UFC 162 results/photos: Brian Melancon upsets Seth Baczynski with UFC debut KO

LAS VEGAS – A little time off didn’t seem to make a bit of difference for Brian Melancon – but timing might just be his specialty.

Fighting for the first time in nearly two years, Melancon looked dominant in the first round against veteran Seth Baczynski – then he stopped him with a knockout with just one second left in the frame.

The welterweight bout was part of today’s UFC 162 event at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It streamed on Facebook ahead of additional prelims on FX and a main card on pay-per-view.

Melancon kicked early, then landed a left hook and immediately tried to come back with another one. He looked calm and collected, despite making his UFC debut. He went lower with the left to the body, then brought it two more times to the head, forcing Baczynski to move in tight with a cut over his right eye.

Baczynski worked kicks to try to keep distance, but Melancon landed a giant counter that laid Baczynski on the canvas. Melancon was in quickly to try to end the fight. But he eventually let Baczynski back up.

It wasn’t long, though, before Baczynski was back on his back. And there, Melancon stayed patient, avoiding Baczynski’s upkicks. When Melancon heard the 10-second clap, he eventually dived in, and with just a couple seconds left, he landed five giant punches – the last one coming just as the horn sounded.

Referee Yves Lavigne was on top of the action, and as he looked in on Baczynski, he knew he was out and called the fight with just one second left in the round. It was just the seventh fight in UFC history to end at the 4:59 mark of the first round.

“I’ve been very blessed in my life being able to do what I do,” Melancon said. “I caught him with a left hook and knew I hurt him. I saw him on the ground, I heard the clap and I really tried to finish him before the end of the round.”

Melancon (7-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) won for the fourth time in five fights after a 1-1 stretch in Strikefroce in 2011. Baczynski (18-10 MMA, 4-3 UFC) lost for the second straight time after a decision loss to Mike Pierce in December, a setback that snapped a six-fight win streak.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 162 results include:

• Brian Melancon def. Seth Baczynski via KO (punches) – Round 1, 4:59
• Mike Pierce def. David Mitchell via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:55

For complete coverage of UFC 162, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

John Morgan contributed to this report on-site in Las Vegas.