Payday was bittersweet for Rafael dos Anjos.
Dos Anjos went home with an event-high $310,000 but surrendered the Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight title in a technical knockout loss to Eddie Alvarez in the UFC Fight Night 90 headliner on Thursday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Dos Anjos succumbed to blows 3:49 into round one, his run of five consecutive victories at an end. Alvarez pocketed $150,000 in becoming the eighth lightweight champion in UFC history.
Meanwhile, Roy Nelson banked $100,000 but wound up on the wrong side of a split decision against former Legacy Fighting Championship heavyweight titleholder Derrick Lewis in the co-main event.