Round 1 Both fighters trade glancing shots continuing to find their respective range. Mark dodges a jab and clinches with Fortunato Velasquez, delivering a knee as he does so. Fortunato Velasquez is hit with a jab then hook to the body and stumbles backward. Mark Whelan explodes forward with a push kick that puts Fortunato Velasquez on the canvas. Whelan grabs a foot and kicks at Fortunatos thighs. He then backs off and Velasquez stands back up. Velasquez is hit with a hook and a shovel punch and stumbles backward. "The Real Deal" explodes forward with a push kick that puts Velasquez on the canvas. Mark dances around Fortunato Velasquezs legs and lands a powerful soccer kick to the head. Mark Whelan lays into Fortunato Velasquezs thighs and then backs off and tells him to stand up. Velasquez does so. Fortunato Velasquez is leading with his head during his combos and Whelan makes him pay by landing a lead knee to the jaw. Fortunato Velasquez shakes it off as he steps back. Whelan rushes forward with strikes and Velasquez slips to his all fours. Whelan unleashes a barrage of punches. Velasquez is stuck against the cage and cannot roll to his guard. Whelan finishes his flurry with two strong uppercuts. The ref jumps in and Velasquez crumples face down in a bloody mess.
