UFC 79
Encyclopedia
UFC 79: Nemesis was a mixed martial arts
(MMA) event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship
(UFC), that took place on December 29, 2007 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center
in Las Vegas
, Nevada
.
and Wanderlei Silva
, as well as the highly anticipated rubber match
between former UFC Welterweight Champions Georges St-Pierre
and Matt Hughes
for the interim Welterweight championship.
Additionally, PRIDE light heavyweight sensation Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou
made his UFC debut against undefeated Lyoto Machida
.
The main event was originally to pit The Ultimate Fighter 6
coaches Matt Serra
and Matt Hughes
for Serra's UFC Welterweight Championship, which Serra won at UFC 69: Shootout
on April 7, 2007 in an upset victory over Georges St-Pierre
. Serra, however, withdrew from the fight due to a back injury, and was replaced by St-Pierre, though the fight would now be contested for the Interim Welterweight Championship, with the winner facing Serra afterwards.
Georges St-Pierre def. Matt Hughes
Chuck Liddell def. Wanderlei Silva
Eddie Sanchez def. Soa Palelei
Lyoto Machida def. Sokoudjou
Rich Clementi def. Melvin Guillard
James Irvin def. Luiz Arthur Cane
Manny Gamburyan def. Nate Mohr
Dean Lister def. Jordan Radev
Roan Carneiro def. Tony DeSouza
Mark Bocek def. Doug Evans
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...
(MMA) 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...
(UFC), that took place on December 29, 2007 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center
Mandalay Bay Events Center
Mandalay Bay Events Center is a 12,000 seat indoor arena, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, on the Las Vegas Strip, in Paradise, Nevada. It is owned by MGM Resorts International.It has hosted many music, boxing and mixed martial arts events....
in Las Vegas
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
.
Background
The main events featured the long anticipated fight between Chuck LiddellChuck Liddell
Charles David "Chuck" Liddell is a retired American mixed martial artist and former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion. Liddell has an extensive striking background in Kempo, Koei-Kan karate and kickboxing, as well as a grappling background in collegiate wrestling.As of his...
and Wanderlei Silva
Wanderlei Silva
Wanderlei César da Silva , nicknamed "The Axe Murderer", is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, who has competed in Japan's Pride Fighting Championships and the American based Ultimate Fighting Championship . Silva is known for his aggressive fighting style with the majority of his fights ending in...
, as well as the highly anticipated rubber match
Rubber match
According to Paul Dickson's The New Dickson's Baseball Dictionary , a "rubber game" is "The last and deciding game of a series when the previous games have been split; e.g., the seventh game of the World Series." This tie-breaking sense of "rubber" apparently originated in the English game of...
between former UFC Welterweight Champions Georges St-Pierre
Georges St. Pierre
Georges St-Pierre , often referred to as GSP, is a Canadian mixed martial artist and the current Welterweight Champion of the UFC. St-Pierre is ranked as the No. 1 Welterweight in the world according to Sherdog, MMAWeekly and numerous other publications. St-Pierre is ranked the No. 2 pound for...
and Matt Hughes
Matt Hughes (fighter)
Matthew Allen Hughes is an American mixed martial artist, UFC Hall of Famer, and former two-time UFC Welterweight Champion. Hughes put together two separate six-fight winning streaks in the UFC, won the welterweight title on two occasions, defended the belt a record seven times, and holds the...
for the interim Welterweight championship.
Additionally, PRIDE light heavyweight sensation Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou
Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou
Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou Nkamhoua , sometimes billed simply as Sokoudjou, is a Cameroonian mixed martial artist and judoka, and the former KSW Light Heavyweight Champion, who came to prominence in Japan's PRIDE Fighting Championships. He has since had mixed success with stints in the UFC, WEC,...
made his UFC debut against undefeated Lyoto Machida
Lyoto Machida
Lyoto Carvalho Machida is a Japanese-Brazilian mixed martial artist from Belém, Brazil who fights as a light heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
.
The main event was originally to pit The Ultimate Fighter 6
The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra
The Ultimate Fighter 6: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra is the sixth season of the Ultimate Fighting Championship produced reality television series The Ultimate Fighter, and premiered on September 19, 2007 on Spike TV, after UFC Fight Night 11. This season features only welterweight fighters...
coaches Matt Serra
Matt Serra
Matthew John Serra is an American mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. He is a former UFC Welterweight Champion and an ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship silver medalist. He began practicing martial arts at an early age, first studying kung fu...
and Matt Hughes
Matt Hughes (fighter)
Matthew Allen Hughes is an American mixed martial artist, UFC Hall of Famer, and former two-time UFC Welterweight Champion. Hughes put together two separate six-fight winning streaks in the UFC, won the welterweight title on two occasions, defended the belt a record seven times, and holds the...
for Serra's UFC Welterweight Championship, which Serra won at UFC 69: Shootout
UFC 69
UFC 69: Shootout was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday, April 7, 2007 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas...
on April 7, 2007 in an upset victory over Georges St-Pierre
Georges St. Pierre
Georges St-Pierre , often referred to as GSP, is a Canadian mixed martial artist and the current Welterweight Champion of the UFC. St-Pierre is ranked as the No. 1 Welterweight in the world according to Sherdog, MMAWeekly and numerous other publications. St-Pierre is ranked the No. 2 pound for...
. Serra, however, withdrew from the fight due to a back injury, and was replaced by St-Pierre, though the fight would now be contested for the Interim Welterweight Championship, with the winner facing Serra afterwards.
Preliminary card
- Lightweight bout:
Mark BocekMark BocekMark Andrew Bocek is a Canadian mixed martial artist. He competes in the Lightweight division.-Background:Bocek is one of Canada's first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts and has been studying the art for more than a decade...
vs.
Doug EvansDoug Evans (fighter)Douglas Evans is an American mixed martial artist who resides in Anchorage, Alaska. He competes in the Featherweight division, and is best known for the first round of his fight against Thierry Quenneville, which was named Sherdog's 2009 Round of the Year.-Early career:Evans made his professional...
- Bocek defeated Evans via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
- Welterweight bout:
Roan CarneiroRoan CarneiroRoan Carneiro is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the welterweight division. He holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and is a Pan-Am BJJ champion. On January 14, 2008, he joined American Top Team....
vs.
Tony DeSouza
- Carneiro defeated DeSouza via TKO (strikes) at 3:30 of round 2.
- Middleweight bout: Dean ListerDean ListerDean Richard Lister is an American mixed martial artist and a former King of the Cage champion. He currently fights at the Middleweight division after moving down from the Light Heavyweight class...
vs.
Jordan RadevJordan RadevJordan Radev is a Bulgarian Olympic wrestler and professional mixed martial artist. He was the first Bulgarian mixed martial artist to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship in its middleweight division....
- Lister defeated Radev via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).
- Lightweight bout:
Manvel GamburyanManvel GamburyanManvel "Manny" Gamburyan is an Armenian American mixed martial artist. He was a cast member of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter 5. Besides The Ultimate Fighter, Gamburyan has fought for notable promotions such as King of the Cage and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.Gamburyan is fighting in the...
vs. Nate MohrNate MohrNate Mohr is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division.He made his UFC debut in April 2007 against Kurt Pellegrino. He was sidelined over a year due to a leg injury following his loss by achilles lock to Manny Gamburyan at UFC 79. He lost his last fight at UFC 93...
- Gamburyan defeated Mohr via submission (achillies lock) at 1:31 of round 1. This bout was aired at the end of the broadcast.
- Light Heavyweight bout: James IrvinJames Irvin (fighter)James Lee Irvin is an American mixed martial artist who has competed as a Middleweight, Light Heavyweight, and currently as a Heavyweight. He is a former World Extreme Cagefighting heavyweight champion...
vs. Luiz CaneLuiz CaneLuiz Arthuro Cané Jr. is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. Born and raised in the Jardim Bonfiglioli neighborhood, located in the district of Butantan, west side of the city of São Paulo, Luiz Cane alternated working hours in the , with their parents, with hours of training in Jiu-Jitsu Academy...
- Irvin defeated Cane via disqualification (illegal knee) at 1:51 of round 1.
Main card
- Lightweight bout: Rich ClementiRich ClementiRichard Thomas Clementi is a journeyman American mixed martial artist. He holds notable wins over Terry Etim, Sam Stout, Fabio Holanda, Melvin Guillard and Anthony Johnson.-Mixed martial arts career:...
vs. Melvin GuillardMelvin GuillardMelvin Paul Guillard, Jr. is an American mixed martial artist currently fighting in the lightweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship . He debuted with the company on The Ultimate Fighter 2 television series, losing in the first welterweight elimination bout to Josh Burkman...
- Clementi defeated Guillard via submission (rear naked choke) at 4:40 of round 1.
- Light heavyweight bout : Lyoto MachidaLyoto MachidaLyoto Carvalho Machida is a Japanese-Brazilian mixed martial artist from Belém, Brazil who fights as a light heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
vs.
Rameau Thierry SokoudjouRameau Thierry SokoudjouRameau Thierry Sokoudjou Nkamhoua , sometimes billed simply as Sokoudjou, is a Cameroonian mixed martial artist and judoka, and the former KSW Light Heavyweight Champion, who came to prominence in Japan's PRIDE Fighting Championships. He has since had mixed success with stints in the UFC, WEC,...
- Machida defeated Sokoudjou via submission (arm triangle) at 4:20 of round 2.
- Heavyweight bout: Eddie SanchezEddie SanchezEduardo Arturo Sanchez is an American mixed martial arts fighter.-Ultimate Fighting Championship:On February 3, 2007 at the Ultimate Fighting Championship's UFC 67, he lost to Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović by technical knockout due to punches at 4:33 of the first round, in Filipović's debut fight in...
vs.
Soa PaleleiSoa PaleleiSoa Palelei is an Australian mixed martial artist. He competes in the Heavyweight and Superheavyweight divisions.Born in 1977, Newcastle, New South Wales, Soa “The Hulk” Palelei started his fighting career at an early age. Wrestling was his first choice in the earlier years and nearly saw him...
- Sanchez defeated Palelei via TKO (strikes) at 3:24 of round 3.
- Light heavyweight bout: Chuck LiddellChuck LiddellCharles David "Chuck" Liddell is a retired American mixed martial artist and former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion. Liddell has an extensive striking background in Kempo, Koei-Kan karate and kickboxing, as well as a grappling background in collegiate wrestling.As of his...
vs. Wanderlei SilvaWanderlei SilvaWanderlei César da Silva , nicknamed "The Axe Murderer", is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, who has competed in Japan's Pride Fighting Championships and the American based Ultimate Fighting Championship . Silva is known for his aggressive fighting style with the majority of his fights ending in...
- Liddell defeated Silva via unanimous decision (29–28, 30–27, 30–27).
- Interim Welterweight Championship bout: Georges St-PierreGeorges St. PierreGeorges St-Pierre , often referred to as GSP, is a Canadian mixed martial artist and the current Welterweight Champion of the UFC. St-Pierre is ranked as the No. 1 Welterweight in the world according to Sherdog, MMAWeekly and numerous other publications. St-Pierre is ranked the No. 2 pound for...
vs. Matt HughesMatt Hughes (fighter)Matthew Allen Hughes is an American mixed martial artist, UFC Hall of Famer, and former two-time UFC Welterweight Champion. Hughes put together two separate six-fight winning streaks in the UFC, won the welterweight title on two occasions, defended the belt a record seven times, and holds the...
- St-Pierre defeated Hughes via submission (armbar) at 4:54 of round 2 to become the Interim UFC Welterweight Champion.
Fighter payouts
The disclosed fighter payroll for UFC 79 was $1,199,000. The figures do not include sponsor payments, fees, taxes, or special award bonusesGeorges St-Pierre def. Matt Hughes
- St-Pierre – $160,000 (includes $80,000 win bonus)
- Hughes – $100,000
Chuck Liddell def. Wanderlei Silva
- Liddell – $500,000 (no win bonus)
- Silva – $150,000
Eddie Sanchez def. Soa Palelei
- Sanchez – $46,000 (includes $23,000 win bonus)
- Palelei – $5,000
Lyoto Machida def. Sokoudjou
- Machida – $60,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus)
- Sokoudjou – $40,000
Rich Clementi def. Melvin Guillard
- Clementi – $28,000 (includes $14,000 win bonus)
- Guillard – $10,000
James Irvin def. Luiz Arthur Cane
- Irvin – $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)
- Cane – $5,000
Manny Gamburyan def. Nate Mohr
- Gamburyan – $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
- Mohr – $6,000
Dean Lister def. Jordan Radev
- Lister – $22,000 (includes $11,000 win bonus)
- Radev – $5,000
Roan Carneiro def. Tony DeSouza
- Carneiro – $10,000 (includes $5,000 win bonus)
- DeSouza – $7,000
Mark Bocek def. Doug Evans
- Bocek – $6,000 (includes $3,000 win bonus)
- Evans – $3,000
Bonus awards
At the end of this event, $50,000 was awarded to each of the fighters who received one of these three awards.- Fight of the Night: Wanderlei SilvaWanderlei SilvaWanderlei César da Silva , nicknamed "The Axe Murderer", is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, who has competed in Japan's Pride Fighting Championships and the American based Ultimate Fighting Championship . Silva is known for his aggressive fighting style with the majority of his fights ending in...
vs Chuck LiddellChuck LiddellCharles David "Chuck" Liddell is a retired American mixed martial artist and former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion. Liddell has an extensive striking background in Kempo, Koei-Kan karate and kickboxing, as well as a grappling background in collegiate wrestling.As of his...
- Submission of the Night: Georges St-PierreGeorges St. PierreGeorges St-Pierre , often referred to as GSP, is a Canadian mixed martial artist and the current Welterweight Champion of the UFC. St-Pierre is ranked as the No. 1 Welterweight in the world according to Sherdog, MMAWeekly and numerous other publications. St-Pierre is ranked the No. 2 pound for...
- Knockout of the Night: Eddie SanchezEddie SanchezEduardo Arturo Sanchez is an American mixed martial arts fighter.-Ultimate Fighting Championship:On February 3, 2007 at the Ultimate Fighting Championship's UFC 67, he lost to Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović by technical knockout due to punches at 4:33 of the first round, in Filipović's debut fight in...