History in the making: Cain Velasquez makes his UFC debut by destroying Brad Morris

UFC 83: "St. Pierre vs. Serra 2" went down on April 19, 2008 from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, featuring hometown hero Georges St. Pierre making his return to the 170-pound throne by smashing Matt Serra in the pay-per-view (PPV) main event.

It's understandable if you don't remember the Octagon debut of Cain Velasquez.

The American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) heavyweight phenom was just 25 years old, having made his mixed martial arts (MMA) debut under the Strikeforce banner the year before, needing less than two minutes to obliterate Jesse Fujarczyk in San Jose.

Jeremiah Constant would meet the same fate in Bodog just a few months later.

Heading into UFC 83, the most notable thing about Velasquez was how he was referred to as "Cayenne," rather than Cain. That inflection was eventually ditched as the bodies started piling up, but on this night in "The City of Saints," the collegiate wrestling standout was hardly a household name.

Yet.

The future heavyweight champion wasn't going anywhere until he first dealt with Australia's Brad Morris, a rugged veteran with a 10-2 record who also wanted to make his UFC debut in style after compiling a four-fight winning streak on the International circuit.

Here's how it all went down.

"Highly-touted, Cain Velasquez wants to show that he can be a factor quickly," informs UFC play-by-play commentator Mike Goldberg.

No touch of gloves to get things started and Velasquez tests the water with a jab. Morris answers with a right hook and puts his head down, driving forward with a lazy takedown attempt but gets pushed to the floor. They reset at the center of the cage and trade combinations.

A left hand connect flush and Morris is launched to the canvas.

Velasquez pounces as the Aussie makes a spirited attempt to regain his footing, to no avail, and punches in bunches rain down from the top. Morris loses half guard and gives up his back when mounted, but his attacker seems content to ride his back and punish from the top.

The restless Canadian crowd eagerly anticipates a finish.

Morris stumbles to his feet and gets sent crashing back down from a right-left combination. Once again Velasquez swarms him with incredible speed, firing off punch after punch so accurately and at such a feverish pace that it becomes a question of when -- not if -- the fight is stopped.

At 2:10 of the opening frame, referee Steve Mazzagatti has seen enough.

"Absolute and total domination," reiterates Goldberg. "One down," he continues, "Who knows what will come for the heavyweight newcomer."

Indeed.

Velasquez will try to reclaim his place atop the 265-pound division against the man who took it from him, power-punching Brazilian bomber Junior dos Santos. The action gets underway at UFC 155 on Sat., Dec. 29, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Will history be re-written ... or repeat itself?