Two of Brazil’s most beloved fighters turned back the clock on Saturday night much to the delight of peers and fans alike.
In the main event of UFC Adelaide, former heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos handed Tai Tuivasa his first defeat in emphatic fashion, while the co-headliner saw former light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua stop Tyson Pedro.
It wasn’t a great night for the Australian home crowd who also had to sit through a listless performance from Mark Hunt in what was the last fight on his UFC contract, but that didn’t stop the MMA sphere from having their say on social media about those main card bouts and more.
JUNIOR DOS SANTOS DEF. TAI TUIVASA
WOW! Who would've imagined 2 Brazilian Legends past their prime would go into enemy territory and upset/finish 2 rising stars in their own backyard. Hats off to both JDS and Shogun. #Congrats #UFCAdelaide #fightnight
— Corey Anderson UFC (@CoreyA_MMA) December 2, 2018
The old school roars back in main and co-main. JDS showed a good chin and adjusted well. #UFCAdelaide
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) December 2, 2018
How much would it take for you to take a body shot out of Tuivasa’s belly button? (the shot being the run off from the shoey he just did after his fight) #UFCAdelaide
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) December 2, 2018
Jds look like “the brain” from animaniacs to anyone else?
— Eryk Anders (@erykanders) December 2, 2018
Congrats JDS. Wow. @junior_cigano @ConanSilveira @AmericanTopTeam pic.twitter.com/KMMcGoibXq
— Alex Chambers (@alexchambersmma) December 2, 2018
Lmao this was funny https://t.co/OZ0ndyasVa
— Tatiana Suarez (@TSPMMA115) December 2, 2018
Big upsets tonight for the folks down under #UFCAdelaide
— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) December 2, 2018
Dos Santos turned down a shoey! Brilliant #UFCAdelaide
— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) December 2, 2018
Wow congrats @junior_cigano guerreiro d+ #UFCadelaide #UFCnoCombate
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) December 2, 2018
Tui gets caught a number of times, half-turned and dropped. JDS mounts and pounds him out, with Tui trying to throw shots from the bottom, which is never a good idea. #UFCAdelaide pic.twitter.com/P7Z4dGsm8j
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) December 2, 2018
High risk, high reward. Stinks for @bambamtuivasa but he’ll grow and come back stronger! #UFCAdelaide
— Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) December 2, 2018
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) December 2, 2018
MAURICIO “SHOGUN” RUA DEF. TYSON PEDRO
This could be a great fight @tyson_pedro_ @ShogunRua #UFCAdelaide
— Adrian Pang (@adrianpangmma) December 2, 2018
Shogun really could make MW & looks small next to Tyson Pedro
— Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) December 2, 2018
Shogun eats a number of uppercuts and is rocked badly, and cut. #UFCAdelaide pic.twitter.com/ELJOosVp0p
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) December 2, 2018
I’m sure glad that the ref didn’t stop the fight Prematurely! Good job on shogun weathering the storm! #UFCAdalaide
— Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) December 2, 2018
Shogun is a true legend. Great comeback! #UFCAdalaide
— Siyar The Great (@Siyarized) December 2, 2018
Nice win by the future hall of famer Shogun showing off his heart once again. Legend. #UFCAdelaide
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) December 2, 2018
Shogun is a Beast #UFCAdelaide
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) December 2, 2018
@ShogunRua muito guerreiro!! Que vitória!!! #Ufcnocombate
Amazing comeback win from the legend Shogun Rua... amazing that he is still fighting at the level he’s at after all these years #UFCAdelaide
— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) December 2, 2018
Shogun really saved my ass there! Took Shogun and the under! I’ve done the same shit all night!
— Chas Skelly (@ChasSkelly) December 2, 2018
Shogun still has it!!! He just beat a young buck to solidify his ranking. #UFCAdalaide
— Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) December 2, 2018
Shogun!!!!!!!!!!
— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) December 2, 2018
Damn @tyson_pedro_ monster first round looked like he had hurt his ankle. He definitely top 5 material
— Anton Zafir (@AntonZafirUFC) December 2, 2018
JUSTIN WILLIS DEF. MARK HUNT
I so wish I could do the Haka!! It would be an Honor to learn it #haka #UFCAdelaide
— Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) December 2, 2018
Those body kicks to Willis's belly are starting to bring down Willis's left hand, opening his head up. #UFCAdelaide
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) December 2, 2018
These some biggggg boys
— David Michaud (@bulldawgUFC) December 2, 2018
That was not the (possibly) final UFC appearance by Hunt anyone was hoping for... #ufcadelaide pic.twitter.com/XJGFCwTPFq
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) December 2, 2018
I don’t think Hunt cares for this anymore #UFCAdelaide
— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) December 2, 2018
IMO Hunt deserved a better fight for his retirement fight than someone just moving away from him and jabbing him. #UFCAdalaide
— Siyar The Great (@Siyarized) December 2, 2018
Beautiful gesture from Willis. #UFCAdalaide
— Siyar The Great (@Siyarized) December 2, 2018
That’s not how I thought Hunts last fight in the UFC would be! #bummed #UFCAdelaide
— Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) December 2, 2018
the epitome of a gangster martial artist, from everything he said in his book to how he carries himself to the different promotions he has fought in to the awareness and changes he has caused with the UFC and steroids use and more, thank you @markhunt1974 #chills https://t.co/AzeLvsEIPQ
— Leslie Smith (@LeslieSmith_GF) December 2, 2018
TONY MARTIN DEF. JAKE MATTHEWS
Go Aussie Bieber!
— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) December 2, 2018
What an exciting high pace 1st round with Mathews & Martian. I hope they can keep this going for round 2!#UFCAdelaide
— Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) December 2, 2018
Fuck Tony Martin. Not about sideburns
— Chris Wade (@CWadeMMA) December 2, 2018
Isn’t it tony Martin? does them saying “Rocco Martin” every two seconds grind your gears too?
— Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) December 2, 2018
Guys delusional
— Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) December 2, 2018
Great submission though
— Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) December 2, 2018
Martin dropping his lead hand whenever he throws anything. Likely will get dropped again by Matthews because of it. #ufcadelaide
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) December 2, 2018
Rocco Martin looks like he plays bass in a ska punk band #UFCAdelaide pic.twitter.com/26R8kjyjVK
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) December 2, 2018
Wow didn’t see that coming Mathews was winging punches to much
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) December 2, 2018
SODIQ YUSUFF DEF. SUMAN MOKHTARIAN
Yusuff was no doubt in control and landing good combos but that’s a premature stoppage. #UFCAdelaide
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) December 2, 2018
It’s not if you’re fighting back, it’s if you’re defending yourself intelligently. He was covering up and seemed fine after the stoppage. Not a terrible stoppage but premature. Excellent job by Yusuff. https://t.co/9UWhWnitBt
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) December 2, 2018
Yusuf is a savage but that stoppage was little early. Sometimes we have to cover up / defend our face from a barrage. Guy wasn’t badly wobbled or anything
— Brian Kelleher (@brianboom135) December 2, 2018
Yusuff landing huge shots and the ref stops it while Mokhtairn's still standing. Mokh protests, and might have a point, but was just shelled up while Yusuff was swinging away. #ufc231 pic.twitter.com/qYq1q4oR4Z
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) December 2, 2018
That was way to early to stop. Mokhtarian was defending, even though he wasn’t moving. Not taking anything away from Yusuff, they just weren’t damaging enough to call at that moment #UFCAdelaide
— Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) December 2, 2018
Yusuff is a beast so explosive #UFCAdelaide
— Tatiana Suarez (@TSPMMA115) December 2, 2018
So proud of my brother @Super_Sodiq he's a beast and a future World champion!! @UFC
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) December 2, 2018
Wow what a soldier! Keep trucking and keep the faith in HIS name brother @Super_Sodiq https://t.co/FzD633YZ89
— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) December 2, 2018
Damn, the level of respect i have for @Super_Sodiq right now can't be put into words. #GodBless https://t.co/aKOORTKGZF
— Will Brooks (@ILLxWillBrooks) December 2, 2018
Respect to you brother @super_sodiq. May your brothers soul Rest In Peace and you’re my second favorite Nigerian fighter next to @KingMoFH
— Siyar The Great (@Siyarized) December 2, 2018