Main Card
Georges St Pierre (26-2) defeated Michael Bisping (31-8) via submission (rear naked choke) - R3, 4:23
Georges St Pierre is back - and Michael Bisping might be done.
The UFC legend returned from a four-year absence to become just the fourth man to win titles in two divisions as he claimed the middleweight crown.
Bisping was choked unconscious after being felled by a heavy blow late in the third round. GSP pounced and after landing heavy ground and pound was able to apply a rear naked choke to his opponent as he attempted to scramble away.
What this means for both men's futures isn't immediately clear but Australia's Robert Whittaker is ready and waiting for the next shot at the title.
Fighting one of the greatest to ever to do it would be a dream come true for the 26-year-old former bricklayer who chose MMA over rugby league.
But let's enjoy the Canadian's return first.
Both fighters' faces were marked up in a bruising first round, which St Pierre edged with a late takedown.
He repeated the dose in the second by again taking Bisping to the floor, but the Count escaped quickly again and landed two solid right hands to fire back.
St Pierre shot for Bisping's legs earlier in the third as he looked to bank another round. But after two minutes of failing to do much damage the fighters returned to their feet and it was St Pierre's face covered in blood.
So without much success on the ground he decided to get the job done with his striking.
"It's a dream come true," St Pierre said.
TJ Dillashaw (16-3) defeated Cody Garbrandt (11-1) via TKO (punches) - R2, 2:41
Yes, it's one of those nights.
TJ Dillashaw continued the stunning run of results at UFC 217 by reclaiming the bantamweight championship in an incredible turnaround against Cody Garbrandt.
In perhaps the most anticipated fight of the night because of the intense dislike between these two former teammates, Dillashaw stunned the crowd with a second round stoppage.
The first round was dead even until the final 10 seconds when Garbrandt landed a right hand that floored the challenger. Dillashaw was likely saved by the bell but had the crowd back on its feet in the second as he turned the tables with a left head kick that sent the champ reeling.
Garbrandt appeared to have recovered but when he next engaged in a willing exchange was caught by a short right hook that sent him crashing.
Dillashaw finished the job on the ground to reclaim the strap he lost to Dominick Cruz early last year.
Garbrandt appeared to be the new star of the division when he dethroned Cruz - and showed similar showmanship in this fight by flipping the bird at his opponent and mocking him with dancing whenever he missed a big kick.
But Dillashaw is numero uno for now. "He's a helluva fighter, he'll be back, I'm going to see him again," Dillashaw said. "This isn't the end of Cody Garbrandt."
Dillashaw doesn't seem interested in immediate rematch though, calling out flyweight king Demetrious Johnson after the fight.
Rose Namajunas (8-3) defeated Joanna Jedrzejczyk (14-1) via TKO (punches) - R1, 3:03
Rose Namajunas is the new queen of women's MMA.
The strawweight challenger stunned the world by dethroning long-reigning champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk in one of the biggest upsets the sport has seen this year.
Jedrzejczyk was attempting to match Ronda Rousey's female record of six successful title defences but was shell-shocked after being blasted out in one round.
Namajunas had remained ice-cold in the face all of the champion's taunting in the lead-up to the bout and remained that way when the bell rung.
She scored a knockdown midway through the first round and after Jedrzejczyk fought her way back to her feet, finished the job with a left hook that turned off the champ's lights.
Follow up strikes on the ground forced the stoppage and the crowd roared.
"That was unbelievable, I'm lost for words," commentator Joe Rogan said.
The UFC world fawned over Namajunas's performance, as did Australian F1 ace Daniel Ricciardo.
Namajunas gave a classy post-fight interview in the Octagon, saying her new strap isn't important in the grand scheme of things and urging everyone to simply be nice to each other.
"I feel like a normal person, man. Just regular. Ain't nothing special here," she said.
"Just be a good person."
Stephen Thompson (14-1-1) defeated Jorge Masvidal (32-13) via unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 30-26)
Stephen Thompson showed he remains one of the best welterweights in the world by clinically dispatching Jorge Masvidal.
Thompson, who entered the fight second in the world after falling short in back-to-back fights against champion Tyron Woodley, showed a class gap remains between him and the other contenders in the division.
The accuracy and timing of Thompson's counters in the first round was first-class and enough to give him the early ascendancy.
He scored his first knockdown with a straight right in the second and continued to pick away at the fourth-ranked American, whose only success came through low leg kicks.
Thompson avoided Masvidal's second takedown attempt early in the third and continued to get the better of the exchanges, even as the Miami native opened up a little more late in the fight.
"He's a very tough guy, very hard to put away," Thompson said. "I could have done better tonight but everyone knows I'm not giving up on that title, baby."
Paulo Costa (11-0) defeated Johny Hendricks (18-8) via TKO (punches) - R2, 1:23
Brazilian powerhouse Paulo Costa launched himself into the spotlight in the middleweight division with a destruction of fading Johny Hendricks in the first bout on the main card.
Costa was taken to the second round for just the second time in his career but was in full control of this one as he punished the former welterweight champ with heavy punches and kicks.
Built like a Ken Doll, the man known as "The Eraser" certainly appears to have a future at this level. Hendricks looks all but gone.
"Now is a new time," Costa, 26, said. "I represent the new generation from Brazil. And I will be the next Brazilian champion in the UFC."
Costa's impressive physique certainly didn't go unnoticed among viewers.
Undercard: OSP's sickening headkick
James Vick (12-1) defeated Joe Duffy (16-3) via TKO (punches) - R2, 4:59
James Vick continued the string of savage blows by clean clocking Joe Duffy with a buzzer-beating uppercut.
A highly-technical bout on the feet looked like stretching into a third round when Vick caught Duffy under his chin as he lunged forward late in round two.
The Irishman fell backwards to the mat and attempted to keep defending himself knowing the bell was coming any second. But the referee had seen enough and jumped in.
There were cries of a bad stoppage from some viewers but it was a lineball decision.
After his victory, Vick jumped up on to the side of the Octagon and started yelling at matchmaker Sean Shelby to start recognising his talent.
"How many 8-1 guys in the UFC aren't ranked? I'm the only one," Vick said.
Ovince Saint Preux (21-10) defeated Corey Anderson (10-3) via KO (head kick) - R3, 1:25
Ovince Saint Preux pulled a rabbit out of his hat - or in this case a left head kick - to stun Corey Anderson in a battle of ranked light heavyweights.
In the second cold-blooded knockout of the night, Saint Preux emphatically ended the fight in the third round with a blow that left Anderson prone.
He took several minutes to regain his feet but was able to walk out of the arena.
Anderson controlled most of the first round, slamming Saint Preux twice in quick succession and staying aggressive. But Saint Preux finished with a flurry and then dislodged Anderson's mouthguard with a left high kick early in the second to find some momentum.
The referee stopped the fight so Anderson could replace it - and he took the opportunity to steady himself. He pinned Saint Preux to the side of the cage for the rest of the round and did some damage to his right eye.
But with the fight likely in his keeping he was again hit with the left high kick and this time it wasn't his mouthguard that was dislodged, but almost his head. "It caught him flush," Saint Preux said.
Saint Preux has now won three straight after having his career derailed by Jon Jones and Jimi Manuwa.
Mark Godbeer (12-3) defeated Walt Harris (10-5) by disqualification (illegal kick) - R1, 4:29
Walt Harris was disqualified for an illegal kick to Mark Goodbeer's head.
Randy Brown (10-2) defeated Mickey Gall (4-1) via unanimous decision (29-28 x 2, 29-27)
The Mickey Gall hype train experienced its first hiccup as the man who defeated CM Punk and Sage Northcutt suffered his first defeat.
Jamaica's Randy Brown proved too strong in a three-rounder that was fought largely on the ground.
Brown took Gall down early in the first round and went to work from top position. Gall managed to flip the script in the second to even the fight.
But his attempt to take Brown down again early in the third was stuffed by the charging "Rude Boy", who held top control until the final bell.
Brown is now 4-2 in the UFC, while Gall will need to reassess after having his run stopped.
Curtis Blaydes (8-1) defeated Oleksiy Oliynyk (52-11-1) via TKO - R2, 1:56
Ricardo Ramos (12-1) defeated Aiemann Zahadi (7-1) via KO (spinning elbow) - R3, 1:15
Brazil's Ricardo Ramos started UFC 217 with a bang with a walk-off knockout of Canada's Aiemann Zahadi.
The opener had underwhelmed entering the third round but as both fighters finally started swinging Ramos landed a clean spinning elbow.
Zahadi had to be held up as he exited the arena after being completely concussed. Ramos is now two wins from two fights in the UFC.
