UFC 97
| UFC 97: Redemption | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 The poster for UFC 97: Redemption | ||||
| Information | ||||
| Promotion | Ultimate Fighting Championship | |||
| Date | April 18, 2009 | |||
| Venue | Bell Centre | |||
| City | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |||
| Attendance | 21,451 | |||
| Total gate | $4,900,000 | |||
| Buyrate | 650,000[1] | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
UFC 97: Redemption (not to be confused with UFC 17: Redemption) was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on April 18, 2009 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Background[edit]
This event broke the UFC attendance record that was set 364 days earlier in Montreal at UFC 83.[2]
Due to time constraints, the preliminary bout between Sam Stout and Matt Wiman was moved to the main card, resulting in a six-fight live main card.
Sanctioning and rules controversy[edit]
On February 12, 2009, reports surfaced that province regulators ("Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux", or RACJ) requested a set of rule changes that differ from the Unified Rules of MMA put the event at risk from taking place.[3] The proposed rule changes banned elbow and knee strikes, mandated a smaller cage, and would stop a fight when a fighter gets knocked down.[3][4] Before, the RACJ has followed the Unified Rules, but as laws differ by city, state, or province, a commission can insist on the usage of its own rules.[5]
On February 18, 2009, it was announced that UFC officials were able to convince the RACJ to reverse its stand and use the Unified Rules. As a concession, the UFC agreed to the banning of foot stomps for this event.[6]
Results[edit]
| Main card (PPV) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Middleweight | Anderson Silva (c) | def. | Thales Leites | Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 48–47, 50–46) | 5 | 5:00 | [a] |
| Lightweight | Sam Stout | def. | Matt Wiman | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Maurício Rua | def. | Chuck Liddell | TKO (punches) | 1 | 4:28 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Krzysztof Soszynski | def. | Brian Stann | Submission (kimura) | 1 | 3:53 | |
| Heavyweight | Cheick Kongo | def. | Antoni Hardonk | TKO (punches) | 2 | 2:29 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Luiz Cane | def. | Steve Cantwell | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Preliminary card | |||||||
| Middleweight | Denis Kang | def. | Xavier Foupa-Pokam | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Middleweight | Nate Quarry | def. | Jason MacDonald | TKO (elbows) | 1 | 2:27 | |
| Middleweight | Ed Herman | def. | David Loiseau | Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Catchweight (157) | Mark Bocek | def. | David Bielkheden | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 4:57 | [b] |
| Welterweight | T. J. Grant | def. | Ryo Chonan | Decision (split) (30–27, 28–29, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Eliot Marshall | def. | Vinny Magalhães | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
- ^ For the UFC Middleweight Championship.
- ^ Bielkheden did not make the 156 pound lightweight limit, weighing in at 157 pounds.
Bonus awards[edit]
Fighters were awarded $70,000 bonuses.[7]
- Fight of the Night: Sam Stout vs. Matt Wiman
- Knockout of the Night: Maurício Rua
- Submission of the Night: Krzysztof Soszynski
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (2010-02-15). "UFC remains king of PPV hill". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2010-02-18.
- ^ "UFC 97: Redemption". tapology.com. Retrieved 2014-12-03.
- ^ a b Pishna, Ken (February 12, 2009). "Possible Rule Changes Put UFC 97 in Jeopardy". MMAWeekly.com. Archived from the original on February 16, 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
- ^ "Possible Quebec Athletic Commission rule changes puts UFC 97 in jeopardy". FightTrend.com. February 12, 2009. Retrieved February 13, 2009. [dead link]
- ^ "UFC's Montreal in jeopardy?". Sportsnet.ca. Archived from the original on February 15, 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
- ^ Holland, Jesse (February 18, 2009). "UFC 97 to remain in Montreal on April 18". MMAmania.com. Retrieved February 18, 2009.
- ^ "UFC 97 bonuses: Rua, Soszynski, Stout and Wiman each earn $70K awards". MMAjunkie.com. April 18, 2009. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved April 18, 2009.
