UFC 141: Overeem Stops Lesnar With Body Kick
UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem closed 2011 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on December 30. The heavyweight main event paired former UFC champion Brock Lesnar, returning after surgery for diverticulitis, with Alistair Overeem in his UFC debut. The card also featured Nate Diaz against Donald Cerrone and a fast finish that changed Johny Hendricks’s standing in the welterweight division.
Overeem ends Lesnar’s return
Lesnar pressed forward early, but Overeem defended the first takedown attempt and attacked the body. A hard kick to the midsection forced Lesnar down; Overeem followed with punches, and the referee stopped the fight at 2:26 of round one. The official result was a TKO for Overeem. It gave the former Strikeforce, DREAM and K-1 champion a successful UFC debut and a future heavyweight title opportunity.
After the stoppage, Lesnar said he was retiring from mixed martial arts. He explained that his diverticulitis and recent colon surgery had made the preceding years difficult, and said the bout would be his last in the Octagon. The result therefore marked both Overeem’s arrival in the UFC and the end of Lesnar’s MMA career at that point.
Diaz outworks Cerrone; Hendricks shocks Fitch
Nate Diaz and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone delivered the other major story of the night. Diaz used volume, pressure and taunting to unsettle Cerrone over three rounds, then won a unanimous decision, 30–27, 30–27 and 29–28. Their bout earned Fight of the Night honors.
Johny Hendricks changed his career with a left hand against Jon Fitch. Hendricks stopped the longtime contender 12 seconds into round one. UFC 141’s official report records the knockout time as 0:12.
Alexander Gustafsson also scored a first-round finish, stopping Vladimir Matyushenko with punches at 2:13. Jimy Hettes stayed unbeaten with a unanimous decision over Nam Phan. The card’s two television prelims and three streamed bouts all went the distance.
UFC 141 results
Main card: Alistair Overeem def. Brock Lesnar by TKO (body kick and punches), round 1, 2:26; Nate Diaz def. Donald Cerrone by unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–28); Johny Hendricks def. Jon Fitch by KO (punch), round 1, 0:12; Alexander Gustafsson def. Vladimir Matyushenko by TKO (punches), round 1, 2:13; Jimy Hettes def. Nam Phan by unanimous decision.
Preliminary card: Ross Pearson def. Junior Assunção by unanimous decision; Danny Castillo def. Anthony Njokuani by split decision; Dong Hyun Kim def. Sean Pierson by unanimous decision; Jacob Volkmann def. Efrain Escudero by unanimous decision; Diego Nunes def. Manny Gamburyan by unanimous decision. A planned bout between Matt Riddle and Luis Ramos was cancelled after Riddle became ill.
UFC 141 is remembered for two sharply different endings: Overeem’s body attack stopped Lesnar and prompted his retirement announcement, while Hendricks needed just 12 seconds to defeat Fitch. Diaz’s decision over Cerrone supplied a full three-round contrast to the event’s quick finishes.
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UFC 141, UFC Results, MMA History, Overeem Stops Lesnar With Body Kick
