With injuries and odd outcomes often throwing curves into UFC’s plans, some fighters have managed to bypass some of their division’s most dominant in earning title shots. Cain Velasquez is not one of those individuals.
Despite having recently dominated Cheick Kongo and Ben Rothwell, two very high-level fighters, Velasquez had still not earned a title shot. Standing in his way was a UFC 110 matchup with the legendary Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
Nogueira was overwhelmed in defeat against Frank Mir, but his dominant victory over Randy Couture assured everyone that there was still gas in the tank. Would it be enough to derail Velasquez?
Also on the UFC 110 card: Michael Bisping vs. Wanderlei Silva and George Sotiropoulos vs. Joe Stevenson. Results follow:
James TeHuna b. Igor Pokrajac via TKO (strikes) at 3:26 of Round Three
CB Dollaway b. Goran Reljic via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Chris Lytle b. Brian Foster via submission (kneebar) at 1:41 of Round One
Krzysztof Soszynski b. Stephan Bonnar via TKO (doctor stoppage due to cut) at 1:04 of Round Three
***Note: While the referee appeared to make the ruling based on the notion that a punch opened up Bonnar’s head, it was clear from the replay that it an inadvertent headbutt was responsible.
Mirko Cro Cop b. Anthony Perosh via TKO (doctor stoppage due to cut) at 5:00 of Round Two
Ryan Bader b. Keith Jardine via KO (punch) at 2:10 of Round Three
George Sotiropoulos b. Joe Stevenson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Wanderlei Silva b. Michael Bisping via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Cain Velasquez b. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira via KO (punches) at 2:20 of Round One