Fans were treated to an incredible night of action at UFC 250 tonight as Amanda Nunes put in a flawless performance to retain her featherweight crown, while Cody Garbrandt got back to winning ways with a stunning knockout.
Nunes picked apart challenger Felicia Spencer in a dominant performance, solidifying her place as the best female fighter in the UFC.
In a bantamweight bonanza, Cody Garbrandt and Aljamain Sterling scored massive victories to send shockwaves through the division.
A night of phenomenal finishes, there were brawls, technical masterclasses and some brutal knockouts in a card that had everything for UFC fans.
In the headliner, 'The Lioness' dominated her Canadian opponent from the outset and cruised to a resounding victory over a brave Spencer.
Despite a brave showing, Spencer struggled to deal with Nunes' hard-hitting strikes, and couldn't really inflict any significant damage on the champ in the early rounds.
In a clinical performance, Nunes picked her moments as she strategically picked apart the challenger in one of the most one-sided title clashes, taking the unanimous decision win.
In the co-main event, Garbrandt landed perhaps one of the best knockouts of the year in a stunning victory over Raphael Assuncao.
The former bantamweight king let over three years of hurt and disappointment fly through a lethal right hand - right on the buzzer at the end of the second round.
A new-look Garbrandt, he was impressive in the build-up as he showed previously unseen patience and technique getting back to winning ways.
But as he claws his way back into the conversation for a shot at gold, he may have to wait before that comes after Aljamain Sterling scored a massive victory just before.
The Jamaican took out top challenger Cory Sandhagen in a dominant performance - needing just ninety seconds to lock in a rear-naked choke.
Sterling now finds himself at the forefront of the title picture at 135 lbs, and looks almost certain to challenge for gold the next time he steps into the cage.
In the Main Card opener, Sean O'Malley sent a warning to the bantamweights himself, flooring veteran Eddie Wineland in the first round.
'Sugar' O'Malley hit the experienced Wineland with a beautiful right hand, putting the bout to bed - walking away immediately after it landed.
Despite Sterling and Cody Garbrandt taking the headlines and prime position for gold, the 12-0 prospect will jump in the rankings and remains a star in the making.
Neil Magny also prevailed in a battle of the welterweights, a dominant final round put him ahead of Anthony Rocco Martin as the Haitian continues his triumphant return to the Octagon.
But in a big surprise earlier in the night, rising star Chase Hooper was handed his first loss by veteran Alex Caceres in the prelims showcase.
The 20-year-old survived an early onslaught in the first round, but battled bravely to see the fight through as he grew into it in the later rounds.
Just his second UFC fight, Hooper has hit a speedbump in what was evidently a step up in class against a proven striker.
In the other featherweight clash of the evening, an emotional Cody Stamatt pulled off a unanimous decision win over a reinvigorated Brian Kelleher.
But in a real showcase for bantamweights, he got in on the action and put the division on alert by declaring he's going back down to 135.
At middleweight, Hawaiian bruiser Maki Pitolo was very impressive kicking off the main prelims, he stopped Charles Byrd in the second round with an impressive TKO victory.
And in the other middleweight collision, Iain Heinisch made short work of Gerald Meerschaert in the first round - moving to 14-3 as he recovers from a disappointing 2019.
The early Prelims kicked off hot as rising star Herbert Burns submitted Evan Dunham early in the first round, while fans were treated two a fifteen minute light-heavyweight battle as Devin Clark recovered from a brutal eye socket injury to get the win over Alonzo Menifield.
Alex Perez turned some heads in the flyweight division with a first round win over no.4 ranked contender Jussier Formiga, his series of vicious calf strikes brought us into the main preliminary card.
FULL RESULTS
MAIN CARD
Amanda Nunes Def. Felicia Spencer (Unanimous decision) – for women’s featherweight title
Cody Garbrandt Def. Raphael Assuncao (2nd - KO) - Bantamweight
Aljamain Sterling Def. Cory Sandhagen (1st - Submission)- Bantamweight
Neil Magny Def. Anthony Rocco Martin (Unanimous decision) - Welterweight
Sean O’Malley Def. Eddie Wineland (1st - KO) - Bantamweight
PRELIMINARY CARD
Alex Caceres Def. Chase Hooper (Unanimous decision) - Featherweight
Ian Heinisch Def. Gerald Meerschaert (1st - KO) - Middleweight
Cody Stamann Def. Brian Kelleher (Unanimous decision) - Featherweight
Maki Pitolo Def. Charles Byrd (2nd - TKO Punches) - Middleweight
EARLY PRELIMS
Alex Perez Def. Jussier Formiga (1st - TKO) - Flyweight
Devin Clark Def. Alonzo Menifield (Unanimous decision) - Light Heavyweight
Herbert Burns Def. Evan Dunham (1st - Submission) - Catchweight
