THE Beast is back. Brock Lesnar showed all the power which saw him become UFC heavyweight champion in his first stint in MMA by overpowering Australian-based Mark Hunt.

Lesnar is a remarkable specimen and showed his other-worldly strength by dumping Hunt to the canvas twice in the opening round. The Kiwi-born power puncher was able to avoid any takedowns in the second — and probably won the round despite not landing any heavy shots. But Lesnar resumed normal service in the third, pinning Hunt to the mat and whaling on him with left-handed punches to win a clear decision.

Asked if the win could see him fight again in the UFC, the WWE superstar said: “One day at a time.”

But he was far more open when delivering an impassioned plea to America to stop the violence which has marred the past week.

“America! Shout out to all the men and women who protect this country,” Lesnar said.

“From one white boy to all nationalities, we need to stand together people!”

“I’m disappointed, but it happens, man. I need to work on my fitness,” Hunt said.

Speaking after the fight, UFC President Dana White was in awe of what Lesnar had accomplished.

“People don’t realise that for a guy who’s only fought a few times in this sport then goes away for as long as he has, with his age (38) and everything to come back and do what he did again tonight is pretty impressive,” White said.

“He is a freak of nature.

“His timing was awesome on his shots.

“You saw that Mark Hunt started to find his range and tee off on him and Brock again took him down, got him where he needed him to be … he is a freak of nature.”

Brock Lesnar thanks the US Military and has a message for America..."we got to stand together, people!" #UFC200 #USA pic.twitter.com/4v5iR2moKj — Carie Small (@CarieIsSoVery) July 10, 2016

Congrats to @BrockLesnar for winning his match by decision at #UFC200 but man that GROUND & POUND! pic.twitter.com/ow5qsq07MB — iPodKingCarter #KOK2 (@iPodKingCarter) July 10, 2016

Brock Lesnar's purse tonight is $2.5 million — Kevin Iole (@KevinI) July 9, 2016

MAIN CARD

Women’s bantamweight championship

Amanda Nunes (13-4) defeated Miesha Tate (18-6) via submission (rear naked choke) - Round 1, 3:16.

Doesn’t anyone want to keep the women’s bantamweight championship? The belt Ronda Rousey held for so long has changed hands again after Amanda Nunes’ stunning defeat of Miesha Tate.

Tate, who took the belt from Rousey conqueror Holly Holm earlier this year, was no match for the Brazilian. Nunes had promised a victory throughout the build-up and delivered by busting Tate up in the opening minutes of the bout. Tate’s face was covered in blood and she was seemingly powerless to stop the strikes fired at her. She was dropped by one huge punch and Nunes quickly assumed back control. She delivered a few more blows before locking her arm under Tate’s chin to force a quick tap.

“She’s a very fast starter, very dangerous in the first round — and she caught me fair and square,” Tate said.

Nunes had the hopes of a nation on her shoulders after Brazil lost its only world champion, Rafael dos Anjos, two nights earlier. She fought as though there was no pressure at all.

“I always have things to work on and try to make things happen in my life. Miehsa’s a tough opponent,” Nunes said.

“Everybody knows that. I respect Miesha a lot and I’m the new champion. For years I’ve been working hard for this moment. I feel amazing. I’m going to go back to Brazil and visit my family. Now I’m going back to Brazil and bringing this belt with me.

“When I saw she was hurt, I controlled myself because I know she can come back. I made sure she couldn’t come back anymore.”

Amanda Nunes just bullied Miesha Tate in there #UFC200 pic.twitter.com/xgRQWieXH1 — Gary William® (@_GaryWilliam_) July 10, 2016

Heavyweight

Brock Lesnar (6-3) defeated Mark Hunt (12-11-1) via unanimous decision (29-27 x 3)

Light heavyweight

Daniel Cormier (18-1) defeated Anderson Silva (33-8) via unanimous decision (30-26 x 3)

What a rough week for Daniel Cormier. After losing the opportunity to defend the light heavyweight title against rival Jon Jones — through no fault of his own — he had to spend 15 minutes in the Octagon getting booed. Facing a UFC legend and one of the most dangerous strikers of all-time, you couldn’t blame Cormier for playing it safe and taking Silva down in every round. The “Spider” had no answer to Cormier’s strength — and was forced to rely on a generous referee standing the fighters up in rounds two and three. But even on his feet the 41-year-old was unable to do any serious damage and has now lost four of his past five fights. This one certainly isn’t a major blemish given the short notice and the weight difference but it wasn’t overly-fun watching a champion pinned to the floor for three rounds. The crowd lapped up a late flurry from Silva but this was Cormier’s fight from start to finish. Where he goes next remains to be seen with Jones facing a long stint on the sidelines.

The crowd booed so loudly it was hard to hear Daniel Cormier speak during his post-fight interview with UFC commentator Joe Rogan.

It was a poor display given what Cormier had been through — he didn’t have to take this fight — and was slammed by some journalists in attendance.

Absolutely disgusting behavior by this crowd. Would you boo birds prefer if DC just turned down the fight? This is embarrassing. — Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 10, 2016

Worse crowd ever. — E. Casey Leydon (@ekc) July 10, 2016

Interim featherweight championship

Jose Aldo (26-2) defeated Frankie Edgar (19-5-1) via unanimous decision (49-46 x 2, 48-47)

Jose Aldo isn’t done. The Brazilian champion who lost his featherweight crown in devastating fashion at UFC 194 earned a rematch by busting up Frankie Edgar to win a fight that was essentially the Conor McGregor Cup. Aldo wasn’t able to become the first man to finish the tough American but after an even start he found his groove and was clearly the better man. Aldo opened up a cut near Edgar’s right eye earlier in the fight and added another slash to his right cheek later on. His takedown defence was superb and his counter-striking on point as he looked to bounce back from the first defeat he’d suffered in 10 years. Edgar applauded as the decision was announced, despite the pro-Edgar crowd’s objections. McGregor was sitting cageside and Aldo promised the Irishman a different result the next time they meet.

“I feel really good,” Aldo said. “This is one step to getting the belt back. The next time you’ll see me as the true champion.”

Heavyweight

Cain Velasquez (14-2) defeated Travis Browne (18-4-1) via TKO — Round 1, 4:57

Cain Velasquez produced a vintage performance to force a stoppage with just three seconds remaining in the first round. The former heavyweight champ — who has battled injuries for the past couple of years — looked every bit the renewed threat with a complete display. He had Browne — whose partner Ronda Rousey has not been spotted in Las Vegas — in trouble from the outset and simply imposed his will.

“I’m never happy with what I have,” Velasquez said.

“My timing was a little off as far as being able to close the distance. Yeah, it’s good to get a win, but I always want to be better. It’s about improving on those little things as a fighter.

“That’s just the way I am. I want the winner of Stipe and Overeem. I’ve always said I want to fight the best guys out there.”

Velasquez has fought only once in an injury-crippled past three years — losing the heavyweight title after being choked out by Fabricio Werdum at UFC 188. But he showed he still has more than enough talent to make a run at the belt — now held by Stipe Miocic.

Browne looks to have missed his shot for now.

Cain Velasquez from Yuma, AZ defeats Travis Browne in a dominating fashion #Ufc200 pic.twitter.com/qDrc5NVSvC — Ronnie Laybold (@YotesHereToStay) July 10, 2016

PRELIMINARY FIGHTS

Women’s bantamweight

Julianna Pena (9-2) defeated Cat Zingano (9-2) via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)

Huge win for Pena over a high-calibre opponent. Zingano hadn’t fought since losing in 14 seconds to Ronda Rousey in February last year but her previous two fights before that armbar were wins against tonight’s headliners Miesha Tate and Amanda Nunes. She’s the biggest scalp of Pena’s career and fell after clearly taking the first round. From that point Pena smothered Zingano on the ground and inflicted enough damage to take rounds two and three.

“Sometimes I just let my opponents gas themselves out and do their thing,” Pena said.

“Then, I’ll come out in the second and the third where I know I’m my strongest and my cardio is the best. I’m just hitting my prime, I’m 26-years-old and I’m ready for more.

“Try me right now, bring it on, the world is mine. Everybody that’s been put in front of me I ‘ve beaten so I don’t see anything else but the title.”

Catchweight (171.25 pounds)

Kelvin Gastelum (13-2) defeated Johny Hendricks (17-5) via unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 29-28)

This fight was closer than it looked on the scorecards. Gastelum opened with a full head of steam and clearly took the first round. He was the better-conditioned fighter and landing more blows but Hendricks slowly found a foothold and made a contest of it. The final two rounds could have gone either way but Gastelum got the win to bounce back from a defeat against Neil Magny. Former welterweight champion Hendricks has now lost three of four since the high point of his career.

“I don’t know what the difference was,” Hendricks said.

“I landed shots. Maybe I need to grunt more when I throw. I’m sort of over fighting in Vegas; I love the people here, but man it is what it is. Kelvin was a good fighter, take nothing away from him. I have to pull back a little bit and then move forward.”

These guys have left everything in the Octagon! Who takes it at #UFC200? https://t.co/MYmJzuputC — UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) July 10, 2016

Bantamweight

TJ Dillashaw (14-3) defeated Raphael Assuncao (23-5) via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)

Pretty impressive performance from the recently-dethroned bantamweight champion, who avenged his split decision defeat against Assuncao from 2013. Dillashaw was the more effective striker and forced a steady stream of blood to flow from the Brazilian’s nose from early in the fight. After losing his belt to Dominick Cruz in January, Dillashaw looks ready for another shot. That title opportunity looks like escaping Assuncao, who entered the fight ranked third in the division.

“I’m the champion in the bantamweight division,” Dillashaw said.

“That’s my belt. Cruz knows I won that fight, I want my belt back. I’m coming for that title. He better not be trying out for Dancing With The Stars again because I’m coming for you, Dominick. A title fight is next. Nothing but a title fight.”

Lightweight

Sage Northcutt (8-1) defeated Enrique Marin (9-4) via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)

Sage Northcutt has copped his share of criticism after being pushed into the spotlight by the UFC at just 20 years of age. But he went a fair way to earning his stripes tonight in the first fight that went the distance. Northcutt was in serious trouble midway through the second round as Marin looked to finish via armbar but he managed to worm his way out of a tough spot and do enough the rest of the way to win.

Northcutt landed more than twice the significant strikes of the Spaniard (41-16) but was taken down four times. He bounced back from the first defeat of his career against Bryan Barbarena in January — a loss he labelled a “fluke”.

“I’m always learning and getting better with my technique. I’m still very young, so I have a lot to learn,” Northcutt said.

“His jiu jitsu is pretty good, but none of the submissions he went for bugged me or hurt. I know my tendons are pretty strong, so they didn’t affect me at all.

“Any time he was on top, he wasn’t doing any damage. He never threw any strikes. He was just trying to hold me. When I reversed him, I was doing the most damage. I had the most significant strikes and never really got hit by him. Whenever the UFC wants me to fight again, I’m ready. I’ll be excited.”

KICKING OFF WITH BOMBS

Lightweight

Joe Lauzon (26-12) defeated Diego Sanchez (28-9) via knockout (punches) — Round 1, 1:26

This promised to be a war but unfortunately for Sanchez it was a completely one-sided affair. Lauzon caught him early and often with heavy blows and there was a strong argument it should have been stopped sooner. Sanchez was jelly-legged and unable to defend himself against huge shots to the head.

“Super satisfying,” Lauzon said. “Right off the bat I got him with a good right hand.”

Lauzon became just the second fighter to finish the famously durable Sanchez — BJ Penn is the other.

“Plan A was that he comes barrelling at us, throwing punches and to hit him with a right hand, but he came out and was kind of tentative. I was a little more cautious, I thought he was trying to draw me in a little bit since he was a little complacent,” Lauzon said.

Middleweight

Gegard Mousasi (39-6-2) defeated Thiago Santos (13-4) via knockout (punches) — Round 1, 4:32

Eighth-ranked middleweight contender Gegard Mousasi ensured UFC 200 began on a savage note by knocking dangerous striker Thiago Santos into next week. Mousasi threw his hat in the ring to replace Jon Jones against Daniel Cormier but ended up staying at middleweight and making a statement. Santos had won his four previous fights to enter the top 15 but was caught during the first willing exchange and taken down by Mousasi. As the Brazilan attempted to get back to his feet the Dutch veteran landed a big right hand to finish the fight.

“I knew I had better hands than him because he’s a good kickboxer — he kicks a lot,” Mousasi said.

“I felt if I could take him down, I would dominate him on the ground. I felt the same way about my standup and obviously I got it done with the strikes. I wanted to show my dominance in my striking and impose my will on him so he wouldn’t build confidence.”

Lightweight

Jim Miller (26-8) defeated Takanori Gomi (35-12) via TKO (punches) — Round 1, 2:18

In a battle between two MMA veterans, Miller made light work of the Pride legend. He floored Gomi early and quickly assumed back control — and after flattening the Japanese fighter out finished him with heavy punches to the side of the head.

Miller handed 37-year-old Gomi his third consecutive defeat while snapping a two-fight losing streak of his own.

“This is a big one for me,” Miller said. “I’ve had a tough two years.”

Miller now holds the unique honour of being the only fighter to have won at both UFC 100 and UFC 200. Brock Lesnar has the opportunity to join him later today.

“It’s big for me,” Miller said. “It’s another notch in the belt.”

Unfortunately for the UFC the spotlight quickly turned to technical problems. UFC commentator Joe Rogan tried two different microphones to interview Miller — but neither worked.

“That’s hilarious,” Rogan said.

For an organisation which prides itself on controlling every detail — it was an unfortunate start to the biggest event in its history.

The glitch was the second big moment plagued by microphone issues at the brand new T-Mobile Arena. A press conference to promote Conor McGregor’s rematch against Nate Diaz at UFC 202 was a shambles because neither fighter could hear the questions being asked by the media.