UFC Vegas 104 delivered fireworks on March 15, 2025, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, exceeding the expectations of fight fans with multiple thrilling finishes. The night kicked off with Yuneisy Duben's hype train coming to a halt as Carli Judice landed a devastating head kick, marking the beginning of a memorable evening.
One of the standout moments of the night was the shocking knockout by Priscila Cachoeira, who faced Josiane Nunes. Cachoeira's victory came via knockout, as she faceplanted Nunes, sending ripples of shock through the crowd. Remarkably, it was the first time back-to-back first-round knockouts occurred during female UFC fights.
Among the intense matchups was the bantamweight contest between Da'Mon Blackshear and Cody Gibson. Gibson, known as “The Renegade” and attempting to balance his life as both a middle school teacher and MMA fighter, started the fight impressively. He pushed for takedowns and landed significant strikes early, but as the fight wore on, the momentum shifted toward Blackshear.
During the first round, Gibson threatened with multiple takedown attempts, showcasing his aggressive style. Despite landing powerful strikes, he couldn’t maintain control over the fight. Blackshear, showing resilience, eventually reclaimed the pace by transitioning to grappling exchanges, threatening with submissions and moving to top position near the end of the round.
Round two began with Blackshear finding his rhythm. He pressed forward, landing jabs and kicks, which forced Gibson to adapt his strategy. Although Gibson landed several strikes, including two powerful left hooks, Blackshear's grappling proved superior as he transitioned to top control after reversing another takedown.
With three minutes left, Blackshear’s dominance became evident. He moved skillfully to establish control, positioning Gibson's arms and threatening submissions, and proved to be dangerous on the ground. Blackshear, skillfully maneuvering, found himself nearly securing submissions before finally achieving success with the kimura submission at 4:09 of round two.
The victory marked Blackshear’s eleventh career win by submission, enhancing his reputation within the UFC as he now boasts back-to-back wins. After the fight, he reflected on his performance, acknowledging his confidence. “He survived the guillotine, but he wasn’t going to survive the kimura,” Blackshear stated during his post-fight interview, emphasizing his strategy.
Blackshear's win came alongside another kimura finish earlier on the same card by Brendson Ribeiro, making UFC Vegas 104 the first event since UFC 123 back in November 2010 to feature two kimura submissions.
While Gibson continues to navigate his dual career, planning to officially resign his teaching position this June to pursue fighting full-time, he remains reflective of his experiences within the octagon. “I was on the fence about teaching this year,” Gibson explained, indicating it had been emotionally challenging balancing responsibilities. “This was my first one back where I was balancing it all, and this is hopefully the last time I’m gonna do it.” With his commitment shifting solely to fighting, fans are eager to see how this decision affects his future performances.
The excitement of UFC Vegas 104 didn’t merely end with the fights— the atmosphere was electric with fans filling the arena, anxiously awaiting the next thrill. With such high-stakes bouts and rapid-fire finishes, the UFC continues to capture the attention of MMA enthusiasts worldwide.
Overall, UFC Vegas 104 will be remembered for its thrilling intensity, highlighting not only the athletic prowess of its fighters but also the dramatic personal narratives they carry within the sport. The event is expected to reverberate within the bantamweight division, as Blackshear's performance positions him firmly for potential future title contention, with a plethora of matchups on the horizon to explore.