight ends with Minotauro by submission. Velasquez is good, but Rodrigo’s technique on the ground and striking is well superior. Therefore, I think his way out will be to get the takedown and try to drag things out on the ground.

Check out the card:

UFC on Versus 1
March 21, 2010

Jon Jones vs Brandon Vera
Junior Dos Santos vs Gabriel Gonzaga
John Howard vs Anthony Johnson
Clay Guida vs Sean Sherk
Spencer Fisher vs Duane “Bang” Ludwig
Eliot Marshall vs Vladimir Matyushenko
Chase Gormley vs Brendan Schaub

Having fought January 2^nd, when he managed his fourth knockout for the organization against Gilbert Yvel, Junior Cigano fights again. The date for the bout leaves him less than three months to prepare and the opponent called up to face him is Jiu-Jitsu black belt Gabriel Gonzaga. The two were supposed to have faced off at UFC 108, but Gonzaga suffered an infection and had to pull out.

Other bouts confirmed for the show are between Jon Jones and Brandon Vera, John Howard and Anthony Johnson, Eliot Marshall against Vladimir Matyushenko, but there are speculations as to the other matchups.

UFC on Versus 1
March 21, 2010

Jon Jones vs Brandon Vera
Junior Dos Santos vs Gabriel Gonzaga
John Howard vs Anthony Johnson
Clay Guida vs Sean Sherk
Spencer Fisher vs Duane “Bang” Ludwig
Eliot Marshall vs Vladimir Matyushenko
Chase Gormley vs Brendan Schaub