Lesnar wrestles UFC title from Couture

By Jim Hoban

Youth - and size - won out over experience in a ring called the Octagon.

Brock Lesnar, a 31-year-old former NCAA wrestling champ, pummeled Randy Couture, 45, to the mat at 3:07 of the second round to win Ultimate Fighting's ultimate championship, the heavyweight title, last night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Aside from the disparity in size - Lesnar is a hulk at 6 feet 3 inches, 275 pounds compared with Couture, 6-1 and a lean 220 - Couture hadn't fought in 15 months, disdaining contract squabbles as he awaited the big fight he craved.

And big is what he got.

Lesnar, who lost the 1999 NCAA wrestling title to the Patriots' Stephen Neal, then won the title the next season, had the upper hand throughout the fight. He landed a standing elbow that stunned Couture to open Round 2 and had the defending champion backpedaling.

Lesnar landed a right hand to Couture's temple, then engulfed him with hammer punches with Couture (16-9) on the mat. The referee had to step in and stop the fight.

Lesnar wrestles UFC title from Couture....