UFC hands out Twitter bonuses to Brazilians, ?Smooth? and a lady

At the Fighters' Summit in June, the UFC promised to hand out bonuses to fighters based on their Twitter activity. UFC president Dana White is a huge fan of the social networking site because it allows fans and fighters to interact easily. When the UFC announced the bonuses, they were open to both Strikeforce and UFC fighters.

Only one Strikeforce fighter picked up any of the $5,000 bonuses, and that was Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos. Since Strikeforce doesn't give out postfight bonuses like the UFC does for Fight of the Night, Knockout of the Night, or Submission of the Night, this is the first bonus given to a female fighter.

Here's the complete list of winners:

Twitter Bonus Recipients
75,000+ followers:
Most Followers: Anderson Silva
Largest Percentage Growth: Anderson Silva
Most Creative: Forrest Griffin

30-75,000+ followers:
Most Followers: Antonio Minotauro Nogueira
Largest Percentage Growth: Antonio Minotauro Nogueira
Most Creative: Joe Lauzon

10-30,000+ followers:
Most Followers: Demian Maia
Largest Percentage Growth: Demian Maia
Most Creative: Benson Henderson

2-10,000+ followers:
Most Followers: Cris Cyborg
Largest Percentage Growth: Cris Cyborg
Most Creative: Joseph Benavidez

White picked out the most creative types, but I can't agree with all of his picks. Amir Sadollah, Miguel Torres and Kenny Florian are just as deserving. Miesha Tate shares the best pictures, and Duane Ludwig is the most well-rounded.

[Related: Mexican soccer club puts players' Twitter handles on jerseys]

The one category missing is the one that the UFC values the most: fan interaction. Fighters have come up with many different ways to use Twitter to meet fans, give away gear and memorabilia, and mobilize them to get a fight or a spot on a card. Considering that is how the UFC uses its own account, it should add a bonus for fighters can deftly use Twitter to work with fans.

Are you on Twitter? Do you agree with the awards that the UFC has awarded? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook or of course, on Twitter.

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/UFC-hands-out-Twitter-bonuses-to-Brazilians-Sm?urn=mma-wp8919

Al Keller Joe Kelly Dave Kennedy Loris Kessel Bruce Kessler