10 Most Memorable MMA Moments of April

The UFC, Bellator, Legacy Fighting Championships and the World Fighting Federation each put on captivating and enthralling MMA events in April.

Not surprisingly, the UFC stole the show and hosted four venues, including the highly anticipated UFC 159 on pay-per-view as well as UFC on Fox 7, which pitted Benson Henderson against former Strikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez.

Jon Jones silenced Chael Sonnen in the main event at UFC 159, and Henderson nipped Melendez in narrow fashion in the main event at UFC on Fox 7.

Additionally, Bellator, Legacy Fighting Championships and the World Fighting Federation each put on an entertaining show to supplement the UFC's four cards.

Here are the most memorable moments from the month of April.

Olympic Gold Medalist Henry Cejudo Continues Career as Pro Mixed Martial Artist

Olympic freestyle wrestler Henry Cejudo improved to 3-0 and notched his third-straight first-round stoppage at the World Fighting Federation 10 on April 19.

Cejudo, who claimed a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing in the 55-kilogram category, TKO'd Anthony Sessions (punches) at four minutes and 23 seconds into Round 1.

Cejudo submitted Michael Poe with punches at 1:25 in Round 1 of his pro debut at World Fighting Federation: Pascua Yaqui Fights 4. The 26-year-old then TKO'd Sean Henry Barnett in Round 1 at 4:55 at Gladiator Challenge: Battleground.

Pat Curran Defends His Bellator Featherweight Strap for the Second Time

Bellator featherweight champ Pat Curran has looked nearly unstoppable since coming up short in his bid for the lightweight strap against Eddie Alvarez at Bellator 39.

Curran reeled off his sixth straight win when he guillotined Shahbulat Shamhalaev at Bellator 95 to retain his 145-pound strap.

The cousin of former UFC and WEC veteran Jeff Curran, Pat Curran has scored impressive finishes in four of his last six outings, including a Peruvian-necktie win over Luis Palomino and brutal KO's of Marlon Sandro and Joe Warren.

Submission Savant Robert Drysdale Improves to 6-0

Akin to Ronda Rousey's rise to fame, Brazilian jiu-jitsu virtuoso Robert Drysdale has plowed through his first six MMA opponents, securing first-round submissions on each of those six foes.

Drysdale, a 2007 ADCC gold medalist in the Absolute division, made D.J. Linderman his sixth straight victim when he slapped on a fight-ending rear-naked choke just one minute and 48 seconds into their bout at Legacy Fighting Championships 19 on April 12.

Drysdale submitted his first two opponents in the Legacy Fighting Championships, Isaac Villanueva and Chris Reed, with first-round armbars.

Pat Healy Returns to the UFC in Style

In his first fight back with the company since 2006, former Strikeforce standout Pat Healy returned to the UFC with a bang at UFC 159 on Saturday.

Healy, who last appeared in the UFC when he got choked by Anthony Torres at UFC Fight Night 6, upset the previously fourth-ranked Jim Miller with a rear-naked choke win in a back-and-forth lightweight clash.

Healy threatened Miller with a rear-naked choke earlier in the bout, only to watch the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt squirm free from the hold.

But late in the second round Healy locked on the choke once again, this time putting Miller to sleep at four minutes and two seconds into the third round.

Healy garnered both "Fight of the Night" and "Submission of the Night" honors, pocketing an extra $130,000 for his efforts.

Josh Thomson Upsets Nate Diaz with a Vicious TKO Win

Josh Thomson certainly couldn't have envisioned experiencing such euphoria in his long-awaited return to the Octagon at UFC on Fox 7 on April 20.

Taking on former title challenger and favored Nate Diaz, Thomson pushed the pace from beginning to end, ultimately landing a perfectly timed head kick that led to a TKO win for "The Punk."

Thomson, fighting in the UFC for the first time since getting KO'd by Yves Edwards with a flying head kick and punches at UFC 49 in 2004, became the first fighter to finish Diaz.

The Punk got "Knockout of the Night" honors for his efforts, garnering an additional $50,000.

Matt Brown Outshines Up-and-Comer Jordan Mein

Jordan Mein and Matt Brown each had momentum on their side heading into their anticipated bout at UFC on Fox 7.

Unfortunately for Mein, only Brown left the HP Pavilion in San Jose with any steam.

Brown snapped Mein's three-fight winning streak and ran his own streak to five victories with a thrilling TKO win in a back-and-forth affair.

Brown finished Mein with punches and elbows one minute into Round 2, securing the "Fight of the Night" bonus and an extra $50,000.

Roy Nelson Lands His Patented KO Blow on Cheick Kongo

It wasn't all that far-fetched to hear Roy Nelson asking UFC president Dana White for a heavyweight title shot following his highlight-reel KO of Cheick Kongo at UFC 159.

Nelson, who's scored knockouts in four of his last five bouts, including notable KO's of Dave Herman and Matt Mitrione, landed a looping over-hand right to Kongo's jawline that rendered the 37-year-old temporarily unconscious.

In nine UFC outings, Nelson has only dropped decisions to Junior dos Santos, Fabricio Werdum and Frank Mir.

Cat Zingano Outslugs Miesha Tate

In just the second women's fight in UFC history, Cat Zingano and Miesha Tate did their best to trump the performances of Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche at UFC 157.

Zingano and Tate, who locked horns at the season 17 finale of The Ultimate Fighter on April 13, engaged in an instant classic that deservedly took home "Fight of the Night" honors.

Zingano ultimately bounced back from early turmoil to upset Tate in a controversial TKO win  two minutes and 55 seconds into Round 3.

With the victory, Zingano punched her ticket to coach opposite Rousey on the 18th season of The Ultimate Fighter.

Benson Henderson Nips Gilbert Melendez to Retain His Lightweight Belt

Gilbert Melendez definitely didn't lay an egg in his performance against lightweight champ Benson Henderson at UFC on Fox 7.

In fact, Melendez executed with precision and managed to stay out of any genuinely precarious situations against the venomous Henderson.

"Bendo," however, narrowly outworked Melendez, outstriking the Cesar Gracie disciple, 92-56, including 68-43 in the significant strikes category.

The win stretched Henderson's streak to seven fights in the UFC. Bendo has prevailed in four consecutive title fights via decision.

Jon Jones Mangles Toe but Retains Light Heavyweight Strap

A gnarly injury to his left foot didn't stop Jon Jones from sporting a monstrous grin following his relieving win over Chael Sonnen at UFC 159.

Jones gave Sonnen a taste of his own venom, grounding the former NCAA Division I All-American wrestler several times and then pounding him into submission just four minutes and 33 seconds into the fight.

One of the biggest underdogs in UFC title fight history, Sonnen couldn't hang on long enough to see the second round. Had he done so, doctors may have called the fight because of Jones' gruesome injury.

Instead, Jones won for the ninth straight time in the Octagon and defended his light heavyweight strap for the fifth consecutive time, proving every critic right that Sonnen didn't belong in the Octagon with him.