Saturday’s UFC Vegas 84, the first UFC fight card of 2024, took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. In the main event, Johnny Walker was eliminated in the second round by highly regarded light heavyweight Magomed Ankalaev. In the co-main event of the evening, UFC veteran Jim Miller continued his incredible record-setting UFC career with another fight and victory.
The winners and losers of the UFC Vegas 84 fight card, which was fully streamed on ESPN+, are shown below.
Magomed Ankalaev: The result of the rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker was not controversial or in doubt. Walker did not object when Ankalaev won via knockout in the main event of UFC Vegas 84 on Saturday. The first fight concluded with a dubious doctor stoppage.
Walker was sent to the ground with a right hook delivered by Ankalaev, who came into the fight ranked third in the UFC light heavyweight class. Ankalaev, his opponent on his backside against the cage, delivered a vicious punch that appeared to break Walker’s nose.
Jim Miller: It’s difficult to predict when Jim Miller’s career will end, but if the 40-year-old continues to play as brilliantly as he did on Saturday night, it will. Miller, who competed in his UFC record 43rd fight at UFC Vegas 84, won his 26th fight overall by putting up a well-thought-out battle and winning by submission in the third round to claim his 18th UFC stoppage victory.
Mario Bautista: In a thrilling 15-minute bantamweight bout, Bautista defeated Ricky Simon to claim his sixth consecutive UFC championship. The 30-year-old should enter the top 15 in the division after this victory.
Though Simon’s passion, determination, and counterstriking helped him stay in the fight, Bautista was the more skilled technical fighter in this battle. Bautista demonstrated precise striking and the capacity to put together powerful sequences. He varied his approaches and goals, and when the chips were down, he delivered a powerful finish.
Brunno Ferreira: In July, Brunno Ferreira suffered his first defeat of the fight and overcame Phil Hawes via first-round knockout. Ferreira is really strong when it comes to striking, but he needs to improve his fight intelligence because he gave up on Hawes by going for a takedown rather than going for the finish. Power, however, can compensate for weaknesses in the fighting game.
Preston Parsons: During his decision victory over Matthew Semelsberger, Preston Parsons looked impressive. He engaged in all-out or all-in combat, which made it easier for him to switch to takedowns, evade his opponent’s strong blows, and score points with close-range strikes.