UFC 15
Encyclopedia
UFC 15: Collision Course was a mixed martial arts
event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship
on October 17, 1997, in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The event was seen live on pay per view in the United States
, and later released on home video
.
. Abbott was brought in as a last-minute replacement for Dan Severn
, who couldn't fight because of an injured hand.
UFC 15 featured a Superfight between Randy Couture
and Vitor Belfort
, a Heavyweight Tournament, and two alternate bouts. The show also marked the last event to feature Bruce Beck
, who had been the main play-by-play announcer starting with UFC 4
. He was replaced by Mike Goldberg
in UFC 16
. This was the first Pay-per-view UFC event to feature a second referee, Joe Hamilton, who handled the less significant matches while "Big" John McCarthy
still handled all the title and championship matches.
Collision Course marked a major change in the UFC's rules, with limitations set on permissible striking areas. Headbutt
s, groin strikes, strikes to the back of the neck & head, kicks to a downed opponent, small joint manipulation
, pressure point
strikes, and hair pulling all became officially illegal.
who withdrew due to fatigue.
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
on October 17, 1997, in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The event was seen live on pay per view in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and later released on home video
Home video
Home video is a blanket term used for pre-recorded media that is either sold or rented/hired for home cinema entertainment. The term originates from the VHS/Betamax era but has carried over into current optical disc formats like DVD and Blu-ray Disc and, to a lesser extent, into methods of digital...
.
History
UFC 15 was headlined by a UFC Heavyweight Championship bout between Maurice Smith and Tank AbbottDavid L. Abbott
David Lee Abbott is an American mixed martial arts fighter and former professional wrestler. He has described his fighting style, which he developed brawling in the bars and streets of Huntington Beach, California, as "street fighting"...
. Abbott was brought in as a last-minute replacement for Dan Severn
Dan Severn
Daniel DeWayne Severn is an American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, notable for his success in the early years of Ultimate Fighting Championship tournaments. Severn has fought and wrestled for many mixed martial arts and professional wrestling promotions, including King of the...
, who couldn't fight because of an injured hand.
UFC 15 featured a Superfight between Randy Couture
Randy Couture
Randy Duane Couture is a retired American mixed martial artist, Greco-Roman wrestler, actor, a three-time former heavyweight champion, two-time former light-heavyweight champion, former interim light heavyweight champion and UFC 13 tournament winner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
and Vitor Belfort
Vitor Belfort
Vítor Vieira Belfort is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Belfort was born in Rio de Janeiro and studied jiu-jitsu with the Gracie family, namely Carlson Gracie. He received a black belt under Carlson and currently trains with Xtreme Couture, fighting in...
, a Heavyweight Tournament, and two alternate bouts. The show also marked the last event to feature Bruce Beck
Bruce Beck
Bruce Beck is the weekday Sports anchor at WNBC-TV. He is currently in his twelfth year with News 4 New York. He also files numerous sports reports for the station's various newscasts....
, who had been the main play-by-play announcer starting with UFC 4
UFC 4
UFC 4: Revenge of the Warriors was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 16, 1994, at the Expo Center Pavilion in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The event was seen live on pay-per-view, and later released on home video.-History:UFC 4 used an eight-man tournament...
. He was replaced by Mike Goldberg
Mike Goldberg
Mike Goldberg is an American play-by-play commentator, mainly known for his work with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Broadcasting career:...
in UFC 16
UFC 16
UFC 16: Battle in the Bayou was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 13, 1998 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
. This was the first Pay-per-view UFC event to feature a second referee, Joe Hamilton, who handled the less significant matches while "Big" John McCarthy
John McCarthy
- Government :* John McCarthy * John Thomas McCarthy , U.S. ambassador* John H. McCarthy , U.S. Representative from New York* John McCarthy , Nebraska Republican politician...
still handled all the title and championship matches.
Collision Course marked a major change in the UFC's rules, with limitations set on permissible striking areas. Headbutt
Headbutt
A headbutt is a strike with the head, typically involving the use of robust parts of the cranium as areas of impact. Effective headbutting revolves around striking a sensitive area with a less sensitive area, such as striking the nose of an opponent with the forehead...
s, groin strikes, strikes to the back of the neck & head, kicks to a downed opponent, small joint manipulation
Small joint manipulation
Small joint manipulation, in grappling, refers to twisting, pulling or bending fingers or toes to cause joint locks in the various joints in those appendages...
, pressure point
Pressure point
A pressure point in the field of martial arts refers to an area on the human body that may produce significant pain or other effects when manipulated in a specific manner...
strikes, and hair pulling all became officially illegal.
Results
- Heavyweight Tournament Alternate bout:
Alex Hunter vs. Harry MoskowitzHarry MoskowitzHarry "Dirty" Moskowitz is an American mixed martial artist who has fought for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He competes in the Super Heavyweight division...
- Hunter defeated Moskowitz via decision at 12:00.
- Heavyweight Tournament Alternate bout: Dwayne Cason vs. Houston Dorr
- Cason defeated Dorr via TKO at 3:42.
- Heavyweight Tournament Semifinals: Mark Kerr vs. Greg Stott
- Kerr defeated Stott via KO (knee) at 0:19.
- Heavyweight Tournament Semifinals:
Dave BeneteauDave BeneteauDave "Dangerous" Beneteau is a retired Canadian mixed martial artist who is best known for his appearances in the Ultimate Fighting Championship....
vs.
Carlos Barreto
- Beneteau defeated Barreto via decision at 15:00. Due to fatigue, Beneteau was unable to continue in the tournament.
- Heavyweight Superfight: Randy CoutureRandy CoutureRandy Duane Couture is a retired American mixed martial artist, Greco-Roman wrestler, actor, a three-time former heavyweight champion, two-time former light-heavyweight champion, former interim light heavyweight champion and UFC 13 tournament winner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
vs. Vitor BelfortVitor BelfortVítor Vieira Belfort is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Belfort was born in Rio de Janeiro and studied jiu-jitsu with the Gracie family, namely Carlson Gracie. He received a black belt under Carlson and currently trains with Xtreme Couture, fighting in...
- Couture defeated Belfort via TKO (punches) at 8:17.
- Heavyweight Finals: Mark Kerr vs. Dwayne Cason
- Kerr defeated Cason via submission (rear naked choke) at 0:54 to win the UFC 15 Heavyweight Tournament. Cason replaced Dave Beneteau who could not continue due to fatigue.
- Heavyweight Championship bout: Maurice Smith (c) vs. Tank AbbottTank AbbottDavid Lee Abbott is an American mixed martial arts fighter and former professional wrestler. He has described his fighting style, which he developed brawling in the bars and streets of Huntington Beach, California, as "street fighting"...
- Smith defeated Abbott via submission (strikes) at 8:08 to retain the UFC Heavyweight Championship.
UFC 15 Heavyweight Tournament Bracket
1 Dwane Cason replaced Dave BeneteauDave Beneteau
Dave "Dangerous" Beneteau is a retired Canadian mixed martial artist who is best known for his appearances in the Ultimate Fighting Championship....
who withdrew due to fatigue.