Former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort returned to the UFC Saturday at UFC 103 in emphatic fashion, knocking out Rich Franklin at 3:02 of the first round.Belfort's TKO was one of five knockouts on the Spike TV and pay-per-view broadcasts of UFC 103 from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Click here for full results, here for the Spike TV prelims blog and here for the undercard results. The post-fight press conference can be found here.
Eye injuries are apparently becoming a theme for Mirko Cro Cop fights in the UFC. After an accidental eye poke helped him pick up a win in June over Mustapha Al Turk, Cro Cop verbally submitted when he couldn't see from the damage done from punches by Junior Dos Santos.
Josh Koscheck bounced back from his knockout loss to Paulo Thiago in February by stopping Frank Trigg in the first round with right hands, essentially ending any hopes of Trigg's third and final run for the UFC welterweight title.
Paul Daley arrived in the UFC with an upset over top contender Martin Kampmann. Daley pummeled Kampmann with punches for the win at 2:31 of the first round.
Tyson Griffin broke a dry spell of non-finishes (he came into the fight with seven straight decisions) with a knock out over Hermes Franca at 3:26 of round three.
Post-Fight Awards ($65,000 bonus each)
Fight of the Night: Ricky Story vs. Brian Foster
Knockout of the Night: Vitor Belfort
Submission of the Night: Ricky Story
Latest UFC Images
DALLAS - SEPTEMBER 19: UFC fighter Rich Franklin (R) gets knocked out by UFC fighter Vitor Belfort with referee Yves Lavigne (L) protecting him during their Catch weight bout at UFC 103: Franklin vs. Belfort at the American Airlines Center on September 19, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rich Franklin;Yves Lavigne
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DALLAS - SEPTEMBER 19: UFC fighter Vitor Belfort (L) battles UFC fighter Rich Franklin (R) during their Catch weight bout at UFC 103: Franklin vs. Belfort at the American Airlines Center on September 19, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Vitor Belfort;Rich Franklin
Getty Images
DALLAS - SEPTEMBER 19: UFC fighter Vitor Belfort (R) battles UFC fighter Rich Franklin (L) during their Catch weight bout at UFC 103: Franklin vs. Belfort at the American Airlines Center on September 19, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Vitor Belfort;Rich Franklin
Getty Images
DALLAS - SEPTEMBER 19: UFC fighter Vitor Belfort (R) battles UFC fighter Rich Franklin (L) during their Catch weight bout at UFC 103: Franklin vs. Belfort at the American Airlines Center on September 19, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Vitor Belfort;Rich Franklin
Getty Images
DALLAS - SEPTEMBER 19: UFC fighter Vitor Belfort (L) battles UFC fighter Rich Franklin (R) during their Catch weight bout at UFC 103: Franklin vs. Belfort at the American Airlines Center on September 19, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Vitor Belfort;Rich Franklin
Getty Images
DALLAS - SEPTEMBER 19: UFC fighter Vitor Belfort (L) battles UFC fighter Rich Franklin (R) during their Catch weight bout at UFC 103: Franklin vs. Belfort at the American Airlines Center on September 19, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Vitor Belfort;Rich Franklin
Getty Images
DALLAS - SEPTEMBER 19: UFC fighter Vitor Belfort (L) battles UFC fighter Rich Franklin (R) during their Catch weight bout at UFC 103: Franklin vs. Belfort at the American Airlines Center on September 19, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Vitor Belfort;Rich Franklin
Getty Images
DALLAS - SEPTEMBER 19: UFC fighter Vitor Belfort (L) battles UFC fighter Rich Franklin (R) during their Catch weight bout at UFC 103: Franklin vs. Belfort at the American Airlines Center on September 19, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Vitor Belfort;Rich Franklin
Getty Images
DALLAS - SEPTEMBER 19: UFC fighter Vitor Belfort (L) battles UFC fighter Rich Franklin (R) during their Catch weight bout at UFC 103: Franklin vs. Belfort at the American Airlines Center on September 19, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Vitor Belfort;Rich Franklin
Getty Images
DALLAS - SEPTEMBER 19: UFC fighter Vitor Belfort (L) battles UFC fighter Rich Franklin (R) during their Catch weight bout at UFC 103: Franklin vs. Belfort at the American Airlines Center on September 19, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Vitor Belfort;Rich Franklin
Getty Images
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