The UFC made their return to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey for UFC 159 on Saturday night.

The evening was full of strange occurrences, including Chael Sonnen coming within 30 seconds from becoming the new UFC light heavyweight champion … but definitely not the way one would expect.

Additionally, there were plenty of highlight-reel level finishes that had the Jersey fans on their feet, applauding in approval.

Take a look inside to see who staked their claim as contenders versus those who turned out to be nothing more than pretenders.

BIGGEST WINNER

Pat Healy – The Strikeforce import was robbed on a title shot twice before crossing over to the UFC, so his fight with doppelganger Jim Miller was all about proving his worth.

“Bam Bam” stepped up to the plate and then some, taking and giving punishment for two rounds before out-grinding the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, choking him unconscious with a rear-naked choke in round 3.

Don’t look now, but Healy is now the victor of seven straight fights and has staked his claim as a top 10, possible even a top 5, lightweight in the world.

WINNER

Jon Jones – Technically he only did what he was supposed to, embarrassing Chael Sonnen, an 11-to-1 underdog, heading into Saturday’s main event.

Still, “Bones” made it clear he deserves to be in the conversation about who the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport is. With his fifth successful title defense, Jones ties Tito Ortiz’s UFC light heavyweight record.

WINNER

Roy Nelson – “Big Country” notched his third consecutive first round knockout against highly-regarded striker Cheick Kongo, landing his signature overhand right in roughly two minutes to drop the hulking French fighter.

Nelson said he wants a title shot next and while he has struggled with the upper-tier of the heavyweight division, clearly his KO power makes him a threat to anyone he faces.

WINNER

Michael Bisping – After epic levels of trash talk led up to this weekend’s co-main event, “The Count” was the one who backed up his words.

Bisping easily outstruck and out-conditioned Alan Belcher and despite the controversial finish that ended early due to an eye poke, Bisping proved definitively he was the better fighter.

BIGGEST LOSER

Chael Sonnen – After nearly eight months of buildup, Chael Sonnen was going to get SOME kind of offense off against Jon Jones before getting finished, right?

Wrong. Sonnen was taken down three times in the opening frame and got stopped after some vicious ground and pound.

The worst part for “The American Gangster” is that if he could’ve lasted another 27 seconds, he would’ve likely been crowned the new champ since Jones suffered a horrific, bloody broken toe that the would have made him unable to answer the bell for round 2.

HONORABLE MENTION

Bryan Caraway – Often discredited by being referred to as Miesha Tate’s boyfriend, give Caraway some credit for making the bantamweight weight limit of 135-pounds on six days notice.

He also finished a very tough and game opponent in Johnny Bedford. Caraway is now 3-1 inside the Octagon and arguably shouldn’t have lost his previous fight.

LOSER

Jim Miller – The AMA Fight Club product earned his second consecutive “Fight of the Night” bonus for his performance against Pat Healy, but that doesn’t change the sting of getting choked out in front of his home crowd.

After never getting finished in 24 professional fighters, Miller has now been submitted in two of his last three bouts. Barring an incredible run, looks like Miller has solidified himself as a gatekeeper of the UFC’s 155-pound division.

LOSER

Alan Belcher – “The Talent” was willing to bet a new tattoo that he’d finish Michael Bisping in the first round and he’s quite fortunate his opponent didn’t accept the bet.

Belcher, a decorated Muay Thai specialist, had no answers for Bisping’s stick and move tactics and endless gas tank. Belcher now enters gatekeeper territory at middleweight.

LOSER

Leonard Garcia – There were a number of competitors who failed to meet expectations on Saturday, but none are more likely to get cut than Leonard Garcia.

Incredibly, Garcia entered his UFC 159 match up with Cody McKenzie on a four-fight losing streak. Getting thoroughly outclassed by McKenzie essentially guarantees “Bad Boy” will be getting his walking papers.

*LIVE NOTES

The New Jersey crowd HATED Jon Jones and was all about Chael Sonnen, but we saw how that one turned out.

The crowd was devastated when hometown hero Jim Miller lost. They knew Pat Healy was a tough, but beatable opponent for him.

A massive “U-S-A!” chant could be heard throughout the Prudential Center as both Alan Belcher and Roy Nelson made their entrances.

As awful as Jones’ toe injury was, the crowd was in shock of Yancy Medeiros dislocated thumb. I’ve definitely never seen a bone bend like that before.

While you didn’t have to be at the arena to acknowledge this point, it was a crying shame that Gian Vallante lost to Ovince St. Preux due to referee Kevin Mulhall calling off the third round due to either a miscommunication or lack of understanding of the rules.

Believe it or not, the third time was not the charm for the UFC’s women’s division as the crowd heavily booed Sara McMann and Sheila Gaff as they walked out. Wasn’t a bad fight by any means, so I’m not sure what that was all about.