Cris Cyborg finally completed a remarkable career metamorphosis.
Tyron Woodley continued to hold on to his title amid the displeasure of some.
Yet UFC 214 was all about Jon Jones on Saturday night at Honda Center.
Here are our next-day thoughts after an epic night led by the greatest fighter in UFC history:
Jon Jones is back
The light heavyweight phenom, with all the talent in the world along with a seemingly equal amount of poor life decisions, ascended to new heights.
The former champion, twice stripped of titles by the UFC and most recently suspended a year for testing positive for two banned substances, found himself wearing gold around his waist again, kneeling in the Octagon and overcome with emotion after knocking out Daniel Cormier in the third round.
Jones already was the only man to defeat Cormier when he defended his title via unanimous decision at UFC 182 in early 2015.
After nearly 15 months away from the Octagon, Jones on Saturday became the only man to finish Cormier — a head kick sending Cormier reeling, leading to a vicious ground-and-pound attack from Jones that referee John McCarthy finally halted at 3:01 of the third round.
Everyone loves a good comeback story, and Jones’ has plenty to like.
Last week, Jones said all the right things, expressing his gratitude to be back.
That grew tenfold after Jones shocked the world Saturday night — and even more after the fight.
The weeklong rumor of a superfight against WWE superstar and former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar took on a whole new life.
Jones wrapped up the post-fight interviews in the cage by looking into the camera and delivering a figurative and literal mic drop: “Brock Lesnar! You want to know what it’s like to get your (butt) kicked by a who weighs guy 40 pounds less than you? Meet me in the Octagon!”
Lesnar sent his reply via the Associated Press: “Be careful what you wish for, young man.”
Jones said he and his coaches have discussed the possibility of fighting Lesnar. Jones says if he weighs 225 to 230 pounds, the matchup is feasible, not to mention incredibly lucrative.
And if you think a Jones-Lesnar fight can’t happen, go tell that to Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather.
Woodley defends title and more
The Honda Center crowd was not enchanted with Woodley.
Neither was UFC President Dana White.
The crowd let the counter-striker have it after he cautiously worked his way to a unanimous-decision five-round victory over top-ranked Demian Maia.
When the boos weren’t enough, the fans chanted, “Boring!” Then they did the wave. Then they began waving the lights on their phones.
Woodley, frankly, didn’t care.
“I’ve never seen a boo come into the Octagon and help my opponent,” Woodley said.
Woodley pointed out it was a tactical fight against the greatest Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner in the UFC who was riding a seven-fight winning streak.
Maia tried to take Woodley down 24 times. All 24 times, Woodley impressively denied him.
He stuck to his game plan, still has the belt and can hold his head high, Woodley said.
White disagreed, saying he thought Woodley could have finished the fight in the first and second rounds when he rocked Maia with right hands.
“Ask the fans if they want to see Tyron Woodley fight again. They’d say no,” White said. “Take no risks. Get no rewards.”
By that, White meant Woodley will not be defending his title against former champion Georges St-Pierre. Instead, White confirmed GSP will make his much-awaited comeback against middleweight champion Michael Bisping, reportedly in November in New York.
One possible opponent for Woodley, White said, could be former champion Robbie Lawler. One year ago Sunday, Woodley won the belt from Lawler with a first-round knockout.
Lawler, who Saturday night defeated Donald Cerrone by unanimous decision in his first fight since losing the title, says he needs to get better and get in better shape before thinking of taking a five-round championship fight.
Cyborg front and center
It wasn’t long ago when Cris “Cyborg” Justino was taking shots at the UFC for not signing her and creating a women’s featherweight division.
Before that, Cyborg was dealing with the ramifications of a positive test for a performance-enhancing drug, confirming for some the rumors and suspicions concerning the ripped Brazilian powerhouse.
All of that now seems a lifetime ago.
Cyborg won the vacant featherweight championship with a third-round TKO of a game Tonya Evinger on Saturday, basking in the adulation of the fans and the accomplishment.
“I feel great. I am very happy,” Cyborg sad. “This is the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. I feel blessed.”
Cyborg believes the 145-pound division will grow, much like the 135-pound division once blossomed with the rise of Ronda Rousey.
However, just two other fighters are currently listed on the UFC’s women’s featherweight page: Megan Anderson, the Invicta FC featherweight champ who pulled out of Saturday’s fight just eight days after agreeing to it, and Tonya Evinger, the Invicta FC bantamweight champ who salvaged Saturday’s fight by agreeing to move up 10 pounds and fight a woman few will.
Evinger, who received a loud ovation after the fight, said her next fight will be at 135 pounds, and it will be intriguing to see how she fits in the UFC.
Anderson could be next for Cyborg, with Cyborg saying if the Aussie can’t fight in the U.S., she’s willing to go Down Under.
More likely is former UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm, who lost a tough decision to Germaine de Randamie in February for the inaugural featherweight title.
Least likely is de Randamie, who was stripped of the title for failing to fight Cyborg and who has since indicated she’d drop back down to 135. In fact, de Randamie is currently listed on the UFC’s women’s bantamweight page.
All right for Ortega
Somehow, some way, the Brian Ortega train keeps chugging along.
Nearly 14 months after his last fight, nine months removed from shoulder surgery and one day after nearly missing weight, eighth-ranked Ortega won an entertaining battle between top 10 unbeatens with a third-round submission of No. 9 Renato Moicano.
For two rounds, they traded blows, Ortega bloodying and appearing to break Moicano’s nose.
In the third round, Moicano shot in for a takedown and Ortega, a Gracie Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, deftly enveloped him in a guillotine choke while falling to his back. It didn’t take long for Moicano to tap at 2:59.
Ortega, 26, extended his UFC record with his fourth consecutive third-round finish.
“Stand-up is good. Ridiculous chin,” UFC President Dana White said of the Lomita resident. “And his jiu-jitsu is amazing off his back.”
Ortega seemed fresh the entire fight despite waiting until the last minute to weigh in at 146 pounds Friday morning, nearly cutting his long locks if needed.
He also came through it mostly unmarked even though he suffered a cut near his left eye during sparring 10 days earlier.
By the numbers
Ortega and Moicano walked away $50,000 richer after being award Fight of the Night honors
Jones and fellow light heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir, who knocked out third-ranked Jimi Manuwa in 42 seconds, each earned $50,000 for Performance of the Night.
The UFC also pulled off its best event out of its seven visits to Honda Center.
The fight promotion said UFC 214 drew an announced sold-out attendance of 16,610 with a live gate of $2,448,870.
Those figures eclipse the company’s previous best from UFC 121, which featured Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez for the heavyweight title and drew 14,856 fans with a $2,237,070 live gate.