50 MMA Fights You Must Watch Before You Die
35. Cain Velasquez Vs. Brock Lesnar - UFC 121
Fresh off of a life threatening battle with diverticulitis and a stunning come-from-behind submission victory over Shane Carwin, UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar seemed like he was back to his very best.
However, while he was able to just about get past the first of the new breed of contenders, he wouldn't be so successful when he was given the unenviable task of trying to defeat surging heavyweight prospect Cain Velasquez.
While many thought the combination of Lesnar's wrestling skills and size might cause problems for the smaller Velasquez, that didn't prove to be the case on fight night. Despite briefly getting the Mexican-American to the ground, Velasquez managed to pop right back to his feet and take over the fight from there.
The American Kickboxing Academy standout began to put a beating on Lesnar that was far more methodical and violent than the wild smashing Carwin did. After landing a devastating knee that opened up a gruesome wound below Lesnar's eye, Velasquez continued to pound away until the referee pulled him off, signalling the end of one heavyweight era and the beginning of an entirely new one.