After  dominating performance on all five rounds, TJ Dillashaw sent Renan Barão to the ground with a combination and forced referee Herb Dean to stop the fight at 2:26 of the last round.

The contender started out strong with a knock-down late in the first round and continued the punishment all throughout the fight.

“After round 2, I knew I had it. I saw in his eyes!” said Dillashaw at the post-fight press conference.

Still on the octagon, Barão accepted defeat, but promised to return: “It was his day. He was better but I’ll comeback to claim what’s mine.”

Besides the bantamweight belt, Dillashaw also won two bonus and cashed an extra $100,000.

Here are the main event’s highlights.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ_7hQ7Y4a0

Here are the other results of the night.

UFC 173: Barao vs. Dillashaw

Main Card

TJ Dillashaw def. Renan Barao by TKO at 2:26, R5

Daniel Cormier def. Dan Henderson by submission (rear naked choke) at 3:53, R3

Robbie Lawler def. Jake Ellenberger by TKO at 3:06, R3

Takeya Mizugaki def. Francisco Rivera by unanimous decision

James Krause def. Jamie Varner by TKO (injury) at 5:00, R1

Preliminary Card

Michael Chiesa def. Francisco Trinaldo by unanimous decision

Tony Ferguson def. Katsunori Kikuno by KO at 4:06, R1

Chris Holdsworth def. Chico Camus by unanimous decision

Mitch Clarke def. Al Iaquinta by submission (d’arce choke) at 0:57, R2

Vinc Pichel def. Anthony Njokuani by unanimous decision

Sam Sicilia def. Aaron Phillips by unanimous decision

Li Jingliang def. David Michaud by split decision