The last time the UFC traveled to Atlantic City, Gray Maynard and Clay Guida didn’t exactly give the New Jersey faithful much to cheer about. The same could not be said of Wednesday night.
Donald Cerrone not only became the first man to knock out Jim Miller, he managed to do it twice in the same round, thanks to a gaffe by referee Dan Miragliotta. Yet somehow that picturesque slice of violence was just the cherry on top of the double-fudge sundae that was UFC Fight Night 45. Edson Barboza and Rick Story catapulted their stock up the rankings with lopsided finishes; John Lineker cemented himself as a viable contender for the 125-pound belt, killing off against a surprisingly game Turkish wildman with seconds to spare; Lucas Martins became the fourth man to emerge victorious in three separate UFC divisions, short-circuiting Alex White’s noggin with a ridiculous one-two… and all that’s not even mentioning Leslie Smith’s super-hyper-combo finish of Jessamyn Duke or Aljamain Sterling’s breakout dismantling of Hugo Viana which set the table for the spectacle about to unfold.
All in all, not half-bad theater for a weekday, eh? And as if you didn’t already know, the pros were right there loving it every step of the way.
Congrats @Cowboycerrone nice Head kick KO!!
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) July 17, 2014
So excited for @Cowboycerrone !!!! First time anyone has finished someone….. Twice… He had him already with the body shot.
— Holly Holm (@_HOLLYHOLM) July 17, 2014
Congratulations to teammate @Cowboycerrone for fighting like the terminator tonight #relentless
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) July 17, 2014
Cerrone with 2 finishes in one fight. Great scrap from both.
— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) July 17, 2014
@Cowboycerrone has some fast kicks! Set that shot up beautifully!
— Chad Laprise (@ChadLaprise) July 17, 2014
GAAAAAAT DAMN WAS THAT A KILLER STOPPAGE! #UFCFightNight45
— Jon SuperSaiyan Tuck (@JonCruzTuck) July 17, 2014
Ok, there it is!! @Cowboycerrone Lookin like a Beast @ufc @danawhite #UFCFightNight
— Bubba McDaniel (@BubbaTheMenace) July 17, 2014
I’ve seen big Dan almost let a few guys die in the cage…but he brought Jim miller back to life…all be it briefly this fight
— Brian Rogers (@BRogthePredator) July 17, 2014
Wow I hope jim is ok!!!
— kurt pellegrino (@kurtpellegrino) July 17, 2014
Great main event. Unlucky @JimMiller_155 well done @Cowboycerrone
— michael (@bisping) July 17, 2014
Wow @Cowboycerrone two knockouts in one fight!!
— Kyle Noke (@KyleNoke) July 17, 2014
When Cerrone is on, he’s a straight killer!
— MIKE RICHMAN (@MikeUSMCRichman) July 17, 2014
Wow @Cowboycerrone they took it the first time go get it again without a doubt! #Impressive
— walt harris (@thebigticket205) July 17, 2014
Donald Cerrone fucking sick kick!! #UFCFightNight
— Georgi Karakhanyan (@georgimma) July 17, 2014
Two KO’s in one fight. Congrats to Cowboy!!! Dois nocaute em uma luta. Parabéns ao Cerrone!! #ufc #UFCnoCombate #UFConfox
— Gesias JZ Cavalcante (@Gesias) July 17, 2014
OMG miller fell in slow-mo!!! Should’ve won from the body kick, but instead cerrone lands right shin to miller’s neck #UFCFightNight
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) July 17, 2014
Wow #UFCKickNight cowboy up
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) July 17, 2014
Congrats @Cowboycerrone!! Awesome head kick KO
— robbie lawler (@Ruthless_RL) July 17, 2014
That head kick tho !!!!! #DreamCatcher #UFCFightNight
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) July 17, 2014
Dan Miragliotta just pulled a Tim Howard for Jim Miller… (Saved him) #UFCFightNight
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) July 17, 2014
Whoa! That was a body shot by @Cowboycerrone @ufc
— Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) July 17, 2014
Twice in the same round! Nice! @Cowboycerrone #UFCFightNight45
— Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) July 17, 2014
@TeamKhabib where are u brother. Call him out right now! Don’t wait let him know u wanna fight @Cowboycerrone will gladly accept.
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) July 17, 2014
Lets go, I’m ready, @Cowboycerrone @danawhite @ufc @lorenzofertitta @arielhelwani @dc_mma pic.twitter.com/QlF7JvshXx
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) July 17, 2014
EDSON BARBOZA VS. EVAN DUNHAM
That body kick from Barbosa just grazed Dunham …so painful when that happens. Nice finish from Barbosa #UFCFightNight
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) July 17, 2014
Great finish by Barboza. Beautiful kick. http://t.co/ZVyC4ckH7I
— michael (@bisping) July 17, 2014
What a victory congrats @EdsonBarbozaJR Mark @PinosPizza @Almeidabjj and all the team for the huge victory tonight. @RenzoGracieBJJ
— rafael natal (@rafaelsaponatal) July 17, 2014
English is getting good for @EdsonBarbozaJR congrats! Always love watching @evandunham155 get in there. Tough dude! @ufc
— Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) July 17, 2014
Holy shit, Barboza can kick!!!!
— Dana White (@danawhite) July 17, 2014
RICK STORY VS. LEONARDO MAFRA
Damn… @Rick_Story just beat that boys ass like he stole something
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) July 17, 2014
Great fight by @Rick_Story looked like a beast
— Patrick Healy (@BamBamHealy) July 17, 2014
Hell yeah!!! Way to grind and exploit those holes @Rick_Story #UFCFightNight45 #POTN
— Jon SuperSaiyan Tuck (@JonCruzTuck) July 17, 2014
— Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) July 17, 2014
Great to see @Rick_Story win. Great guy and always rooting for him
— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) July 17, 2014
Hell yeah! @Rick_Story Submission in dominating fashion! Great work! @TheMMALAB @jcbjj @BensonHenderson
— BRYAN BARBERENA (@bryan_barberena) July 17, 2014
JOE PROCTOR VS. JUSTIN SALAS
Is that a soccer ball on the side of Proctors head?
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) July 17, 2014
I want to see some John Belushi Animal House action to Proctor’s head. #UFCFightNight
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) July 17, 2014
That’s not fair @JoeProctor was punching for two! @ufc #holyhematoma
— Chas Skelly (@ChasSkelly) July 17, 2014
Sooo, uh looks like @JoeProctor is now gonna be hangin out at Notre Dame from now on…. @ufc #UFCFightNight ouchie
— Bubba McDaniel (@BubbaTheMenace) July 17, 2014
Holy hematomas!
— Dana White (@danawhite) July 17, 2014
I DONT NORMALLY SAY THIS, BUT THAT WAS AN EARLY STOPPAGE LIKE A MUFUCKA!!!!! @justinsalasmma @ufc #metromove
— Pat Barry (@HypeOrDie) July 17, 2014
Looked like a few back of the head shots and a stoppage as he stands up? That was awkward. #UFCFightNight45
— Joe Ellenberger (@JoeEllenberger) July 17, 2014
Joe Proctor? More like Whoa Proctor! #AmIRight #UFCFightNight45
— Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) July 17, 2014
JOHN LINEKER VS. ALPTEKIN OZKILIC
That’s was a friggin fight!!! Hats off to both guys and well done linekar. @UFCONFOX @ufc
— michael (@bisping) July 17, 2014
Good lord. Great fight!
— Stipe Miocic (@smiocic) July 17, 2014
Liniker is the mini mike Tyson @ufc
— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) July 17, 2014
Lineker beasting with those body shots. Gonna be some sore ribs tomorrow
— Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) July 17, 2014
Man that was 3 rounds of gas pedals to the ground. Great scrap! #UFCFightNight45
— Joe Ellenberger (@JoeEllenberger) July 17, 2014
Wowwwwwww awesome fight. Uauuuu q lutao.
— Antonio Pezao Silva (@BigfootSilva) July 17, 2014
I am bringing John liniker to spar for my next camp….He’s thought fight,congrats brother. @johnlineker
— Antonio Pezao Silva (@BigfootSilva) July 17, 2014
Great fight @alpozkilicmma you are as tough as they come brother. Keep your head up. #FOTN
— Ryan LaFlare (@RLaFlare) July 17, 2014
Jesus!!! What a display! 2 true Warriors! ! @ufc #UFCFightNight
— Bubba McDaniel (@BubbaTheMenace) July 17, 2014
Lineker is a legit BAD ASS!
— Dana White (@danawhite) July 17, 2014
Lineker destruidor. #UFCFightNight
— Ronaldo Jacaré (@JacareMMA) July 17, 2014
I rather the be fans favourite than be a boring ass fighter. This is the life i chose. I love my job. Thank u @ufc #UFCFightNight
— Alptekin Ozkilic (@alpozkilicmma) July 17, 2014
LUCAS MARTINS VS. ALEX WHITE
Oooh shit. That KO. Just when you thought Martins was out of it
— Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) July 17, 2014
Brutal. #UFCFightNight45
— Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) July 17, 2014
@Alex_White_145 good fight Alex. Keep your head up.
— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) July 17, 2014
Nice KO by Lucas Martins one two and out! #UFCFightNight
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) July 17, 2014