Cain Velasquez claimed MMA’s highest-profile belt on Saturday night in Anaheim by beating the UFC’s biggest draw, Brock Lesnar, with a TKO in the first-round at UFC 121. The victor got a shiny new belt as UFC Heavyweight Champion and collected the $70,000 bonus for winning the Knockout of the Night award following the four minute and 12 second bout.
Velasquez was never intimidated by bad-boy Lesnar. The opening minute featured huge blows by both fighters, with the first 30 seconds a combination of haymakers and knees in nonstop action. Velasquez battled back from two takedowns and never let up in his pursuit of the bigger champion.
He said: “I felt great about the fight. We knew his game plan going in, and it kind of did surprise me how hard he came forward. I froze. I wasn’t as relaxed as I should have been, but after that takedown he got on me, that’s when I was able to say, ‘relax, relax.'”
Velasquez eventually staggered Lesnar across the octagon, with Lesnar (5-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) stumbling to the canvas several times. He tried to cover up near the cage, but Velasquez rained down blows on Lesnar and eventually broke his guard. Referee Herb Dean stopped the fight with 48 seconds left in the round.
UFC President Dana White was undoubtedly disappointed to see one of his top attractions fail but he was clearly impressed with Velasquez (9-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) : “He looked incredible tonight. The guy gets better every time he fights. He is incredibly well rounded. I think he answered all the questions tonight.”
White went on to say: “This is mixed martial arts, and every dog has his day. Tonight was his day. I think people are always going to be interested in Brock, and I think a lot of people are going to be interested in Cain now, too. It’s just the sport. It’s the way it goes.”
Lesnar’s last win was against Shane Carwin at UFC 116. After his stunning UFC 121 loss he said: “What can I say? He was better than me tonight.”
Brock did not attend the post fight press conference. According to White, “He didn’t want to take away from Cain’s moment.”
View UFC 121 post fight interviews below: