Denny Burkholder

The main event is up: BJ Penn vs. Joe Stevenson for the vacant UFC lightweight title.

Round 1: Penn overwhelmed Stevenson right out of the gate with a flurry of punches. Stevenson rocked back into a sitting position and ate more punches on the ground. Penn slowed down a bit and Stevenson took half guard. Penn moved Stevenson back against the cage and took full mount with a pair of grapevines. Stevenson escaped the mount but ate some hard strikes in trying to get back to his feet. Penn took full mount again. Stevenson put together some nice strikes to Penn's face from the bottom, which Penn answered from the top. Penn landed a grazing right elbow and busted Stevenson wide open. There was a ridiculous amount of blood spilling from Stevenson's head as the round came to a close. The fight will continue, but the corner never did get the cut to stop bleeding.

Round 2: Stevenson and Penn stand and trade for a while. Other than the blood, Stevenson looks to be of sound mind and not all that shaken. The blood is going down the middle of his face, so his vision isn't in too much jeopardy. Penn dropped Stevenson and took full mount again, and punished Stevenson with strikes. Penn gets Stevenson's back and finishes it with a rear naked choke for the tap.

Winner: BJ Penn defeated Joe Stevenson via submission to a rear naked choke at 4:02 of Round 2 to become the new UFC lightweight champion.