Cain Velasquez’s return to the octagon at UFC Phoenix went off not with a bang but with a fizzle, as his body failed him yet again in a short, disappointing fight against Francis Ngannou.
After 953 days away from the cage, Cain Velasquez was finished in just 26 seconds in his return at UFC Phoenix. The power-packed Francis Ngannou connected quickly and ended the former Heavyweight champion’s night even quicker. There is no doubt Ngannou connected and there is no doubt Velasquez’s knee gave out. In short, the heavy hitter did what he does — smash. Francis Ngannou just knocked out one of the best Heavyweight’s in MMA history. Who’s Next?
WOW!@Francis_Ngannou gets it done in Arizona! #UFCPhoenix pic.twitter.com/xGF4ziuAZA
— UFC (@ufc) February 18, 2019
Ngannou Just Beat Your Boy – You Next Champ?
You’re still the man @cainmma
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) February 18, 2019
You Don’t Want Those Hands.
Damn…. #UFCPhoenix
— Alistair Overeem (@Alistairovereem) February 18, 2019
His Class Doesn’t Go Unnoticed!
Ngannou got booed all fucking week and he’s not even gloating. Talk about a class act. #UFCPhoenix
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) February 18, 2019
Here Come The Conspiracy Theories.
Holy smokes!! He is cursed ! First fox card now first Espn card !! Ngannou is a monster !!
— Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) 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
In Pro Wrestling This Is Called A Handicap Match.
They gonna start making Ngannou fight two at a time #UFCPheonix
— Eryk Anders (@erykanders) February 18, 2019
Cain Velasquez Is Beloved By Fans And By Fighters Too!
Long awaited return and then this. I’m gonna cry 😢 pic.twitter.com/LmGLJAhlVP
— Tatiana Suarez (@TSPMMA115) 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
@cainmma 🙏🏻 still the #goat of the heavyweight division
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) February 18, 2019
🙏🏽 prayers for @cainmma a legend of the @ufc heavyweight division. #UFCPhoenix
— @CrisCyborg on IG #CyborgNation (@criscyborg) February 18, 2019
Jimi Manuwa Sums Up Everyone’s Thoughts.
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
The Knee Did Give Out Though!
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
That knee
That’s not good
Hats of to Francis #UFCPhoenix— Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) February 18, 2019
He’s The Quiet Killer
SILENCED THE CROWD IN AZ! #UFCPhoenix pic.twitter.com/0Qw0B8nqMV
— UFC (@ufc) February 18, 2019
Like him or not, Francis Ngannou is a physical specimen of a man that is here to stay. Where he goes from here will be worked out in weeks to come. But there is no doubt Ngannou put the rest of the Heavyweight division on notice!
