UFC 28
Encyclopedia
UFC 28: High Stakes was a mixed martial arts
event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship
on November 17, 2000 at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey
.
bout ever. The first UFC Bantamweight
bout took place at UFC 26 in June 2000.
The event was headlined by the return of former Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture
, who had relinquished his title in 1997 to return to competitive wrestling and because of contract disputes--and he regained his championship belt by defeating Kevin Randleman
. UFC 28 also features the first UFC appearances of Andrei Arlovski
, Renato "Babalu" Sobral
, Josh Barnett
, and Gan McGee
, and Matt Hughes
's twin brother, Mark Hughes
.
UFC 28 was the sixth straight UFC event to never see home video or DVD release, as their parent company SEG was nearing bankruptcy and almost died. UFC 28 was the last UFC event held by SEG in the US, and following UFC 29
in Japan, SEG sold the UFC to current owners Zuffa LLC.
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 November 17, 2000 at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
History
UFC 28 marked the first UFC event to be sanctioned by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board, held under the newly formed "Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts". Hence, the event was held in New Jersey, the first UFC event to be held in a Northern State. The new rules introduced new strict weight classes, resulting in the first and only UFC Super HeavyweightSuper Heavyweight (MMA)
The super heavyweight division in mixed martial arts has no weight limit but generally refers to competitors weighing above 265 lb .Across Europe and Asia, there are numerous promotions that feature open-weight competitions that can qualify as super heavyweight bouts.One such example is in Japan,...
bout ever. The first UFC Bantamweight
Bantamweight (MMA)
The bantamweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*The King of the Cage bantamweight class with upper limit at 145 lb...
bout took place at UFC 26 in June 2000.
The event was headlined by the return of former Heavyweight Champion 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...
, who had relinquished his title in 1997 to return to competitive wrestling and because of contract disputes--and he regained his championship belt by defeating Kevin Randleman
Kevin Randleman
Kevin Christopher Randleman is a retired American mixed martial arts fighter and a former UFC heavyweight champion. Randleman's background is in Collegiate wrestling. Wrestling at 177 pounds, Randleman was a two time Division I NCAA Champion for The Ohio State University...
. UFC 28 also features the first UFC appearances of Andrei Arlovski
Andrei Arlovski
Andrei Valeryevich Arlovski is a Belarusian kickboxer, mixed martial artist and a former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion.-Biography:...
, Renato "Babalu" Sobral
Renato Sobral
Renato da Cunha Sobral , also known as "Babalu", is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, and former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion. He is regarded as one of the best light heavyweights of the night, and noted for his aggressive style, grappling prowess, and high-caliber submissions. Sobral...
, Josh Barnett
Josh Barnett
Joshua Lawrence Barnett is an American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler who currently fights in the heavyweight division of Strikeforce. Barnett has been an accomplished fighter in mixed martial arts, winning the UFC Heavyweight Championship and the King of Pancrase Openweight...
, and Gan McGee
Gan McGee
Gan McGee is an American mixed martial artist who is best remembered for his appearances in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He holds notable wins over Pedro Rizzo and Paul Buentello-Career:...
, and Matt Hughes
Matt Hughes
Matt Hughes may refer to:* Matt Hughes , Canadian science fiction writer* Matt Hughes , American professional mixed martial artist* Matt Hughes , American Olympic rower...
's twin brother, Mark Hughes
Mark Hughes
Leslie Mark Hughes, OBE , is a former Welsh international footballer. As an international footballer, he made 72 appearances and scored 16 goals....
.
UFC 28 was the sixth straight UFC event to never see home video or DVD release, as their parent company SEG was nearing bankruptcy and almost died. UFC 28 was the last UFC event held by SEG in the US, and following UFC 29
UFC 29
UFC 29: Defense of the Belts was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 16, 2000 at Differ Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.-History:...
in Japan, SEG sold the UFC to current owners Zuffa LLC.
Preliminary card
- Lightweight bout:
Ben Earwood vs. Chris LytleChris LytleChris Scott Lytle is a retired American mixed martial artist, boxer and a veteran of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Lytle was prominently featured as a welterweight on The Ultimate Fighter 4: The Comeback. In Chris's MMA and boxing career he was never knocked out or submitted, though he did...
- Earwood wins by judges decision after 2 rounds. This bout aired on UFC 29 after the Lightweight Championship bout between Pat Miletich vs. Kenichi Yamamoto.
- Middleweight bout: Mark HughesMark Hughes (fighter)Mark R. Hughes is an American former mixed martial artist. He now is heard to work at Itchen College. He trained with the Miletich Fighting Systems along with his twin brother and former UFC Welterweight Champion, Matt Hughes....
vs. Alex StieblingAlex StieblingAlex Stiebling is an American mixed martial arts fighter. He previously fought in Pride Fighting Championships, World Extreme Cagefighting, and Ultimate Fighting Championship...
- Hughes wins by judges decision after 2 rounds. This bout aired on the pay-per-view event following the Barnett vs McGee fight.
Main card
- Bantamweight bout: Jens PulverJens PulverJens Johnnie Pulver is an American mixed martial artist . He was the first Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight champion and was a coach on the The Ultimate Fighter 5 reality show, which aired on Spike TV. He was formerly signed as a featherweight with World Extreme Cagefighting , which is...
vs. John LewisJohn Lewis (fighter)John Lewis is an American former mixed martial arts champion, UFC veteran, and a popular MMA/martial arts instructor considered a legend throughout the mixed martial arts world...
- Pulver wins by knockout at :15 of Round 1.
- Heavyweight bout:
Andrei ArlovskiAndrei ArlovskiAndrei Valeryevich Arlovski is a Belarusian kickboxer, mixed martial artist and a former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion.-Biography:...
vs. Aaron Brink
- Arlovski wins by submission due to an armbar at :55 of Round 1.
- Super Heavyweight bout: Josh BarnettJosh BarnettJoshua Lawrence Barnett is an American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler who currently fights in the heavyweight division of Strikeforce. Barnett has been an accomplished fighter in mixed martial arts, winning the UFC Heavyweight Championship and the King of Pancrase Openweight...
vs. Gan McGeeGan McGeeGan McGee is an American mixed martial artist who is best remembered for his appearances in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He holds notable wins over Pedro Rizzo and Paul Buentello-Career:...
- Barnett wins by technical knockout due to strikes at 4:34 of Round 2.
- Heavyweight bout:
Renato SobralRenato SobralRenato da Cunha Sobral , also known as "Babalu", is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, and former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion. He is regarded as one of the best light heavyweights of the night, and noted for his aggressive style, grappling prowess, and high-caliber submissions. Sobral...
vs. Maurice Smith
- Sobral wins by judges' decision after 3 rounds.
- Heavyweight Championship bout: Kevin RandlemanKevin RandlemanKevin Christopher Randleman is a retired American mixed martial arts fighter and a former UFC heavyweight champion. Randleman's background is in Collegiate wrestling. Wrestling at 177 pounds, Randleman was a two time Division I NCAA Champion for The Ohio State University...
(c) vs. 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...
- Couture wins by technical knockout due to strikes at 4:13 of Round 3 to become the first fighter to become UFC Heavyweight Champion a second time.