5. Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin
UFC 116
July 3, 2010 | Las Vegas
Lesnar secured his place atop the heavyweight division with a dramatic come-from-behind submission victory against the previously unbeaten Carwin. Lesnar weathered a violent barrage from Carwin in the first round, scored with a takedown in the second and trapped him in an arm-triangle choke that ended their encounter at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Carwin raised the white flag 2:19 into Round 2. Carwin -- who had finished each of his first 12 foes in the first round -- had the champion in serious trouble inside the first five minutes, as he buckled him with a right hand, stuffed his first takedown attempt and had him reeling with a left uppercut. Lesnar, in his first appearance since an intestinal disorder nearly ended his career, went down against the cage and absorbed heavy ground-and-pound from Carwin, who let loose with heavy rights and lefts from the top. Lesnar defended well, but Round 1 clearly came down in Carwin’s favor. Lesnar knew Carwin was emptying his gas tank. Slowed by visible fatigue, Carwin lacked the steam he needed to finish what he started. Treading water as the second period opened, Carwin winked at the longtime World Wrestling Entertainment superstar but soon found himself on his back in the center of the Octagon. Lesnar set up the choke, moved to mount and tightened the submission from the side. Carwin defended at first, but Lesnar squeezed his massive arms around his neck and solicited the tapout.
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