Velasquez runs over Pezão, Cigano knocks out Hunt at UFC 161 and they should face each other for the third time

Velasquez (left) defeated Pezão (right) and defended the heavyweight belt: Photo: UFC

The favorites won the main fights of the UFC 160, but that didn't mean there was no lack of excitement for the fans. The heavyweight champion Cain Velazquez repeated the feat from a year ago and knocked out the Brazilian again Antonio Pezão in the first round.

The American looked for the takedown again at the beginning of the fight, but the Brazilian didn't allow it. During the exchange of blows, Velasquez landed a violent punch that exploded in Pezão's face. The Brazilian bent his knees, the champion tried to land a guillotine choke, but gave up and ended the fight in the ground and pound. Referee Mario Yamasaki declared the technical knockout 1min21s into the first round.

In the co-main fight, Junior Gypsy he had more work, but he also scored a knockout. The Brazilian was hit by some strong blows from Mark Hunt, but he used his wingspan advantage well to keep his opponent at bay for most of the fight. The Santa Catarina native even took down the New Zealander and ended the first round on top, on the ground, something rare in his fights. On the third round, another surprise: after shaking Hunt with a punch, Cigano landed a round kick that didn't quite land, but was enough to knock his opponent down. A strong punch in the ground and pound declared the end of the fight. With victory, Junior Gypsy should be confirmed as the number one heavyweight challenger and break the tie in the trilogy against Cain Velazquez.

Another Brazilian to win in Las Vegas was the light heavyweight Glover Teixeira. Against the fellow New Zealander James Te Huna, Glover got scared when the fight began with a frank exchange of blows in the center of the Octagon. Soon the Sobrália miner changed his strategy and took the fight to the ground. From there it wasn't difficult to catch his opponent in a guillotine choke and score his fourth victory in as many fights in the UFC.

In other fights card main event of UFC 160, T. J. Grant recovered from a brief early advantage of Gray Maynard and knocked him out in the first round. The victory, his fifth in five fights as a lightweight, earned the Canadian the position of next challenger for the belt held by Ben henderson. Already Donald Cerrone there was no work to deal with KJ Noons. The “Cowboy” was superior both on the feet and on the ground and won with authority by unanimous decision. The fight marked Noons' UFC debut.

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