UFC 141 results: Alistair Overeem sends Brock Lesnar into retirement, claims title shot



Alistair Overeem is next in line for a UFC heavyweight title shot, and he ended a career to get it.

In his official UFC debut, the recent Strikeforce titleholder earned a first-round TKO victory over Brock Lesnar, an ex-champ who announced his MMA retirement following the loss.

The fight headlined the pay-per-view main card of UFC 141 and followed prelims on Facebook and Spike TV. It took place at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The fight, which capped off the UFC's historic 2011 year, brought the organization a surge of publicity in recent weeks. But question marks surrounded it. Would Overeem, a world champion K-1 kickboxer, or Lesnar, a former NCAA Division I wrestling champion, set the tone? Could Lesnar overcome a second bout of diverticulitis that nearly cost him his life? And would Overeem be rattled by his mother's health problems and issues from a recent commission-mandated drug test he missed?

Thankfully, all of the questions were answered quickly. Although scheduled as a five-round non-title fight, the main event didn't last even half a round.

Lesnar landed early low kicks before ducking under a big right and failing on a single-leg takedown attempt. However, as Lesnar reset, Overeem's right eye was covered in blood from an eyebrow laceration. But that didn't slow the striker, who quickly blasted Lesnar with a pair of knees to the body. A third knee clearly hurt Lesnar, and Overeem followed with punches and knees and then an onslaught of quick punches as Lesnar hunched over and grabbed his ribs in obvious pain.

Referee Mario Yamasaki gave Lesnar every chance to recover, but after he did little but cover up, the bout was halted at the 2:26 mark of the opening round.

"Today was all about bad intentions," said Overeem, who promised to do the same to the current champ. "It was a nice K-1 body kick.

"Junior Dos Santos is next. I promise you guys that."

After the fight, an emotional Lesnar addressed the crowd and addressed the speculation.

"I've had a really difficult couple years with my disease," said Lesnar. "And I'm officially going to say this is the last time you'll see me in the octagon."

Overeem (36-11 MMA, 1-0 UFC) picks up his 11th straight victory while Lesnar (5-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) concludes his career with a two-fight losing skid.

Up-to-the-fight UFC 141 results include:

Alistair Overeem def. Brock Lesnar via TKO (strikes) - Round 1, 2:26
Nate Diaz def. Donald Cerrone via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Johny Hendricks def. Jon Fitch via knockout (punches) - Round 1, 0:12
Alexander Gustafsson def. Vladimir Matyushenko via TKO (punches) - Round 1, 2:13
Jim Hettes def. Nam Phan via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-26)
Ross Pearson def. Junior Assuncao via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Danny Castillo def. Anthony Njokuani via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Dong Hyun Kim def. Sean Pierson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Jacob Volkmann def. Efrain Escudero via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Diego Nunes def. Manny Gamburyan via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)