UFC Fight Night 77 results: Biggest winners, losers from 'Belfort vs. Henderson 3' last night in Sao Paulo

For the fifth time in 2015, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) came through to Brazil last night (Sat., Nov. 7, 2015) for a scintillating UFC Fight Night 77 mixed martial arts (MMA) event, which took place inside Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil and featured a middleweight trilogy tilt consisting of powerful veterans Vitor Belfort and Dan Henderson.

"The Phenom" and "Hendo" collided for a third time and much like their second fight, this one didn't last very long. Belfort threw a left high kick (highlights) that caught Henderson square on the temple, causing him to be taken back, before the former threw a few follow-up strikes prompting referee Mario Yamisaki to separate the pair.

Preceding the main event was another one-sided drubbing of an American by a Brazilian as Glover Teixeira walloped Patrick Cummins for a little over a round. The 36-year-old combated the wrestling game of his opponent with crisp boxing which, over time, bloodied the face of "Durkin."

Teixeira was awarded the stoppage via technical-knockout just over a minute into round two.

After that quick rundown of the night's main attractions, come peruse through the biggest winners, as well as the runners-up from Sao Paulo.

Biggest Winner:

Thomas Almeida

Thomas Almeida's stock in the bantamweight division continues to rise with each passing outing.

"Thominhas" tallied his fourth consecutive win (highlights) over a thoroughly game Anthony Birchak via beatdown. After "El Toro" threatened briefly in the opening minute, it was all Almeida from that point forward.

The 24-year-old lit up Birchak with stylish punches and kicks until the latter was crippled by a missile of a right hand.

The victory was Almeida's third finish via strikes and his second in the first round under the ZUFFA banner. This calls for a step-up in competition.

Birchak, a commendable fighter and name, is dangerous, but no where near the Top 15. Match Almeida up with John Lineker and proceed to watch fans' jaws drop everywhere.

Runners-Up:

Glover Teixeira

Man, what a difference a year makes.

After suffering shoulder and knee injuries over the course of 2014, and losing two Octagon ventures, Teixeira has made a complete about-face from this point in time a year ago.

The former light heavyweight title challenger creamed Cummins around the cage (highlights) for six minutes, nullifying "Durkin's" All-American wrestling and plastering his face with heavy punches.

Where Teixeira goes from here is a mystery, but one thing is clear, he won't be fighting for a title anytime soon with former pound-for-pound wrecking ball Jon Jones back in the ZUFFA fold and Anthony Johnson duking it out with Ryan Bader at UFC on FOX 18 in a potential title eliminator in January.

The rejuvenated Brazilian is a very viable threat in the 205-pound division and will likely draw two-time title challenger Alexander Gustafsson or former champ Rashad Evans next.

Corey Anderson

In a performance that did anything but move a needle, "Beastin 25/8" corralled veteran slugger Fabio Maldonado to capture his fourth UFC win. The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 19 winner kept the pressure on from beginning to end and was relentless once he achieved a takedown.

Anderson attacked Maldonado's weakness and exploited it, plain and simple. The 26-year-old should also be commended for stepping up on short notice to take a bout in a foreign country.

He should also be given props for his steadily improving boxing, which is still not where it needs to be, but is a great complement to his overall MMA repertoire.

Anderson will challenge someone in the Top 10 of the 205-pound division next almost by default, seeing as there's legitimately a shortage of contenders in this current crop. The Illinois native can get by -- for now -- off the strength of his technical skills on the feet and the ground, but not against anyone -- like Ovince Saint Preux or Bader -- in the Top 5.

Biggest Loser:

Dan Henderson

Same opponent. Same move. Same result.

When "Hendo" took to the Octagon for the 16th time to face his rival Belfort, it was a head kick that befell the former Olympic wrestler, just as the case was with their second fight in Nov. 2013.

Henderson mustered up a couple of leg kicks before the dynamic striker uncorked a beautiful left high kick that landed perfectly on the temple of the former.

Now this knockout loss -- Henderson's second in his last three outings -- doesn't help alleviate retirement notions for the 45-year-old one bit, but the Team Quest leader has one fight remaining on his UFC contract. It's safe to say he won't be going anywhere.

The question then becomes, who does Henderson take on? Personally, I don't see UFC handing Henderson Michael Bisping for another go-around, but a tilt with former Strikeforce title challenger Tim Kennedy would be one tussle to cook up.

Runners-Up:

Patrick Cummins

This loss versus Teixeira spells all kinds of questions for Cummins.

For the second time this year, the 34-year-old failed to defeat an opponent in the Top 10 of the light heavyweight division. And for the second time, Cummins was sent packing via strike.

No matter which way you look at it, it's become increasingly harder to justify the Pennsylvania native as a credible contender among the heap of combatants in the 205-pound division, which by the way is in need of new threats.

Cummins has failed to learn from past mistakes and has yet to evolve. He hasn't been able to secure a breakthrough win off of his wrestling ability, which has been shut down by Saint Preux and Teixeira.

It's back to jostling with fringe top-15 fighters for Cummins.

Clay Guida

More disappointment.

Guida, a former contender in the lightweight division, hasn't enjoyed the same kind of success he once had in the past since dropping down to the 145-pound class back in Jan. 2013.

"The Carpeneter" lost in the blink of an eye to Thiago Tavares on the "Prelims" portion of tonight's event, surrendering his neck to a guillotine choke (highlights) commissioned by the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt in round one.

Previously, Guida alternated losses over the last two years, continuing that trend tonight.

Food for thought: He hasn't won consecutive fights since 2011.

The 33-year-old, while still fairly young by MMA standards, is a veteran of 48 professional fights, some of which were all-out wars. Guida won't be handed his pink slip just yet, but the prospect of him ever achieving status in the Top 10 of a division again is certainly trending downward.

For complete results from UFC Fight Night 77: "Belfort vs. Henderson 3," including play-by-play updates, click here.