Public hand-wringing was widespread when the UFC announced its newest, and smallest, division would be headlining 2013's opening FOX card. However the anxiousness ultimately proved to be for naught, as Demetrious Johnson survived a few early scares to claw his way back and successfully defend his flyweight title against John Dodson in UFC on FOX 6's breakneck main event.

The bout became a fitting cap-off for a roller-coaster night that had already witnessed a three-round farewell slugfest from Rampage Jackson and Glover Teixeira, plus Anthony Pettis staking his claim as the No. 1 lightweight contender with a highlight-reel knockout of Donald Cerrone. And like always, an outpouring of professional fighters took to Twitter to provide a running commentary as it all went down.

JOHNSON EDGES DODSON

Proud of Dj for making it interesting and pushing the pace. Lets make the fans have no choice but to love us

— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) January 27, 2013

Woooo! Watching two of the fastest guys in the world is crazy, feels like we need some slow motion, haha!

— Bas Rutten (@BasRuttenMMA) January 27, 2013

Flyweights once again brought the action!!! Yeah buddy!! @ufc @ufconfox

— Ulysses Gomez (@uselessgomez) January 27, 2013

Dodson got hit in his pop rocks. Haha. @ufconfox @ufc.

— Ulysses Gomez (@uselessgomez) January 27, 2013

Great fight !!!!!!!!! Dodson vs Johnson @ufconfox

— Dana White (@danawhite) January 27, 2013

@johndodsonmma proud of you bro

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) January 27, 2013

If you are booing this fight, you are officially not cool

— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) January 27, 2013

HOW DID HE GET SPONSORED BY POP ROCKS!?!?!?

— Stipe Miocic (@smiocic) January 27, 2013

For a brief moment I was trying to justify to myself that I have to make flyweight.Thank you #mightymouse for not allowing me to kill myself

— BrutalJohnnyBedford (@BrutalBedford) January 27, 2013

Easily fight of the night!

— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) January 27, 2013

I don't get how people can say 125lb fights are boring??? These guys are exciting! Fastest fighters in the game. @ufc #UFCONFOX @ufconfox

— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) January 27, 2013

good fightfor Johnson vs Dodson , hope they get FOTN because Dodson is on that Tuf contract and prolly got a mediocrebase pay : /

— Brian Rogers (@BRogthePredator) January 27, 2013

48-47 Johnson. #UFConFox6 #MyScoreCard

— Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) January 27, 2013

So I'm going to back up my dvr 5 secs & watch this at half or quarter speed. #UFConFox6 @ufc

— Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) January 27, 2013

Fight of the night for sure.

— Cody Donovan (@donnybrookcody) January 27, 2013

#flyweights they shrunk em and put em in fast board damn it! @ufc

— Samuel Sicilia (@SamSiciliaMMA) January 27, 2013

"@ufconfox: What was your fight of the night? Which fight impressed you the most? #FOXUFCSaturday" Dodson n DJ

— Scott jorgensen (@Scottjorgensen) January 27, 2013

Everyone talks about GSP vs Anderson super fight. What about Mighty Mouse vs Ronda Rousey? Who'd you pick?

— Vinny Magalhaes (@VinnyMMA) January 27, 2013

@mightmouseufc I like you attitude humble and respectful

— Vitor Belfort (@vitorbelfort) January 27, 2013

Johnson transitions are so impressive.

— Chris Clements(@menaceclements) January 27, 2013

Johnson came on strong in that 5th round! I have him winning the fight 4 rounds to 1! #UFConFOX #ufc

— John Maguire (@MaguireTheOne) January 27, 2013

Dam The Speed & Pace Is Crazy! Good Scrap! #GDUPWORLDWIDE

— Ryan Ford (@RyanFordMMA) January 27, 2013

#MightMouse vs @dodson was a pretty intense fight. #UFConFOX

— Nam Phan (@NamPhanMMA) January 27, 2013

"@fighterspower: @unclecreepymma what are your thoughts now in last round ?" Dj locked it down in the 5th hard. Should have finished him

— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) January 27, 2013

@mightymouseufc congrats pal you made us look really good tonight... I'm coming for you.

— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) January 27, 2013

What now everyone???!! What now? @gloverteixeira

— Chuck Liddell (@ChuckLiddell) January 27, 2013

Some people think Quinton is slowing down and we all do get older but remember, Teixeira is REALLY good!! If this... fb.me/1TTEl4tsi

— Bas Rutten (@BasRuttenMMA) January 27, 2013

I'm proud to call @rampage4real my bro. Great fight lot of heart.

— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) January 27, 2013

There is more heavy leather being thrown in this fight than, a place, that... Throws heavy leather. That fell apart.

— Amir Sadollah (@amirMMA) January 27, 2013

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

— jimi manuwa (@POSTERBOYJM) January 27, 2013

Pretty fun fight. Rampage not in great shape but he’s game. #UFConFOX

— Jason High (@KCBanditMMA) January 27, 2013

Nnnnoooooo... @rampage4real u still my idol...fuck it #A-Team 2 coming soon!!!

— Marcus Brimage (@Brim205) January 27, 2013

wow this #GloverTeixeira seems like a pretty MEAN GUY :( #UFConFOX

— Nam Phan (@NamPhanMMA) January 27, 2013

"The crowd is booing a takedown, that's sad." So true Joe

— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) January 27, 2013

Good fight between two sluggers

— Ryan Jimmo (@RyanJimmo) January 27, 2013

Congratulations @gloverteixeira you looked great

— Court McGee (@Court_McGee) January 27, 2013

That was the best Rampage we've seen in a while and he still got beat each round in all areas. Glover continues to impress.

— Kyle Kingsbury (@Kingsbu) January 27, 2013

Be scared very scared Jones... @gloverteixeira is coming for you #pitfightteam #ohana

— Ramsey Nijem (@RamseyNijem) January 27, 2013

Bantamweights don't get this tired.

— Scott jorgensen (@Scottjorgensen) January 27, 2013

Gutted for Rampage to go out like that and also my picks to win fights tonight sucks big time! Lol #UFConFOX

— John Maguire (@MaguireTheOne) January 27, 2013

Hell yeah. Congrats to @gloverteixeira way to work. John jones should be worried. @pit_master @chuckliddell @ufc #PitOhana

— Brock Jardine (@BrockJardine) January 27, 2013

Well I was entertained.

— Stipe Miocic (@smiocic) January 27, 2013

Pettis =AMAZING!!!! Ok I'm sold

— Dana White (@danawhite) January 27, 2013

I can hear Bas Rutten screaming now," OOOOHHHH DE LEEEEVAR SHOT!!!!"

— Amir Sadollah (@amirMMA) January 27, 2013

Liver shot! Liver shot! Liver shot! Awesome kick by Pettis!!!

— Bas Rutten (@BasRuttenMMA) January 27, 2013

Wow! @showtimepettis ! Congrats, that was one of the most impressive performances I can remember from anyone...ever!Inspiring!!

— Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) January 27, 2013

I told u guys pettis is a killer

— Vitor Belfort (@vitorbelfort) January 27, 2013

"Showtime" Pettis is one of those fighters who will introduce the beauty of MMA to mainstream! Incredible striker!

— Siyar The Great (@SiyarTheGreat) January 27, 2013

Dammmm @ufc give @showtimepettis a title shot! That man can scrap! And with style to! #champ

— Rory MacDonald (@rory_macdonald) January 27, 2013

Shittttttt!!!!Show time is heavy

— jimi manuwa (@POSTERBOYJM) January 27, 2013

@showtimepettis liver kick was so good no one is talking about him jumping off the cage and landing that knee! U deserve the title shot bro

— Louis Gaudinot (@LouGaudinotUFC) January 27, 2013

What a p@$$y are u kidding me

— Jamie Varner (@jamievarner) January 27, 2013

I love how the #WEC boys are all over this #UFConFOX

— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) January 27, 2013

Wow. Thought this one would go longer.

— Stipe Miocic (@smiocic) January 27, 2013

Damn @showtimepettis is for real. @dukeroufus nice job. :)

— Ben Saunders (@bensaundersMMA) January 27, 2013

Felt that liver shot!!

— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) January 27, 2013

Gr8 job @showtimepettis! Looked awesome!!! @ufc @ufconfox @mmainc

— Mark Muñoz (@mark_munoz) January 27, 2013

That was seriously impressive. Showtime vs Bendo??

— Kyle Kingsbury (@Kingsbu) January 27, 2013

Yup..... I want that fight

— Gray Maynard (@GrayMaynard) January 27, 2013

Wow again !!! @ufc great kick by Pettis

— Raphael Assuncao (@RaphaAssuncao) January 27, 2013

Body shots did that work. #UFConFOX

— Jason High (@KCBanditMMA) January 27, 2013

That boys nasty for real. #UFConFOX

— Jason High (@KCBanditMMA) January 27, 2013

Wow that was sick congrats to AP 👊

— Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) January 27, 2013

Crap. That was a well placed liver shot. Donald is a warrior. He'll be back!

— Cody Donovan (@donnybrookcody) January 27, 2013

Dame as @basruttenmma would say that was a liver kick!! #UFConFOX

— John Maguire (@MaguireTheOne) January 27, 2013

Wow just wow.

— Chris Clements(@menaceclements) January 27, 2013

Dang #pettis with that liver kick

— Ramsey Nijem (@RamseyNijem) January 27, 2013

Wow! crazy body work by @showtimepettis congrats brotha

— chad mendes (@chadmendes) January 27, 2013

even though @cowboycerrone doesnt like me 2 match i still have a lot of respect for him. keep ur head up brother, ur a still a warrior

— Nam Phan (@NamPhanMMA) January 27, 2013

Well that was crazy! I'm shocked!

— Leonard Garcia (@badboygarcia) January 27, 2013

Great fights tonight @ufc @showtimepettis give that man a title shot!!

— Justin Lawrence (@AmericanKiddMMA) January 27, 2013

Been telling everybody @showtimepettis was the best striker in MMA and would easily tool Cowboy.No one wanted to listen.

— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) January 27, 2013

It's SHOWTIME!Bendo doesn't want any.

— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) January 27, 2013

I got my next dance partner already on Apr. 20th but u guys should know I'm down for anybody after that...not looking ahead but ;-D!!!!!!!

— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) January 27, 2013

Told u this was my year 2013!!! Best light weight in the world!!! @dukeroufus @mmainc @headrushbrand @xyience @toyotires

— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) January 27, 2013