Lesnar wins by tap-out

LAS VEGAS – Brock Lesnar rallied from a horrific first-round beating to stop Shane Carwin with a choke in the second round, defending his heavyweight title at UFC 116 on Saturday night.

Lesnar (5-1), the intimidating former pro wrestler and the UFC’s biggest pay-per-view star, won his first fight in nearly a year despite taking a pounding in the opening minutes from Carwin, the previously undefeated interim champion.

Lesnar took down Carwin in the second round and got Carwin in an arm triangle choke, forcing Carwin to tap out at the MGM Grand Garden.

“I knew he was getting tired,” Lesnar said. “Each shot was less dramatic than the other. … I stand before you a humble champion, and I’m still the toughest (guy) around.”

Lesnar canceled two previous bouts with Carwin (12-1) after developing an intestinal illness that nearly killed him. His first bout since UFC 100 showcased his improving mixed martial arts skills alongside his brute toughness, and he celebrated humbly, with none of the arrogance he showed after beating Frank Mir in his last fight.

In the co-main event in the UFC’s hometown, Chris Leben stopped Yoshihiro Akiyama with 40 seconds left in the final round to earn a dramatic victory in Leben’s second fight in two weeks. Welterweight Chris Lytle also beat Matt Brown, and veteran Stephan Bonnar stopped Krzysztof Soszynski with a second-round flurry.

The comeback victory is another twist in the unique career path of Lesnar, the former college wrestling champion, professional wrestler and Minnesota Vikings tryout player who has become the UFC’s biggest pay-per-view draw in just six pro MMA fights.

Carwin and Lesnar slammed heavily into the cage in the opening minute, but Carwin quickly got Lesnar on the defensive with an uppercut that staggered him. Carwin punched Lesnar in the head for the better part of two minutes, and Lesnar was cut badly over his left eye, yet he survived and even stood up from a barrage that would have stopped most fighters.

The fighters exchanged a high-five before the second round, and Lesnar got on top of Carwin with a takedown move. Lesnar’s wrestling skills eventually put him in position to choke Carwin, who might have expended too much energy trying to finish it in the first round.

“My hat is off to him,” Carwin said. “He’s the champion. I fell down the mountain, but I’ll get back up.”

Lesnar dropped out of two scheduled fights with Carwin last fall, citing injuries and fatigue that culminated when he fell seriously ill on a hunting trip in Canada. Lesnar eventually was diagnosed with diverticulitis.