I don't know what I can write in this space to do justice to what we saw tonight. We knew going in this was a special fight card. Little did we know we'd be witnesses to some of the best action of the year and maybe in history.
A top Japanese prospect soared after a tough challenge, Team Alpha Male turned in yet another fighter to watch, a Russian prospect dazzled us with his ability, two women put on a sensational scrap, a Brazilian heavyweight proved he retired too early, and a flyweight showed everyone he's still at the top of the division.
Perhaps most importantly, two Mexican-American lightweights put on one of the most insane displays of talent and grit while another Mexican-American demonstrated he's the best heavyweight on the planet.
These are the tweets of the best UFC card of the year and one of the best in recent memory.
THE HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN
@cainmma congrats great fight bro
— Chuck Liddell (@ChuckLiddell) October 20, 2013
Damn Cain so good that fights get stopped after people try & fail to submit him. Like "ok, that was a good try but that’s enough…" #UFC166
— Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) October 20, 2013
Guillotine escape KO! #UFC166
— Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) October 20, 2013
Made him quit!!! Snap, crackle and pop!
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) October 20, 2013
Junior Dos Santos had a heart the size of South America and a chin from HELL!!!!! What an amazing night
— Dana White (@danawhite) October 20, 2013
Great fight what a war
— Tim Sylvia (@timsylviamma) October 20, 2013
Amazing. Way to go champ @cainmma
— Jon Fitch (@jonfitchdotnet) October 20, 2013
@ufc @joerogan I guess science can't stop a wrestler!
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) October 20, 2013
Great main event @ufc Dos Santos has got some chin on him. Took so much damage in both those two fights
— Tom Kong Watson (@TomKongWatson) October 20, 2013
JDS's corner should of stopped that in rd 3 real fighters never quit and will die. #UFC166
— Justin Buchholz (@jbmma155) October 20, 2013
Viva Mexico!!!! @cainmma Amazing fight... #UFC166
— Jessica Aguilar (@jagatt) October 20, 2013
Viva Mexico!!!! @cainmma Amazing fight... #UFC166
— Jessica Aguilar (@jagatt) October 20, 2013
What's incredible is how the hearts of @cainmma & @junior_cigano fit in the @ufc octagon tonight. Simply amazed! #UFC166
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) October 20, 2013
This was the night of brain damage.
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) October 20, 2013
That was a bad stoppage.
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) October 20, 2013
@cainmma is a beast!
— Cung Le (@CungLe185) October 20, 2013
Congrats @cainmma !!!
— Ryan Bader (@ryanbader) October 20, 2013
I love JDS attitude. Can never root against this guy.
— Aaron Riley (@aaronrileymma) October 20, 2013
Cigano total respeito! Sinistro dmais!
— Cosmo Alexandre (@CosmoAlexandre) October 20, 2013
@junior_cigano @cainmma @DiegoSanchezUFC @GilbertMelendez you guys are inspiration for me thanks for all the hard work God bless
— Vitor Belfort (@vitorbelfort) October 20, 2013
DC GETS REVENGE
Those who doubted my call of Cormier dominating the Strikeforce tourney and moving on to destroy the UFC are hiding.
— Pat Miletich (@patmiletich) October 20, 2013
@dc_mma is truly one of The best heavyweight!!!
— Pedro Rizzo (@pedrorizzo1) October 20, 2013
Big country's chin is as good as it gets!
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) October 20, 2013
Athleticism and speed was the difference! Great showing of technique by @dc_mma ! @CowboyWrestling @OSUAthletics
— Mark Muñoz (@mark_munoz) October 20, 2013
@dc_mma @HenryCejudo @SteveMocco make that 33-0! #wrestling #mma
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) October 20, 2013
Nice work @dc_mma
— Jon Fitch (@jonfitchdotnet) October 20, 2013
Is it a no-contest if Roy is blinded by his own rat tail after missing a punch?
— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) October 20, 2013
Who else thinks that #BigCountry & #DiegoSanchez should make a home workout video to develop a chin? Those guys can take it. #Tough #UFC166
— Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) October 20, 2013
FIGHT OF THE YEAR
We did it!!!!!! Thank you all for the love and support @jakeshieldsajj @woodenmanMT @philbaldacci dad http://t.co/UbGCDiRh68
— Gilbert Melendez (@GilbertMelendez) October 20, 2013
Wow @GilbertMelendez Diego Sanchez simply amazing! Congrats Gil
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) October 20, 2013
told ya #mexicanbackyardbrawl :D Loved it!
— Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) October 20, 2013
That was amazing. Still smiling!! @ufc #UFC166
— alan belcher (@alanbelcherufc) October 20, 2013
Holy Fuck, it's like you can see Diego's eye through his cut. #UFC166 he makes dudes that are tough as nails look like BitchAss niggas.😨
— Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) October 20, 2013
God reached down and held those fighters up from being knocked out for the fans.
— Cody Bollinger (@CodyBollinger) October 20, 2013
@BradTavares @GilbertMelendez @DiegoSanchezUFC greatest fight ive ever seen
— Steven Siler (@Stevesiler) October 20, 2013
We all need to say thank you to that Doctor for not stopping that fight. #crazycut pic.twitter.com/O0KiJCecMA
— Chris Clements (@menaceclements) October 20, 2013
If ur not a @ufc fan I promise u you are now fucking speechless I'm still shocked :) love this sport 👊💪 #HEART
— Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) October 20, 2013
Was that just the best fight ever? #diego #melendez!!! #ufc166
— Lorenzo Fertitta (@lorenzofertitta) October 20, 2013
Huge props to Sanchez and Melendez!!! What a WAR
— Jason Lambert (@MMA_Punisher) October 20, 2013
Diego has to have the toughest chin ever! Holy crap he got hit so many times!
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) October 20, 2013
Diego Sanchez must of got a hold of that Blue meth in New Mexico!
— Shawn Bunch (@BunchTheGreat) October 20, 2013
THIS IS THE GATTI-WARD OF MMA!!
— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) October 20, 2013
FOTN right there! That Diego brings it #ufc166
— Andrew Craig (@aHIGHLIGHTcraig) October 20, 2013
If ur not a @ufc fan I promise u you are now fucking speechless I'm still shocked :) love this sport 👊💪 #HEART
— Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) October 20, 2013
Lost my voice screaming and going crazy for that fight! Good work @DiegoSanchezUFC n Gilbert. Best fight ever!! @ufc @danawhite $$$
— Jeremy Stephens (@LiLHeathenMMA) October 20, 2013
That was an AMAZING 3rd round/ fight @GilbertMelendez @DiegoSanchezUFC @ufc #UFC166
— Travis Barker (@travisbarker) October 20, 2013
So proud of mah brother @GilbertMelendez fotn ur tha man Gill..fight of the year
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) October 20, 2013
That's the best fight I have EVER seen 😳 I salute you @GilbertMelendez and @DiegoSanchezUFC 👏
— Brad Pickett (@One_Punch) October 20, 2013
Fight of all eternity #UFC166
— Jordan Johnson (@doublejmma) October 20, 2013
WOW! Honored That I got to watch that fight live! I'd want another round but I think someone would die! Crazy! #UFC166
— Mike Quick Swick (@officialswick) October 20, 2013
Umm Diego vs Melendez best fight I've ever seen! #ufc166
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) October 20, 2013
I want to be in battles like that.
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) October 20, 2013
Good lord.
— Demetrious Johnson (@MightyMouseUFC) October 20, 2013
That fight was entertaining as shit though #UFC166
— Sergio Pettis (@sergiopettis) October 20, 2013
Wow how do you not love Diego Sanchez and Gilbert Melendez!! Wow what a fight 👊👊👊💥💢 woohoo
— Kyle Noke (@KyleNoke) October 20, 2013
Fights like this remind you why you love this sport.
— Jon Fitch (@jonfitchdotnet) October 20, 2013
Holy baby Jesus @GilbertMelendez vs @DiegoSanchezUFC best fight of all time up there with @RichFranklin vs @ForrestGriffin
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) October 20, 2013
That's the way u should fight when u need a KO in the 3rd to win
— Chuck Liddell (@ChuckLiddell) October 20, 2013
I think I'm getting drunk tonight thank to @GilbertMelendez and Diego :) time for the main event guys ✌️
— Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) October 20, 2013
So proud of gilbertmelendez what a war!!! http://t.co/7gRVuarwDY
— Jake Shields (@jakeshieldsajj) October 20, 2013
"GILBERT MILENDEZ COULD HAVE MADE THAT AN EASIER FIGHT HE CHOSE TO MAKE IT ENTERTAINING" - JO ROGAN -HE CHOSE TO MAKE THE FIGHT LAST LONGER
— Pat Barry (@HypeOrDie) October 20, 2013
A RETIREE RETURNS
BANG!! Huge shot by Gonzaga!! Jordan never saw it coming
— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) October 20, 2013
I love @savageshawn Can't wait for you to get back to Florida man #UFC166 Keep your head up champ!
— Nik Lentz (@NikLentz) October 20, 2013
Maaaan... Napao hits hard! One punch knock out on Shawn Jordan. #UFC166 #ufc #UFCnoCombate @gonzagabjj
— Gesias JZ Cavalcante (@Gesias) October 20, 2013
Auuuuuuu @gonzagabjj parabens feraaaaa...
— rafael natal (@rafaelsaponatal) October 20, 2013
@savageshawn your still a beast we all have set backs love ya bro see u back at the gym
— Tim Sylvia (@timsylviamma) October 20, 2013
DODSON CAN CRACK
Dodson is SO talented and Montague is TOUGH as nails!!!
— Dana White (@danawhite) October 20, 2013
Woo @JohnDodsonMMA
— Diego Brandao (@DiegoBrandaoMMA) October 20, 2013
Dodson has a better chance at hurting himself after a fight than in a fight ! #UFC166
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) October 20, 2013
Can't say the 125'ers don't possess power! @JohnDodsonMMA #UFC166
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) October 20, 2013
Not sure there is a 125lber out there who has the pop that @JohnDodsonMMA has. Freaky power! #UFC166
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) October 20, 2013
Speed kills;-) Dodson looked SHARP
— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) October 20, 2013
What? @JohnDodsonMMA got another ko, hell ya
— Steven Siler (@Stevesiler) October 20, 2013
WEIRD SCORING
Big day for #teambarbarian I won my fight but more importantly Christian scored two touchdowns at flag football!
— Tim Boetsch (@TimBoetsch) October 20, 2013
seriously, 30-26, 27-29, 30-26? #UFC166
— Kaitlin Young (@kaitlin_young) October 20, 2013
Holy wow! 30-26 Boetch? What the hell was that judge watching. No way he won 3 rds. Houston that judge just embarrassed our city. 😒
— Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) October 20, 2013
30-26 by not 1 but 2 judges?! #UFC166
— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) October 20, 2013
2 judges gave boetsch every round. I would of gave CB the first 2 if I'm honest.. @nickthetooth ???
— michael (@bisping) October 20, 2013
IDK about that one. I had Dollaway #UFC166
— Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) October 20, 2013
I like both guys but I was shocked by the Dollaway/Boetsch decision. I really thought that CB won 3 rounds to 0.
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) October 20, 2013
CUBANO GOT HANDS
Congrats @hectorlombard great KO
— Chuck Liddell (@ChuckLiddell) October 20, 2013
Hector "Deebo" Lombard
— Abel Trujillo (@AbelTrujillo1) October 20, 2013
Hector Lombard = Mike Tyson of MMA @HectorLombard
— Georgi Karakhanyan (@georgimma) October 20, 2013
Huge win for Lombard, heart goes out to Nate, one of the sports great guys
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) October 20, 2013
Congrats @HectorLombard "beast".. @AmericanTopTeam
— Antonio Pezao Silva (@BigfootSilva) October 20, 2013
I want to see @adlanamagov vs @HectorLombard SOOO bad. Unlimited violence.
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) October 20, 2013
BOOOOOYEAAAAH @HectorLombard
— Bec Rowdy Hyatt (@RowdyBec) October 20, 2013
dang @HectorLombard way to get after it! nicely done. beautiful.
— Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) October 20, 2013
THE LADIES BROUGHT IT
JESSICA FUCKING EYE everyone!!!!! So proud right now. @jessicaevileye #StrongStyle
— Stipe Miocic (@smiocic) October 20, 2013
@kaitlin_young I think @mmasarah stole that last round.
— Nina Ansaroff (@NinaAnsaroff) October 20, 2013
What the fucking fuck
— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) October 20, 2013
@mmasarah ????
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) October 20, 2013
Omg Jessica Eye's nickname should be BROWN!! @ufc #UFC166
— Justin Buchholz (@jbmma155) October 20, 2013
I still think girls have No Fear. They just stand and fight
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) October 20, 2013
Kaufman just punched Jessica Eye's eye ! #UFC166
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) October 20, 2013
Thank you to EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED me in this fight !!
— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) October 20, 2013
CHECHEN GOT SKILLZ
My son for me!) 💂 @redfurymma pic.twitter.com/efPvPEcmWr
— Adlan Borz Amagov (@adlanamagov) October 20, 2013
U win some u lose some,still all the glory goes to God, I trained hard & did everything I could,& I always progress from a loss. I'll b back
— TJ Waldburger (@TJWaldburger) October 20, 2013
TUF BATTLES
Congrats #ReignFighter @TonyFergusonXT for the 1st round #darcechoke ! Looked awesome man! @TRAIN2REIGN @ufc
— Mark Muñoz (@mark_munoz) October 19, 2013
Congrats on your win @TonyFergusonXT !!! @TRAIN2REIGN @ufc
— Jessica Penne (@JessicaPenne) October 19, 2013
Thank you to everyone for your support. I'm sorry I couldn't pull out the win. Back to the drawing board...
— Mike Rio (@MikeRioMMA) October 20, 2013
Thank you #houston #ufc166 You all were amazing!!! Thanks to all of you and mike rio!
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) October 20, 2013
TEAM ALPHA MALE ROLLS ON
Yes!!!!!!! @TouchyFili looked amazing!!! Congratulations homie you deserve it
— TJ Dillashaw (@TJDillashaw) October 19, 2013
"Touchy" Filli is my new favorite nickname in MMA #UFC166
— Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) October 19, 2013
Fili helped that dude get his Halloween costume ready early #blood
— Michelle Ould (@MichelleOuldMMA) October 19, 2013
I luv that fucking kid!!! @TouchyFili
— Danny Castillo (@lastcall155) October 19, 2013