Will we ever again see a UFC pay-per-view end without at least a shred of controversy? From the Georges St-Pierre circus, to Anderson Silva's gruesome leg break, and now to questionable stoppages by veteran referee Herb Dean in back-to-back months, something about that pay wall certainly seems to bring out the weirdness of late.

It's shame, too, because UFC 170's anticlimactic end overshadowed one of the most impressive performances in a career full of impressive performances. Rather than obstinately hunting for her trademark armbar, Ronda Rousey showed off the evolution of her game, dispatching fellow Olympic medalist Sara McMann with a vicious dirty boxing clinic that culminated in, according to Fightmetric, the first official knockdown in the history of the UFC women's bantamweight division -- via a knee to the liver, no less.

Rousey remains undefeated, and outside of 'Cyborg', the list of viable challengers to her throne grows smaller and less intimidating by the day.

Yet for the most part, the ensuing conversation revolved primarily around Dean's stoppage, which when contrasted with the T.J. Waldburger hamburgerface special Dean allowed just an hour prior, came off looking particularly odd. But alas, so it goes in the fight game.

Come on it might have been over but this is a title fight give them a chance at least! Too many early title stoppages! #UFC170 — Darren Elkins (@Darren_Elkins) February 23, 2014

Ronda comes out and both throw some strikes. Mcmann drops from a knee to the body but herb steps in way too soon #ufc170 — Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) February 23, 2014

That last replay was a better vantage point to see what Herb saw, I can see why he stopped it as Sara was holding her body in pain — Brian Stann (@BrianStann) February 23, 2014

@RondaRousey give me a nervous boner..... Where I'm petrified but totally turned on at the same time :p — Brandon Thatch (@RUKUSMMA303) February 23, 2014

I don't care how many anatomy lessons Goldberg gives us on the broadcast. That was a bad stoppage. — Daniel Downes (@dannyboydownes) February 23, 2014

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. No way. Shittttttttt! I wanted to see more of that — Chris Clements (@menaceclements) February 23, 2014

Herb I love you but go home. #UFC170 — Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) February 23, 2014

Unpopular call but that was a good call by Herb Dean. #ufc170 — Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) February 23, 2014

People saying that was a bad stoppage have never taken a bad liver shot… You’re conscious but can’t move. They are the worst! #UFC170 — Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) February 23, 2014

Clearly….she’s hurt. But we don’t stop fights for hurt fighters standing up. Herb made a mistake. #UFC170 — Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) February 23, 2014

Sara was on her way back up... Let them fight... — Tim Boetsch (@TimBoetsch) February 23, 2014

I wasn't a fan of that stoppage but Ronda was putting on Sarah for sure — Ike Vallie-Flagg (@IKEVF) February 23, 2014

SO MANY OF YALL ARE SOOOO MAD HAHAH — ThugRose Namajunas (@rosenamajunas) February 23, 2014

A little premature but a wins a win... Wrestling is still a lot cooler then judo ; ) — Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) February 23, 2014

Championship fights especially should have the ref let a fight go. Bad stoppage 100% but Ronda gets the rd 1 win #ufc170 — Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) February 23, 2014

Well damn @RondaRousey, lucky I didn't go to kitchen to make a sandwich.. All Hail da Champ.. #LiverShot — Reggie Miller (@ReggieMillerTNT) February 23, 2014

You stopped that herb? — Kyle Dake (@kyledake444) February 23, 2014

Well @ufc I want a refund — Kyle Dake (@kyledake444) February 23, 2014

I can’t even…man bye. #UFC170 Ronda u still awesome tho, just wanted to see a good fight. #UFC170 — Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) February 23, 2014

After a shot to the liver your brain, heart and liver: Heart: Get up already, damn it! Brain: shut up heart! Liver: I'm out, screw u both! — Bahadurzada (@SiyarTheGreat) February 23, 2014

Even with the stoppage that a lot of people don't agree with, Sara McMann shows how classy she is by being graceful in defeat — Mitch Clarke (@MitchClarkeMMA) February 23, 2014

@Sara_McMann is so gracious. Thank you for showing people how to act. — LIZ CARMOUCHE (@iamgirlrilla) February 23, 2014

Been a fan of @Sara_McMann since I saw her fight in Carolina for Invicta fights. Absolute class act. She will come back to dominate. — Jared Hamman (@jaredhammanMMA) February 23, 2014

Showing she's always improving. Congratulations @RondaRousey on your victory. — Holly Holm (@_HOLLYHOLM) February 23, 2014

No comment on the co main event & the main event. God is watching this. — KEN SHAMROCK (@ShamrockKen) February 23, 2014

I'm glad @rondarousey won- now I can kick her ass in December - make it happen daddy @danawhite — Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) February 23, 2014

THERE WAS NO OTHER OUTCOME

If wrestling had punches it would be called Mma, wrestling is wrestling and DC showed PC that! #UFC170 — Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) February 23, 2014

Talk shit get wrecked.. Way of the beast — Yancy Medeiros (@ymedeiros) February 23, 2014

Can't believe anyone actually thought that would be slightly competitive in the least. Morons! — Ben Askren (@Benaskren) February 23, 2014

Don't fight DC on short notice , don't fight DC on a months notice , don't fight DC at all ! #UFC170 — Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) February 23, 2014

Did we really think that was gonna go any different? — Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) February 23, 2014

Who all bought wolf tickets to the Pat Cummings show? — James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) February 23, 2014

I love that @DC_mma said "it had to be this way" in his post fight interview. A glorified workout partner can't be saying the stuff he did. — Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) February 23, 2014

I love the little shove DC gave at the end. Like a parent after giving their child spankings. — russell doane (@RussellDoane135) February 23, 2014

DC did the damn thing! I thought Cummins had more for him than that! DC looked good!! But this next fight tho!! — Rashad Evans (@SugaRashadEvans) February 23, 2014

Daniel Cormier I appreciate you... Thanks for that easy money — Santana Slack (@Santanacrooks) February 23, 2014

@OfficialDurkin U'll back bro! With a decent preparation, you're a force at 205! — Bahadurzada (@SiyarTheGreat) February 23, 2014

That's what happens when u smack talk and disrespect ur opponent!! Great job @dc_mma — STORMIN NORMAN PARKE (@norman_parke) February 23, 2014

No surprise. — LIZ CARMOUCHE (@iamgirlrilla) February 23, 2014

People doubted when I said Cormier would crush Strikeforce GP field and that he would win UFC gold. If I was a 205er, I'd be damn nervous. — Pat Miletich (@patmiletich) February 23, 2014

What a beast! Welcome to 205lb @dc_mma — Cung Le (@CungLe185) February 23, 2014

MACDONALD GETS BACK ON TRACK

Rory showed great composure on ground and survived a crazy tight mount by Maia. Props to Rory on the win — TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) February 23, 2014

I love Demian Maia… Such awesome Jiu-Jitsu. Always one of my favorites to watch. #ufc170 — Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) February 23, 2014

Man can't believe how bad Maia gassed. Rory's takedown D worse than some 7th graders I coach. — Ben Askren (@Benaskren) February 23, 2014

@demianmaia win the Fight i think — Diego Brandao (@DiegoBrandaoMMA) February 23, 2014

Fun fight to watch MacDonald looked focus as ever #UFC170 — Darren Elkins (@Darren_Elkins) February 23, 2014

Rory got this one but maia won the first. great heart http://t.co/G3HVkdrT9n — Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) February 23, 2014

Really thought Maia could win that. #UFC170 — Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) February 23, 2014

Great fight! Let's get those guys a bonus! — russell doane (@RussellDoane135) February 23, 2014

Why is Maia so anxious to meet Rory's kicks half way and headbutt his shin? 😁 — Bahadurzada (@SiyarTheGreat) February 23, 2014

Wow damien maia looking exhausted.. it got a little ugly in there — Mike Brown (@mikebrownmma) February 23, 2014

That's how you weather the storm and hijack the ship! Congrats to @rory_macdonald #UFC170 @ufc 170 — Akira Corassani (@AkiraCorassani) February 23, 2014

THE MULLET PREVAILS

I like mike Pyle. Met him a few times, nice guy. But what the hell is he thinking with that mullet! — michael (@bisping) February 23, 2014

Mike Goldberg just shouted out pyles mullet 😂😂 — russell doane (@RussellDoane135) February 23, 2014

Mullets win!! Mike Pyle finishes waldburger in rd 3. Some great elbows on the feet leading to more elbows in GNP! #ufc170 — Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) February 23, 2014

Shit bit late on the stoppage :/ #UFC170 good win — Dylan Andrews (@dylanthevillian) February 23, 2014

Congrats to brother @Mike_Pyle what an awesome performance! #UFC170 I say that's deserving of a Performance of The Night bonus... @ufc — Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) February 23, 2014

Herb Dean must've been hanging out with Nick Diaz back stage ! #UFC170 — Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) February 23, 2014

Mike Pyle is always lookin extra average but still winning fights, knocking people Out & shit. That’s a special talent. #UFC170 — Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) February 23, 2014

Wow!!! @Mike_Pyle 38 yrs old and looks better then ever! Aging like a fine box of wine! Congrats dude! #UFC170 — Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) February 23, 2014

Mike Pyle #performanceofthenight well done! — Brian Rogers (@BRogthePredator) February 23, 2014

I felt bad for TJ right there at the end. He was taking damage... I really like Tj I know hell bounce back.. #UFC170 — Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) February 23, 2014

Love seeing @Mike_Pyle show his skills. He looked like me sparring one my students tonight. One step and ahead and relaxed! — Chris Clements (@menaceclements) February 23, 2014

I don't like to lose but that sure was a fun fight. Mike is a class act & a good fighter. It was his night but ill be back stronger #ufc170 — TJ Waldburger (@TJWaldburger) February 23, 2014

I wanna go fishing too — Matthew Brown (@IamTheImmortal) February 23, 2014

WONDERBOY ROLLS

Shame for Whitaker, nice guy. — michael (@bisping) February 23, 2014

Beautiful ko and flip. Don't try it home says Mike Goldberg — Ramsey Nijem (@RamseyNijem) February 23, 2014

That was a nice shot! #UFC — LIZ CARMOUCHE (@iamgirlrilla) February 23, 2014

Good start to #ufc170 ppv! Hope the night continues this way!! — Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) February 23, 2014