Vladimir Matyushenko and Jason Brilz came to UFC 129: "St. Pierre vs. Shields" to do battle for relevancy in the sport of MMA. The aging veterans only have so long to make an impact.
The former answered the call, the latter took a short, forced nap.
Matyushenko wasted little time impressing in front of the largest crowd in company history, as he knocked Brilz out just twenty seconds into the first round.
Who said "The Janitor" was over the hill?
Straight out of the gate, both fighters were looking to exchange. It was the Belarussian that did so with an intensity that his opponent simply could not match.
A right hand and a left hook behind it, both connecting flush, and that was all she wrote.
Is Vladdy headed toward the top of the division? Maybe. Maybe not.
But at the very least he showed that if you step in the cage with the battle-tested vet, you're going to be in for one hell of a fight.
Don't sleep on Matyushenko.