Twenty-six seconds.
That’s how long it took for Francis Ngannou to put a stop to Cain Velasquez’s Octagon return. Ngannou bested the former UFC heavyweight champion in the blink of an eye on Sunday night in the main event of UFC Phoenix, stopping Velasquez with punches after the Arizona native’s knee buckled in an exchange along the cage.
Check out reaction to Ngannou’s victory below, plus the best of the rest from a roller-coaster night at UFC Phoenix.
FRANCIS NGANNOU DEF. CAIN VELASQUEZ
I don’t think he hit him clean once??
— Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) February 18, 2019
You’re still the man @cainmma
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) February 18, 2019
Long awaited return and then this. I’m gonna cry pic.twitter.com/LmGLJAhlVP
— Tatiana Suarez (@TSPMMA115) February 18, 2019
Fuck poor Cain
— Chito Vera (@chitoveraUFC) February 18, 2019
Cain blew his knee out. What a horrible, horrible turn of events, especially after being out for two-and-a-half years. #ufcphoenix pic.twitter.com/BBmVb8W3GW
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) February 18, 2019
Whatttt!! Big win for Francis !!
— scott askham (@scottaskham1) February 18, 2019
Wow. Unforgiving sport. I hope cain is ok. Great work to the predator!!!@francis_ngannou !!! So happy for him
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) February 18, 2019
Holy smokes!! He is cursed ! First fox card now first Espn card !! Ngannou is a monster !!
— Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) February 18, 2019
It wasn’t KO. @CainVelasquez_ blow and hurts his knee. It’s have to have the rematch.
— Roan Jucao (@jucao) February 18, 2019
Wow #UFCPheonix
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) February 18, 2019
@cainmma still the #goat of the heavyweight division
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) February 18, 2019
Really like Ngannou and Cain. Sad to see Cain go out like that. The new network curse has got him!
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) February 18, 2019
I wanted moreeee #UFCPheonix
— Katlyn Chookagian (@blondefighter) February 18, 2019
Ngannou got booed all fucking week and he’s not even gloating. Talk about a class act. #UFCPhoenix
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) February 18, 2019
He’s done!
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) February 18, 2019
PAUL FELDER DEF. JAMES VICK
Great fight this co main event. Evenly matched #ufcphoenix
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) February 18, 2019
Got to love the gameness from Vick at the end of the fight, going for the finish! Great fighter mentality. I do think Felder won that though #UFCPhoenix
— Jordan Rinaldi (@JordanRinaldi) February 18, 2019
I love how angry Felder looks at all times in the Octagon. #ufcphoenix pic.twitter.com/IFTKb6G1oA
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) February 18, 2019
Fuck yeah Dr. @felderpaul!!! Nobody deserves to win tonight more than him. #UFCPheonix
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) February 18, 2019
The best @felderpaul we’ve seen so far his future and his beard is looking bright #UFCPhoenix
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) February 18, 2019
@felderpaul my man! Always happy to see you perform!
— Lando Vannata (@GroovyLando) February 18, 2019
Intelligence, violence, sportsmanship, gentlemen, @felderpaul #UFCPhoenix
— Gerald Meerschaert (@The_Real_GM3) February 18, 2019
Ok @JamesVickMMA vs @felderpaul proves par for the course in tonight's killer matchups. Impressed. #UFCPhoenix @ufc
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) February 18, 2019
Mom❤️ @felderpaul #UFCPheonix
— Emil Valhalla Meek (@emilvalhalla) February 18, 2019
Irish dragon looked great today!!! #UFCPheonix
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) February 18, 2019
Way to go @felderpaul !!!! Congrats homie
— Erik Jon Koch (@NEWBREED04) February 18, 2019
CYNTHIA CALVILLO DEF. CORTNEY CASEY
I fucking love you guys! Next fight I want a wave, with lighters and meows. Best fans in the world ♥️ #ufcgoals @ufc pic.twitter.com/LUxcuUZ9Lq
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) February 18, 2019
How is this a main card fight
— Jarred Brooks (@The_monkeygod) February 18, 2019
Congrats @cyn_calvillo on a tough fight and big win! #Ufcphoenix
— @CrisCyborg on IG #CyborgNation (@criscyborg) February 18, 2019
@TSPMMA115 a call out!! Yes
— Amanda Bobby Cooper (@ABCnation115) February 18, 2019
I would not be calling out @TSPMMA115 if I were her #UFCPheonix
— Katlyn Chookagian (@blondefighter) February 18, 2019
— Tatiana Suarez (@TSPMMA115) February 18, 2019
I appreciate the compliment by Cynthia but I think I deserve a top five as well. That’s why I consider a title contention fight.
— Tatiana Suarez (@TSPMMA115) February 18, 2019
KRON GRACIE DEF. ALEX CACERES
Cool to see a Gracie back in the Octagon Congrats Kron #UFCPhoenix
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) February 18, 2019
Gracie = legends in MMA
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) February 18, 2019
Easy money for Kron, good to see him in the ufc
— Chito Vera (@chitoveraUFC) February 18, 2019
BJJ really Efficient by @krongracie. Legit and genuine Jiu Jitsu. The Jiu Jitsu what I learn not for stollen. Congrats man.
— Roan Jucao (@jucao) February 18, 2019
Tailor made opponent for @krongracie good debut but excited to see him face a tough wrestler who forces him to strike
— Jeremy Kennedy (@JeremyKennedyWC) February 18, 2019
Parabéns @krongracie Congrats !!!
— Demian Maia (@demianmaia) February 18, 2019
The beautiful art of #jujitsu . That’s what makes #mma the most exciting and toughest sport. #UFCPheonix #krongracie #mixmartialarts
— John ”The Bull” Makdessi (@JohnMakdessi) February 18, 2019
Beautiful performance https://t.co/cdvIJDSVY9
— Tatiana Suarez (@TSPMMA115) February 18, 2019
Kron Gracie
— THALES LEITES (@thalesleites) February 18, 2019
I grow up watching Rickson Gracie’s tapes and it was a big inspiration to me. Good to see Kron win tonight! Congrats!
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) February 18, 2019
Enter the mix young son.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) February 18, 2019
Congratulations.
VICENTE LUQUE DEF. BRYAN BARBERENA
Happy for @VicenteLuqueMMA & @bryan_barberena on putting on an amazing fight. Shared the cage with each and both are class act guys! @UFC_CA @ufc
— Chad Laprise (@ChadLaprise) February 18, 2019
This fight is insane! #UFCPhoenix @ufc
— BJ Penn (@bjpenndotcom) February 18, 2019
What a fightttt!!!
— Dhiego Lima (@DhLimaMMA) February 18, 2019
I love Luque. #UFCPheonix
— éS (@EricSpicely) February 18, 2019
My goodness!!!! Unreal toughness from both, and such clutchness by luque! #UFCPhoenix @ufc
— Jordan Rinaldi (@JordanRinaldi) February 18, 2019
What a fight!
— Erik Jon Koch (@NEWBREED04) February 18, 2019
Damn hopefully a bonus? Give those men what they deserve!
— tim means (@MeansTim) February 18, 2019
Fuuuuuuuuuiuuuu that was insane gosh! Both warriors. So much respect for these guys. #UFCPhoenix
— Tatiana Suarez (@TSPMMA115) February 18, 2019
Double bonus for @VicenteLuqueMMA??? Impressive #UFCPhoenix
— Zak Cummings (@ZakCummings) February 18, 2019
MAD SCRAP ⚡️#UFCPHOENIX Thats the fight we love to be in! Props to both @VicenteLuqueMMA @bryan_barberena #FOTN
— Jon SuperSaiyan Tuck (@JonCruzTuck) February 18, 2019
Respect @VicenteLuqueMMA #holyshit @ufc
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) February 18, 2019
Luque!!! Congrats !!! What heart
— Chris Wade (@CWadeMMA) February 18, 2019
ANDRE FILI DEF. MYLES JURY
This is TUF Live all over again. Team Faber vs Team Cruz. #UFCPhoenix
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) February 18, 2019
Fili wins the battle of the Jabs #UFCPhoenix
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) February 18, 2019
Dom: "Fili is okay with touching." Well, yeah, it's his nickname. :) #ufcphoenix pic.twitter.com/pEZGHnkRd9
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) February 18, 2019
Jury didn’t want it in the 3rd. Fili 2-1
— Chas Skelly (@ChasSkelly) February 18, 2019
@TouchyFili my gosh you looked so good tonight #ufcphx
— Jocelyn J Lybarger (@mmajocelyn) February 18, 2019
Again @TouchyFili speaking real shit and the fans boo him
— Jarred Brooks (@The_monkeygod) February 18, 2019
Both guys have exceptional takedowns, I would of liked to see both guys use their wrestling. Awesome fight regardless. #UFCPhoenix
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) February 18, 2019
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) February 18, 2019
Poll
Whose UFC Prague performance stood out to you the most?
This poll is closed
-
56%
Thiago Santos
-
9%
Stefan Struve
-
6%
Michal Oleksiejczuk
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0%
Liz Carmouche
-
24%
Petr Yan
-
2%
Magomed Ankalaev