The Octagon returned to Brazil for the fifth times in four years on Saturday and UFC fans were not left disappointed after a stunning knockout for Lyoto Machida ended Vitor Belfort's career in the middleweight division.
On a night packed full of drama, where only two bouts went to the judges decision, the knockout of Belfort was the highlight. A well timed front kick to the face from Machida sent the 41 to the canvas, out cold before he hit the deck.
The knockout came from out of nowhere too, following a snoozefest first round, Machida's eye-watering kick to the jaw had the stadium in awe.
Elsewhere on the card, Amanda Nunes was an easy winner over Raquel Pennington in the Women's Bantamweight Championship fight, whilst Kelvin Gadstelum escaped with a controversial split decision over Jacare Souza, also in the men's middleweight division.
Mackenzie Dern won against Amanda Cooper but the real drama had come at the weigh in, where Dern missed the 116lbs straweight limit for a non-title fight by a massive half a stone! (7lbs). Cooper still took the fight against her heavier opponent but was no match for Dern who took her record to 7-0.
The remaining bout on the main card was between John Lineker and Brian Kelleher, with the #6 contender at Bantamweight Lineker producing his own highlight reel knockout in the third round to beat Kelleher. His left hook beinhg described as one of the best in MMA.
Next up the UFC bandwagon is in Chile on the 20th May as Demian Maia takes on Kamaru Usman.
