UFC 217 promised to be one of the most exciting events of the year, but as it played out, it became apparent that it was one of the best ever.
Before three bonafide main-event fights in succession, we had already sen an incredible flash KO from Ovince Saint Preux, and Stephen Thompson put on a karate clinic against Jorge Masvidal, but when it got down to the title fights everything got a bit mental.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk was looking to defend her title for the seventh time and was the heavy favourite going into a fight with Rose Namjunas that promised to be one of the best fights on the night.
It's not that nobody gave Thug Rose a chance, it's that Joanna Jedrzejczyk is one of the best strikers in all of MMA, so if the challenger was going to cause an upset, it surely had to be with her jiu-jitsu.
Instead, Namajunas shocked all in attendance as she put the most feared woman in MMA on her backside twice in the first round, and when she followed up on her second knockdown she forced the champion to tap due to strikes.
THUG ROSE, THUG ROSE, THUG ROSE!
Unbelievable! Rose Namajunas stops Joanna Jedrzejczyk in the first round! #AndNew #UFC217 pic.twitter.com/tESuLvYSt0— #UFC217 (@btsportufc) November 5, 2017
Incredible. Absolutely incredible.
A fighter who has made no secret of her personal troubles in the past, it is truly inspirational to see her where she is now, the UFC strawweight champion of the world at just 25.
Next up was a grudge match between Cody Garbrandt and TJ Dillashaw with the bantamweight title on the line.
Cody had the better of the firstinininini, dropping TJ with a vicious shot right at the death of the round. It looked as though Dillashaw had slowed after taking the hit, but soon came back into things when he landed a head-kick that hurt Cody and started to pushed the pace.
It finished with a highlight reel KO, and although Cody was emotional initially he soon shook Dillashaw's hand.
THERE'S A NEW KING AT 135 LBS!
TJ Dillashaw is the new bantamweight champion of the world! #UFC217 pic.twitter.com/GFpQkwcVtZ— #UFC217 (@btsportufc) November 5, 2017
This one is not over.
We'll see Garbrandt and Dillashaw fight again, and it can't come soon enough, although TJ did call out Demetrious Johnson immediately after winning, so let's wait and see what happens there.
Last but not least, the main event featured the return of Georges St-Pierre and although the signs of ring-rust were clear to see, he managed to finish Michael Bisping and become a two-weight champion by claiming the welterweight title in the third round.
Bisping looked to be in control of the fight with his opponent tiring, but a booming left saw GSP rush in to end the fight, eventually sinking in a rear naked choke which put the Englishman out.
ANNNNDDDDDDD NEWWWWWWW!
OH MY GOODNESS!
Georges St-Pierre chokes out Michael Bisping and is the new middleweight champion! #UFC217 pic.twitter.com/NxeVvAdvfs— #UFC217 (@btsportufc) November 5, 2017
What a night.
UFC 217 will live long in the memory, and now we have three new champions and new implications in each divsion.
