The last time the UFC traveled to Atlantic City, Gray Maynard and Clay Guida didn't exactly give the New Jersey faithful much to cheer about. The same could not be said of Wednesday night.

Donald Cerrone not only became the first man to knock out Jim Miller, he managed to do it twice in the same round, thanks to a gaffe by referee Dan Miragliotta. Yet somehow that picturesque slice of violence was just the cherry on top of the double-fudge sundae that was UFC Fight Night 45. Edson Barboza and Rick Story catapulted their stock up the rankings with lopsided finishes; John Lineker cemented himself as a viable contender for the 125-pound belt, killing off against a surprisingly game Turkish wildman with seconds to spare; Lucas Martins became the fourth man to emerge victorious in three separate UFC divisions, short-circuiting Alex White's noggin with a ridiculous one-two... and all that's not even mentioning Leslie Smith's super-hyper-combo finish of Jessamyn Duke or Aljamain Sterling's breakout dismantling of Hugo Viana which set the table for the spectacle about to unfold.

All in all, not half-bad theater for a weekday, eh? And as if you didn't already know, the pros were right there loving it every step of the way.

So excited for @Cowboycerrone !!!! First time anyone has finished someone..... Twice... He had him already with the body shot. — Holly Holm (@_HOLLYHOLM) July 17, 2014

Congratulations to teammate @Cowboycerrone for fighting like the terminator tonight #relentless — Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) July 17, 2014

Cerrone with 2 finishes in one fight. Great scrap from both. — TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) July 17, 2014

GAAAAAAT DAMN WAS THAT A KILLER STOPPAGE! #UFCFightNight45 — Jon SuperSaiyan Tuck (@JonCruzTuck) July 17, 2014

I've seen big Dan almost let a few guys die in the cage...but he brought Jim miller back to life...all be it briefly this fight — Brian Rogers (@BRogthePredator) July 17, 2014

Wow I hope jim is ok!!! — kurt pellegrino (@kurtpellegrino) July 17, 2014

When Cerrone is on, he's a straight killer! — MIKE RICHMAN (@MikeUSMCRichman) July 17, 2014

Wow @Cowboycerrone they took it the first time go get it again without a doubt! #Impressive — walt harris (@thebigticket205) July 17, 2014

Two KO's in one fight. Congrats to Cowboy!!! Dois nocaute em uma luta. Parabéns ao Cerrone!! #ufc #UFCnoCombate #UFConfox — Gesias JZ Cavalcante (@Gesias) July 17, 2014

OMG miller fell in slow-mo!!! Should've won from the body kick, but instead cerrone lands right shin to miller's neck #UFCFightNight — Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) July 17, 2014

Congrats @Cowboycerrone!! Awesome head kick KO — robbie lawler (@Ruthless_RL) July 17, 2014

Dan Miragliotta just pulled a Tim Howard for Jim Miller... (Saved him) #UFCFightNight — Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) July 17, 2014

@TeamKhabib where are u brother. Call him out right now! Don't wait let him know u wanna fight @Cowboycerrone will gladly accept. — Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) July 17, 2014

EDSON BARBOZA VS. EVAN DUNHAM

That body kick from Barbosa just grazed Dunham ...so painful when that happens. Nice finish from Barbosa #UFCFightNight — Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) July 17, 2014

Great finish by Barboza. Beautiful kick. http://t.co/ZVyC4ckH7I — michael (@bisping) July 17, 2014

What a victory congrats @EdsonBarbozaJR Mark @PinosPizza @Almeidabjj and all the team for the huge victory tonight. @RenzoGracieBJJ — rafael natal (@rafaelsaponatal) July 17, 2014

English is getting good for @EdsonBarbozaJR congrats! Always love watching @evandunham155 get in there. Tough dude! @ufc — Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) July 17, 2014

RICK STORY VS. LEONARDO MAFRA

Damn... @Rick_Story just beat that boys ass like he stole something — Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) July 17, 2014

Great fight by @Rick_Story looked like a beast — Patrick Healy (@BamBamHealy) July 17, 2014

Hell yeah!!! Way to grind and exploit those holes @Rick_Story #UFCFightNight45 #POTN — Jon SuperSaiyan Tuck (@JonCruzTuck) July 17, 2014

Great to see @Rick_Story win. Great guy and always rooting for him — Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) July 17, 2014

JOE PROCTOR VS. JUSTIN SALAS

Is that a soccer ball on the side of Proctors head? — Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) July 17, 2014

I want to see some John Belushi Animal House action to Proctor's head. #UFCFightNight — Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) July 17, 2014

Sooo, uh looks like @JoeProctor is now gonna be hangin out at Notre Dame from now on.... @ufc #UFCFightNight ouchie — Bubba McDaniel (@BubbaTheMenace) July 17, 2014

Holy hematomas! — Dana White (@danawhite) July 17, 2014

Looked like a few back of the head shots and a stoppage as he stands up? That was awkward. #UFCFightNight45 — Joe Ellenberger (@JoeEllenberger) July 17, 2014

JOHN LINEKER VS. ALPTEKIN OZKILIC

That's was a friggin fight!!! Hats off to both guys and well done linekar. @UFCONFOX @ufc — michael (@bisping) July 17, 2014

Liniker is the mini mike Tyson @ufc — Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) July 17, 2014

Lineker beasting with those body shots. Gonna be some sore ribs tomorrow — Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) July 17, 2014

Man that was 3 rounds of gas pedals to the ground. Great scrap! #UFCFightNight45 — Joe Ellenberger (@JoeEllenberger) July 17, 2014

Wowwwwwww awesome fight. Uauuuu q lutao. — Antonio Pezao Silva (@BigfootSilva) July 17, 2014

I am bringing John liniker to spar for my next camp....He's thought fight,congrats brother. @johnlineker — Antonio Pezao Silva (@BigfootSilva) July 17, 2014

Lineker is a legit BAD ASS! — Dana White (@danawhite) July 17, 2014

I rather the be fans favourite than be a boring ass fighter. This is the life i chose. I love my job. Thank u @ufc #UFCFightNight — Alptekin Ozkilic (@alpozkilicmma) July 17, 2014

LUCAS MARTINS VS. ALEX WHITE

Oooh shit. That KO. Just when you thought Martins was out of it — Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) July 17, 2014