Hubbry Logo
UFC 217UFC 217Main
Open search
UFC 217
Community hub
UFC 217
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
UFC 217
UFC 217
UFC 217
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia
UFC 217: Bisping vs. St-Pierre
The poster for UFC 217: Bisping vs. St-Pierre
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateNovember 4, 2017 (2017-11-04)
VenueMadison Square Garden
CityNew York City, New York
Attendance18,201[1]
Total gate$6,200,000[1]
Buyrate875,000[2]
Event chronology
UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Machida UFC 217: Bisping vs. St-Pierre UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis

UFC 217: Bisping vs. St-Pierre was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship held on November 4, 2017, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.[3]

Background

[edit]
St-Pierre (right) fought for the first time in four years, as he tried to become the fourth fighter to win titles in different weight classes in the UFC. Meanwhile, Michael Bisping (left) had his 2nd title defense since he became the champion at UFC 199 in June 2016.

The event was the second that the promotion has hosted at Madison Square Garden.[3]

A UFC Middleweight Championship bout between current champion and The Ultimate Fighter 3 light heavyweight winner Michael Bisping and former two-time UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre headlined this event.[4][5] The bout was originally announced in March, but without a date attached. As time wore on the contest appeared to fall apart, with UFC President Dana White claiming Bisping would fight interim middleweight champion Robert Whittaker next and St-Pierre would get current welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. When Whittaker announced he was injured and Woodley put on a successful title defense against Demian Maia at UFC 214 in July that didn't meet White's standards, he reverted to the initial plan, which St-Pierre and Bisping said they wanted all along.[6]

A UFC Bantamweight Championship bout between champion Cody Garbrandt and former champion T.J. Dillashaw, was previously scheduled to serve as headliner for UFC 213.[7] However, Garbrandt withdrew from the fight due to a back injury.[8] The fight was later rescheduled for this event.[9][10]

A UFC Women's Strawweight Championship bout between champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk and former title challenger Rose Namajunas took place as the third title fight of the event.[11]

Gadzhimurad Antigulov was expected to face Ion Cuțelaba at the event. However, Antigulov pulled out of the fight on September 26 citing an injury.[12] He was replaced by promotional newcomer Michał Oleksiejczuk.[13] In turn after the weigh-ins, Cuțelaba was pulled from the event by USADA due to a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from its investigation into voluntary disclosures by Cuțelaba during an out-of-competition sample collections on October 18 and October 19. He was provisionally suspended and the bout cancelled.[14]

A heavyweight bout between Walt Harris and Mark Godbeer was initially slated for UFC 216. However, the fight was scrapped on the day of the event as Harris, was tabbed replacement opponent for Fabrício Werdum after his scheduled opponent Derrick Lewis pulled out of their fight with a back injury.[15] The Harris/Godbeer pairing was rescheduled and took place at this event.[16]

Patrick Cummins was expected to face The Ultimate Fighter: Team Edgar vs. Team Penn light heavyweight winner Corey Anderson at this event. However, on October 17, Cummins pulled out due to a resistant staph infection.[17] He was replaced by former interim UFC Light Heavyweight Championship challenger Ovince Saint Preux.[18]

Results

[edit]
Main Card
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Middleweight Georges St-Pierre def. Michael Bisping (c) Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) 3 4:23 [a]
Bantamweight T.J. Dillashaw def. Cody Garbrandt (c) TKO (punches) 2 2:41 [b]
Women's Strawweight Rose Namajunas def. Joanna Jędrzejczyk (c) TKO (punches) 1 3:03 [c]
Welterweight Stephen Thompson def. Jorge Masvidal Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Middleweight Paulo Costa def. Johny Hendricks TKO (punches) 2 1:23
Preliminary Card (Fox Sports 1)
Lightweight James Vick def. Joseph Duffy TKO (punches) 2 4:59
Heavyweight Mark Godbeer def. Walt Harris DQ (illegal head kick) 1 4:29 [d]
Light Heavyweight Ovince Saint Preux def. Corey Anderson KO (head kick) 3 1:25
Welterweight Randy Brown def. Mickey Gall Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–27) 3 5:00
Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)
Heavyweight Curtis Blaydes def. Alexey Oleynik TKO (doctor stoppage) 2 1:56 [e]
Bantamweight Ricardo Ramos def. Aiemann Zahabi KO (spinning back elbow) 3 1:58
  1. ^ For the UFC Middleweight Championship.
  2. ^ For the UFC Bantamweight Championship.
  3. ^ For the UFC Women's Strawweight Championship.
  4. ^ Harris was disqualified for hitting Godbeer with a head kick after the referee called a time out due to a groin strike.[19]
  5. ^ The referee stopped the fight after Blaydes delivered an illegal kick to a downed opponent and called a doctor to check on Oleinik. The fight was stopped due to the doctor's advice. The replay, however, showed the strike did not deliver significant damage (as it only grazed the ear), and the fight was ruled a TKO win for Blaydes.[20]

[21]

Bonus awards

[edit]

The following fighters were awarded bonuses:[22]

  • Fight of the Night: None awarded
  • Performance of the Night ($50,000): Georges St-Pierre, T.J. Dillashaw and Rose Namajunas
  • Performance of the Night ($25,000): Ovince Saint Preux and Ricardo Ramos

Record set

[edit]

Like UFC 33, UFC 205 and UFC 214, the card featured three title fights. However, this was the first time in UFC history that all three champions lost their belts on the same card.[23]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

UFC 217

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
UFC 217: Bisping vs. St-Pierre was a event produced by the (UFC) on November 4, 2017, at in , New York. The event featured a main card headlined by a championship bout between champion and former champion , who was returning after a nearly four-year hiatus from competition. St-Pierre captured the title via third-round submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:23, marking his first fight at and ending Bisping's reign. The co-main event saw a rematch for the bantamweight title between champion and former champion , with Dillashaw reclaiming the belt via second-round TKO (punches) at 2:41. Earlier on the main card, an upset occurred in the women's strawweight title fight as knocked out defending champion with a head kick at 3:03 of the first round, ending Jędrzejczyk's streak of five successful defenses. The card also included welterweight action between Thompson and , won by Thompson via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27), and a middleweight bout where stopped Johny via second-round TKO. UFC 217 drew a sold-out crowd of 18,201 spectators and generated a live gate of $6.2 million, contributing to its status as one of the promotion's most significant events at the venue. The buyrate reached an estimated 875,000 buys, boosted by the high-profile title fights and St-Pierre's comeback. Performance of the Night bonuses ($50,000 each) were awarded to St-Pierre, Dillashaw, and Namajunas. and Ricardo Ramos each earned $25,000 performance bonuses for their wins, highlighting the event's finishing rate across 11 bouts.

Event Information

Date and Venue

UFC 217 was held on November 4, 2017, at in , New York, . This event represented the 217th in the Ultimate Fighting Championship's history and served as a major spectacle in the promotion's annual calendar. The choice of underscored the venue's prestige as a historic arena synonymous with landmark sporting events, accommodating over 20,000 spectators for high-profile combat sports occasions. The event's timing in early aligned with the UFC's to capitalize on the fall season for major cards, following a series of international and domestic shows earlier in the year. UFC 217 held particular historical importance as the second UFC pay-per-view at Madison Square Garden after the legalization of professional mixed martial arts in New York state on April 14, 2016. Prior to this legislation, the UFC had been barred from hosting events in the state since its inception, limiting operations to other U.S. locations. The inaugural post-legalization event, UFC 205, occurred at the same venue just under a year earlier on November 12, 2016, marking the promotion's triumphant return to New York. This second outing at the Garden reinforced New York's emergence as a key market for the sport, highlighting the rapid growth in MMA's acceptance following years of regulatory hurdles.

Promotion and Attendance

UFC 217 was promoted by the (UFC) as a flagship event, capitalizing on the organization's growing foothold in after the legalization of professional in the state in April 2016. The promotion highlighted the event's significance as the UFC's return to , building on the success of the inaugural New York card () and generating widespread media attention through trailers, press conferences, and fighter appearances that underscored the high-stakes title bouts. Broadcasting for UFC 217 adhered to the UFC's standard multi-platform model, with the main card headlined by three championship fights available exclusively on starting at 10 p.m. ET. The preliminary card aired live on from 8 p.m. ET, while early prelims streamed on beginning at 7 p.m. ET, ensuring broad accessibility for fans across and digital platforms. The event drew an announced attendance of 18,201 at , reflecting strong ticket demand driven by the promotional efforts. This turnout generated a live gate revenue of $6.2 million, marking one of the UFC's most financially successful shows of .

Background

Title Fights Announcement

The announcement of UFC 217's title fights began in the summer of , with the main event pitting champion against former champion in a bout for the 185-pound title. The matchup, initially revealed in March without a set date, was officially confirmed for at on August 2, , marking St-Pierre's return after a four-year absence from the since his last fight at UFC 167 in November 2013. St-Pierre's comeback generated significant hype as a major draw, leveraging his legacy of nine successful title defenses and status as one of MMA's all-time greats. Pre-fight narratives for the main event emphasized St-Pierre's technical mastery and ring rust concerns against Bisping's durability, particularly amid questions about the champion's vision following a detached in his right eye during his July 2017 defense against , which necessitated surgery just days before the fight's finalization. Bisping, who had managed chronic vision issues stemming from a 2013 injury against , pushed forward despite medical risks, framing the storyline around his resilience as a one-eyed warrior defending the belt. The co-main event was added on August 17, 2017, featuring a title rematch between champion and former champion , rescheduled from after Garbrandt's back injury withdrawal. The pairing intensified their personal rivalry, rooted in a fractured brotherhood from , where Dillashaw's 2015 departure to Elevation Fight Team amid tensions over training dynamics and success led to public barbs and accusations of betrayal from Garbrandt and coach . Rounding out the triple-title card, UFC announced on September 12, 2017, a women's strawweight championship clash between defending champion and challenger . Jędrzejczyk, undefeated at 14-0 and seeking a UFC-record-tying sixth consecutive defense to match Ronda Rousey's mark, faced Namajunas, a rising contender who had submitted Michelle Waterson in her prior outing to earn the shot.

Card Changes and Pre-Event Issues

The UFC 217 card underwent several alterations in the lead-up to the event, primarily due to injuries and medical issues affecting preliminary bouts. Initially, a scheduled light heavyweight matchup between Ion Cuțelaba and Gadzhimurad Antigulov was canceled on September 26, 2017, after Antigulov withdrew due to an undisclosed injury. Cuțelaba was subsequently rebooked against promotional newcomer Michał Oleksiejczuk, who stepped in as a replacement opponent for the November 4 event. This adjustment helped maintain the card's depth without impacting the main title fights. Further changes occurred in October when Patrick Cummins was forced to withdraw from his light heavyweight bout against Corey Anderson due to a severe staph infection that resisted initial antibiotic treatment. Ovince Saint Preux, who had been slated for a different matchup earlier in the year, agreed to step in as Cummins' replacement on short notice, ensuring the fight proceeded as a key preliminary contest. No replacements were needed for the championship bouts, including the main event between Michael Bisping and Georges St-Pierre, despite reports of Bisping dealing with a rib injury sustained approximately one week prior to the event; Bisping opted to compete without withdrawing or altering the card. The most significant last-minute disruption came on November 3, 2017, when Cuțelaba was removed from the card following notification from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) of a potential anti-doping policy violation. The issue stemmed from Cuțelaba's disclosure on pre-fight forms of undergoing prohibited , a non-analytical violation that led to his provisional suspension and the cancellation of his fight against Oleksiejczuk just one day before the event. Cuțelaba later accepted a six-month suspension retroactive to November 3, 2017, allowing his return in May 2018. With no immediate replacement available, the bout was scrubbed, reducing the card to 11 fights. Johny Hendricks' participation also drew attention due to his ongoing struggles with , which had prompted his permanent move from to earlier in 2017 after multiple missed weights and health complications in prior camps. For UFC 217, where he faced Paulo Borrachinha, Hendricks expressed confidence in his preparation and successfully made the 185-pound limit without incident, avoiding the dehydration and illness that had plagued his career. Pre-event hype was amplified by interpersonal tensions, particularly at promotional appearances. Bisping and St-Pierre, who had a history of verbal sparring, escalated matters during a October 2017 in , leading to a heated backstage confrontation that required intervention. Tensions peaked at the official weigh-ins on November 3, where the two were separated by UFC President during their staredown amid Bisping's taunts about St-Pierre's four-year layoff. Similarly, the co-main event title fight between and featured intense animosity rooted in their shared background, with public barbs exchanged at the final that highlighted their fractured relationship and added drama to the buildup. These exchanges contributed to the event's charged atmosphere without resulting in any card alterations.

Fight Card and Results

Main Card

The main card of UFC 217 featured five high-stakes bouts, headlined by three title fights that resulted in upsets for all reigning champions.

Middleweight Championship: vs.

, the British champion who had held the title since 2016 after defeating , entered the fight with a record of 30-7 and was known for his resilience and striking prowess despite vision issues in one eye. , a Canadian legend and former longtime welterweight champion who had not fought since 2013, returned at age 36 with a 25-2 record, renowned for his wrestling and tactical grappling. In a shocking return bout, St-Pierre defeated Bisping via technical submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:23 of Round 3, taking the title after a dominant third-round takedown and ground control that left Bisping unconscious. This victory marked St-Pierre's first fight in over four years and ended Bisping's reign as an underdog comeback story.

Bantamweight Championship: Cody Garbrandt vs. TJ Dillashaw

Cody Garbrandt, the undefeated (11-0 at the time) defending bantamweight champion who won the belt in 2016 with flashy knockouts, faced his former Team Alpha Male teammate and rival TJ Dillashaw, a previous champion (16-2 record) with elite boxing and cardio. The co-main event turned into an upset when Dillashaw reclaimed the title, defeating Garbrandt via TKO (punches) at 2:41 of Round 2 after weathering an early knockdown and capitalizing on Garbrandt's aggressive style with precise counters. The win highlighted Dillashaw's technical superiority in a heated rivalry stemming from their training camp split.

Women's Strawweight Championship: Joanna Jędrzejczyk vs. Rose Namajunas

Joanna Jędrzejczyk, the dominant Polish strawweight champion with a 14-0 record and five successful defenses known for her Muay Thai striking, met Rose Namajunas, an American contender (7-3 record) with strong grappling roots from her MMA debut in 2013. In one of the night's biggest shocks, the +310 underdog Namajunas dethroned Jędrzejczyk via TKO (punches) at 3:03 of Round 1, landing a left hook that dropped the champion followed by ground strikes for the stoppage. Namajunas' upset victory, fueled by feints and explosive power, ended Jędrzejczyk's unbeaten streak and earned her Performance of the Night bonus.

Welterweight: Stephen Thompson vs.

Stephen Thompson, a karate specialist with a 13-2-1 record and top contender status from his precise kicks and counters, faced , a veteran (32-12 record) celebrated for his power and street-fighting resilience. Thompson won a competitive bout via (30-27, 30-27, 30-26), using his range management and leg kicks to outpoint Masvidal over three rounds despite the latter's aggressive pressure and attempts. The decision solidified Thompson's striking edge in a high-profile non-title clash.

Middleweight: Johny Hendricks vs. Paulo Costa

Johny , the former welterweight champion (18-7 record) who had moved up to middleweight amid weight issues, encountered , an undefeated Brazilian prospect (10-0 record) with knockout power in his UFC debut streak. Costa impressed in the main card opener, defeating Hendricks via TKO (punches) at 1:23 of Round 2 after a strong first round led to a flurry of strikes that dropped and finished the American. The win boosted Costa's hype as an emerging force while marking a setback for Hendricks' career transition.

Preliminary Card

The preliminary card for UFC 217 featured six bouts across multiple weight classes, showcasing a mix of established contenders and rising prospects in non-title action broadcast on and FS1. These fights highlighted technical striking, grappling exchanges, and one notable controversy, contributing to the event's overall excitement at . In the opener, , a British striker on a seven-fight win streak with sharp skills honed from his background, faced , an Irish veteran known for his submission expertise and powerful left hand after competing in promotions like . Vick dominated the standup in the second round, landing a devastating followed by ground strikes that forced a referee stoppage at 4:59, securing a TKO victory just one second before the bell. The bout between , a British powerhouse with a wrestling base and prior UFC experience, and Walt Harris, an American knockout artist riding a three-fight winning streak with explosive athleticism from his football days, ended in . Harris appeared to be controlling the fight with pressure before delivering a low knee and then an illegal head kick to Godbeer's face after the referee had called time at 4:29 of the first round, resulting in a disqualification win for Godbeer. Ovince Saint Preux, a durable light heavyweight contender with a military background and black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, met Corey Anderson, an undefeated American wrestler who had previously challenged for the title with his grinding style from wrestling at the University of Wisconsin. After two rounds of back-and-forth action, Saint Preux landed a precise head kick at 1:25 of the third round, knocking out Anderson for a highlight-reel finish and earning Performance of the Night honors. Welterweight prospects Randy Brown, a Jamaican-American finisher with roots and a perfect UFC record entering the fight, took on , a young grappler from the SBG camp famous for his quick submission of . Brown controlled the pace with superior striking and takedown defense over three rounds, winning a (30-27, 30-26, 30-26) to extend his streak. Curtis Blaydes, an American wrestling standout with Olympic training experience and a focus on ground-and-pound, clashed with , a Russian submission specialist renowned for his chokes and longevity in the sport since the . Blaydes inflicted a deep cut above Oleinik's eye early in the second round, leading to a doctor's stoppage at 1:39 for a TKO victory. Closing the early prelims, bantamweight Ricardo , a ace with a flair for dynamic submissions from his time in , faced , a Canadian kickboxer and brother of trainer , known for his precise striking and resilience. Ramos weathered early pressure before spinning back elbow knocked out Zahabi at 1:58 of the third round, earning him Performance of the Night.

Awards and Records

Bonus Awards

At UFC 217, the awarded Performance of the Night bonuses to recognize fighters for their exceptional individual performances, particularly those resulting in decisive finishes. These awards, selected by UFC executives including president , totaled $200,000 across five recipients and highlighted dominant showings in both title and undercard bouts. Georges St-Pierre earned $50,000 for his rear-naked choke submission victory over Michael Bisping in the main event, reclaiming the UFC middleweight title in his return after a four-year hiatus. T.J. Dillashaw received $50,000 for his second-round TKO of Cody Garbrandt, capturing the bantamweight championship in their rematch. Rose Namajunas also secured $50,000 for her first-round knockout upset of strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk, a shocking finish that shifted the division's landscape. Additionally, Ovince Saint Preux and Ricardo Ramos each picked up $25,000 for their third-round knockout wins—Saint Preux via head kick against Corey Anderson, and Ramos via spinning back elbow against Aiemann Zahabi—as supplementary Performance of the Night honors. No Fight of the Night bonus was issued, as the event lacked a designated standout non-bonus-eligible bout.

Event Records

UFC 217 marked a historic milestone in the , becoming the first event where all three championship bouts resulted in title changes, with middleweight champion , bantamweight champion , and strawweight champion all losing their belts on the same card. This simultaneous shift across three weight divisions was unprecedented in UFC history, underscoring the night's unpredictability and elevating the event's legacy as one of the promotion's most consequential pay-per-views. Underdogs prevailed in each title fight, contributing to a record for the most upsets in championship matches during a single UFC event. Georges St-Pierre's triumphant return after a four-year hiatus further amplified the event's record-breaking nature, as his submission victory over Bisping not only secured the title but also made him the fourth fighter in UFC history to claim championships in multiple divisions. At 36 years and five months old, St-Pierre became the oldest titleholder at the time of his win, surpassing previous benchmarks for the division while tying for the longest overall UFC winning streak with 13 consecutive victories. His performance also extended his personal record for the most UFC championship wins to 13, solidifying his status among the promotion's elite. The event at , the second UFC pay-per-view in New York following the state's legalization of professional in 2016, drew a sellout crowd of 18,201 and generated a $6.2 million gate, highlighting the venue's growing prominence in hosting landmark UFC cards. Beyond the titles, nine of the 11 bouts ended inside the distance, reflecting the high-stakes intensity that defined the night.

Aftermath

Immediate Reactions

The triple title changes at UFC 217, marking the first time in UFC history that three championships exchanged hands on a single card, generated widespread shock among media outlets, with headlines proclaiming it an "upset night" and one of the promotion's most chaotic evenings. ' first-round knockout of strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk stood out as the night's defining moment, hailed as one of MMA's biggest upsets and drawing immediate praise for Namajunas' precision left hook and follow-up ground strikes. UFC President described the outcomes as "three new champions" in a jubilant on-site reaction, emphasizing the event's historic unpredictability. At the post-fight press conference, Michael Bisping expressed gracious acceptance of his submission loss to Georges St-Pierre, stating he was "crushed inside" but content with his career achievements and intent on continuing to fight without injury concerns. T.J. Dillashaw, after reclaiming the bantamweight title via second-round TKO over Cody Garbrandt, addressed the ongoing rift with his former Team Alpha Male stablemates, noting their in-cage trash talk during the bout motivated his recovery from an early knockdown and validated his decision to leave the camp. St-Pierre, absent from the conference due to hospital transport for a facial injury, later released a statement calling the night the "best of my career" but would vacate the middleweight title a month later citing health issues related to ulcerative colitis. Fans and critics lauded the event's overall quality for its high-stakes drama and execution, despite the absence of a Fight of the Night award, with five Performance of the Night bonuses awarded to the three title victors—, , and —and prelim fighters and Ricardo Ramos. Early estimates pegged buys at 875,000 in alone, underscoring strong fan interest driven by the card's star power and surprises. One immediate controversy arose from the preliminary card heavyweight bout between Walt Harris and , where Harris was disqualified for an illegal head kick delivered after the referee intervened for Godbeer's low blow, with officials clarifying the stoppage as necessary under unified rules to protect the downed fighter. Harris issued an apology for the infraction and announced plans to appeal, arguing the sequence cheated fans of a full fight, though the decision stood without reversal.

Fighter Career Impacts

Georges St-Pierre's victory over at UFC 217 marked a triumphant return to the Octagon after a four-year hiatus, capturing the UFC championship and solidifying his status as a two-division titleholder. However, just 33 days later, St-Pierre vacated the belt due to a diagnosis of , which forced him to step away from competition indefinitely. He never defended the title and did not return to , officially announcing his retirement in February 2019 at age 37, citing a desire to preserve his legacy after a career that included nine title defenses. St-Pierre's brief stint at UFC 217 remains his final professional MMA bout, though he later competed in a grappling match at UFC Fight Pass Invitational 5 in 2023. Michael Bisping's loss of the middleweight title to St-Pierre at UFC 217 ended his reign and accelerated the decline of his fighting career amid ongoing vision problems stemming from a detached suffered in 2013. Following the defeat, Bisping fought once more in November 2017, losing a decision to at UFC Fight Night 122, after which his eye issues worsened, prompting his retirement announcement in May 2018. Post-retirement, Bisping transitioned successfully into , becoming a prominent for UFC events and hosting his own podcast, "Believe You Me." ' upset knockout victory over at UFC 217 propelled her to the UFC women's strawweight championship, launching a successful first title reign that included one defense against Jędrzejczyk via unanimous decision at in 2018 before losing the belt to at in 2019. She reclaimed the title with a knockout of Weili Zhang at in 2021, defending it once more against at in 2022 via submission. After contemplating retirement following the 2022 loss to Esparza in a rematch, Namajunas moved to the flyweight division, where she has remained active through 2025, compiling wins over and in 2024, a loss to in November 2024, and a victory over in June 2025. T.J. Dillashaw's second-round knockout of at UFC 217 recaptured the UFC title, avenging a prior loss and reestablishing him as the division's top contender. He defended the belt once against at in 2018 but tested positive for EPO, leading to the fight being overturned to a no-contest, the title being stripped, and a two-year suspension from USADA ending in December 2020. Upon return, Dillashaw won against in 2021 but suffered a injury during a loss to at in 2022, prompting his retirement announcement in December 2022 at age 31 due to the cumulative physical toll. Joanna Jędrzejczyk's first-round knockout loss to Namajunas at ended her dominant five-defense strawweight title reign, initiating a challenging period that included a defeat in the rematch at and a TKO win over Tecia Torres at UFC 228. Subsequent losses to Weili Zhang via at in 2020 and by knockout in their rematch at in 2022 marked a four-fight skid across two weight classes, after which she retired in June 2022, leaving the sport as one of the most decorated women's MMA fighters with a legacy honored by induction into the in 2024. Among other participants, ' disqualification victory over Fabricio Werdum at UFC 217 boosted his profile, leading to a string of wins that established him as a top contender, including victories over and , and positioning him at No. 5 in the UFC rankings as of June 2025. Paulo Costa's second-round TKO of in his UFC debut at the event sparked a five-fight winning streak, earning him contention status in the division before losses to and , yet he remains ranked No. 13 as of August 2025. Cody Garbrandt's title loss to Dillashaw at UFC 217 triggered a downward spiral, with subsequent knockouts by Dillashaw in the rematch and twice, prompting a shift in training focus and sporadic wins, though he has continued competing primarily at amid ongoing injury setbacks through 2025.

References

  1. https://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-217
  2. https://sports.yahoo.com/georges-st-pierres-return-drives-ufc-217-massive-064848231--mma.html
  3. https://www.mmamania.com/2017/11/17/16671338/ufc-217-gsp-vs-bisping-estimated-at-875000-ppv-buys-in-north-america-mma
  4. https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/11/5/16608528/ufc-217-bonuses-georges-st-pierre-four-others-earn-extra-money
  5. https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/20231099/michael-bisping-says-georges-st-pierre-fight-ufc-217-official
  6. https://www.mmascene.com/ufc/events/ufc-217-fight-card/
  7. https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/15202617/first-mma-card-new-york-nov-12-madison-square-garden
  8. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/22/new-york-legalizes-mma-ufc
  9. https://www.ufc.com/news/very-best-ufc-nyc-205-217-268-295-322
  10. https://nypost.com/2017/07/30/ufc-is-returning-to-madison-square-garden/
  11. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2017/11/04/how-watch-ufc-217-fight-card-start-time-online-results-how-stream-michael-bisping-georges-st-pierre/82255517007/
  12. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2017/11/ufc-217-draws-reported-18201-attendance-for-6-2-million-live-gate-in-madison-square-garden-return
  13. https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/11/4/16597842/ufc-217-main-event-breakdown-michael-bisping-vs-georges-st-pierre
  14. https://www.mmafighting.com/2020/4/16/21223491/michael-bisping-regrets-taking-kelvin-gastelum-fight-feared-going-fully-blind-afterward
  15. https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/20365011/cody-garbrandt-tj-dillashaw-set-bantamweight-title-fight-ufc-217
  16. https://www.cbssports.com/mma/news/third-title-bout-for-ufc-217-strawweights-joanna-jedrzejczyk-and-rose-namajunas/
  17. https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/bouts/323226-ufc-217-gadzhimurad-antigulov-vs-ion-the-hulk-cutelaba
  18. https://www.mmamania.com/2018/3/24/17158488/michael-bisping-details-serious-rib-injury-suffered-before-georges-st-pierre-fight-ufc-217-mma
  19. https://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-statement-ion-cutelaba
  20. https://www.mmafighting.com/2018/3/8/17097636/usada-suspends-ufcs-ion-cutelaba-six-months-for-prohibited-ozone-therapy-administration
  21. https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/10/1/16394672/johny-hendricks-heads-to-jackson-wink-for-ufc-217-training-camp
  22. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2017/11/johny-hendricks-ufc-217-weight-cut-paulo-borrachinha
  23. https://www.sportsnet.ca/mma/gsp-bisping-heated-backstage-exchange-ufc-press-conference/
  24. https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/4841579/michael-bisping-georges-st-pierre-separated-weigh-in/
  25. https://www.ufc.com/news/cody-and-tj-keep-it-real-ufc-217-press-conference
  26. https://www.ufc.com/athlete/michael-bisping
  27. https://www.ufc.com/athlete/georges-st-pierre
  28. http://ufcstats.com/fight-details/d361b51952944a26
  29. https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/21292382/rose-namajunas-beats-joanna-jedrzejczyk-capture-women-strawweight-title-ufc-217
  30. http://ufcstats.com/fight-details/80572cac6ab57866
  31. https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/11/4/16608194/ufc-217-results-stephen-thompson-earns-decision-over-jorge-masvidal
  32. http://ufcstats.com/fight-details/0a46cb2887890502
  33. https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/11/4/16608158/ufc-217-results-paulo-costa-has-statement-win-over-johny-hendricks
  34. http://ufcstats.com/fight-details/13635ba71963ad0c
  35. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2017/11/ufc-217-results-james-vick-keeps-rolling-tkos-joseph-duffy-with-1-tick-left-in-second
  36. http://ufcstats.com/fight-details/8375f311e8c6c079
  37. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2017/11/ufc-217-results-mark-godbeer-takes-kick-to-the-face-and-dq-win-over-walt-harris
  38. https://www.mmamania.com/2017/11/4/16596930/ufc-217-results-bisping-vs-st-pierre-live-updates-fight-recaps-prelims-mma-new-york
  39. https://www.app.com/story/sports/2017/11/04/ufc-217-results-photos-bisping-vs-st-pierre-msg/832982001/
  40. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2017/11/ufc-217-bonuses-title-fight-winners-namajunas-dillashaw-st-pierre-get-extra-50000
  41. https://www.mmamania.com/2017/11/5/16597074/ufc-217-official-bonus-winners-mma-new-york-georges-st-pierre-rose-namajunas
  42. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2017/11/05/ufc-217-post-event-facts-record-set-as-3-new-champs-crowned-in-historic-night/82255077007/
  43. https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/11/8/16612610/fortunes-changed-for-five-at-ufc-217
  44. https://www.thesportster.com/oldest-ufc-champions-ever-ranked-by-age/
  45. https://www.forbes.com/sites/trentreinsmith/2017/11/05/ufc-217-results-three-titles-change-hands-at-madison-square-garden-for-a-new-ufc-record/
  46. https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/mma-ufc/georges-st-pierre-leads-list-of-three-new-champions-at-ufc-217/
  47. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2017/11/ufc-217-twitter-reaction-rose-namajunas-ko-joanna-jedrzejczyk
  48. https://www.si.com/mma/2017/11/05/ufc-217-rose-namajunas-overcomes-adversity-shocking-upset-joanna-jedrzejczyk
  49. https://www.givemesport.com/1186573-dana-whites-brilliant-reaction-to-ufc-217-crowning-three-new-champions/
  50. https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/11/5/16608588/michael-bisping-crushed-inside-after-ufc-217-loss-but-will-fight-on
  51. https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/11/7/16615860/t-j-dillashaw-says-team-alpha-males-in-cage-trash-talk-helped-him-recover-after-ufc-217-knockdown
  52. https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/11/6/16612116/georges-st-pierre-gsp-calls-ufc-217-best-night-of-my-career
  53. https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/21710053/three-burning-questions-georges-st-pierre-vacates-ufc-title-33-days
  54. https://bloodyelbow.com/2017/11/17/ufc-217-estimates-north-american-buyrates-bisping-st-pierre-gsp-ppv-money-buys/
  55. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2017/11/walt-harris-appeal-dq-loss-ufc-217-mark-godbeer-cheated-the-fans
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.