Watch: Overeem leaves Hunt limp with thunderous KO combo

Eight years after their first meeting, Alistair Overeem finished Mark Hunt again.

This time it was a furious combination of elbows and knees that left Hunt flat on the mat in the third round of their heavyweight bout at UFC 209 on Saturday.

The two previously fought in Japan in 2008 - a bout Overeem won by first-round submission.

His highlight-reel knockout marked the 38th win by stoppage of his career, and he improved his professional record to a robust 42-15. He has now won five of his past six bouts, with his only setback during that stretch coming at the hands of heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic last September.

The action got off to a gruesome start, as Overeem opened up a gash on Hunt's leg with a low kick in the opening seconds. Hunt's cut continued to bleed throughout the match.

Both men showed off their extensive kickboxing background with stiff kicks and knees to each other's legs and body. Overeem appeared to eke out a close first round, but Hunt came back strong in Round 2, rocking Overeem with an elbow in close.

With neither man having a clear advantage heading into the final frame, Overeem saved the judges from having to make a tough decision by putting Hunt away at the 1:44 mark of Round 3.

Hunt lost by knockout for the fifth time in his career, with four of those occurring inside the Octagon. His UFC record stands at 7-5-1, after taking his first loss since May 2015.