Twenty-six seconds. That’s how long it took for Francis Ngannou to put a stop to Cain Velasquez’s Octagon return. Ngannou bested the former UFC heavyweight champion in the blink of an eye on Sunday night in the main event of UFC Phoenix, stopping Velasquez with punches after the Arizona native’s knee buckled in an exchange along the cage. Check out reaction to Ngannou’s victory below, plus the best of the rest from a roller-coaster night at UFC Phoenix. FRANCIS NGANNOU DEF. CAIN VELASQUEZ I don’t think he hit him clean once?? — Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) February 18, 2019 You’re still the man @cainmma — Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) February 18, 2019 Long awaited return and then this. I’m gonna cry pic.twitter.com/LmGLJAhlVP — Tatiana Suarez (@TSPMMA115) February 18, 2019 Fuck poor Cain — Chito Vera (@chitoveraUFC) February 18, 2019 Cain blew his knee out. What a horrible, horrible turn of events, especially after being out for two-and-a-half years. #ufcphoenix pic.twitter.com/BBmVb8W3GW — The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) February 18, 2019 Whatttt!! Big win for Francis !! — scott askham (@scottaskham1) February 18, 2019 Wow. Unforgiving sport. I hope cain is ok. Great work to the predator!!! @francis_ngannou !!! So happy for him — JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) February 18, 2019 Holy smokes!! He is cursed ! First fox card now first Espn card !! Ngannou is a monster !! — Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) February 18, 2019 It wasn’t KO. @CainVelasquez_ blow and hurts his knee. It’s have to have the rematch. — Roan Jucao (@jucao) February 18, 2019 @cainmma still the #goat of the heavyweight division — Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) February 18, 2019 Really like Ngannou and Cain. Sad to see Cain go out like that. The new network curse has got him! — Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) February 18, 2019 I wanted moreeee #UFCPheonix — Katlyn Chookagian (@blondefighter) February 18, 2019 Ngannou got booed all fucking week and he’s not even gloating. Talk about a class act. #UFCPhoenix — Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) February 18, 2019 He’s done! — Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) February 18, 2019 PAUL FELDER DEF. JAMES VICK Great fight this co main event. Evenly matched #ufcphoenix — JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) February 18, 2019 Got to love the gameness from Vick at the end of the fight, going for the finish! Great fighter mentality. I do think Felder won that though #UFCPhoenix — Jordan Rinaldi (@JordanRinaldi) February 18, 2019 I love how angry Felder looks at all times in the Octagon. #ufcphoenix pic.twitter.com/IFTKb6G1oA — The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) February 18, 2019 Fuck yeah Dr. @felderpaul!!! Nobody deserves to win tonight more than him. #UFCPheonix — Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) February 18, 2019 The best @felderpaul we’ve seen so far his future and his beard is looking bright #UFCPhoenix — Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) February 18, 2019 @felderpaul my man! Always happy to see you perform! — Lando Vannata (@GroovyLando) February 18, 2019 Irish dragon looked great today!!! #UFCPheonix — Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) February 18, 2019 Way to go @felderpaul !!!! Congrats homie — Erik Jon Koch (@NEWBREED04) February 18, 2019 CYNTHIA CALVILLO DEF. CORTNEY CASEY I fucking love you guys! Next fight I want a wave, with lighters and meows. Best fans in the world ♥️ #ufcgoals @ufc pic.twitter.com/LUxcuUZ9Lq — Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) February 18, 2019 How is this a main card fight — Jarred Brooks (@The_monkeygod) February 18, 2019 Congrats @cyn_calvillo on a tough fight and big win! #Ufcphoenix — @CrisCyborg on IG #CyborgNation (@criscyborg) February 18, 2019 @TSPMMA115 a call out!! Yes — Amanda Bobby Cooper (@ABCnation115) February 18, 2019 I would not be calling out @TSPMMA115 if I were her #UFCPheonix — Katlyn Chookagian (@blondefighter) February 18, 2019 I appreciate the compliment by Cynthia but I think I deserve a top five as well. That’s why I consider a title contention fight. — Tatiana Suarez (@TSPMMA115) February 18, 2019 KRON GRACIE DEF. ALEX CACERES Cool to see a Gracie back in the Octagon Congrats Kron #UFCPhoenix — Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) February 18, 2019 Gracie = legends in MMA — JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) February 18, 2019 Easy money for Kron, good to see him in the ufc — Chito Vera (@chitoveraUFC) February 18, 2019 BJJ really Efficient by @krongracie. Legit and genuine Jiu Jitsu. The Jiu Jitsu what I learn not for stollen. Congrats man. — Roan Jucao (@jucao) February 18, 2019 Tailor made opponent for @krongracie good debut but excited to see him face a tough wrestler who forces him to strike — Jeremy Kennedy (@JeremyKennedyWC) February 18, 2019 Kron Gracie — THALES LEITES (@thalesleites) February 18, 2019 I grow up watching Rickson Gracie’s tapes and it was a big inspiration to me. Good to see Kron win tonight! Congrats! — Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) February 18, 2019 Enter the mix young son. Congratulations. — Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) February 18, 2019 VICENTE LUQUE DEF. BRYAN BARBERENA Happy for @VicenteLuqueMMA & @bryan_barberena on putting on an amazing fight. Shared the cage with each and both are class act guys! @UFC_CA @ufc — Chad Laprise (@ChadLaprise) February 18, 2019 What a fightttt!!! — Dhiego Lima (@DhLimaMMA) February 18, 2019 My goodness!!!! Unreal toughness from both, and such clutchness by luque! #UFCPhoenix @ufc — Jordan Rinaldi (@JordanRinaldi) February 18, 2019 What a fight! — Erik Jon Koch (@NEWBREED04) February 18, 2019 Damn hopefully a bonus? Give those men what they deserve! — tim means (@MeansTim) February 18, 2019 Fuuuuuuuuuiuuuu that was insane gosh! Both warriors. So much respect for these guys. #UFCPhoenix — Tatiana Suarez (@TSPMMA115) February 18, 2019 MAD SCRAP ⚡️#UFCPHOENIX Thats the fight we love to be in! Props to both @VicenteLuqueMMA @bryan_barberena #FOTN — Jon SuperSaiyan Tuck (@JonCruzTuck) February 18, 2019 Luque!!! Congrats !!! What heart — Chris Wade (@CWadeMMA) February 18, 2019 ANDRE FILI DEF. MYLES JURY This is TUF Live all over again. Team Faber vs Team Cruz. #UFCPhoenix — Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) February 18, 2019 Fili wins the battle of the Jabs #UFCPhoenix — Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) February 18, 2019 Jury didn’t want it in the 3rd. Fili 2-1 — Chas Skelly (@ChasSkelly) February 18, 2019 @TouchyFili my gosh you looked so good tonight #ufcphx — Jocelyn J Lybarger (@mmajocelyn) February 18, 2019<doc-sep>Filed under: UFC News They said what?! Pros react to Paul Felder’s decision win over James Vick at UFC Phoenix Paul Felder outpointed James Vick and scored an unanimous decision win at UFC Phoenix. On Twitter, pro fighters enjoyed the fight.<doc-sep>A highly anticipated heavyweight tilt between former division champion Cain Velasquez and feared knockout artist Francis Ngannou headlined tonight’s UFC Phoenix event. Cain Velasquez returned to action for the first time since defeating Travis Browne via first round TKO at UFC 200 in July of 2016. The former UFC heavyweight kingpin, Velasquez, entered tonight’s contest sporting a professional record of 14-2. Image: Esther Lin/ MMA Fighting Meanwhile, Francis Ngannou (12-3 MMA) most recently competed at November’s UFC Fight Night event in Beijing, where he earned a first-round TKO victory over perennial division contender Curtis Blaydes. All seven of “The Predator’s” career octagon victories have come by way of stoppage, five of which occured in the very first round. Tonight’s UFC Phoenix main event lasted only seconds, as Francis Ngannou was able to catch Cain Velasquez with a punch that caused the former champion to fall to the canvas – buckling his knee in the process. After a few ground strikes the referee mercifully stepped in and called a stop to the action. Check out the fight-ending finish below via the UFC’s official Twitter: Check out how the pros reacted to tonight’s UFC Phoenix main event fight between Francis Ngannou and Cain Velasquez below. You’re still the man @cainmma — Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) February 18, 2019 Long awaited return and then this. I’m gonna cry 😢 pic.twitter.com/LmGLJAhlVP — Tatiana Suarez (@tatianaufc) February 18, 2019 I don’t think he hit him clean once?? 🤔🤔🤔 — Michael Johnson (@Menace155) February 18, 2019 🙏🏽 prayers for @cainmma a legend of the @ufc heavyweight division. #UFCPhoenix — 🚨NCF 8 fights live! link in bio (@criscyborg) February 18, 2019 I think that might be the last we see of Cain… 😕 #UFConESPN #UFCPhoenix — Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) February 18, 2019 Were you shocked by the outcome in tonight’s UFC Phoenix headliner between Francis Ngannou and Cain Velasquez? Do you think we will see the former UFC heavyweight champion fight again following the loss? Sound off in the comments section PENN Nation! This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM<doc-sep>Filed under: UFC News They said what?! Pros react to Kron Gracie’s quick sub of Alex Caceres at UFC Phoenix Kron Gracie made quick work of Alex Caceres in his Octagon debut at UFC Phoenix. On Twitter, pro fighters praised the performance.<doc-sep>
In a quick, but sort of unexpected fashion, Francis N’Gannou scored yet another knockout win, but not before Cain Velasquez blew out his knee right in the middle of some fierce ground and pound delivered by his opponent at UFC Phoenix, who was ruled the winner via KO at the night’s main event in Arizona. On Twitter, pro fighters reacted to the bout’s sad ending. Okkkkk. Now for the heavyweights!!! #ufcphoenix — JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) February 18, 2019 So excited to see Cain back out there. Probably my favorite fighter of all time to watch. 1000 days off and coming back against this monster !! — Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) February 18, 2019 Super pumped to see @cainmma back! — Erik Jon Koch (@NEWBREED04) February 18, 2019 Someone is going to sleep in this next fight #UFCPheonix — Mike Trizano (@TheLoneWolfMMA) February 18, 2019 This is the type of fight I hold my breath for 25 minutes then realize oh shit I’m not breathing haha — Brian Kelleher (@brianboom135) February 18, 2019 Holy crap is he big! — Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) February 18, 2019 Holy smokes!! He is cursed ! First fox card now first Espn card !! Ngannou is a monster !! — Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) February 18, 2019 Fox debut deja vu. :( #ufcphoenix — The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) February 18, 2019 Whatttt!! Big win for Francis !! — scott askham (@scottaskham1) February 18, 2019 That knee is in shambles. #UFCPhoenix — Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) February 18, 2019 That knee That’s not good Hats of to Francis #UFCPhoenix — Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) February 18, 2019 Oh no. That was a fast heavyweight fight. Cain is upset...knee just gave out. That’s frustrating. #UFCphoenix — Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) February 18, 2019 It wasn’t KO. @CainVelasquez_ blow and hurts his knee. It’s have to have the rematch. — Roan Jucao (@jucao) February 18, 2019 Fuck poor Cain — Chito Vera (@chitoveraUFC) February 18, 2019 They gonna start making Ngannou fight two at a time #UFCPheonix — Eryk Anders (@erykanders) February 18, 2019 Wow. Unforgiving sport. I hope cain is ok. Great work to the predator!!! @francis_ngannou !!! So happy for him — JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) February 18, 2019 Ngannou got booed all fucking week and he’s not even gloating. Talk about a class act. #UFCPhoenix — Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) February 18, 2019 I would have lasted at least a minute, my body isn’t glass — Juan Adams UFC (@chosenjuan285) February 18, 2019 I think that might be the last we see of Cain... #UFConESPN #UFCPhoenix — Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) February 18, 2019 @cainmma still the #goat of the heavyweight division — Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) February 18, 2019 You’re still the man @cainmma — Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) February 18, 2019 He’s done! — Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) February 18, 2019 I don’t think he hit him clean once?? — Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) February 18, 2019