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Brilliant Belfort produces KO of the Year contender

Vitor Belfort produced one of the moments of his career to defeat Luke Rockhold in Brazil © Getty Images

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There was no love lost between middleweights Vitor Belfort and Luke Rockhold. The tension between them was thick heading into their showdown on Saturday night in Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil.

The hostility carried over into fight night, as neither man extended a hand after receiving final instructions from the referee -- which is a normal show of respect toward the opponent. There was no respect on this night.

But when the fisticuffs started, Belfort was the guy who unleashed his fury. A spinning kick caught Rockhold on the chin and sent him to the canvas. Belfort (23-10) immediately jumped on his fallen opponent and delivered punches to Rockhold's chin, forcing referee Leon Roberts quickly to get between the fighters to end the devastating assault.

"I'm stronger than ever," said Belfort, whose knockout came at 2:32 of the first round. "I'm stronger than I was before. I have a great team in Blackzilians."

It was the manner in which Belfort was allowed to build up his strength that got under the skin of Rockhold. The former UFC light-heavyweight champion received approval for testosterone replacement therapy before the fight.

The issue was a major source of hostility between the fighters. But while they showed no respect toward one another before the fight, Belfort spoke briefly to Rockhold afterward. It was the only sign of respect the two shared throughout the entire fight ordeal.

The strategy for Rockhold was clear entering this fight: Be patient early and don't allow Belfort to lure him into a slugfest. If Rockhold could survive Belfort's early attack, he'd be in position to step up his attack in the latter rounds, he thought. But Rockhold never got a chance to apply his fight plan.

"I take my hat off," Rockhold said after falling to 10-2 and watching his win streak stopped at nine. "He landed a spinning heel kick to my head. I didn't see that one coming. What can I say? He caught me with a spinning heel kick to the head.

"I felt good tonight. I felt capable of winning this fight."

It was almost unfair to have Chris Camozzi step in the cage against middleweight contender Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, who was making his UFC debut in his native Brazil. Souza, the former Strikeforce 185lb champion, is just too skilled standing. Plus, he was extremely excited to make his first appearance inside the Octagon a memorable one. And he did.

Souza landed a right hand that stung Camozzi seconds into the fight. He later got Camozzi on his back and eventually submitted him via arm triangle. The end came at 3:37 of the first round. It was an impressive win, the type that had Souza smiling from ear to ear afterward. If he had any Octagon jitters, none were evident.

"When I was about to start in UFC, I was asked if I was going to get the jitters, I said 'no' because of the crowd," said Souza, who improved to 18-3. "We were grappling and I was waiting for him to give me the opportunity and I saw his neck out here and I went for it."

Though outclassed technically, Camozzi fought hard but could not find an answer for Souza, who has won four in a row. Camozzi, who entered on a four-fight win streak, slips to 19-6.

Rafael Dos Anjos and Evan Dunham put it all on the line in their lightweight battle. Taking a backward step was clearly not part of either man's game plan as they stood toe-to-toe and exchanged strikes throughout most of their three-round affair.

When it was finished, Dos Anjos impressed all three judges enough to earn a unanimous decision. Each judge scored the bout 29-28. ESPN.com had Dunham winning 29-28.

Dos Anjos (19-6) got off to a fast start, landing hard right hands that found Dunham's chin often, to the delight of the Brazilian fans. But Dunham withstood the punches.

In the second, Dunham (14-4) took away some of the momentum by finding his range. With his superior reach, Dunham mixed up his attack beautifully with kicks and punches. While Dos Anjos ate several hard strikes he was able to connect with punches and knees. A knee from Dos Anjos, however, was caught by Dunham and he was taken to the ground. Dunham got a second takedown with about three seconds remaining in the round.

With each fighter in position to claim a round, the third decided the outcome. It was Dunham, however, who appeared to be the fresher combatant. He was quicker to deliver strikes, landing punches and kicks that found Dos Anjos' bleeding face - a cut that was opened up in the second round. But Dos Anjos landed hard punches of his own, especially a right hand and a kick to Dunham's body.

It was enough to convince all three judges that Dos Anjos deserved to have his win streak extended to four.

This article first appeared on ESPN.com

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