If ever there was a ‘that's why they play the games' moment, it was this. T.J. Dillashaw, a late fill-in, an eight-to-one underdog, styling over one of the world's best; a fight no one expected to be close, growing more and more lopsided with each passing round; a barrage of grace and balance and footwork, theater drawing from the absurd rather than the expected, until the American ended an era prematurely with one final, unfathomable rush of violence.

And then... tears. Tears from the coach capturing gold on his last night. Tears from the teammates who could never quite get there.

T.J. Dillashaw is your new UFC bantamweight champion, ladies and gentlemen. This sport, man... it's wild.

Yesssss !!!!!! @TJDillashaw is the champion of the fucking world. !!!!!! I love you — Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) May 25, 2014

TEAM ALPHA MALE BABY!!!!!! @TJDillashaw just put on a clinic in that cage!! That was textbook!!!! — chad mendes (@chadmendes) May 25, 2014

Dillashaws movement was a work of art. If someone put on ice skates and did the exact same thing, they'd take gold. — russell doane (@RussellDoane135) May 25, 2014

Wow, incredible performance, what a great team, not an ounce of jealousy in Urijah’s eyes, these guys are a real brotherhood, good for them — Brian Stann (@BrianStann) May 25, 2014

I was too impressed to even tweet thru that whole main event dillashaw looked incredible from beginning to end tho — John Moraga (@chicanojohn) May 25, 2014

@TJDillashaw is a PROBLEM!!!!! My homeboy @TheDomin8r is a problem solver tho, remember that! — John Moraga (@chicanojohn) May 25, 2014

Probly the most inspirational fight ever. Sometimes thy will is done and you just go through the motions to make it reality. @ufc — Charlie Brenneman (@SpaniardMMA) May 25, 2014

Holy shit! Eating my words about @TJDillashaw ... Well done sir. Alpha male finally has a bride! Fucking amazing domination — Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) May 25, 2014

Aint nobody bullet proof...everyone is human! — Jon SuperSaiyan Tuck (@JonCruzTuck) May 25, 2014

Unfuckinreal, bro! TJ Dillashaw just layeth the smatcketh down for four rounds and then finished a man who hadn't lost in 10 years...wowwwww — Matt Bessette (@ManglerBJJ) May 25, 2014

Just seeing the results now my phone died. Big congrats @TJDillashaw on getting that belt.Can't wait to see the fight heard it was Awesome! — Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) May 25, 2014

Lol I will root for my friends bc I believe in them. They may not be the favorite but It's ok to be the underdog . Congrats @TJDillashaw — Nam Phan (@NamPhanMMA) May 25, 2014

Wow I didn't expect Tj to beat barao, none the less dominate him, and in the striking department. Very impressive. Congrats Tj — Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) May 25, 2014

Holy fuck deserved that shit ! Looked amazing congrats to team alpha male and @TJDillashaw new champ ! #UFC173 — Sergio Pettis (@sergiopettis) May 25, 2014

Congrats to @TJDillashaw ... Absolutely dominant over one of the best in the world. Very impressive. #tuf14 #UFC173 — BrutalJohnnyBedford (@BrutalBedford) May 25, 2014

Wow what a crazy upset win from TJ he had the best night of his life — Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) May 25, 2014

Nothin short of an amazing performance by @TJDillashaw outstanding class act and effort! — Jeremy Stephens (@LiLHeathenMMA) May 25, 2014

Congrats @TJDillashaw great performance! — Erik Jon Koch (@NEWBREED04) May 25, 2014

Woooooooooow! Best performance I've ever seen. I agree with Joe — Anthony Johnson (@Anthony_Rumble) May 25, 2014

What a glorious moment, hands down the greatest I've ever seen in ALL sports. Congrats champ @TJDillashaw — Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) May 25, 2014

Dillashaw was a perfect example of @DUANEBANGCOM striking. left hand immediate left headkick. What a performance @ufc — Thomas E Watson (@TomKongWatson) May 25, 2014

MMA: even the best don't always win — Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) May 25, 2014

Oh what a day @ufc — Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) May 25, 2014

Sad about barão !! Noite ruim pro brasil , fuck !! — RICARDO TIRLONI (@TirloniMMA) May 25, 2014

@TJDillashaw MAAAN!! What an awesome job man congrats pal. You tha man — Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) May 25, 2014

That was the performance of a lifetime. Dillishaw's striking was on another level Gutted for barao. Such a great champion. — TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) May 25, 2014

#wrestlingistakingover 6 out of 8 champs have wresting as background Johnson, Dillashaw, Hendricks, Weidman, Jones, Velasquez @ufc — Mark Muñoz (@mark_munoz) May 25, 2014

Amazing performance from TJ!!! but just to be fair I believe that Barao had an off night — Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) May 25, 2014

Ugh...irritated that TJ is gonna win! @TheDomin8r needs to get his ass back ASAP! — War Machine (@WarMachine170) May 25, 2014

Any fighter out there that wants to be a truly elite fighter & champion, let me refer you to a perfect guy to watch in @TJDillashaw — Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) May 25, 2014

DANIEL CORMIER VS. DAN HENDERSON

I will never make fun of @dc_mma's height ever again at Fox. Pretty scared of him now. #UFC173 — Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) May 25, 2014

Cormier by domination. That's a scary dude Johnny — Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) May 25, 2014

Good work tonight @dc_mma but hit me if u want to learn more jitz — Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) May 25, 2014

And you know I got nothing to say about @dc_mma performance except where you at @JonnyBones let him have his shot! — Tyson Griffin (@TysonGriffin) May 25, 2014

Cormier hit hendo with the F-5! — russell doane (@RussellDoane135) May 25, 2014

WHO THE FUCK THROWS PEOPLE IN THE AIR LIKE THAT?? #UFC173 — Josh Samman (@JoshSamman) May 25, 2014

That was one of the sickest 10 seconds in MMA wrestling history! #UFC173 — Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) May 25, 2014

If you wanna make someone fly and don’t have a moon door u can always hit up Daniel Cormier, I guess. #UFC173 — Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) May 25, 2014

The waitress asked how I wanted my hash browns, instead of saying smothered, I said Cormiered !!!! #UFC173 — Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) May 25, 2014

Damn! Hendo is an animal! DC is just something else! #UFC173 — Jerome-Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) May 25, 2014

I don't cuss very often but in this situation I feel the need to let the world know that @danhendo is one of the FUCKING GREATEST!!! — Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) May 25, 2014

I knew Henderson was going to go to sleep like a G ! #UFC173 #notap — Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) May 25, 2014

Cormier with a domination. Still happy hendo didn't take major damage. — TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) May 25, 2014

DC is going to get charges pressed against for beating up the elderly like this #nodisrespect toughest dude around — Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) May 25, 2014

Cormier made a big statement tonight & makes a potential fight with Bones very interesting. How can you not love Hendo tho. #Legend #UFC173 — Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) May 25, 2014

The chance to share a cage with one of my true heroes is an experience I will treasure forever.… http://t.co/DAGUPtIRn8 — Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) May 25, 2014

"Maybe I shouldn't have gave him that chicken" — TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) May 25, 2014

ROBBIE LAWLER VS. JAKE ELLENBERGER

Lawler staying fresh in everyone's mind with another great performance. He's got a champions heart. — TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) May 25, 2014

Fucking Beast!!! Because of you @Ruthless_RL I'm going to @thepancakehouse tomorrow to celebrate. Thanks homie! #UFC173 we earned it. — Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) May 25, 2014

Hey remember 2 months ago @ufc offered me jake ellenburger fight but he turned it down and they asked me to keep it quiet #idontgiveafuck — Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) May 25, 2014

See what happens when you don't focus on your opponent you get Knocked the F out by @Ruthless_RL @ufc @danawhite @AmericanTopTeam #attnation — Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) May 25, 2014

Congrats to @ruthless_rl great pressure, good finish — Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) May 25, 2014

Robbie L looked great but I'm still on the #GiveMattBrownHisTitleShot train. #UFC173 — Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) May 25, 2014

@Ruthless_RL is the man what a performance and fight !!! Since Elite XC days — Wilson Reis (@wilsonreis7) May 25, 2014

Lawler is a freakin sicko! #UFC173 — Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) May 25, 2014

Yeah baby!!!! Great fight Robbie lawler — Daniel Straus (@DanielStraus) May 25, 2014

Thanks to all the fans!! What a @ufc fight card. Everyone came to fight. — robbie lawler (@Ruthless_RL) May 25, 2014

TAKEYA MIZUGAKI VS. FRANCISCO RIVERA

Too little to late for Rivera. Mizugaki gets the win, but I don't think that performance gets him in title talk #UFC173 — Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) May 25, 2014

Gotta respect anybody that throws haymakers from their knees #UFC173 — Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) May 25, 2014

Cisco vs Mizugaki FOTN?! — Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) May 25, 2014

Japonese mma Fighters the are straight up gangster when it comes to stand and bang — Wilson Reis (@wilsonreis7) May 25, 2014

I ve been a mizugaki fan since the #WEC — Alptekin Ozkilic (@alpozkilicmma) May 25, 2014

Sorry guys did again off to get x-ray I tried my hardest to finish @ufc hats off to takeya pic.twitter.com/kadhZNWsMX — FranCisco Rivera (@CiscoRiveraUFC) May 25, 2014

WOWOWUFC173無事終了。 視聴してくれた皆さんありがとうございました！！ 水垣君凄い。 これからは水垣先輩と呼ばせていただきます！ 菊野君お疲れ様でした！ — 川尻達也tatsuya kawajiri (@CRUSHER_MMA) May 25, 2014

JAMES KRAUSE VS. JAMIE VARNER

Huge respect to @jamievarner fought with such heart considering his injured leg! — michael (@bisping) May 25, 2014

How tough is @jamievarner? If anybody ever brings up the Cerrone eye poke is getting a haduken uppercut on site #UFC173 — Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) May 25, 2014

Mad respect for Jaime Varner 9 out of 10 fighters would have tapped right away!!! — Abel Trujillo (@AbelTrujillo1) May 25, 2014

Dang that's a horrible way to lose a fight I feel sorry for Varner — James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) May 25, 2014

That was an incredible display of will and heart from Jamie Varner. #UFC173 — Joshua Burkman (@JoshBurkman) May 25, 2014

Wishing Varner a speedy recovery, looked nasty! #UFC173 — Akira Corassani (@AkiraCorassani) May 25, 2014

U canr teach that. Varner s ankle was broke the whole time. Incredible #UFC173 — Alptekin Ozkilic (@alpozkilicmma) May 25, 2014

Jamie's leg is broken. Such a Bad Ass!!!! — Dana White (@danawhite) May 25, 2014

Varner showing some amazing heart. That was a gutsy performance — TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) May 25, 2014

Varner is a tough SOB — Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) May 25, 2014

Not sure what just happened to Varner's foot but it's grossing me out. What a warrior he is though! #UFC173 @ufc — Jeremy Stephens (@LiLHeathenMMA) May 25, 2014

Varner is insane. Everyone here is out there seat grossed out and he is still fighting — Chris Clements (@menaceclements) May 25, 2014

Varners leg is messed up bad. 90% of people would of gave up by now and called the fight. Varner staying in there with 1 leg — Chris Clements (@menaceclements) May 25, 2014

Ref did a good job. I a fighter wants to fight through a broken bone that’s his business. We gonna stop fights for broken hand too? #UFC173 — Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) May 25, 2014

Two fractured bones and torn ligaments! I have to see a specialist next week. Thanks for the support! — Jamie Varner (@jamievarner) May 25, 2014