Bruce Buffer incorrectly announced the result of the Padilla fight as a majority decision when the actual scorecards showed a draw, with fighters learning the real outcome only backstage. The Reyes-Walker bout surprisingly turned out to be the most boring fight of the entire event. Gable Stevenson, Jon Jones' protégé, signed with the UFC, with Jones also hinting at a potential return. Paulo Costa received renewed fan appreciation after his performance, with observers questioning why he stayed at middleweight for so long when he appears just as large at light heavyweight but with better cardio. A potential Costa-Prochazka matchup was suggested as an exciting possibility. Josh Hockett's performance impressed Donald Trump, resulting in Hockett being booked against Derrick Lewis at the White House lawn. Jiri Prochazka stated that mercy was inappropriate, vowing to destroy that part of himself, admitting he lost concentration and apologizing for his performance.
Several notable storylines emerged from the April 12 event, ranging from an embarrassing ring announcer error to a divisional shake-up and a surprise UFC signing.
Bruce Buffer incorrectly announced the result of the Padilla fight as a majority decision when the actual scorecards reflected a draw. Neither fighter learned the true outcome until they had left the arena and reached backstage, turning what should have been a clear official moment into a source of confusion.
Paulo Costa, the Brazilian striker ranked thirteenth at middleweight and carrying a 16-4-0 record, drew renewed appreciation from fans following his performance. At 35 years old and standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, Costa has spent his career at middleweight despite possessing the frame and physicality of a natural light heavyweight. Observers noted that he appeared just as large competing at 205 pounds while demonstrating noticeably better cardio than in previous outings, prompting widespread discussion about why the move had not come sooner. A future matchup between Costa and Jiri Prochazka has already been floated as an appealing possibility.
Prochazka, the Czech contender ranked second in the light heavyweight division at 33 years old with a 32-6-1 record, offered a candid assessment of his own showing. Standing six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach and landing 5.69 significant strikes per minute across his career, he acknowledged a lapse in concentration, apologized for his performance, and stated that mercy had no place in his approach going forward.
Elsewhere, Olympic wrestling standout Gable Stevenson officially signed with the UFC, with heavyweight champion Jon Jones — his mentor — hinting at a potential return to competition. Jones, 38, holds a 28-1-0 record and a career striking accuracy of 58 percent.
Why it matters
- Costa's weight class move could reshape the light heavyweight top ten if he builds on this performance
- A Prochazka-Costa matchup would pit two high-volume strikers against each other with significant divisional ranking consequences
- Stevenson's arrival adds depth to a heavyweight division already anchored by Jones, whose potential return would further elevate the stakes
