UFC on FOX 1: Aftermath

New UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos | Photo: Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

Last night, on its 18th Birthday, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) finally debuted on free network television, celebrating the start of a seven-year deal with FOX.  The only match shown in the 1-hour time slot was the World Heavyweight Title match: UFC Champion Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos.  Although the bout was scheduled for 5 Five-Minute rounds, it only lasted a little over a minute after dos Santos knocked out the defending champ first with a big right hand to the side of the champ's head knocking him down and then a flurry on the mat to finish him off and claim the title.

The production value was great and appeared as flawless as a live event could be.  The biggest complaint about the event that I've read on our Facebook page is that the Benson Henderson vs. Clay Guida barn burner was omitted from the 1-hour FOX broadcast.  Instead the main event was sandwiched between a pre-fight introduction to UFC as well as Pre & Post-fight analysis with FOX's Curt Menefee, UFC President Dana White and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar.

I personally didn't have a problem with them not airing the fight on the FOX broadcast because I watched the entire card FREE on my HD television from the Facebook stream on my laptop.  And if you didn't have a computer or way of streaming it to your TV, Bendo/Guida also aired along with the Dustin Poirer vs. Pablo Garza match with Spanish commentary on FOX Deportes.  My point is you could've watched it if you really wanted to.

- Full Results from UFC on FOX 1
- UFC on FOX 1 Fight Bonuses
- UFC on FOX 1 Photos

Check out some post-fight thoughts from the Post Fight Press Conference (via MMA Heat).

 UFC on FOX Post-Fight Press Conference (complete + unedited)