It wasn't the quick knockout finish we were expecting, but the main event was certainly a sufficient five-round battle.
Robbie Lawler got the victory over Matt Brown in the headlining affair of UFC on FOX 12: "Lawler vs. Brown," taking place last Saturday night (July 26, 2014) from inside SAP Center in San Jose, California, earning his rematch against UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks.
Watch the replay here.
"Ruthless" used good counterstriking and grappling to overcome the "Immortal," and punched his way to victory in an entertaining war. Both fighters wobbled each other in the early going, and the former Miletich Fighting Systems wunderkind went to the body often to soften up the Ohioan.
In the co-main event, Anthony Johnson made a huge statement in the light heavyweight division by dismantling Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in just 44 seconds.
"Rumble" decked the veteran with a number of uppercuts before the Brazilian went down, and you've got to wonder if "Lil' Nog" and his brother will ever fight again.
Elsewhere on the main card, Dennis Bermudez tapped Clay Guida with a rear naked choke, while Bobby Green won a razor-thin split decision over Josh Thomson. Green didn't make the listing below, because frankly, his fight against the "Punk" wasn't all that impressive from both ends.
But getting the win after taking the fight on 12 days notice and all he had been through over the past couple of months -- and his life in general -- is extremely special.
With that said, it's time to name the biggest winner and biggest loser (and their runner ups) from the event in San Jose.
Biggest Winner -- Robbie Lawler
Maybe it would have been a climactic sequence in his storybook had Lawler knocked out Brown, but the former Strikeforce and EliteXC slugger did enough to warrant a highly anticipated rematch against "Bigg Rigg."
It's somewhat strange how Lawler racks up these victories, since he was finding difficulties against Brown in the first two rounds. After obliterating Jake Ellenberger at UFC 173, you'd think if "Ruthless" was going to get the win on Saturday night, he would have knocked "Immortal's" head into the rafters.
Still, he looked good enough to convincingly win the fight, and despite how their first encounter at UFC 171 went, the rematch pitting Lawler against Hendricks may look vastly different when it comes around.
With expectations high for both main event fighters, Lawler did what he had to do, and his fairy tale career isn't coming to a close just yet after going 5-1 since being introduced back into UFC.
Bring on another welterweight war.
Runner Ups -- Anthony Johnson & Dennis Bermudez
"Rumble" definitely looked more than impressive in disposing Nogueira, becoming a serious contender in the 205-pound division for his counterparts to worry about.
After landing some big power shots, Johnson decked the Brazilian with uppercuts to seal the deal, and after so many career mishaps in the past, he's become the most dangerous contender outside the triple threat of Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier, and Alexander Gustafsson.
With the "Mauler" out, it may be difficult to find an opponent for Johnson, yet if we're certain of one thing, it's that if Johnson creams his next foe like he did to "Lil' Nog," you can't deny him a title fight.
Whenever that's going to fit into the schedule.
Moving on.
When Conor McGregor was ranked as number 10 in UFC's official ranking system (which could be a load of bologna, in general), some cried for Bermudez, who had six straight victories but found himself on the outside looking in.
Having won seven straight fights at featherweight, the "Menace" can't be overlooked anymore, and it's time for him to take on a top five -- or, a top three -- opponent in his next contest.
Tapping Clay Guida is quite the accolade, and it may be his most impressive win out of the guys he's defeated in the organization. After the tremendous victory, it's now time for Bermudez to be tested against someone who can bring him to the horizon as a number one contender.
Biggest Loser -- Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
A lot of pundits took to Twitter to ask why UFC would have booked this match up, and despite it being somewhat intriguing beforehand with an expected win for Johnson, it confirms that neither Nogueira brother should ever fight again.
"Lil' Nog" was entering this fight after wins against Tito Ortiz and Rashad Evans, but hadn't fought in over a year, with his age put into question. Nogueira didn't even land a solid punch in the fight, and after being hit from Johnson, it seemed as if he was destined to crumble within seconds.
You can't ever count out what both Nogueira brothers have done for the sport, yet their last performances were almost mirror images of each other (pun somewhat intended), and it's time to let them ride into the sunset.
It wasn't even competitive, and watching legends fade is just too depressing to witness.
Runner Ups -- Clay Guida & Josh Thomson
Speaking of fading, you've got to feel for Guida, who was reminiscent of the Tasmanian Devil in his early days, and then got boring... and then got entertaining again, but lost a couple of bouts in one-sided fashion.
With a victory over Tatsuya Kawajiri between his knockout loss to Chad Mendes and the defeat last Saturday night, it's fair to say the "Carpenter's" best days are officially behind him, and he's going to float in the middle of the pack from now on.
Or below it.
It hasn't been easy for the Illinois native, who always fought tough competitors, but if he can't hang against the world's best, success is going to be limited.
When it comes to Thomson, the judges may have duped him in his past two fights, but in all fairness, he didn't do anything huge in San Jose to help his case. It's not like he was completely robbed, and if anything, the fight could have been scored a draw.
The real question here is if "Punk" has anything left to offer after these two close decisions, and if he decides to hang them up after flirting with the idea, it would be pretty sad to do so after losing in his hometown.
That just about does it.
For more on UFC on FOX 12: "Lawler vs. Brown," including video highlights, post-fight recaps, and more, click here.