UFC 146: Cain Velasquez Brutalizes Antonio Silva in First-Round TKO

If there were any questions about how Cain Velasquez would return from his first professional defeat, they were put to rest with an exclamation point.

The former UFC heavyweight champion put Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva down early and brutalized him for the entirety of the fight until drawing a referee stoppage at UFC 146.

The first-round TKO win took just 3:36.

"I feel good, a step in the right direction," Velasquez said afterward. "Daniel Cormier my teammate, fought Silva, and he told me some things that helped tonight."

Silva was never in the fight. Velasquez took him down in the fight's opening seconds and opened a cut on his head with an elbow soon after. Velasquez worked the cut with subsequent elbows, and the wound spurted blood down SIlva's face and soon darkened the mat around them. It ended up being one of the bloodiest fights in recent UFC history.

Ref Josh Rosnethal at one point stopped the action to have it checked, but the cageside doctor let the fight continue.

Restarted in the same position, it was more of the same for Velasquez, who finally finished Silva after a hail of left hands from the top.

It was just the kind of performance Velasquez needed in his first fight since losing the title to Junior dos Santos.

"Just to know what you've done in the past, get over that and a step in the right direction, get better," he said.

It was the 10th pro win for Velasquez to go with one defeat.

In losing his UFC debut, Silva dropped to 16-4.

Grid View

• UFC 146 Photos Junior dos Santos nails Frank Mir with a left at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Junior dos Santos walks to the cage at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Junior dos Santos readies himself at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Junior dos Santos walks into the cage at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Frank Mir prepares for Junior dos Santos at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Junior dos Santos does his pre-fight ritual at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Frank Mir covers up from a Junior dos Santos overhand right at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Junior dos Santos relaxes between rounds at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Junior dos Santos again throws the right at at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Frank Mir tumbles after eating a hard shot from Junior dos Santos at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Frank Mir tries to cover up from punches at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Frank Mir attempts to land a knee at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos A hard punch forces Frank Mir to step back at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Frank Mir tries to hang on after being hurt at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Frank Mir lays on the canvas after his loss to Junior dos Santos at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Junior dos Santos is declared the champion at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Junior dos Santos is animated and excited after his win at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Junior dos Santos poses for the media after his win at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Junior dos Santos and his team pose for pictures after his win at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Antonio Silva readies for Cain Velasquez at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Antonio Silva at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Cain Velasquez works top position at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Cain Velasquez holds Antonio Silva down at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photo Antonio Silva is covered in his own blood at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Cain Velasquez wears the blood of Antonio Silva at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Cain Velasquez works a front head lock at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Antonio Silva tries to stand, but Cain Velasquez forces him back down at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Referee Josh Rosenthal yells instructions at Antonio Silva at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Cain Velasquez wins by TKO stoppage at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Cain Velasquez is victorious at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Antonio Silva has doctors attend to him at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Antonio Silva walks back to the dressing room at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Roy Nelson follows up on a hurt Dave Herman at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Roy Nelson enters the Octagon at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Dave Herman lands a push kick on Roy Nelson at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Roy Nelson lands a hard overhand right at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Dave Herman collapses after being hit with a hard punch from Roy Nelson at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Roy Nelson is declared the winner at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Shane del Rosario prepares at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Stipe Miocic gets checked by the Nevada State Athletic Commission at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Shane del Rosario lands a body kick on Stipe Miocic at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Shane del Rosario nearly lands a knee at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Stipe Miocic fires a right hand at Shane del Rosario at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Stipe Miocic lands an elbow on Shane del Rosario at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Shane del Rosario with a huge cut on his eyebrow at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Lavar Johnson readies to fight Stefan Struve at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Stefan Struve readies for an armbar at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Lavar Johnson winces as he is armbarred by Stefan Struve at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Lavar Johnson is saved by Yves Lavigne at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Stefan Struve is declared the winner at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Diego Brandao tries to ground and pound Darren Elkins at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Darren Elkins lands on Diego Brando inside at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Darren Elkins continues to work from mount at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Darren Elkins smiles after winning at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Darren Elkins is declared the winner at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Jamie Varner lands a hard right hand on Edson Barboza at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Jamie Varner follows up on a hurt Edson Barboza at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Jamie Varner celebrates after winning at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Edson Barboza protests about the referee stoppage at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Jamie Varner is declared the winner at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Dan Hardy readies for Duane Ludwig at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Dan Hardy waves on UFC announcer Bruce Buffer at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Dan Hardy lands a right elbow on Duane Ludwig at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Dan Hardy lands a left hook on Duane Ludwig at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Dan Hardy follows up on a hurt Duane Ludwig at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Dan Hardy elbows a prostrate Duane Ludwig at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Dan Hardy celebrates his victory at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Dan Hardy kisses the ground after winning at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Dan Hardy is declared the winner at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Duane Ludwig walks to back of the arena at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Jason Miller spits at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Jason 'Mayhem' Miller gets controlled by C.B. Dollaway at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Jason Miller eats an uppercut from C.B. Dollaway at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Jason Miller tries to stand up from a takedown at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos C.B. Dollaway finishes the round on top at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos C.B. Dollaway is declared the winner at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Jason Miller takes a breath after his loss to C.B. Dollaway at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Paul Sass works an oma plata at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Paul Sass celebrates after submitting Jacob Volkmann at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Paul Sass celebrates after submitting Jacob Volkmann at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Glover Teixeira after winning at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Glover Teixeira submits Kyle Kingsbury at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Glover Teixeira elbows Kyle Kingsbury at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Mike Brown readies himself for Daniel Pineda at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Mike Brown works on top against Daniel Pineda at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Mike Brown eats a left hook at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Darren Elkins works from mount at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Daniel Pineda takes Mike Brown's back at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Mike Brown is declared the victor at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Arianny Celeste carries a round card at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos A shot of the crowd at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.