SAN JOSE >> Russian mixed martial arts sensation Usman Nurmagomedov left no question of his dominance in his lightweight title defense in front of 10,000-plus fans at Bellator 292 at SAP Center on Friday night.

The unbeaten 24-year-old, who trains at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, sent No. 3 ranked Benson “Smooth” Henderson, a former UFC champion and future Hall of Famer, into retirement with his win by submission at 2:37 in the first round.

Nurmagomedov (17-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) landed a question mark kick — a fake to the midsection with a finishing blow to the face — that sent his opponent and the fight to the canvas. The Russian got behind a dazed Henderson, and after landing a series of punches from behind, finished the match off with a rear-naked choke, which forced Henderson to tap out.

Nurmagomedov said he started his career competing in Muay Thai and that he has used the difficult kick in training camp throughout his career.

“This is not new in my (arsenal),” he said. “I just didn’t show you guys. Now, I show you.”

In 17 fights, Nurmagomedov has produced eight knockouts and six wins by submission.

“Great kick by Usman,” Henderson said. “He threw a rear-leg question mark kick. Not too many people have the dexterity, skillset to throw a rear-leg, especially from a body kick slash question mark. And it landed on me flush. it got me clean. He got his friggin’ toes right in my jaw. And I woke up and he was on my back, looking down on me. And I was like, “Aw, man, something bad happened.’ “

After a short celebration, Nurmagomedov returned to console his 39-year-old, still-seated opponent, and helped him off the mat. He raised Henderson’s arm and walked to the center of the octagon. Minutes later, after a mic was put in front of his face, Henderson said fourth loss in his past six bouts let him know that it was time to step away. He laid his white gloves on the canvas, and the crowd applauded him for a sensational career.

Henderson (30-12 MMA, 7-7 BMMA), who defeated Frankie Edgar at UFC 144 to become the new UFC lightweight champion and successfully defended his title twice, was brought to tears while reflecting on his career during his post-fight interview. He said he plans to help support his wife, Maria, who is 1-0 as an MMA fighter, and spend more time with their three children.

“I didn’t know he was going to retire,” Bellator CEO Scott Coker said. “Honestly, it caught me off guard. I was like, ‘Oh man, this is going to be a special moment.’ I told him, ‘Hey, you’re a legend. You’ve done it all. You don’t need to do any more.’ He said, ‘Yeah, it’s my wife’s turn now.’ “

Henderson said the thing he’s most proud of in his career is the work he put in.

“For my career, I want to be known as the guy who works his butt off,” he said. “I was never the fastest. I was never the strongest. I was never the most this, most that. I was never the number one draft pick. Not ever. I was always the seventh round draft pick. And I was able to have a pretty good career. I was able to do that by working my butt off.”

Three of the four bouts on the main card were decided in the first round. Russia’s Alexander Shabliy’s bizarre knockout of Azerbaijani Tofiq Musayev (20-5 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) was the exception in the co-main event. Referee Jason Herzog called the bout with 29 seconds left in Round 3.

Shabliy (23-3 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) landed a front kick to Musayev’s midsection, and as his foot dropped, his heel grazed Musayev’s groin region. Musayev immediately signaled for injury time to Herzog as he walked to the edge of the cage and crouched as he tried to catch his breath. That’s how the fight ended.

Shabliy, and fans alike, had no idea about the severity of the injury, and worried a “no-contest” would be called as Herzog signaled the fight’s end. It was ruled that the lethal blow was dealt before injury time was awarded, and subsequently, expired. Coker said Musayev suffered a broken rib from the front kick, though Shabliy believes a knee he landed to Musayev’s midsection earlier in the bout might have contributed to the stoppage.

A pair of No. 2 ranked fighters out of England also produced first-round wins by knockout. Heavyweight Linton “Big Swarm” Vassell (24-8 MMA, 12-5 BMMA) beat No. 1 Valentin Moldavsky (11-3 MMA, 6-2 BMMA) of Russia with 3:03 left n Round 1, and welterweight Michael “Venom” Page (21-2 MMA, 17-2 BMMA) beat No. 5 Goiti Yamauchi (28-6 MMA, 14-5 BMMA) of Brazil with 26 seconds left in Round 1.

Vassell landed a right hook that sent Moldavsky to the canvas, and the Englishman jumped on top and landed a series of punches and elbows that forced referee Jonathan Romero to call the fight.

Page landed a right kick just below Yamauchi’s right knee. Yamauchi dropped to ground and was unsuccessful in standing up, which gave Page pause. Within seconds, referee Edward Collantes signaled Page as the winner. Coker said X-Rays showed Yamauchi sustained a patella tendon rupture.

Four other fighters who train at AKA competed in the prelims. Theo Haig and Laird Anderson won by submission, Enrique Barzola won by decision, and Tony Johnson lost by decision.

The event marked the 17th anniversary of “Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Gracie” in San Jose, the first sanctioned MMA event held in California. Three victorious fighters on the March 10, 2006 main card, middleweight Cung Le and lightweights Gilbert Melendez and Nate Diaz, were in attendance on Friday.