The headlining attraction of today's (Fri., April 11, 2014) UFC Fight Night 39: "Nogueira vs. Nelson" event in Abu Dhabi, broadcast via Fight Pass, featured Brazilian legend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira fighting for the first time in 10 months against husky hard hitter Roy Nelson.
The action was ugly early. Nelson was ducking his head down and wading in with punches while Nogueira was looking for an opening to strike. Then, like UFC told us could very well happen in the marketing for this showcase, "Big Country" landed hard on the chin and his opponent went down.
"Big Nog" recovered quickly, and they reset back in the center of the Octagon.
That gave Nelson the opportunity he needed to continue spamming that overhand right. He landed another and it hurt Nogueira badly. Somehow he managed to stay on his feet, though he was stumbling, and Nelson fired off another. And another. And another.
"Minotauro" just would not go down. His hands were low and he was clearly the walking dead, but Nelson needed one final blow to finish the job.
When it came, it was brutal. One more overhand right that landed with a sickening thud and put the lights out. We're talking down, stretched, and breathing shallow.
Good night.
For complete UFC Fight Night 39 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.