He was bloodied. He was cut. He was pummeled for the first time in his mixed martial arts career.
But Brock Lesnar survived Shane Carwin's onslaught Saturday night at UFC 116 in Las Vegas and kept his heavyweight belt after getting his opponent to submit with an arm triangle choke at 2 minutes, 19 seconds of the second round.
"I stand before you a humble champion, and I'm still the toughest ... around, baby," Lesnar said after the fight, his first in nearly a year.
Carwin, who had ended all 12 of his previous fights in the first round, nearly finished Lesnar in the first round.
Carwin (12-1) put Lesnar (5-1) on the mat with a series of punches. He continued his assault while a seemingly helpless Lesnar covered up.
The former Gophers wrestler showed enough life to stay in the bout, although referee Josh Rosenthal probably would have been justified had he decided to stop it.
"I just had to weather the storm," Lesnar said. "I knew he was getting tired."
Carwin was clearly tired as the second round began. Lesnar threw him to the floor and secured the choke for the first submission victory of his career.
Lesnar, who lives in Alexandria, Minn., nearly lost his career after a battle with diverticulitis, an intestinal illness that forced him to cancel a November matchup against Carwin. He bounced back with a new diet and renewed focus.
"I am blessed by God," he said.
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