The UFC was back for its first pay-per-view card of the year, returning to Brazil with titles on the line and one legend of the promotion hanging his gloves up once and for all.
There was drama early with vicious knockouts and controversy in a historic title fight before an all-out war capped it off as Glover Teixeira and Jamahal Hill battled it out.
Read on below for a full wrap of UFC 283!
Watch UFC 283: Teixeira v Hill LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo & Foxtel, Sunday 22 January from 2pm AEDT. ORDER NOW >
HILL’S ‘UNBELIEVABLE’ TITLE STATEMENT AS GLOVER RETIRES
Everyone found themselves asking the same question after four rounds: How is Glover Teixeira still standing? How is this 43-year-old ready to go another five minutes?
But Teixeira has made a career out of doing the unthinkable and he constantly defied the odds on Sunday, even if it ultimately ended in defeat to Jamahal Hill.
It was a dominant display from Hill, who well and truly earned his title as the UFC’s new light heavyweight champion.
From questions of his cardio, grappling and wrestling defence — Hill answered it all in Brazil.
“Where I came from to get to this,” Hill told Daniel Cormier post-fight, “it’s unreal.”
“Anything is possible. Hard work, dedication, accountability. Don’t let nobody tell you nothing. Too many people told I couldn’t do this, it was impossible, I gotta win in one round, I couldn’t go five.
“What the f*** you have to say now?”
Teixeira, meanwhile, left no one questioning his toughness. Although there were plenty of people left wondering whether Teixeira was too tough for his own good.
That included Teixeira himself, who announced his retirement after the fight.
“In reality, I think I’m too tough for my own good and too tough for my own health,” he said.
“It’s an honor to put the gloves down on the same night as [Rua].”
Teixeira tried for the takedown a few times early, as expected, but Hill defended it well while attempting to establish the jab while mixing in a few leg kicks.
The fight was then temporarily stopped, only for a few seconds, as Teixeira accidentally poked Hill in the eye with his pinky.
Unlike the Moreno and Figueiredo fight though it would only be a momentary pause as the action resumed shortly after.
Glover landed a strong left hook — one of his better shots — late in the round but overall it was Hill landing more frequently and defending the takedown well in the first period.
“He looked as calm as he was all week in that first round,” Daniel Cormier said in commentary.
The fight was stopped momentarily once again early in the second round after Teixeira this time was accidentally poked in the eye.
Once action resumed though things really started to get going, first sparked with a few brutal head kicks from Hill that wobbled his opponent.
Hill then followed it up with big right hands and the 43-year-old Teixeira looked to be in serious trouble, only to fire back with a few big left hand counters and hooks.
In a true test of Hill’s takedown defence Teixeira then took the fight to the ground, hunting the arm triangle. Hill though was able to survive as the bout went to a third round.
“What was key in that exchange was Jamahal was able to survive and get back to his feet,” Cormier said.
Hill had his chance to end the fight midway through the third, swarming on Glover with a series of punches and big shots that left the 41-year-old “busted up” according to Cormier.
The resilient Glover though was able to outlast the beating and was eventually let back up by Hill.
It looked as if it was a question of when not if the fight ended, with Glover copping an absolute beating from the in-control Hill.
Teixeira did land a takedown late in the round, threatening to pull off an incredible victory but Hill could not be stopped, bursting into tears after the final bell rang.
“Unbelievable and he had to overcome some adversity,” Paul Felder said in commentary.
“Everyone questioned whether Jamahal would have the ability to survive those moments and it went the distance.”
Champ pelted with rubbish after stoppage | 01:40
EYE POKE CONTROVERSY IN TITLE FIGHT AS CROWD ERUPTS
Brandon Moreno is the undisputed flyweight champion after defeating Deiveson Figueiredo in a third-round TKO victory that was not without controversy.
Moreno was in total control in the third round when the doctor called a stop to the fight due to an eye injury suffered by Figueiredo.
While both Moreno and the ESPN commentary team were firm in believing the injury was the result of a clean shot, the hometown hero Figueiredo disagreed — and the Rio faithful had his back too.
“It was Brandon’s night,” Figueiredo said post-fight.
“I felt the eye poke. I thought it was an eye poke but there is nothing much I can say. Hopefully I don’t have any long-lasting problems with my eyes.”
Figueiredo also confirmed he was moving up a division, growing “tired of making this weight” while Moreno was peppered with random objects by furious fans as he left.
READ FULL STORY ON THAT FIGHT HERE!
‘THAT WAS F***ED’: BLOODY BEATING STUNS
Jessica Andrade put on a clinic against Lauren Murphy in their women’s flyweight bout, although many believed the fight should not have gone the distance.
Andrade claimed a unanimous decision win (30-25×2, 30-26) and if Murphy’s bloody and battered head did not tell the full story at the end of the fight, the numbers certainly did.
Fighting in front of her home fans, Andrade landed 216 total strikes compared to just 85 for Murphy with 213 significant strikes while Murphy had 81.
It left Murphy’s face looking “almost unrecognisable” according to Daniel Cormier in commentary.
“Her eyes are really beat up and battered but you can see in her eyes that she still wants to be out there fighting so you’ve got to let her I guess,” Cormier said.
“She’s as tough as they come.”
But with two minutes left in the third round and Murphy copping an absolute beating, Cormier changed his tune and started to question the value of continuing the fight.
“Lauren is now closing her eyes,” he said.
“She’s not even seeing these punches. The ref is going to stop it, he looks like he wants to. Just do it.”
HOMETOWN HERO’S CONFIDENT 10-MINUTE PREDICTION
Gilbert Burns predicted his fight with Neil Magny will last “no more than 10 minutes” as he looked to make a statement in his return to Brazil.
It turned out to be more than just words from Burns, who bounced back from a unanimous decision defeat to Khamzat Chimaev last year with a statement he needed to make.
Paul Felder said it was “executed” perfectly from Burns, who got Magny to tap out in the first round after he gave up the arm triangle trying to defend the ground-and-pound.
“He knew he needed to make a statement tonight,” Anik said in commentary.
“He said ‘I need to finish Neil Magny if I’m going to fight a guy below me I need style points’ and boy did he get them tonight.”
Speaking after the fight, Burns said he was coming for the welterweight championship.
“For everyone who’s running away from me, I’m coming. I’m gonna be champ,” he said.
“These guys aren’t on my level, when I step in here I’m going to submit everyone.”
VILLAIN’S ‘WACK’ SPEECH AFTER SHOGUN’S FAIRYTALE SPOILED
Maurício ‘Shogun’ Rua’s UFC farewell did not go as planned, with Ihor Potieria playing spoiler with a TKO victory over the retiring legend.
Potieria may have made a statement in the octagon, although he created just as much buzz online with his post-fight speech.
“Woah, woah, nice to meet you we are fropeltem Ukraine and I am the future of the UFC,” he said.
“Glory to Ukraine, glory to heroes. Ukraine I love you.”
As for Shogun, the 41-year-old apologised to his home fans for not ending his career with a fairytale win.
“Sorry guys, I wanted to end my career with a win, but I’m going to stop it right here,” he said.
Journalist Ariel Helwani called Potieria’s speech “wack” while fighters including Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson took aim at his lack of respect in celebrating the win.
READ MORE ABOUT THAT FIGHT HERE!
Shogun farewelled with a KO & dance | 00:43
ONE-LEGGED KNOCKOUT STUNS
Elsewhere, the fight between Johnny Walker and Paul Craig promised to deliver fireworks — and it did not disappoint.
It did not take long for the fight to come to an end, with Walker securing a wild TKO victory over Craig, doing so mostly on just one leg.
On this occasion, Craig had tried to catch a Walker kick and was able to hold onto his leg but his rival hit back by exploding in a flurry of punches and hammerfists.
It was enough to force a stoppage and yet another highlight reel for Walker, who had plenty to say after the fight too, that is after breaking out for his trademark worm celebration.
At least he didn’t dislocate his shoulder doing it this time around.
“I don’t give a f***,” Walker told Cormier.
“This is my division now. You were champ-champ, now it’s my turn to do.”
Ferreira lands SHOCKING KO on Rodrigues | 00:27
‘THAT WAS NASTY’: EARLY KO OF THE YEAR CONTENDER
Terrance McKinney knows how to provide a highlight finish inside the octagon but he was on the end of one on Sunday after a thunderous knockout from Ismael Bonfim.
Bonfim provided an early knockout of the year contender with the flying knee that sent McKinney crashing to the ground.
Making matters worse for McKinney was the fact he had his mouthpiece knocked out by a big right hand from Bonfim earlier in the second round.
“No way,” Jon Anik said in commentary.
“Ismael Bonfim with one of the greatest knockouts you will see. 13 in a row for Ismael Bonfim. Unbelievable.”
“Holy cow. That was nasty,” added Cormier.
Bonfim was taking a 12-fight win streak into his UFC debut against McKinney, having earned a spot in the promotion after impressing on Dana White’s Contender Series with a unanimous decision over Nariman Abbasov in September.
Younger brother Gabriel was in action later in the card and made just as big a statement against Mounir Lazzez, securing an 11th career win by submission.
On this occasion he jumped guillotine after a takedown attempt and locked on the mounted guillotine, with Lazzez tapping out in less than a minute.
“In under a minute,” Anik said.
“The Bonfim brothers have arrived. Gabriel Bonfim 14-0 and he gets a quick submission.”
Speaking after his victory, Gabriel declared that this was just the beginning and that both he and Ismael were ready to make history.
“The Bonfim brothers are here to become champions,” he said.
“One at lightweight, one at welterweight. We’re here to make history.”
Epic flying knee ENDS McKinney | 00:24
‘HULK’ PRODUCES STATEMENT KO AS UNDERDOG
The knockouts kept coming, with underdog Brunno Ferreira stunning Gregory Rodrigues in his UFC debut.
The victory saw Rodrigues improve his MMA record to 10-0, with finishes in all 10 of his fights and knockouts in seven — including Sunday’s statement in Brazil.
Rodrigues absolutely flattened ‘Robocop’ with a stinging left hook, sending Rodrigues crashing to the floor.
“Bruno Ferreira finds the target, 10-0,” Anik said in commentary.
“He staunches Gregory Rodriguez. What a result in Rio, a stunner. We’re seeing some unbelievable debuts.”
“He is turning and kind of lets the left hand go,” added Cormier.
“It puts him out. When he sees the shot he takes the shot and puts Rodriguez out. What a shot. Holy cow.”
What made Ferreira’s win even more impressive was the fact he took the fight on eight days’ notice, hardly looking underdone in his first bout for the promotion.
“Now I showed everyone who is Brunno Hulk,” he declared post-fight.
UFC 283 FULL FIGHT CARD & RESULTS
MAIN CARD (2pm AEDT)
Jamahal Hill def. Glover Teixeira via unanimous decision 50-44 x3 – for the vacant UFC light heavyweight championship
Brandon Moreno def. Deiveson Figueiredo (c) via TKO – doctor’s stoppage – for the UFC flyweight championship
Gilbert Burns def. Neil Magny via submission — arm triangle (welterweight)
Jessica Andrade def. Lauren Murphy via unanimous decision win — 30-25×2, 30-26 (women’s flyweight)
Johnny Walker def. Paul Craig via TKO — strikes (light heavyweight)
PRELIMS (12PM AEDT)
Ihor Potieria def. Mauricio Rua via TKO — punches (light heavyweight)
Brunno Ferreira def. Gregory Rodrigues via KO — left hook (middleweight)
Thiago Moises def. Melquizael Costa via submission — rear-naked choke (lightweight)
Gabriel Bonfim def. Mounir Lazzez via submission — guillotine choke (welterweight)
EARLY PRELIMS (10AM AEDT)
Jailton Almeida def. Shamil Abdurakhimov via TKO — strikes (heavyweight)
Cody Stamann def. Luan Lacerda via unanimous decision — 29-28 x3 (bantamweight)
Ismael Bonfim def. Terrance McKinney via KO — flying knee (lightweight)
Nicolas Dalby def. Warlley Alves via split decision — 29-28, 29-28, 28-29 (welterweight)
Josiane Nunes def. Zarah Fairn dos Santos via unanimous decision — 29-28 x3 (women’s featherweight)
Daniel Marcos def. Saimon Oliveira via KO — knee and punches (bantamweight)