UFC 232: What happened when Jon Jones returned to the Octagon?
UFC 232 was held on December 29, 2018 and attracted a boatload of criticism for switching venues from Las Vegas to California a week ahead of the card due to an anomaly in Jon Jones's pre-fight drug test. The Nevada State Athletic Commission wanted time to investigate the matter. Time the UFC did not have if it wanted to save it's main event. So Jones versus Alexander Gustafsson took place for the second time as scheduled.
On this occasion, Jones overwhelmed the Swede with his power, taking his time to earn the TKO win with a sprawling mount and relentless punches. Despite the controversy, Jones got the job done and became the new Light-Heavyweight Champion.
The Women's Featherweight Championship was on the line in the co-headliner as Bantamweight Champion, Amanda Nunes stepped up in weight to challenge her fellow Brazilian, Featherweight Champion, Cris Cyborg.
In a shocker, Nunes upset the odds once more and brutally knocked Cyborg out after a series of beautiful flurries. Some underestimate her punching power. No longer.
Cyborg got her shots in but the speed and accuracy of Nunes's strikes was too much. Cyborg suffered her first defeat since her debut 13 years ago and Nunes now has to be considered one of if not the greatest female fighter in UFC history. Cyborg, Rousey, Pennington, Tate, Shevchenko and McMann. That is some list of victims. Could Holly Holm be next in line?
Elsewhere, there was more excitement to be had. Michael Chiesa bounced back from two straight defeats with a morale-boosting win over former contender, Carlos Condit as he made his debut at Welterweight. A beautiful kimura rounded off a thoroughly dominating victory. For Condit, it was his fifth in a row. The only surprise regarding this fight is that it did not result in Condit announcing his retirement. Perhaps that will be forthcoming soon.
Ilir Latifi was outworked by Corey Anderson as the latter took several hits to the chin but kept chipping away with his own strikes and was busy enough to edge a tight Decision victory.
In the first bout of the main card, Alexander Volkanovski smashed through Chad Mendes just to secure his sixth straight victory in UFC and boost his ranking in the Featherweight title division.
With several excellent fights and a colossal upset in the co-main event, UFC 232 was an excellent way to round off 2018 for the company. 2019 promises to be even better if the promotion can steer clear of the controversy that it has been dogged with all year.