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UFC 107
View on Wikipedia| UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
The poster for UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez | ||||
| Promotion | Ultimate Fighting Championship | |||
| Date | December 12, 2009 | |||
| Venue | FedExForum | |||
| City | Memphis, Tennessee | |||
| Attendance | 13,896[1] | |||
| Total gate | $1,500,000[1] | |||
| Buyrate | 620,000[2] | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on December 12, 2009 in Memphis, Tennessee at the FedExForum.[3]
Background
[edit]On October 21, it was announced that a previous matchup between welterweight contenders Thiago Alves and Paulo Thiago had been changed to Alves vs. Jon Fitch because Fitch's opponent for UFC 106, Ricardo Almeida, suffered an injury. Paulo Thiago fought on UFC 106 on November 21 against UFC newcomer Jacob Volkmann and won the fight by unanimous decision.
It was then announced on October 30 that Fitch would again be without an opponent as Alves was forced to withdraw because of a posterior cruciate ligament tear.[4] It was later announced that Jon Fitch would face Mike Pierce at UFC 107.
Paul Buentello was scheduled to face Todd Duffee on the card, but an injury forced Duffee to pull out.[5] Buentello faced Stefan Struve on the card.[6]
A middleweight bout between Alan Belcher and Wilson Gouveia was changed to a 195-pound catchweight bout after Gouveia asked for a 190-pound catchweight limit, but Belcher gave a counter-offer of 195 pounds.[7]
Another matchup scheduled for this card was a match-up between The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights coaches Rashad Evans and Quinton Jackson but the bout was cancelled after Jackson was selected for the role of Cpl. B. A. Baracus in The A-Team film. The fight would later happen at UFC 114.
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Lightweight | B.J. Penn (c) | def. | Diego Sanchez | TKO (doctor stoppage) | 5 | 2:37 | [a] |
| Heavyweight | Frank Mir | def. | Cheick Kongo | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | 1 | 1:12 | |
| Welterweight | Jon Fitch | def. | Mike Pierce | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Lightweight | Kenny Florian | def. | Clay Guida | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 2 | 2:19 | |
| Heavyweight | Stefan Struve | def. | Paul Buentello | Decision (majority) (29–28, 29–28, 28–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Preliminary card | |||||||
| Catchweight (195 lb) | Alan Belcher | def. | Wilson Gouveia | TKO (punches) | 1 | 3:03 | |
| Lightweight | Matt Wiman | def. | Shane Nelson | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Welterweight | Johny Hendricks | def. | Ricardo Funch | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–25) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Middleweight | Rousimar Palhares | def. | Lucio Linhares | Submission (heel hook) | 2 | 3:21 | |
| Welterweight | DaMarques Johnson | def. | Edgar Garcia | Submission (triangle choke) | 1 | 4:03 | |
| Welterweight | T. J. Grant | def. | Kevin Burns | TKO (punches) | 1 | 4:57 | |
- ^ For the UFC Lightweight Championship
Bonus awards
[edit]The following fighters received $65,000 bonuses.[8]
- Fight of the Night: Alan Belcher vs. Wilson Gouveia
- Knockout of the Night: T. J. Grant
- Submission of the Night: DaMarques Johnson
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b ""UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez" draws reported 13,896 attendees for "over $1.5 million" gate". mmajunkie.com. 2009-10-13. Archived from the original on 2012-06-30. Retrieved 2009-12-13.
- ^ "The Sky is Not Falling: UFC 107 Draws 620,000 Buys". 23 December 2009.
- ^ "UFC 107". UFC.com. 2009-10-13. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
- ^ Thiago Alves forced to withdraw from UFC 107 bout with Jon Fitch (Updated)
- ^ "Heavyweight prospect Todd Duffee forced out of UFC 107 with undisclosed injury". mmajunkie.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
- ^ "Stefan Struve replaces Todd Duffee, meets Paul Buentello on UFC 107 main card". MMAJunkie.com. 2009-11-11. Archived from the original on 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
- ^ "BELCHER VS. GOUVEIA NOW CATCHWEIGHT BOUT (UPDATED)". MMAWeekly.com. 2009-12-11. Retrieved 2009-12-12.
- ^ "UFC 107 fighter bonuses: Belcher, Gouveia, Grant and Johnson earn $65K awards". mmajunkie.com. 2009-10-13.
UFC 107
View on GrokipediaEvent Overview
Date and Location
UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez took place on December 12, 2009, at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee.[3] The event was scheduled as an evening pay-per-view broadcast, with the main card beginning at 10:00 PM ET, following preliminary bouts earlier in the night.[4] This marked the second UFC event in Tennessee, known as the Volunteer State, following the promotion's debut in the state with UFC Fight Night 18 in Nashville earlier that year.[5] The selection of Memphis and the FedExForum as the host venue reflected the UFC's expanding footprint in the southeastern United States, with local officials promoting the event as a significant boost for the city's sports and entertainment scene.[6] No long-term hosting agreements were publicly detailed at the time, but the successful turnout underscored Memphis's potential as a future MMA destination, though no subsequent UFC events have returned to the city.[6]Attendance and Financials
UFC 107 attracted 13,896 paid attendees to the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee, marking a strong turnout for the event.[7] The live gate revenue reached $1,500,000, reflecting robust ticket sales and the event's appeal in a mid-sized market. This financial outcome underscored the UFC's expanding commercial footprint in 2009, as regional events increasingly delivered solid returns without relying on major metropolitan centers.[8] On the pay-per-view front, UFC 107 generated 620,000 buys, exceeding initial expectations and highlighting the drawing power of the main event matchup between BJ Penn and Diego Sanchez. In the context of 2009's UFC landscape, this buyrate positioned the event as a mid-tier success amid a breakout year for the promotion, which amassed approximately 8 million total PPV purchases across all events—a significant increase from the approximately 6.3 million in 2008 and signaling growth in audience engagement.[9][10]Background
Announcement and Promotion
UFC 107 was initially planned in mid-2009 as part of the Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) broader strategy to expand into emerging markets across the Southern United States, following the organization's successful debut in Tennessee earlier that year with UFC Fight Night 18 in Nashville.[11] By July 2009, the event was already referenced in UFC announcements tied to The Ultimate Fighter Season 10, positioning it as a key numbered pay-per-view in December. This timing aligned with the UFC's post-2008 recession growth efforts, where overall business revenue increased by 20% in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the prior year, allowing the promotion to target regional audiences in economically recovering areas like Memphis despite broader financial challenges.[12] The event received its official announcement on October 13, 2009, confirming the date of December 12 at Memphis's FedExForum and highlighting the city's role in the UFC's Southern expansion.[5] Promotional activities ramped up immediately, including a pre-fight press conference on December 10 featuring key fighters and UFC executives to generate media buzz.[13] Local tie-ins emphasized Memphis's cultural landmarks, such as a promotional "Duck Walk" event at the iconic Peabody Hotel involving headliners B.J. Penn and Diego Sanchez, which was covered by regional outlets to engage community interest.[14] National efforts included television advertisements on Spike TV, the UFC's primary broadcast partner at the time, alongside online previews and fighter interviews to build anticipation. Central to the marketing was the billing of the main event as "Penn vs. Sanchez," framing it as a high-stakes lightweight title defense for champion B.J. Penn against top contender Diego Sanchez, who had earned his shot through a string of victories.[15] Promoters hyped the matchup as a clash of styles—Penn's technical striking and grappling versus Sanchez's relentless pressure and wrestling—positioning it as a potential Fight of the Year candidate to draw pay-per-view buys amid the economic downturn.[16] This focus helped integrate UFC 107 into the promotion's 2009 schedule of 20 events, reinforcing its foothold in underserved Southern markets while capitalizing on resilient fan demand.[17]Fight Card Changes and Storylines
The UFC 107 fight card underwent several significant alterations in the weeks leading up to the event. Originally, a welterweight bout between Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves was scheduled as a key matchup, but Alves withdrew due to a knee injury sustained during training, specifically a posterior cruciate ligament issue, forcing the cancellation of the rematch. [18] Fitch was quickly rebooked against Mike Pierce, a late replacement who stepped in to maintain the card's competitive depth at 170 pounds. In the heavyweight division, undefeated prospect Todd Duffee was forced to pull out of his scheduled fight against Paul Buentello after suffering an undisclosed injury, which sidelined the rising star just over a month before the event. [19] The UFC tapped Stefan Struve, a 6-foot-11 Dutch fighter coming off a recent submission loss, to replace Duffee and face the veteran Buentello on the main card, adding an intriguing stylistic clash of reach and experience. [20] Additionally, a highly anticipated light heavyweight grudge match between Rashad Evans and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, stemming from their roles as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter Season 10, was initially slated for UFC 107 but was scrapped due to Jackson's conflicting commitments to film the movie The A-Team, where he portrayed B.A. Baracus. [21] The bout was rescheduled for UFC 114 in May 2010, preserving the rivalry's buildup. [22] The event's narratives centered on redemption and momentum for several top fighters. Lightweight champion B.J. Penn entered his title defense against Diego Sanchez amid ongoing discussions about his challenging weight cuts to 155 pounds, a process that had drawn scrutiny in prior camps due to his natural welterweight frame and history of dehydration struggles, though he made weight without issue for UFC 107. [23] Sanchez, on a four-fight winning streak following back-to-back losses in 2008, framed his title challenge as a personal comeback, emphasizing his evolution in striking and grappling while aiming to prove his resilience after overcoming early career setbacks. [24] In the co-main event, former heavyweight champion Frank Mir sought to rebuild his standing after a punishing loss to Brock Lesnar at UFC 100, leveraging his recent submission victories over Tim Sylvia and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira to position himself as a top contender against Cheick Kongo. [25] On the undercard, emerging welterweight prospect Johny Hendricks generated buzz in his second UFC appearance, following a knockout debut win earlier in 2009, as he faced Ricardo Funch in a bout highlighting his wrestling pedigree and knockout power from a decorated collegiate background. [26] These changes and storylines underscored the event's theme of adaptability, with fighters navigating injuries and personal arcs to deliver high-stakes performances.Fight Card
Main Card
The main card of UFC 107 featured five high-profile bouts, headlined by a lightweight championship clash and including matchups across heavyweight and welterweight divisions. These fights were broadcast on pay-per-view and highlighted established contenders testing their skills against rising talents or veterans.[1] The main event pitted lightweight champion BJ Penn against challenger Diego Sanchez in a five-round title bout. Entering the fight, Penn held a record of 15-5-1, known for his versatile striking and Brazilian jiu-jitsu expertise that had secured him the belt earlier in 2008. Sanchez, with a 21-2 record, brought a wrestling-heavy style honed from successes at welterweight and middleweight, positioning him as the top contender aiming to dethrone Penn in a stylistic contrast of ground control versus technical stand-up.[27] In the co-main event, heavyweight Frank Mir faced Cheick Kongo. Mir entered at 12-4, leveraging his elite submission grappling from a background as a former heavyweight champion. Kongo, with a 14-5-1 record, relied on knockout power and striking range developed through a seven-fight UFC tenure, creating a matchup between Mir's clinch work and Kongo's distance management.[28] The welterweight bout featured Jon Fitch versus Mike Pierce. Fitch came in with a 20-3 (1 NC) overall record, emphasizing relentless wrestling and top pressure. Pierce, at 9-2, showcased raw power and defensive wrestling from his recent UFC debut win, testing Fitch's endurance against a younger, aggressive counterpart.[29] A lightweight showdown saw Kenny Florian take on Clay Guida. Florian entered with an 11-4 record, drawing on his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai striking for well-rounded attacks. Guida, holding a 25-10 mark, was noted for his high wrestling output and cardio, promising a fast-paced exchange of grappling transitions and scrambles.[30] Opening the main card was a heavyweight fight between Stefan Struve and Paul Buentello. Struve, with an 18-3 record, utilized his 6-foot-11 frame and 84.5-inch reach for leverage in strikes and submissions. Buentello, entering at 28-10, countered with veteran knockout experience and compact power punching, highlighting a reach disparity in an undercard replacement bout.[31]Preliminary Card
The preliminary card of UFC 107 consisted of six bouts across various weight classes, serving to energize the audience at FedExForum and introduce a blend of UFC veterans, submission experts, wrestlers, and promising newcomers to the promotion. These opening fights emphasized diverse fighting styles and provided opportunities for lesser-known competitors to gain visibility in a stacked event lineup. The card opened with a catchweight bout at 195 pounds featuring American striker Alan Belcher, who entered with a professional record of 14-6 and was recognized for his knockout power and resilience in prior UFC appearances.[32][33] Opposing him was Brazilian Wilson Gouveia, holding an 18-6 record and noted for his experience across middleweight and light heavyweight divisions, including a reputation for devastating leg kicks.[32][34] This non-standard weight class matchup highlighted both fighters' versatility beyond traditional divisions. In the lightweight division (155 pounds), Matt Wiman, an American grappler with a 10-5 record and a focus on submissions from his wrestling base, faced Shane Nelson, a 12-4 striker from Team Quest making his UFC debut.[32] Wiman's Octagon experience contrasted with Nelson's aggressive stand-up style honed in regional promotions. A welterweight (170 pounds) clash brought together two undefeated UFC debutants: Johny Hendricks, a 6-0 wrestler and former All-American from Oklahoma State University, known for his explosive takedowns, against Ricardo Funch, a 7-0 Brazilian-American fighter with a balanced skill set from Brazilian jiu-jitsu and striking.[32] This bout represented a key test for emerging prospects in the competitive welterweight landscape. The middleweight (185 pounds) matchup pitted Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Rousimar Palhares, entering at 9-2 and renowned for his leg-lock submissions in UFC competition, against countryman Lucio Linhares, a 13-4 fighter with a well-rounded profile but limited international exposure prior to the event.[32] Palhares' grappling expertise added intrigue to this all-Brazilian encounter. Another welterweight bout featured American DaMarques Johnson, with a 9-7 record and a background in submissions from his competitive amateur wrestling days, taking on Mexican Edgar Garcia, an undefeated 7-1 striker seeking to build momentum in the UFC.[32] Closing the preliminary card was a welterweight fight between Canadian T.J. Grant, holding a 14-3 record and bringing UFC experience with a versatile striking and grappling approach, and American Kevin Burns, a 10-3 knockout artist noted for his power punching in regional circuits.[32] This matchup underscored the depth of welterweight talent on display.Results
Main Event and Co-Main Event
The main event of UFC 107 featured UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn defending his title against challenger Diego Sanchez in a five-round bout.[1] In Round 1, Penn immediately asserted dominance by landing a right hook that dropped Sanchez early, followed by ground strikes that bloodied Sanchez's nose and eye, though Sanchez survived and returned to his feet; Penn continued to control the striking exchanges with jabs and counters while stuffing a late takedown attempt.[35] Round 2 saw Sanchez attempt multiple takedowns, all of which Penn defended effectively from the center of the octagon, using superior footwork and brief clinch work to maintain distance and land occasional hooks.[35] By Round 3, Sanchez's aggression waned under Penn's precise boxing, as Penn connected with an elbow and right hook while thwarting another takedown charge, leaving Sanchez absorbing punishment without meaningful offense.[35] In Round 4, Penn's counter-striking continued to shine, backing Sanchez against the fence with jabs and hooks amid repeated but futile takedown efforts from the challenger, slowing the pace as Sanchez fatigued.[35] Round 5 opened with Sanchez pressing for takedowns, but Penn sprawled successfully before delivering a high right kick that opened a severe gash above Sanchez's left eye; the ringside doctor intervened at 2:37, stopping the fight due to the cut and excessive swelling, awarding Penn a TKO victory and title retention.[1] Penn's performance highlighted his elite counter-striking and takedown defense, outclassing Sanchez in every facet over the 22 minutes of action.[36] The co-main event pitted former heavyweight champion Frank Mir against Cheick Kongo in a heavyweight clash.[1] From the opening seconds of Round 1, Mir closed distance aggressively, landing an overhand left that stunned and dropped Kongo to the canvas.[35] Mir swiftly transitioned to the ground, securing half-guard and locking in a guillotine choke; Kongo tapped initially but the referee waved off the fight at 1:12 when he went unconscious, ruling it a technical submission victory for Mir.[1] Mir's quick grappling expertise, rooted in his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, exploited Kongo's vulnerability to submissions, ending the fight emphatically inside the first round.[36]Undercard Outcomes
The undercard featured several competitive bouts across multiple weight classes, with a mix of decisions and finishes highlighting the depth of the roster.| Fighter | Opponent | Result | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jon Fitch | Mike Pierce | Win | Unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Kenny Florian | Clay Guida | Win | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 2 | 2:19 |
| Stefan Struve | Paul Buentello | Win | Majority decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Alan Belcher | Wilson Gouveia | Win | TKO (punches) | 1 | 3:03 |
