Even in defeat Cody McKenzie came out a winner.
The mixed martial arts fighter, who learned the ropes at Trail’s Pride Gym, stepped into the ring Saturday for his second fight with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
McKenzie put his 12-0 record on the line against Yves Edwards in Fight for the Troops held at the army base in Fort Hood, Tex.
McKenzie tried to lock down Edwards with his patented guillotine chokehold in the first round but the experienced Edwards remained elusive.
Edwards took control in the second round and submitted McKenzie with a rear-naked choke hold in the second round to hand McKenzie is first defeat.
UFC president Dana White recognized the efforts of both fighters when it came to handing out bonuses for the night.
McKenzie and Edwards each received $30,000 bonuses for Fight of the Night and Edwards collected another $30,000 for Submission of the Night.
It marks the second bonus the 23-year-old Alaska native has received in two UFC bouts. He picked up $30,000 in December for his Submission of the Night during “The Ultimate Fighter 12” finale in Las Vegas.