UFC 121: Results and Analysis, Cain Velasquez Tears Through Brock Lesnar

Main Card:

Cain Velasquez def. Brock Lesnar via TKO R1

Jake Shields def. Martin Kampmann via Split Decision

Diego Sanchez def. Paulo Thiago via Unanimous Decision

Matt Hamill def. Tito Ortiz via Unanimous Decision

Brendan Schaub def. Gabriel Gonzaga via Unanimous Decision

Spike TV Prelims:

Court McGee def. Ryan Jensen via Submission (Arm Triangle) R3

Tom Lawlor def. Patrick Cote via Unanimous Decision

Prelims:

Sam Stout def. Paul Taylor via Split Decision

Daniel Roberts def. Mike Guymon via Submission (Anaconda Choke) R1

Chris Camozzi def. Dongi Yang via Split Decision

Jon Madsen def. Gilbert Yvel via TKO R1

It was yet another great night of fights presented by the UFC, after the jump we break down the highlights of the evening, including the Spike TV prelims, Jake Shields struggle against Martin Kampmann, and Cain Velasquez dethrone Brock Lesnar with ease.

To kick the night off, we were treated to two good fights on Spike TV. The first bout saw Tom Lawlor outclass former Middleweight contender Patrick Cote on the ground and get back into the win column with a unanimous decision.  We then saw TUF winner Court McGee come back from a rough first round against Ryan Jensen, to finish the fight in the third round with a slick arm triangle.

After a "stand and bang" affair where Brendan Schaub took a unanimous decision against veteran Gabriel Gonzaga, Matt Hamill defeated his friend, and former coach, Tito Ortiz with a clear cut unanimous decision.  Tito looked rather good in the first round, but faded quickly after taking hard shots from Hamill throughout the second and third.  Although Tito is well beyond his prime, there are a few fights worth seeing him in, one of which I believe is another fight with Chuck Liddell.  Hamill will likely go on to get another chance at breaking through the gatekeepers of the light heavyweight division once again, but I'm not sure if he'll ever make it to title contention.  I don't care though, he gives me the warm fuzzies with his feel good sports story, and humble demeanor.

Diego Sanchez returned to form against Paulo Thiago, although he still looks softer than his time spent at welterweight earlier in his career.  Sanchez dropped the first round, but rallied to victory in what was quite possibly the two most exciting rounds of the night that followed.  Paulo Thiago is a gamer, but when the guy your fighting picks you up, screams and jumps through the air to slam you, you have to take some time to think about life, your career choice, and what you've done to make this guy so mad.  Mr. Thiago just happened to take two full round to do that thinking, and save for some upkicks, and kimura attempts, he didn't accomplish much at all.

Jake Shields got his UFC career of to a rough start, but was successful against Martin Kampmann.  Shields easily took the first round, squeaked by the second, and dropped the third, getting visibly exhausted as the fight went on.  The cut to welterweight after fighting middleweight in Strikeforce most likely had a negative effect on him, but his grappling prowess is not to be trifled with.  Shield fought through every submission attempt Kampmann threw at him, and almost always ended up on top afterwards.  Kampmann had the most success in the clinch, landing quite a few knees to the chin of Shields, but his decision to fight on the ground in the third round may have cost him the fight.  I hope Shields can gain his bearings and find his place in the UFC welterweight division.

It only took on round for Cain Velasquez to run through the man mountain Brock Lesnar.  Lesnar started the fight with an attempted shot, turned into a flurry of knees, then an eventual takedown, which lead to Velasquez quickly finding his way back to his feet.  The men trader shots, and after some clinching against the fence, Cain got the better of Brock in an exchange that ended with a hard knee, and Brock dropped similar to how he did with Carwin.  Brock fought him off for a while, but after turtling up, then falling to his back and eating a few shots, Herb Dean stopped the fight, and Velasquez became the new, UFC Heavyweight Champion.