Returning to Japan for the second time in just over a year, 22 men went to battle at UFC on Fuel 8 in the Saitama Super Arena looking to impress the crowds.
Debuting fighters, divisional contenders and MMA legends alike filled out the free card, with most eyes set firmly on Brian Stann and former Pride FC champion Wanderlei Silva, better known as “The Axe Murderer” to many of his worldwide fans.
However, there were plenty of other notable names of the card, in a rather stacked lineup clearly pegged for the hardcore MMA audience.
In heavyweight action, Mark Hunt took on Stefan Struve, looking to extend his unlikely winning streak, while Takanori Gomi faced a tough task in a match with Diego Sanchez. Yushin Okami, Hector Lombard, Dong Hyun Kim and Siyar Bahadurzada also highlighted the event, all seeking to make an argument for a spot in their respective title hunts.
But what (and who) really stood out on Saturday’s card?
Read along as we preserve some memories at Bleacher Report MMA, with an extensive recap of the night’s most notable and exciting moments from UFC on Fuel 8 in Saitama, Japan.