With eight out of the 10 fights at UFC Pittsburgh ending by way of knockout or submission on Saturday, there was a ton of violence to talk about and the MMA pros watching the show didn’t disappoint.
In the evening’s main event, former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold utilized a relentless ground-and-pound assault to force David Branch to tap out to strikes in the second round. The win came in Rockhold’s first outing since losing his UFC title to Michael Bisping in June 2016.
While Rockhold’s return was a popular topic, there were also exciting finishes from Mike Perry, Anthony Smith, Gregor Gillespie, and Kamaru Usman on the main card to discuss on Twitter:
LUKE ROCKHOLD VS. DAVID BRANCH
Let's go champ!!!! @LukeRockhold kick some ass brother
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) September 17, 2017
We will know in the first couple of minutes whether Rockhold still has that KO on his mind. Bisping might have stolen his soul. https://t.co/mzs5jZp7QP
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) September 17, 2017
I'm going for @DavidcBranchMMA
— Justin Gaethje (@Justin_Gaethje) September 17, 2017
Let's go homie! @LukeRockhold
— Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) September 17, 2017
Had round 1 for Branch #UFCPittsburgh
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) September 17, 2017
Wow... I have no words for that. That sucks. #UFCPittsburgh
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) September 17, 2017
You branch are a sissy tapping to strikes
— Mike "Biggie" Rhodes (@TeamRocBiggie) September 17, 2017
Rockholds top game is best in the UFC #ufcpittburgh
— Belal muhammad (@bullyb170) September 17, 2017
When was the last time someone tapped to strikes in the @UFC? Very rare thing to see at this level. #UFCPittsburgh
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) September 17, 2017
The former champ @LukeRockhold is back...Big win, great card, no scoring drama and Free for the fans. Thanks @ufc
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) September 17, 2017
I bet Rockhold is gonna pound like 6 Red Bull vodkas and slap the waitress on the ass as a tip tonight. #UFCPittsburgh
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) September 17, 2017
MIKE PERRY VS. ALEX REYES
They gave @PlatinumPerry a sacrificial Lamb....
— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) September 17, 2017
Platinum with another beautiful KO #UFCPittsburgh
— Tatiana Suarez (@TSPMMA115) September 17, 2017
That guy didn't even want to be in there. Just wanted his UFC contract and to get out of the fight
— David Michaud (@bulldawgUFC) September 17, 2017
— Paige VanZant (@PaigeVanzantUFC) September 17, 2017
Daaaaamn I told y'all. He ain't have to do him like that.
— Kevin MTP Lee (@MoTownPhenom) September 17, 2017
I believe Mike Perry when he said he didn't do any studying.
— Daniel Downes (@dannyboydownes) September 17, 2017
Feel some kind of way about that KO win by @PlatinumPerry but vicious Alex is a warrior stepping up I like @Ruthless_RL fight @ufc
— Truck Gordon (@TruckMMA_UFC) September 17, 2017
HECTOR LOMBARD VS. ANTHONY SMITH
You have a 400-inch reach advantage. Use a jab!!!! #UFCPittsburgh
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) September 17, 2017
Lombard just caught the fade!!! #UFCPittsbugh
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) September 17, 2017
It's a right hand kind of night. Another 3rd round comeback win for Anthony Smith! #UFCPittsburgh
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) September 17, 2017
Yes!!!!! @lionheartsmith with the finish! My dude, so proud #ufcpittburgh
— Zak Cummings (@ZakCummings) September 17, 2017
Boom!!! My boy @lionheartsmith starching guys! Congrats!
— Brian Camozzi (@BrianCamozzi) September 17, 2017
Leave it to the Lionheart to get the 3 round finish. @lionheartsmith Awesome and congrats! #ufcpittburgh
— Tatiana Suarez (@TSPMMA115) September 17, 2017
How about my boy @lionheartsmith ??? He's a killer but all around great dude! So happy for him! #ufc #UFCPittsburgh
— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) September 17, 2017
GREGOR GILLESPIE VS. JASON GONZALEZ
Gonzalez looking like Andrew WK. #UFCPittsburgh pic.twitter.com/mX1qEUAwur
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) September 17, 2017
Ggg vs Gonzales > ggg vs canelo
— Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) September 17, 2017
Gregor looks a weight class smaller than Gonzalez. He's a work horse tho and a STRONG bull! This is a ferocious pace to fight!#UFCPittsburgh
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) September 17, 2017
Another crazy 1st round!! This is a great card tonight #UFCPittsburgh
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) September 17, 2017
WHAT A ROUND! @ufc
— Paige VanZant (@PaigeVanzantUFC) September 17, 2017
Head and arm triangle from mount. Tremendous. #UFCPittsburgh
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) September 17, 2017
Gregor has a relentless will to win man
— Brian Kelleher (@brianboom135) September 17, 2017
Well that was a wild one, holy #UFCPittsburgh
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) September 17, 2017
Nice submission win for @gregor_the_gift !!#UFCPitsburgh
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) September 17, 2017
KAMARU USMAN VS. SERGIO MORAES
Usman is a scary man I can't see him losing #ufcpittburgh
— Brian Kelleher (@brianboom135) September 17, 2017
DUDE!!!!!!! @USMAN84kg with the MDK, Murder. Death. Kill!!! #UFCPitsburgh #MoneyTeam
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) September 17, 2017
@USMAN84kg is going to jail tonight
— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) September 17, 2017
That's how you make a statement bro!!!! Hell yea!!! They can't deny you now!!! @USMAN84kg #UFCPittsburgh
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) September 17, 2017
That's a prospect with a lot of potential. @USMAN84kg gets better every time he's in the Octagon. #UFCPittsburgh
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) September 17, 2017
Yeah, I think might've even felt that KO https://t.co/flEDtWUCuP
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) September 17, 2017
Damn @USMAN84kg was not playing tonight. Hit Moraes so hard he did a forward roll Congrats bud! #UFCPitsburgh
— Tatiana Suarez (@TSPMMA115) September 17, 2017
My bro @USMAN84kg looked great tonight ouuuuu #UFCPittsburgh
— Andre Soukhamthath (@AndreSoukMMA) September 17, 2017
Looks like @henrihooft squad is having a night! #UFCPittsburgh
— Chas Skelly (@ChasSkelly) September 17, 2017
My brother for other mother @USMAN84kg keeps doing great with an amazing KO tonight #UFCPittsburgh
— Francis NGannou (@francis_ngannou) September 17, 2017
Usman vs RDA sounds like the fight to make. #UFCPittburgh
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) September 17, 2017
JUSTIN LEDET VS. ZU ANYANWU
Lets go @ZuluNation215 !!! #cffc #cffcalumni
— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) September 17, 2017
Ledet seems keen to Zu's right hand waiting to unload. But Zu needs to touch him once to get some respect here. #UFCPittsburgh
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) September 17, 2017
Well I was gonna grow my frohawk back out but now I'm thinking there's other options. #Froullet #HairGoals #UFCPittsburgh pic.twitter.com/rnQ8dElB87
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) September 17, 2017
Didn't start watching until part way through the second round. Did Ledet throw a punch that wasn't a jab?
— Daniel Downes (@dannyboydownes) September 17, 2017
It was a rather underwhelming fight, but a split decision is a little ridiculous. #UFCPittsburgh
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) September 17, 2017
What. A judge saw Anyanwu winning that fight? No disrespect to him but I honestly can't see how that should be possible #UFCPittsburg
— Nicolas Dalby (@DalbyMMA) September 17, 2017