Cain Velasquez Defeats Brock Lesnar By TKO

Cain Velasquez’s camp believed his speed and superior technique would beat Brock Lesnar’s size and strength. They were right.

Velasquez pulled off the upset to become the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s new heavyweight titleholder with a first-round technical knockout of Lesnar on Saturday at UFC 121 in Anaheim, Calif. Velasquez has yet to lose in nine professional bouts.

Lesnar (5-2) came out with a blistering pace, shooting for a takedown attempt almost immediately and throwing a flying knee. Velasquez neutralized his early offense, though and started to back up Lesnar in boxing exchanges.

The challenger worked specifically on his scrambling to prepare for Lesnar, and the work paid of. Although Lesnar managed to take down Velasquez twice, he could not keep him down either time.

After Velasquez regained his feet the second time, he took down Lesnar in turn and had him turtling away from punches.

The eventual winner never relented from that point, even when Lesnar stood up. Velasquez wobbled him with a knee, knocked him down and began a steady stream of punches until referee Herb Dean ended the fight with less than a minute remaining in the first round.

Saturday’s result continued the traditional of short reigns for UFC’s big men. None of the promotion’s heavyweight champions have had more than three title defenses.

Velasquez’s first title defense will come against striker Junior dos Santos, who defeated Roy Nelson in August to earn the first shot at the winner of Saturday’s bout. Dos Santos on Friday correctly predicted that Velasquez would win, although he forecast a longer affair.

UFC awarded Velasquez a $70,000 bonus for Knockout of the Night.