Cain Velasquez Wins with Rare Octagon Knockout

Cain Velasquez proved his dominance in the UFC with a rare Octagon knockout. On this day in 2013, Velasquez closed the chapter on his rivalry with Junior dos Santos.

What happened?

Cain Velasquez took on Junior dos Santos in a trilogy fight, winning with a brutal beatdown.

The fight

Velasquez suffered a shock opening round knockout loss to dos Santos in 2011, but rematched the following year to end dos Santos' reign as champion.

Career downfall

Reaching the peak of his powers in 2013, Velasquez was tasked with knocking back the charge of Fabricio Werdum, but lost via guillotine defeat.

Cain Velasquez's career was ravaged by injury, competing just twice since his loss to Werdum. He returned triumphantly with a beatdown of Travis Browne at UFC 200, but was later knocked out by Francis Ngannou.

Velasquez is often regarded as one of the best heavyweights ever, taking on household names like Minotouro Nogueira and Brock Lesnar.

He is often touted as a dream opponent for the likes of Fedor Emelianenko, Stipe Miocic, and Jon Jones.

Cain Velasquez's trilogy beatdown of Junior dos Santos was one of the most one-sided and brutal in recent memory.

Velasquez reigned supreme over dos Santos, swelling and bloodying his face with accurate output.

An ill-fated fifth-round submission attempt from dos Santos proved fatal to his chances.

Velasquez dragged dos Santos to the canvas, head-first, before following up with ground strikes.

The completely fatigued Brazilian shelled up on all-fours, taking severe damage over the course of their rivalry.

Cain Velasquez's win over Junior dos Santos was a notable moment in his career, showcasing his skills as a fighter.

Velasquez's career was marked by dominant wins and shocking losses, but he remains one of the best heavyweights in UFC history.