UFC 91: What happened when Brock Lesnar challenged Randy Couture for the UFC Heavyweight Championship?

There was much criticism levelled at the UFC when Brock Lesnar, with a MMA career record of two wins and one loss was given a title shot against Heavyweight Champion, Randy Couture ahead of other deserving candidates such as Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

However, Lesnar, the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion brought a buzz to UFC, in the same way Ken Shamrock had earlier that decade when he returned to the UFC, following a successful spell in the pro-wrestling powerhouse, Lesnar, who was much more successful in WWE brought many, many casual fan eyes to the company as it bid to increase it's audience.

Couture versus Lesnar was the only bout on the main card that entered a second round. It was an entertaining clash while it lasted. Whilst Lesnar was inexperienced at this level of professional fighting, Couture for his part had not competed in over a year after yet another contract dispute with the promotion and was far from match fit.

It made for an incredible spectacle that was matched by the electric atmosphere from the red hot Las Vegas crowd.

Couture immediately went for the clinch as his game plan became clear. The veteran would attempt to pin his larger and stronger foe to the fence and attempt dirty boxing from point blank range. If he could not get the TKO that way, then he would at least wear down the behemoth and enable him to secure a submission versus an opponent that had not fought for longer than 15 minutes in an MMA bout before.

It largely paid off as Couture looked excellent in round one with only one real scare when Lesnar managed to land some haymakers. Although the ease in which Lesnar was able to overpower some of the champion's wrestling manoeuvres will have caused Couture some concern.

The second round was much more one-sided. Lesnar landed a sickening elbow and knees which put the 45-year-old, Couture on the defensive. However, being backed into a corner brought out the best in Couture and he responded with some heavy blows which cut Lesnar above the eye. Smelling a stoppage finish, Couture attempted a takedown, no doubt wanting to ground and pound Lesnar into oblivion, but the challenger wrestled free and turned out Couture's lights with a massive right hook to the temple. Lesnar leapt on the fallen champion with hammer fists and that was that. Your new UFC Heavyweight Champion: Brock Lesnar.

Brock Lesnar lands a huge haymaker in the main event

The undercard consisted of four short bouts. The co-headliner pitted Kenny Florian versus Joe Stevenson. Florian entered his most impressive performance to date, completely dominating the Lightweight contender and securing a rear naked choke after landing a big-time takedown. Stevenson looked shocked at the brevity of the fight. He wasn't the only one.

Big-hitting Heavyweight, Gabriel Gonzaga defeated Josh Hendricks in just 61 seconds. A couple of big knees followed by another couple of haymakers was all she wrote for Hendricks as Gonzaga earned a big win after recent high profile losses.

Dustin Hazelett and Tamdan McCrory were another pairing that did not trouble the judges with both fighters immediately trading with big-time strikes before Hazelett took things down the canvas. Once he did so, his wrestling took over and he dominated McCrory on the ground. The submission victory was inevitable from that point on and Hazelett obliged with a sick looking armbar for the tap out win.

Demian Maia displayed his superb ground skills, demonstrating excellent control to pull guard and take control of his opponent, Nate Quarry and transition into a body triangle for the submission win in just over two minutes.

UFC 91 was a card of double quick matches, but all delivered excitement aplenty while they lasted, though the lasting memory of this show will always be Lesnar's Heavyweight Championship victory over Couture. It really was a passing of the torch moment and Lesnar as champion was a record-breaking draw for the company going forward.