James Brydon

Follow fight-by-fight results for MMA events with Twitter. James will do live updates during all UFC events as well as many other promotions, including Canadian ones.

Brock Lesnar.

Before Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin entered the cage for their mega-fight Saturday night, someone asked me what Carwin's jiu-jitsu is like and whether we can expect him to go for a submission. I said that probably won't be his first strategy, but if one of these two fighters were to get a submission, expect it to be Carwin.

So much for predictions.

In one of the most impressive displays of survival and ultimate surprise, Lesnar showed he's got an added dimension. A beast on his feet, a killer wrestler, and now a ground game. All comers beware.

Of course, he'd better add referee Josh Rosenthal to his Christmas list. After seeing how the rest of the fight played out, it was a good non-stoppage in the first round from the veteran official, when Lesnar was providing his face as a nifty punching bag for a relentless Carwin. But had Rosenthal said enough was enough there, would anyone have really blamed him?

Lesnar explained in the post-fight press conference that Rosenthal had come to the fighters beforehand and told them if they got in trouble, they'd better show him something -- that they were still moving, still defending, still getting those hands up -- to indicate they were okay or else he would pull the plug. Lesnar did his best to do just that as Carwin applied the full weight of his 265-pound-plus frame to his.

Indeed Lesnar was in deep trouble, but he moved his hands just enough, blocked just enough -- and Carwin managed to miss Lesnar's head just enough -- to allow the fight to keep going and the champion to recover. Carwin knew this as well, which is why he didn't just keep hammering away from the same spot but tried to improve his striking position and come at Lesnar from different angles. Ultimately, Carwin couldn't find the knockout blow. And he blew his wad, so to speak, in the process.

Lesnar admitted he was hurt initially, but explained how he felt the shots slowly got weaker and weaker and figured he could do what he needed to do to withstand the barrage. And he knew he'd be able to come back with a vengeance after the bell.

And so in the second round, the All-American wrestler went for his big takedown early and took advantage of a tired Carwin, who had never before gone beyond the first, to apply a triangle choke and eventually force a tap.

This is what makes Lesnar such a great champion. You can hurt him, but it takes a lot to put away the self-proclaimed, "toughest SOB around."

The resilience he showed and the turnaround from the first to the second round is a microcosm of what went on his life the past year. Less than a year ago, he was battling for his health and potentially his career, suffering from diverticulitis in a hospital in Manitoba and eventually undergoing surgery back in the U.S.

"This whole road back has felt like 10 years," Lesnar said. "To be back where I am now is a miracle."

He said what he's gone through away from the cage has been a humbling experience. It has also resulted in what appears at least on the surface to be a turnaround in his personality. There was no Coors Light moment inside the cage following the bout. Just a humble-and -classy Lesnar, thanking his family, fans, the doctors and his training partners for supporting him and getting him to this place.

"This isn't about me," Lesnar proclaimed. "I am blessed by God!"

Lesnar added in the post-fight press conference: "Eight months ago I did not even know if I was going to fight again and everyone stuck with me and I made it. I just want to break down and cry right now, but a champion cannot do that!"

Lesnar also gave props to Carwin, admitting, "He outboxed me, he got me, and I'll be the first to tell everyone that."

And yet, it wasn't enough to take down the champ.

Afterward, UFC president Dana White confirmed his next opponent will be Cain Velasquez. A lot of people like this match-up. But I can tell you this: the Mexican-American better have taken good notes Saturday night, because he'll need something extra to accomplish what Carwin couldn't.

HAPPY WHITE: I'm sure the UFC was ecstatic as well that the referee let the fight go on, giving the opportunity for Lesnar to rally to victory, because he makes a much more marketable champion than the soft-spoken Carwin. Nothing against the latter, but everyone knows Lesnar will continue to be the organization's ratings giant … White, who has been critical of Rosenthal in the past, apologized to him publicly, saying he did a great job in the fight. It will still be a while before he can reach the level of Herb Dean, whom White calls, "the best referee in the world." … Lesnar showed he's still got his witty side. In response to how he will celebrate the win, Lesnar said he'll go home and watch DirecTV, drink Bud Light and ride his Harley Davidson (all UFC sponsors), playing off his famous post-UFC 110 rant.