MMA: A record-breaking night for the UFC - but a disappointment for fans

Nearly all the fights went to a points decision

Urijah Faber filled in for recently re-injured Dominic Cruz to go up against Brazilian Renan Barao (GETTY IMAGES)

UFC returned to US pay-per-view on Saturday night with UFC 169 in New Jersey. With it being Super Bowl weekend there also, there was certainly somewhat of a buzz in the air. Two title fights, and a main card that would whet the appetite of any fight fan.

The night would turn out to be record breaking, though unfortunately not in the way UFC fans were hoping for. On the night, 10 fights of the 12 went to a decision beating the previous mark of nine. There were also no submissions on the night. The UFC gives bonuses to its fighters to the tune of $50,000 for each of the following criteria: Fight of the night, KO of the night and Submission of the night.

With there being no submissions, that money was added to the fight of the night purse. The roll-over was awarded to the first fight on the main card between Abel Trujillo and Jamie Varner.

The fight was a good old-fashioned slugfest. Varner took the first round and in the second, all hell broke loose. This was as exciting as it gets and Varner looked to all as if he was about to finish Trujillo, landing punches on his chin at will. Just as it all looked to be over, Trujillo started swinging back. Badly hurt, he fought fire with fire and somehow managed to land a shot right on the sweet spot and put Varner to sleep. Trujillo earned himself a life changing $125,000 bonus with Varner taking home an extra $75,000 for his troubles.

In the main event, fan favourite, Urijah Faber filled in for recently re-injured Dominic Cruz to go up against Brazilian Renan Barao. Barao had been undefeated for nine years, but after Faber's year last year when he went on a four fight tear through some of the best in his division, fans thought he had a real chance. Faber looked outclassed though before an admittedly quick stoppage by referee Herb Dean in the first round. Faber was protecting himself and even gave Dean the "thumbs up" that he was ok, but the fight was stopped regardless. It did look to observers like Barao was the better fighter, however anything can happen in an MMA fight and who can say what would have unfolded.

In the co-main event, Barao's training partner, Jose Aldo (undefeated himself for close to a decade), one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the world, put on a masterclass performance. For four rounds, he dominated Ricardo Lamas, landing a mixture of punches and vicious leg kicks at will. He did succumb slightly to fatigue in the fifth, but by this point it was all over and he defended his featherweight belt with a unanimous decision victory.

British born Alistair Overeem faced off against Frank Mir. Both fighters needed a win with the loser facing the possibility of being cut from the UFC. Overeem started off looking great but slowed himself down whereas not to empty the proverbial "gas tank". He went on to secure a dominant decision victory over Mir, but seemed to play it very safe after being in dominant situations where he was then knocked out in his last two fights.

So, our first big event of the year is in the books. The UFC schedule is now in full flow with a fight night this weekend and another pay-per-view the week after that in UFC 170. We are also less than five weeks away from Europe's first event of the year at the O2 Arena in London. The event is very close to being sold out already, but there are a few tickets still available. The night in London promises to be quite the spectacle.

Next week England's own Michael Bisping sits down with me and we talk all things UFC. Don't miss it.

UFC Fight Night London tickets still available through ufc.com & ticketmaster