The Blog

UFC 262: Oliveira vs. Chandler — May 15, 2021, Toyota Center, Houston. Charles Oliveira survived a violent first round to KO Michael Chandler in round two and claim the vacant lightweight title — becoming the first Brazilian-born UFC lightweight champion in promotion history. Beneil Dariush handed Tony Ferguson his third consecutive loss in the co-main.

UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2 — April 24, 2021, VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville. The first full-capacity UFC event in the post-COVID era featured three title fights. Kamaru Usman KO'd Jorge Masvidal in round two, Rose Namajunas head-kick KO'd Zhang Weili in round one to reclaim the strawweight title, and Chris Weidman suffered a horrific leg break in his middleweight bout with Uriah Hall.

UFC 260: Miocic vs. Ngannou 2 — March 27, 2021, UFC APEX, Las Vegas. Francis Ngannou claimed his first UFC heavyweight title, avenging his 2018 loss to Stipe Miocic with a brutal second-round KO at 0:52. Tyron Woodley suffered a second consecutive loss as Vicente Luque submitted him via D'Arce choke in round one of the co-main.

UFC 259: Blachowicz vs. Adesanya — March 6, 2021, UFC APEX, Las Vegas. The only UFC PPV in history to feature three world title fights on the same card. Jan Blachowicz handed Israel Adesanya the first loss of his career, Aljamain Sterling claimed the bantamweight title via DQ when Petr Yan threw an illegal knee, and Amanda Nunes defended the women's featherweight title with a first-round armbar.

UFC 258: Usman vs. Burns — February 13, 2021, UFC APEX, Las Vegas. Kamaru Usman survived an early right hand from Gilbert Burns to claim a third-round TKO over his former training partner and retain the welterweight title. Alexa Grasso made her women's flyweight debut with a unanimous decision over Maycee Barber, planting the seed for her eventual run to the title.

UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor 2 — January 23, 2021, Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Dustin Poirier broke down Conor McGregor with calf kicks and finished him by second-round TKO — the first KO loss of McGregor's professional career. Michael Chandler made a spectacular UFC debut, KO'ing Dan Hooker in 2:30 of round one to launch his lightweight title run.

UFC 256: Figueiredo vs. Moreno 1 — December 12, 2020, UFC APEX, Las Vegas. Three weeks after UFC 255, Deiveson Figueiredo defended the flyweight title to a majority draw against Brandon Moreno in one of the most thrilling championship five-rounders of the COVID era. Charles Oliveira handed Tony Ferguson his second consecutive loss via unanimous decision in the co-main.

UFC 255: Figueiredo vs. Perez — November 21, 2020, UFC APEX, Las Vegas. Deiveson Figueiredo defended the flyweight title via first-round guillotine choke of Alex Perez. Valentina Shevchenko outclassed Jennifer Maia by lopsided unanimous decision in the co-main to retain the women's flyweight strap. Joaquin Buckley scored a Knockout-of-the-Year-caliber finish of Jordan Wright.

UFC 254: Khabib vs. Gaethje — October 24, 2020, Flash Forum, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The unified lightweight title fight ended Khabib Nurmagomedov's career in storybook fashion: a second-round triangle choke of Justin Gaethje, followed by his in-cage retirement at 29-0. Robert Whittaker outpointed Jared Cannonier in the co-main to lock in a rematch with Israel Adesanya.

UFC 253: Adesanya vs. Costa — September 26, 2020, Flash Forum, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Israel Adesanya dismantled an undefeated Paulo Costa via second-round TKO to defend the middleweight title, then mocked his fallen rival with a hand-to-the-ear celebration. Jan Blachowicz TKO'd Dominick Reyes to claim the light-heavyweight title vacated by Jon Jones.

UFC 252: Miocic vs. Cormier 3 — August 15, 2020, UFC APEX, Las Vegas. The heavyweight trilogy concluded with Stipe Miocic retaining the title via unanimous decision over Daniel Cormier, who retired in the cage. Marlon Vera handed Sean O'Malley his first UFC loss via first-round TKO, and Jairzinho Rozenstruik KO'd Junior dos Santos in round two.

UFC 251: Usman vs. Masvidal — July 11, 2020, Flash Forum, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The first UFC Fight Island event, with three title fights in one night. Kamaru Usman defended the welterweight title via UD over Jorge Masvidal (six days' notice), Alexander Volkanovski edged Max Holloway by controversial split decision to retain the featherweight title, and Petr Yan TKO'd Jose Aldo to claim the vacant bantamweight crown.