Rafael dos Anjos shook up the lightweight division in a major way at UFC Fight Night 49, stopping former record-tying champion Benson Henderson with a stunning first-round assault to vault his own name into instant title contention. The Brazilian showed little fear of Henderson, charging inside with a flying knee then following up his salvo with a devastating left hand that sent the division's assumed No. 1 toppling to the canvas.

Referee "Big" John McCarthy quickly jumped in to stop the contest, however once the shock of dos Anjos' division-changing upset subsided, debate about McCarthy's quick trigger continued to rage across social media, prompting a slew of fighters to weigh-in on the situation.

WHAT!!!!! Caught him slipping! He was hurt before the knee — Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) August 24, 2014

and now you understand who is who @ufc — khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) August 24, 2014

I'd say a pretty fast stoppage but dos Anjos looked great and earned the Tko stoppage in rd 1! #UFCFightNight — Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) August 24, 2014

Big john...you sir fucked up. That being said, Henderson wasn't gonna win tonight. RDJ is starting to rise above and shine. — Cody Bollinger (@CodyBollinger) August 24, 2014

RDA was impressive tonight. Khabib is going to be the next champ though IMO. No one can wrestle with that guy. — Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) August 24, 2014

How u gonna stop a fight after one punch if he's not out cold???? — John Moraga (@chicanojohn) August 24, 2014

I did not see that coming!! Congrats to Dos Añjos — Kyle Kingsbury (@Kingsbu) August 24, 2014

If he was out why was he gettin up??? RT @ASUTRUE: @chicanojohn he was out john — John Moraga (@chicanojohn) August 24, 2014

The refs job is to keep us as safe as possible. If you want to be all punch drunk and damaged goods once your career is over go box — Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) August 24, 2014

"@TheDKano: Early stop John?? #UFCFightNight" SUPER EARLY! Wth man, he landed on his elbow and came-to really quick. Ive seen worse beatings — Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMasterAljO) August 24, 2014

Early stoppage, don't take a fight of that magnitude away from the fighters. #UFCTulsa — Scott Holtzman (@HotSauceHoltzy) August 24, 2014

People, this is MMA, anything can happen. — russell doane (@RussellDoane135) August 24, 2014

MIKE PYLE VS. JORDAN MEIN

Oh shit mein dropped levels and came up with a massive hook dropping Pyle then finishing him. Beautiful. #UFCFightNight — Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) August 24, 2014

Wooooow! Great stuff by young gun mien!! — Chad Laprise (@ChadLaprise) August 24, 2014

That was explosive. Nice finish. #UFCFightNight49 — Joe Ellenberger (@JoeEllenberger) August 24, 2014

FRANCIS CARMONT VS. THALES LEITES

After a lackluster rd 1 leites comes out with a fire under his butt and brings it to Carmont, finishing him with strikes! #UFCFightNight — Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) August 24, 2014

A chaque montée il y a une descente , la remontée est difficile :( Merci pour tout le soutien. — Francis Carmont (@franciscarmont) August 24, 2014

MAX HOLLOWAY VS. CLAY COLLARD

Collard didn't have a proper camp... I like his gameness.... This is a scrap. Holloway taking over — TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) August 24, 2014

This Collard kid is durable. Holloway has some serious skills. This one is awesome. #UFCFightNight49 #UFCTulsa — Joe Ellenberger (@JoeEllenberger) August 24, 2014

@BlessedMMA is the fucking man! — russell doane (@RussellDoane135) August 24, 2014

Not bad for a 21 year old kid with a week notice right @seanshelby @danawhite next time @CCCcollard will get the w — Steven Siler (@Stevesiler) August 24, 2014

Collard doesn't sit down on his punches much for being a boxer — Brian Rogers (@BRogthePredator) August 24, 2014

I love watching @BlessedMMA fight. Awesome brotha! — Lance Palmer (@LancePalmer) August 24, 2014

Now you know why @CCCcollard is my favorite fighter to watch @ufc #UFCFightNight — Ramsey Nijem (@RamseyNijem) August 24, 2014

Max holloway with the finish in rd 3. I'd watch that again for sure. FOTN! #UFCFightNight — Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) August 24, 2014

That was a great performance by max holloway. I Want to see more of Collins too. He is a future beast — TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) August 24, 2014

JAMES VICK VS. WALMIR LAZARO

These guys are throwing to hurt the wind, but the wind is #winning! #UFCTulsa — Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMasterAljO) August 24, 2014

Throw technique and defense out the window and brawl. Haha it makes it exciting I suppose. #UFCFightNight49 #awkward — Joe Ellenberger (@JoeEllenberger) August 24, 2014

Bellator has announced that the winner of this fight, based off of the technique shown, gets an immediate title shot. @MMARoasted — Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) August 24, 2014

I'm seriously impressed by how well he takes a kick to the head — russell doane (@RussellDoane135) August 24, 2014

Lazaro keeps getting those 1ups just like in Super Mario #UFCFightNight @ufc — Akira Corassani (@AkiraCorassani) August 24, 2014

Well Lazaro Vick wasnt the most technically advanced UFC fight I've seen...but they definitely left it all out there lol #UFCFightNight — Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) August 24, 2014

People hate so so much on #bellator ...then this fight make the main card of tonight's #ufc . Honestly I'm glad people are getting paid tho — Brian Rogers (@BRogthePredator) August 24, 2014

CHAS SKELLY VS. TOM NIINIMAKI

Great seats to watch @ChasSkelly get it done in just over two minutes!! Way to go chas! — Jared Rosholt (@JaredRosholt) August 24, 2014

Nice RNC from Skelly. Under the chin or on the jaw, you can finish regardless as long as you've got a man squeeze. #UFCFightNight #UFCTulsa — Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) August 24, 2014

BEN SAUNDERS VS. CHRIS HEATHERLY

Caral .......... @bensaundersMMA deu aula de chão agora, e pegou na Omoplata. Quem luta #mma sabe como é difícil finalizar na omoplata !!! — Eduardo Dantas (@DuduDantasMMA) August 24, 2014

Congats @bensaundersMMA awesome job bro! — joey beltran (@mexicutioner760) August 24, 2014

@bensaundersMMA is a ninja.. always exciting and has an awesome unique style! There's more than one way to the top. — Mike Brown (@mikebrownmma) August 24, 2014

I'm happy for @bensaundersMMA! Was nice to see a omoplata finish back in the game. Congrats dude!!! #UFCFightNight — Gesias JZ Cavalcante (@Gesias) August 24, 2014