Las Vegas Weekly

July 4, 2010 · 6:07 AM

Photos: Brock Lesnar regains tower of power status at UFC 116

By Robin Leach

UFC 116 at MGM Grand Garden Arena on July 3, 2010.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Back in October, UFC heavyweight giant Brock Lesnar feared that he’d never fight again. He battled something far greater than an Octagon challenge. Suffering from mononucleosis and a serious stomach ailment , diverticulitis, brought on by a torn intestine that leaked waste into his abdomen, he was unable to eat and started losing weight -- eventually 40 pounds.

Surgeons estimated that the damage had been continuing for 12 months. As a result, his UFC 106 and 108 challenges were canceled. For last night’s long-awaited Round 1 against Shane Carwin, it looked as if the illness had taken a toll, as Brock wound up on the receiving end of 150 punches and was obviously hurt, with blood streaming from his face. Experts said he lost the first round.

But then Shane Carwin has never had a fight go into a second round because his opponents have all gone down in the first. So he, too, was tired and in pain. Brock even smiled as the second round began. Maybe the fact that he was still standing and hadn’t withered under the whirlwind was enough to rock Shane’s boat.

And so it was at 2:19 into Round 2 that Shane tapped out in submission to an arm triangulation. It was the first loss of his professional career. Brock had made his comeback and proved to be the miracle man. Now he is legitimately ranked the No. 1 heavyweight in the world, wresting back the interim title belt that was owned by Shane’s string of 12 consecutive wins, seven by KO and five by submission.

Contributing photographer Tom Donoghue was practically inside the Octagon for this extraordinary photo gallery that clearly shows Brock is back and thoroughly enjoying not only his return but also his victory.

Check out the full, round-by-round coverage of all the UFC 116 events and Las Vegas Sun colleague Brent Okamoto’s post-fight analysis and Brock’s own words of victory.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

UFC 116 at MGM Grand Garden Arena on July 3, 2010.

Among the Hollywood and sports celebrities and VIP guests who attended UFC 116: Sam Worthington, David Cook, Sam Bradford, Sen. Harry Reid, Gene Simmons, Holly Madison, Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Silva, Mike Swick, Cain Velasquez, Rashad Evans, Kenny Florian, James Toney, Evander Holyfield, Zab Judah, Dwayne Johnson, Bill Goldberg, Steve Austin and Luke and Charis Burrett.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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