https://youtu.be/Vku5nDJHzTY

In the co-main event of UFC 204, Gegard Mousasi and Vitor Belfort stepped into the Octagon in a pivotal matchup for the UFC’s middleweight division’s rankings.

Mousasi entered the bout as a heavy favorite, in the midst of a 2-fight win streak that most recently saw him KO Thiago Santos on the preliminary card of UFC 200. Belfort on the other hand, who was rumored to retire after the fight with Mousasi, was looking to return to the win column after a UFC 198 TKO loss to Jacare Souza.

Mousasi, who was extremely confident going into the fight, managed to eat an early combination from Belfort, but looked unphased as he pressured the MMA veteran closer towards the cage.

Ultimately, Mousasi landed a head kick that signaled the beginning of the end as he continued to pour on the strikes, ultimately finishing the fight with ground and pound in the very first round.

With his win over the #5 ranked Belfort, Mousasi, who was ranked at #9 on the UFC’s official middleweight rankings going into the fight, likely finds himself near the top of a very stacked middleweight division.

Check out the highlights, as well as the finish from the fight, above, and let us know who you think Mousasi should face next in the comments section below!