Brock Lesnar retires after 1st-rd loss to Overeem

Brock Lesnar upon the market from mixed fighting techinques after Alistair Overeem halted him with 1 vicious kick towards the body at two: 26 of the very first round in their own heavyweight bout from UFC 141 upon Friday night.

Lesnar may be the UFC's biggest pay-per-view star and also the former heavyweight champ, but his return from the 14-month injury lack ended with Lesnar incredible and crumpling from the cage. He couldn't get over a kick through Overeem (36-11), the actual 6-foot-5 Dutch kickboxing celebrity making his UFC debut.

Lesnar (5-3) is really a former NCAA champ wrestler and pro-wrestling celebrity who rose swiftly towards the top of MMA. But he offers fought just three times previously 2½ years while coping with bouts of diverticulitis, the lower-intestinal ailment which nearly killed him or her.

"I've had a very difficult few years with my illness, and I'm likely to officially say tonight may be the last time, inch Lesnar said. "This may be the last time you will see me in the actual octagon. "

The 34-year-old Lesnar's statement stunned fans that realized he faced a hard matchup in the actual UFC's traditional end-of-the-year occasion in its home town. The matchup was a vintage MMA clash associated with styles, with Lesnar's raw wrestling contrasting dramatically with Overeem's aggresive striking.

Overeem is 3 years younger but a lot more experienced than Lesnar, hurting the former champion a minimum of twice earlier within the round with knees towards the stomach while Lesnar unsuccessful in his efforts at takedowns.

"I promised my spouse and my kids basically won this battle, I would obtain a title shot, and that might be my last battle, " Lesnar stated. "But if We lost tonight... you have been great. inch

Overeem will obtain the next shot from UFC heavyweight champ Junior Dos Santos, who watched from the seat near the actual octagon.

Overeem is the champion kick boxer that has fought in multiple promotions in the last decade, winning game titles in Dream as well as Strikeforce with almost unbeatable striking as well as size. He became a member of the UFC within September, finally presenting their formidable skills as well as intimidating physique towards the sport's largest target audience.

UFC President Dana White may have given an instant title shot to Overeem when the timing had already been better, but Dos Santos just claimed Velasquez's belt within early November. Overeem made welcome a debut towards Lesnar, even guaranteeing a knockout within the first two models.

"Today was about bad intentions, inch Overeem said. "First or even second round, We promised.... I done my takedown defense a great deal. Brock is a great wrestler, so I'd to step upward my game. inch

The undercard in the MGM Grand Backyard featured two problems: Lightweight Nate Diaz received a bloody unanimous choice over Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone along with superior boxing, and Johny Hendricks halted welterweight star Jon Fitch along with one punch simply 12 seconds to their bout.

Lesnar had not fought since dropping his heavyweight belt in order to Cain Velasquez within October 2010, cancelling the bout against Jr . Dos Santos final June in Vancouver following another bout associated with diverticulitis, the lower intestinal tract ailment that almost killed him annually earlier.

Lesnar became the actual UFC's biggest pay-per-view celebrity in remarkably brief order after trying out MMA, and the actual hulking former NCAA fumbling champion and phony pro wrestler held his unparalleled recognition during his lack. Lesnar used time off to alter both his diet plan and his standup online game, attempting to enhance his biggest weak point.

As it ended up, Lesnar couldn't enhance enough to deal with the supremely experienced Overeem, who accepted Lesnar afterward.

Within the co-main event, Diaz (15-7) supported his tough speak and rude behavior inside a fight that experienced the sellout group on its ft as he battered Cerrone, nearly a 3-to-1 favorite within the MGM Grand sportsbook for the majority of the three-round standup battle.

Diaz, the sibling of bad-boy welterweight Chip Diaz, picked apart Cerrone's defense for the majority of the fight, leaving Cerrone weakling after his very first loss in 7 fights since Sept 2010.

Cerrone (17-4) bumped down Diaz a minimum of a half-dozen occasions with kicks as well as leg-whips, but Cerrone declined to fight Diaz on the floor, repeatedly allowing Diaz to obtain up.

The uncommon strategy showed regard for Diaz's floor skills, but also minimized the significance of those knockdown shots within the eyes of the actual judges, who obtained the bout 30-27 two times and 29-28 as soon as, all for Diaz.

Hendricks (12-1) ascended in order to elite status along with one sneaky remaining hook that captured Fitch (27-4-1) directly on the button, flattening the actual favored San Jose mma fighter, whose return from the 10-month absence had been stunningly brief. Hendricks, the two-time NCAA champ wrestler at Okla State, completely surprised Fitch, who had lost only one fight since Dec 2002.

Early within the pay-per-view portion from the card, Swedish light heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson (13-1) halted veteran Vladimir Matyushenko having a perfect left hand midway with the first round.

Unbeaten featherweight Rick Hettes got brand new fans' attention having a comprehensive thrashing associated with veteran Nam Phan, repeatedly threatening to complete the fight along with strikes and floor work.