Brock Lesnar Grounds and Pounds Mark Hunt in Dominant UFC 200 Return

A dominant Brock Lesnar returned to the cage rejuvenated to claim a decisive victory over Mark Hunt at UFC 200 in Las Vegas.

The former UFC heavyweight champion secures a takedown after a two-minute feeling out process in the first. Hunt rises but Lesnar grinds him against the fence. He lands another takedown at about the two-minute mark. The professional wrestler gains side control, scoring with powerful punches and knees. A third takedown comes with Lesnar gaining the mount but the horn saves Hunt.

Hunt sprawls to stop getting tackled onto his back again two minutes into a slow second round. Lesnar ducks a bomb to go for his bread-and-butter but comes up short going for a leg. Lesnar pushes Hunt against the cage to conclude an uneventful second.

The New Zealand-born Hunt connects with an overhand right at the start of the final frame but Lesnar dumps him again. Lesnar unleashes his fists on the fan and betting favorite. Lesnar’s weight holds Hunt against the cage. In Hunt’s half guard, Brock bloodies him up halfway through the round and ultimately gains full mount. Lesnar looking for an arm triangle as he continues to punch his opponent’s barely-protected face. The Super Samoan looking less than super as Lesnar rains repetitive rights. The 38-year-old wrestler fails to get the finish as Hunt succeeds in surviving to the finish.

The judges award the lethargic middle stanza to Hunt but give Lesnar a 10-8 third and unanimous 29-27 scorecards.

Ultimately, a gun-shy Hunt never seized an opportunity to let his fists (or feet) fly and Lesnar constantly looked for situations in which to wrestle the striker. The 38-year-old WWE superstar smartly circled and used a jab to maintain distance from his heavy-handed foe. Especially in the third, Lesnar complimented the takedowns with vicious strikes from top position that turned his opponent’s face black and blue and bloody.

“It took me a little while just to get acclimated,” Lesnar informed, before issuing a salute to men and women in uniform and a plea for unity. “Words can’t describe it. Thanks, everybody. Thanks so much.”