Let's recap how the rest of the card went down.

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+)

Joshua Van vs Felipe Bunes

Result: Joshua Van def Felipe Bunes by second round TKO

Division: Flyweight

Referee: Mark Smith

Joshua Van had some early struggles, but he overcame a lot of adversity to tire out and finish a debuting Felipe Bunes in the second frame. Van is only 22, and seems to have a very bright future in this division. He extends his winning streak to eight, and looks to have a very active 2024.

Nikolas Motta vs Tom Nolan

Result: Nikolas Motta def Tom Nolan by first round TKO

Division: Lightweight

Referee: Dan Miragliotta

A lot of people were looking forward to Tom Nolan's UFC debut after impressing on Dana White's Contender Series. Unfortunately, Nikolas Motta put an abrupt end to that hype train as he finished Nolan, handing him his first loss just over one minute into the first round. Motta has been on a back and forth run as of late, but he starts 2024 on a high note.

Westin Wilson vs Jean Silva

Result: Jean Silva vs Westin Wilson by first round TKO

Division: Featherweight

Referee: Marc Goddard

Despite Jean Silva never competing under the UFC banner before, he closed at almost a -1000 favorite against Westin Wilson. He looked like the clear favorite, as Silva dominated Wilson and made it look very easy. The featherweight division seems to have another fun and exciting prospect to keep an eye on.

Farid Basharat vs Taylor Lapilus

Result: Farid Basharat def Taylor Lapilus by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Division: Bantamweight

Referee: Chris Tognoni

This fight was a lot closer than what the scorecards said, Taylor Lapilus seemed to be in the fight for the entire fifteen minutes of action. Basharat's aggresiveness and superior wrestling proved to be the advantage, but it was all gas, no breaks for both men throughout the fight. Basharat improves to 12-0.

Marcus McGhee vs Gaston Bolanos

Result: Marcus McGhee def Gaston Bolanos by second round TKO

Division: Bantamweight

Referee: Mark Smith

Marcus McGhee is for real. This was a big test for him against a very good striker in Gaston Bolanos, and he passed with flying colors. We saw Marcus mix in the wrestling, but he finished the fight on the feet, handing Bolanos his first TKO loss. Can't wait to see what Marcus McGhee can do in 2024.

Matthew Semelsberger vs Preston Parsons

Result: Preston Parsons def Matthew Semelsberger by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Division: Welterweight

Referee: Dan Miragliotta

It was a shutout for Preston Parsons who came into this fight as a slight underdog, he outgrappled and outstruck Semelsberger to win unanimously on the judges scorecards. Parsons landed over 100 total strikes, took Semelsberger down seven times, and controlled him for almost six and a half minutes. Despite the odds being so slim, Parsons looked like a clear favorite in the octagon tonight.

MAIN CARD (ESPN+)

Andrei Arlovski vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Result: Waldo Cortes-Acosta def Andrei Arlovski by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Division: Heavyweight

Referee: Marc Goddard

Andrei Arlovski dropped his third straight fight to Dominican Heavyweight prospect Waldo Cortes-Acosta. It was a fairly back and forth fight with some typical showboating from Cortes-Acosta, but he proved to do the better work over three rounds to win on the judges scorecards.

Brunno Ferreira vs Phil Hawes

Result: Brunno Ferreira def Phil Hawes by first round knockout

Division: Middleweight

Referee: Chris Tognoni

Brunno Ferreira earned a huge knockout win over Phil Hawes, getting back in the win column after suffering his first professional loss. Hawes now drops his third straight, and has been knocked out four times in his last five fights. However, the Middleweight division seems to have another prospect on the come up, as Ferreira has serious power and excellent grappling as well.

Ricky Simon vs Mario Bautista

Result: Mario Bautista def Ricky Simon by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Division: Bantamweight

Referee: Mark Smith

Mario Bautista shocked a lot of people by dominating Ricky Simon over the course of three rounds as a slight underdog. It was the pace and volume that Simon really struggled with, and he seemed to fade as the fight went longer. Bautista landed 112 significant strikes across three rounds, and now will have a number next to his name next week.

Jim Miller vs Gabriel Benitez

Result: Jim Miller def Gabriel Benitez by third round submission (neck crank)

Division: Lightweight

Referee: Dan Miragliotta

Jim Miller is 40 years old, and is aging in this sport like fine wine. He is on such an incredible run, winning five of his last six, and defeated Gabriel Benitez on Saturday. It was the leg kicks that did serious damage to Benitez, and the wrestling later on in the fight that led to a finish. With Jim Miller being at the center of attention during media week in relations to a hypothetical fight at UFC 300, Miller acknowledged that he does in fact want to be on that April card, and called out Paul Felder (and Brock Lesnar!). Miller has the most fights in UFC history, and he has had an illustrious career in this sport.

Magomed Ankalaev vs Johnny Walker

Result: Magomed Ankalaev vs Johnny Walker by second round knockout

Division: Light Heavyweight

Referee: Marc Goddard

No controversey in this one, Magomed Ankalaev put an end to Johnny Walker's four fight unbeaten streak by finishing him in the early rounds. Ankalaev seemed to be doing more in round one, landing the bigger shots and attacking Walker's legs, but an over hand put Walker down and a brutal follow up shot that likely broke Walker's nose, ended the fight.