Lesnar grinds out win over Hunt in UFC return

Brock Lesnar is back.

It wasn't one for the highlight reel, but the former UFC champion was able to hold Mark Hunt down for the better part of three rounds to earn a unanimous decision win in the co-main event of UFC 200 on Saturday in Las Vegas.

The win marked the first Octagon victory for Lesnar since he submitted Shane Carwin six years ago at UFC 116. In 2011, Lesnar retired from MMA competition to return to professional wrestling.

On June 4, 2016, it was announced Lesnar would make his comeback at UFC 200.

Booked to face him was No. 8-ranked heavyweight Mark Hunt, a feared slugger. When they met in the cage, Lesnar looked like he wanted no part of Hunt's hands and he spent the majority of the bout waiting for openings to attack with his powerful takedowns.

And those takedowns were bad news for Hunt.

Lesnar was able to win two of the three rounds by putting Hunt on his back and preventing him from implementing his vaunted striking skills.

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It wasn't a lay-and-pray strategy for Lesnar either. He landed dozens of short punches and knees to the body as he transitioned from one dominant position to another.

He was unable to put Hunt in any serious danger, but at the end of the fight Lesnar had done more than enough to guarantee himself a win.

Hunt loses by decision for the first time in his career. He has a two-fight win streak snapped after knocking out Frank Mir and Antonio Silva in his last two outings.