UFC Phoenix live blog: Francis Ngannou vs. Cain Velasquez

This is the UFC Phoenix live blog for Francis Ngannou vs. Cain Velasquez, a heavyweight bout at Sunday’s UFC event at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix.

Ngannou, who has finished seven of his nine UFC opponents, faces Velasquez, the two-time heavyweight champion who is competing for the first time since July 9, 2016, in the main event.

Check out the UFC Phoenix live blog below.

Round 1: Jason Herzog will oversee the evening’s main event. Velasquez throws a kick to start, Ngannou returns with a right hand that misses. Another high kick by Velasquez. Velasquez goes into grapple and eats a few short punches inside. He drops and Ngannou goes in with ground-and-pound to follow. Velasquez is down on his belly and turtling up. Herzog has to step in and wave it off. On the replay, it looks like Velasquez’s knee may have gone out on him. Either way, that’s a TKO win for Ngannou.

Official result: Francis Ngannou def. Cain Velasquez via KO (punches) at :26 of round one