CHICAGO, IL - JULY 25: Joe Lauzon celebrates after defeating Takanori Gomi in their lightweight bout during the UFC event at the United Center on July 25, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS -- The world expected a brutal back-and-forth war to ensue once legendary action fighters Joe Lauzon and Diego Sanchez hit the UFC 200 ring Saturday night. But the all-time performance bonus leader Lauzon made short work of TUF champion and former title-challenger Sanchez.
"Right off the bat, I hit him with a good right hand," Lauzon said after his first-round TKO victory.
He most certainly did. What followed the initial strong right hand was a one-sided brutality that saw Sanchez hit the deck several times. Though he continued to make his way back to his feet.
But "The Nightmare" proved too tough for his own good. Unfortunately for him, Sanchez was out on his feet, and could only absorb blow after thudding blow from Lauzon until the referee finally stepped in to call a stop to the hurt. The official end came at 1:26 of the first round.
Lauzon touted his Steve Maze-trained boxing for the display. "I'm always working on my boxing," he said.
"Takanori Gomi didn't want to trade hands ... I was happy and healthy tonight, and I think it showed."
The win is Lauzon's fourth in his last six fights, and improves his record to 26-11. Sanchez has now lost four out of his last six, and his stellar record dips to 26-9.
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