Friday night at UFC 207 in Las Vegas, the long-awaited return of Ronda Rousey came to fruition.

The former queen of the UFC women's bantamweight division ended her year-long hiatus from the spotlight and stepped back into the Octagon to face titleholder Amanda Nunes. The term "highly anticipated" gets thrown around plenty in the fight game, but Rousey's reemergence from the shadows is the very definition of the descriptor.

And how could it be any other way?

The woman whose rise to stardom shattered barriers and opened doors was going to return to the cage where her highest of highs was experienced. Nevertheless, past accomplishments weren't on the tips of tongues around the MMA community in the lead up. Rather, the focus steadied on the sole low point in Rousey's storied career.

The former Olympic judoka was last seen getting leveled by Holly Holm back at UFC 193 in November of 2015. Rousey suffered a brutal knockout in the second round of the tilt--the first of her MMA career--but it was the aftermath of the setback that truly sent the hype surrounding the phenom into a downward spiral.

Fight fans are a passionate collective, and even the most diehard of such understand the improbability of a fighter running the table in flawless fashion. Every competitor will get bested eventually, but Rousey wasn't fit to handle her stumble.


December 30, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Ronda Rousey fights against Amanda Nunes during UFC 207 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Rather than face the media and give Holm her due on a job well done, Rousey sunk into the embarrassment of suffering her first defeat. She hid her face from cameras and then slipped out of sight without word or warning. Questions about her psychological state ramped up even further after Rousey appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and shared candid insight on her dark thoughts following UFC 193.

While questions regarding focus and state of mind typically fade or increase during fight week as the fighters involved in the event face the media, the UFC allowed Rousey to skip media obligations per the fighter's request.

This of course only served to further the questions and doubts surrounding the former champion, and ultimately fed further into the excitement to see Rousey make the walk. No matter what was said in the pre-fight build-up, Rousey was going to enter that cage and have her chance to either find redemption or go down in flames in brutal fashion.

Where the woman who kicked opened the doors to the Octagon once seemed invincible, one thing was crystal clear heading into UFC 207: Rousey's back was against the wall. An incredible performance not only earned her back the title she once coveted, but it would once again ignite the blazing star power that surrounded her.

On the flip side, a defeat of any nature against Nunes would bring an end to any shred of mystique she still carried. And when the stakes involved are at the very pinnacle of risk and reward, that is a situation that will earn eager fans' attention in all regards.

To put it simply: UFC 207 was make or break for Rousey, and it all broke.


December 30, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Amanda Nunes lands a hit against Ronda Rousey during UFC 207 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

While Rousey was able to hold her mystique until the opening bell sounded, as soon as the referee stepped out of the way, that confidence smashed into a million pieces. The first hard shot Nunes landed forced Rousey to freeze, and that made her a target for the worst of intentions from the Brazilian champion.

Nunes peppered Rousey with heavy shots from all angles and the woman once touted as "once in human history" was dismantled before our eyes. Several more shots from Nunes while Rousey hovered in limbo near the cage, and referee Herb Dean had seen enough. Nunes was awarded the TKO victory, and Rousey, as we've known her for the past five years, was gone.

It was a crazy night of action from the T-Mobile Arena, so let's take a look at the good, bad and strange from UFC 207.

The Good

Amanda Nunes is a buzzsaw, plain and simple.

When the scrappy Brazilian began her run to the top of the division in early 2015, there were few in the MMA space who put much stock in her claims of becoming a world champion. This was due in large part to the stars sitting atop the division, with the brightest shine resonating off Ronda Rousey. Never one to be detoured, Nunes said she would someday be queen of the bantamweights, and good Lord did she put a stamp on her reign at UFC 207.


December 30, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Amanda Nunes moves in with a punch against Ronda Rousey during UFC 207 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

After defeating Miesha Tate to win the title at UFC 200, Nunes immediately set her sights on a bout with Rousey. The "Rowdy" one is easily the biggest star to ever compete in women's MMA, and a victory over the former champion would serve to catapult the current titleholder in popularity.

With all the focus put on Rousey's return, Nunes was pushed to the backdrop of the promotional machine. So much, in fact, the champion was barely featured in any of the advertising material put out for UFC 207, but Nunes was adamant the lack of attention did not bother her, as she would show her worth inside the Octagon.

And man, oh man did she ever.

From the opening bell, "The Lioness" attacked, and Rousey had zero to offer in return. Nunes bashed and pummeled the former queen of the division in ruthless fashion as she made it seem as if Rousey had zero business being inside the same cage as her. With Rousey hurt, Nunes poured it on thick and forced the referee to step in to stop the mauling. 

In less than two years, Nunes went from being an afterthought in the bantamweight division to starching one of the promotion's biggest stars ever in a 48-second drubbing. That's an amazing accomplishment, and Nunes could have very well locked down "Fighter of the Year" honors with her performance on Friday night in Las Vegas.



December 30, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Cody Garbrandt lands a hit against Dominick Cruz during UFC 207 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

While the bulk of the spotlight was meant to shine on Ronda Rousey on the road to UFC 207, that weight was actually carried by the two men competing for the bantamweight title in Dominick Cruz and Cody Garbrandt. Not only did they carry the promotion for the event, but Cruz and Garbrandt absolutely brought the noise on fight night.

The co-main event tilt was an absolutely spectacular scrap, with the young buck Garbrandt defeating the fighter highly regarded as the greatest bantamweight of all time.

It's crazy to think that two years ago the Ohio native wasn't even a UFC fighter, just a up-and-coming brawler with a ton of potential. "No Love" made his promotional debut at UFC 182 back in January of 2015, and 23 months later, the Team Alpha Male representative is a world champion. And while Garbrandt's knockout power put him on the larger MMA radar, his performance against Cruz at UFC 207 signaled a much more versatile skill set.


December 30, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Cody Garbrandt reacts in between rounds against Dominick Cruz during UFC 207 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Where the matchup between Garbrandt and Cruz was figured to be power vs. technique, it turned out to be something else entirely. Garbrandt's power was certainly there as he dropped Cruz several times throughout the five-round affair, but his speed, precision and timing were on a level never before seen against the long-reigning champion's herky-jerky attack.

Garbrandt stung Cruz with big shots at every turn but was rarely there for the titleholder's return shots. No fighter before him had ever made Cruz look like he did on Friday night, and that's an incredible badge of honor for the newly minted 25-year-old champion. Even though Garbrandt and Cruz buried the hatchet in the aftermath of their five-round display of awesomeness, the young champion wasted no time sparking another feud to life.

Immediately following his victory at UFC 207, Garbrandt sent a message to former teammate and No. 1 contender T.J. Dillashaw, and it was delivered with savage intentions.

"T.J. Dillashaw....come try me, motherf*cker."

The storyline and respective skill sets both fighters possess makes the potential bout between Garbrandt and Dillashaw a barn-burner to look forward to in the coming year.


December 30, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; T.J. Dillashaw throws a punch against John Lineker during UFC 207 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Speaking of T.J. Dillashaw...the Duane-Ludwig-trained fighter came into UFC 207 with something to prove.

The former bantamweight champion was none too happy with his former teammate Garbrandt leap-frogging him in the race for the 135-pound title. Dillashaw jockeyed for months to get a rematch with the man who stole his title in Dominick Cruz, but it was the heavy-handed upstart who received the call to fight for the strap in Las Vegas.

This turn of events left Dillashaw sour with the entire situation, and the 30-year-old Californian wanted to make his case for contention undeniable. In order to do that, he would square off with Brazilian knockout artist John Lineker, with the opportunity to show he could make one of the most dangerous strikers in the division appear as if he had no business being inside the same cage with him.

It was mission accomplished for Dillashaw on Friday night.

The fleet-footed former champion out-worked and out-finessed the brawler from start to finish. Anytime Lineker would start to get some traction on the feet, Dillashaw would put him on his back with ease. Once in top position, it was all Dillashaw as Lineker had little to no answer for the Team Elevation fighter's ground game. The end result was locked well before the final bell sounded. Dillashaw cruised to a lopsided unanimous decision victory on the judges' scorecards.

Immediately following his win over Lineker, the former 135-pound titleholder returned to the campaign trail, doing so with some pizzazz. Dillashaw called for a fight with the winner of Cruz vs. Garbrandt and went as far as to say if he doesn't get the fight he wants, "this sh*t is rigged."

Although it's unclear at this time if things will work out in Dillashaw's favor, there's no doubt another title opportunity is what he's earned.


Dec 29, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Dong Hyun Kim (left) faces off against Tarec Saffiedine during weigh ins for UFC 207 at T Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The days of Dong Hyun Kim being a boring fighter are over.

The South Korean judoka has been a staple in the UFC welterweight division for the better part of a decade, but the majority of that stretch has been spent with little to no excitement surrounding his name. Kim's grappling attack was certainly efficient--as wins in five of his first six bouts in the UFC reflect--but his top-heavy approach did little to excite fans to get behind him.

A couple rough outings and a change of direction in the offense department later, and "Stun Gun" is now a fighter with some pop in the 170-pound fold. Kim entered his bout with Tarec Saffiedine at UFC 2017 having won back-to-back showings inside the Octagon and found success in seven of his past eight. Nevertheless, the bout figured to be a battle of opposing styles, as the Belgian's striking would create a distance gap Kim would need to close.

That's not how things turned out whatsoever.

From the opening bell to the last, fans at T-Mobile Arena saw the two veteran welterweights going toe-to-toe and exchanging shots at every turn. Saffiedine delivered the more crisp shots in the equation, but Kim's wildness strangely paid off in bursts. The fight was such a back-and-forth affair it was difficult to tell who would emerge victorious, but two of the three judges sitting cageside saw the fight in Kim's favor.

With the split-decision win, Kim has now notched three straight victories and will find himself looking at some bigger options heading into 2017. And while Saffiedine will leave Las Vegas suffering his second consecutive loss, it was a close enough fight where his stock shouldn't suffer all too much damage.


December 30, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Mike Pyle falls after being knocked out by Alex Garcia during UFC 207 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Garcia has scary power.

The 29-year-old Tristar product has put his finishing ability on display numerous times since arriving to the UFC back in 2013, but the knock on Garcia has always been his ability to adapt when his big shots aren't landing. In order to fulfill the potential many believe he carries, Garcia will have to show he's more than just a brawler.

That conversation won't change after he deaded Mike Pyle at UFC 207, but it will put a bit of heat back on his profile.

Garcia came into Friday night's bout having dropped two of his past three showings inside the cage and desperately needed a victory over the savvy veteran to keep his hopes for bigger things alive. Pyle has never been an easy out in any regard, but Garcia tapped into his signature hulk strength to bring the Xtreme Couture representative's night to a violent end.

Pyle drifted in for a leg kick and ate a monster right hand for his troubles. The 41-year-old Tennessee native was adrift in the abrupt calm well before his head thumped off the canvas, and Garcia added another brutal stoppage to his highlight reel in the process.


December 30, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Ray Borg reacts during his match against Louis Smolka during UFC 207 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

There are a lot of things I want to write about Ray Borg.

The Albuquerque native brings a full-throttled attack style and is as tough as they come in the flyweight ranks. "The TazMexican Devil" has a bright future ahead of him, and proof of his skill was on display in his win over Louis Smolka to kick off the pay-per-view card at UFC 207. That said, to be considered a legitimate contender, Borg has to make weight, and he failed to do that once again for his bout with Smolka.

If Borg makes weight for the fight, then his road out of Las Vegas is filled with nothing but promise. Instead, there are elements of doubt hanging over a solid performance. Borg is simply too talented for these scale hiccups to keep happening, and here's to hoping the 23-year-old fighter gets things figured out going forward.

The Bad

Ronda Rousey's mystique was shattered at UFC 193, but her career came to an end at UFC 207 in Las Vegas.

While there has yet to be anything made official in regard to Rousey's actual retirement, the fighter who stepped into the Octagon to compete against Amanda Nunes on Friday night was a shell of the former lioness she once was. Sure, the fierce sneer and glare were there in the pre-fight introductions, but that mask quickly shattered as soon the first right hand from Nunes landed.



All in all, it took less than one minute for the rest of what Rousey had left to give to be destroyed and scattered across the cage she kicked the door open to for her fellow females just a few short years ago. The sight of Rousey out on her feet and stumbling backward while Nunes was in ruthless pursuit will hang for a long time, and no amount of media avoidance or deflection will make it go away.

There is no doubt in time Rousey will be looked at for what she accomplished and her insane rise to become one of the biggest athletes in the world, but working in an unforgiving sport will ultimately yield harsh results. It's how fighters handle those setbacks which shapes their legacies, and Rousey was never put on the firing line to talk about life on the downside of fame.

While there are few things certain in MMA, when a fighter has nothing left to offer, it is painfully obvious. And for Rousey, the final two chapters of her story are heavy enough they will outweigh the fantastic opening until time does its thing.



Oh, Johny Hendricks, what hath happened to ye?

As a two-time NCAA Division-I National Champion wrestler and former UFC welterweight titleholder, success is truly the only thing Hendricks has ever known in the realm of combat. Granted, there were random setbacks here and there along the way, but by and large, the only thing Hendricks did was win once the competition went live.

Yet, when the setbacks before the fight become a bigger story than what happens in the actual fight, there is certainly a problem, and Hendricks has plenty of them in the aftermath of UFC 207.

In addition to coming into his tilt with Neil Magny having suffered back-to-back losses, Hendricks was also dealing with the continued stigma of missing weight on fight week. "Bigg Rigg" tipped the scale to have his fight with Tyron Woodley scratched, then came in a quarter pound over the limit in his most recent tilt with Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 200.


Dec 29, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Johny Hendricks during weigh ins for UFC 207 at T Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Those situations urged UFC President Dana White to say Hendricks would be forced to compete as a middleweight going forward, but the former Oklahoma State University standout managed to convince the promotion for one more chance to prove he can make the 170-pound limit.

Unfortunately for Hendricks, the scales were not in his favor at the official weigh-ins on Thursday morning, as he once again came in over weight.

If missing the mark didn't create enough pressure, Hendricks coming into the fight against Magny carrying back-to-back losses put the proverbial cherry on top of the circumstance shake on the table.

Losses to The Ultimate Fighter 17 winner and Stephen Thompson marked the first time Hendricks had ever suffered multiple setbacks, but those poor showings only served to flesh out a poor run where the former titleholder has only managed wins in two of his past six fights.

Hendricks absolutely could not afford to lose against Magny at UFC 207, and while it appeared the former champion did enough to earn the victory, all three cageside judges saw it differently

Hendricks worked an efficient attack where he went back to his wrestling roots and put Magny on his back at will. Ever the game opponent, Magny fought hard from every position he was put in, but Hendricks was just too much in the wrestling department. That said, Magny worked an endless chain of submission attempts and twice had Hendricks stuck in triangle chokes, elbowing away while he attempted to cinch in the finish. 

When the final bell sounded, Hendricks raised his arms in victory, but it was Magny who took the unanimous decision across the board. UFC 207 was supposed to be the place where Hendricks turned things around, but his situation will become much worse in the aftermath.

The combination of making weight and a strong performance would have been a good cap to a tough year for Hendricks, but instead it will sit as another gray chapter for a man whose motivations still seem to be in limbo. Hendricks now sits on three straight losses, and the promotion he works for has zero confidence in his ability to make weight. That could very well put his job in jeopardy.


December 30, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Johny Hendricks fights against Neil Magny during UFC 207 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Can you remember when Brandon Thatch was all the rage in the UFC welterweight division? Yeah...that was so 2013.

After notching back-to-back victories and doing so in the most brutal of fashions, Thatch had a serious amount of hype attached to his name. The Colorado native's snuffing of Paulo Thiago at Fight Night 32 put Thatch's stock on a crazy trajectory, and the sky appeared the limit.

Fast forward three years, and Thatch's time in the UFC will come to an end.

Thatch came into his bout against newcomer Niko Price at UFC 207 carrying the weight of a three-fight losing streak. His job was absolutely on the line, and the 31-year-old scrapper entered the Octagon in a must-win situation. Thatch immediately set the distance upon the opening bell, but Price pressed forward in gritty fashion to close the distance.


December 30, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Brandon Thatch reacts following his loss by submission against Niko Price during UFC 207 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

It didn't take Price long to get the action to the canvas, and once there, the newcomer went to work. Price threatened with several submission attempts until he eventually locked on a fight-ending arm triangle choke. Knowing he was trapped, Thatch threw a quick tapout, and a fourth consecutive loss will spell his release from the UFC.

Granted, Thatch being cut is an unofficial call at this time, but it's hard to imagine a division as deep as the welterweight fold hanging onto a fighter in the midst of such a deep rut. There's no doubt Thatch is as dynamic a striker as can be found in the 170-pound division, but his inability to be on when it counts or to show any type of consistency is what cost him in the end.

The Strange

How important is doing media rounds in the lead up to a big fight?

That was the question blasting across the MMA landscape in the lead up to UFC 207, and it will continue to do so in the aftermath of the ruckus in Las Vegas on Friday night. And while the topic seems to be as cut and dry as want and need from the parties involved, the issue itself is actually far more complex.

Just looking from the promotion's standpoint, we've already seen numerous examples of how crucial the media spots are in the drive toward selling pay-per-views on fight night. Conor McGregor's ill-fated connection to UFC 200 is plenty of proof.

The Irish superstar clashed with the UFC leading up to the historical event over the promotion forcing him to attend a series of media events. McGregor held his ground, saying training time was more important than media time, but UFC President Dana White insisted no fighter was above doing media obligations for an event.

Zuffa went on to remove McGregor from the card entirely, and White stamped his company's decision in numerous interviews, saying not even the biggest stars are allowed to divert from the schedule.

Ronda Rousey operates by a different set of rules.


Dec 29, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Amanda Nunes (left) faces off against Ronda Rousey during weigh ins for UFC 207 at T Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Not only did the UFC allow Rousey to snub the media heading into UFC 207, but White offered his full support of her decision to do so. The UFC frontman started throwing shade at the UFC 205 post-fight press conference back in November when he pointed to the MMA media being overly critical of the former champion. White then doubled down on that sentiment this week during a media day where he openly admitted his presence was due to Rousey not attending.

The other aspect to examine here is the state of mind Rousey carried in the lead up to her fight with Nunes.

While talking to the media in the middle of cutting weight and working out pre-fight nerves is never the most pleasant thing, there is also an element of focus on display. A fighter sits and fields questions regarding their overall journey with emphasis put on the immediate chapter on deck, and there are telling elements as to where a fighter's mentality sits.

Given her year-plus hiatus from doing interviews, it was pretty clear Rousey had no want to address how the fight with Holm ended or what impact the loss had on her legacy. Athlete's dealing with high-profile defeats is a necessity in a sporting world where the media creates the narrative, but Rousey was determined to keep the wall between her and journalists intact. 

Following her destruction at the hands of Nunes on Friday night, the narrative of her being a fractured product coming into the bout will become part of her mythos. There's no taking away the great things Rousey did for women in the sport of MMA, but pandering to her insecurities and keeping her out of the scope of a media who would not go easy on her ultimately did her zero favors.

It only took 48 seconds to prove, and it was a tough 48 seconds to watch because of its one-sidedness. 


December 30, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Alex Oliveira is carried off on a stretcher following his fight against Tim Means during UFC 207 at T-Mobile Arena. The match resulted in no contest. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

UFC 207 may be the last card of 2016 for the biggest promotion in MMA, but let us not forget this has been a year of chaos.

The Lord of Confusion and Violence has blessed us all with many gifts this calendar year, and it would be crazy to think Friday night's card in Las Vegas wouldn't have a few offerings. The opening bout between Tim Means and Charles Oliveira wasted zero time introducing the Dark Lord's arrival.

When you put two ultra-aggressive fighters inside the cage, aggressive things are going to happen, but when things go beyond the boundaries of the rules, the gear shifts into crazy. Furthermore, when the clearly stated rules are misunderstood by everyone on the UFC broadcast, the only recourse is head scratching and social media.

Means blasted Oliveira with a pair of knees while the Brazilian "Cowboy" had a knee of his own on the canvas, and the bout was promptly brought to a halt. Knees to a downed opponent are never allowed, and Means appeared to be heading toward a disqualification.

When the official call came through as a no-contest due to "accidental knees," the aforementioned recourse kicked into full gear. Media and fans alike lost their minds on social media platforms as they attempted to make sense of the ruling.

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If the night at UFC 207 didn't get off to a strange enough start, some strange item hit the mat in the bout between Niko Price and Brandon Thatch.

Was it a tooth? Was it a pill of some sort? The only thing for certain is the tiny white item that became dislodged while the two welterweights were rolling on the canvas was a strange happening. Take a look at the footage and decide for yourself.

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