Former Gophers national champ Brock Lesnar had to hand over his heavyweight title belt after he was defeated in the first round at UFC 121 Saturday.

Knockout artist Cain Velasquez (9-0) did the 6’3″ beheamoth in with a fury of punches that left Lesnar bloodied and staggering.

Lesnar, a South Dakota native and current resident of Alexandria, Minn., heavily favors his wrestling in the combined sport of Mixed Marital Arts. It left him vulnerable to the punching attacks of smaller Velasquez.

Lesnar is bigger and stronger than his past two opponents, Velasquez and Shane Carwin, but both are more complete fighters.

The loss has generated a buzz as to whether Lesnar(5-2-0) will even fight again in the Ultimate Fighting Championships, but UFC President Dana White hinted that he expects Lesnar to return. Myron Medcalf of the Star Tribune suggested that Lesnar would have to become a more complete fighter in order to fully complement his size and strength advantage.