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UFC 120: Bisping vs. Akiyama
The poster for UFC 120: Bisping vs. Akiyama
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateOctober 16, 2010
VenueO2 Arena
CityLondon, United Kingdom
Attendance17,133[1]
Total gate$2,560,000[1]
Event chronology
UFC 119: Mir vs. Cro Cop UFC 120: Bisping vs. Akiyama UFC 121: Lesnar vs. Velasquez

UFC 120: Bisping vs. Akiyama was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on October 16, 2010, at the O2 Arena in London, United Kingdom.[2] The card featured six televised MMA bouts, as well as four un-aired preliminary bouts.

The main event featured The Ultimate Fighter 3 winner Michael Bisping and the Japanese judoka Yoshihiro Akiyama. After three rounds, the fight went to a judges decision, where Bisping was victorious with scores of 30–27 being given by all three ringside judges. The co-main event of the evening featured Dan Hardy (who entered the contest having become the first Englishman to compete in a UFC Championship bout, albeit unsuccessfully) and Carlos Condit, the former World Extreme Cagefighting Welterweight champion. Condit was able to knockout Hardy in the opening round; consigning Hardy to his first knockout loss.

The first UK UFC Fan Expo coincided with this event and was held at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre on Friday October 15 and Saturday October 16. Aside from the live broadcast in Britain and Canada, this event aired on the same day, via tape delay, on Spike TV in the U.S.

The event was the fourth the UFC has hosted at the O2 Arena in London, England, U.K. and the first since UFC 95. It was also the ninth event held in United Kingdom and the first since UFC 105. UFC 120 was also notable for becoming, at that time, the ninth highest attended event in UFC history.

Background

[edit]

Main event

[edit]
Michael Bisping attempted to maintain his perfect record in Europe and attempted to move closer to title contention

The main event featured The Ultimate Fighter 3 tournament winner Michael Bisping facing off against the Japanese judoka practitioner Yoshihiro Akiyama in a fight contested at the UFC middleweight limit of 185 pounds (84 kg). Michael Bisping sought to defeat Akiyama in his home country in the hope of moving closer to the UFC Middleweight Championship picture.[3] Additionally, Bisping looked to maintain his perfect record in Europe, having only ever been defeated in the United States and Australia.[3]

Bisping came into the fight with an MMA record of 19 wins and 3 losses, of which 9 wins and 3 losses were within the Ultimate Fighting Championship.[4] Bisping had had early success in the promotion, following his win in The Ultimate Fighter 3 – a reality television show produced by the UFC, which consisted of an 8-man tournament, in which Bisping was victorious in the light heavyweight division.[5] Bisping compiled a record of 4 wins and 1 loss as a light heavyweight, before he dropped to the middleweight division.[5] From there, Bisping won 3 straight fights[5] and was selected to be a head coach on the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter (The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom) alongside former PRIDE Fighting Championships champion Dan Henderson.[6] His subsequent fight with Henderson began a slightly unsuccessful 2–2 streak for Bisping, as Henderson was able to defeat Bisping via knockout at UFC 100.[7] Bisping followed this up with a comeback win over Denis Kang at UFC 105 (the last English-based UFC event until UFC 120), having survived an early knockdown to eventually win via TKO.[8] Bisping would next face Wanderlei Silva at UFC 110, where Bisping suffered a unanimous decision loss,[9] but he came back at UFC 114 against Dan Miller to claim a convincing decision victory of his own,[9] meaning that Bisping was 2–2 in the last 12 months. Bisping then took the opportunity to improve his coaching staff prior to the bout.[4]

Yoshihiro Akiyama was headlining his first UFC card and looked to rebound from a loss at UFC 116

Akiyama came into the bout with an MMA record of 13 wins, 2 losses and 2 no-contests, of which one win and one loss took place within the Ultimate Fighting Championship.[4] Akiyama was an incredibly popular[clarification needed] personality in his home nations of South Korea and Japan and whilst his signing wasn't particularly celebrated in the United States or England,[10] it was big news in the far east,[10] where Akiyama is known not only for his fighting career, but also for his singing career and his status as a mild fashion icon, which led to the forming of his nickname "Sexyama".[11] Despite his popularity in the far east, Akiyama had not yet headlined a UFC event prior to UFC 120, having only competed twice in the United States.[12] His U.S. debut came at UFC 100, in the opening bout on the UFC 100 pay-per-view event against Alan Belcher, where Akiyama won via a disputed split decision (30–27, 28–29, 29–28). Many pundits were vocal in their disagreement with Akiyama winning the bout,[13][14] with even UFC president Dana White stating "I wasn't 100 percent sure of the decision, you know what I mean, but I think it was a tough fight to score, too".[15] Akiyama's second UFC appearance (and final appearance prior to UFC 120) was the co-main event of UFC 116 against Chris Leben. Unlike the Belcher fight, Akiyama was regarded as the aggressor throughout the bout and was most likely en route to another decision victory.[12][16] However, with seconds left in the final round, Leben was able to secure a triangle choke submission to force Akiyama to tap-out.[12] Despite the loss, the bout was regarded as highly entertaining and both Leben and Akiyama took away the "Fight of the Night" bonus, worth $75,000.[16][17] The fight was Akiyama's first loss in over five years[17] and it led to Akiyama moving his training camp to Albuquerque, New Mexico, under the tutelage of Greg Jackson,[17] the World MMA Awards "Trainer of the Year" in 2010[18] and 2011.[19][20]

Prior to the main event, both fighters seemed confident due to their new trainers. Akiyama was quoted as saying "I felt like he didn't have enough time to prepare for my opponent [Leben] and so during the fight I wasn't able to come up with a strategy that is specifically for Chris Leben."[4] Akiyama also mentioned "I was able to learn the intricate skills of the takedowns, as well as better striking for MMA. I feel like [I have] a better takedown than Bisping does."[4] Bisping responded by stating: "With respect, I couldn't care less who he trains with. He can train with anyone. What I'm focusing on these days is what I do, focusing on my training. And he can worry about what I'm bringing to the table. My training's going fantastic. I feel in great shape. I've improved all my areas. Regardless of who he's training with, I think I'll be too much for him. Now everything's coming together. Mario Sukata, he's always been my MMA coach. But I've been working with some new striking coaches, strength and conditioning coaches, new boxing coaches, a new wrestling coach."[4]

Co-main event

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The co-main event featured recent UFC Welterweight title challenger Dan Hardy facing off against the former World Extreme Cagefighting welterweight champion Carlos Condit in a fight contested at the UFC welterweight limit of 170 pounds (77.5 kg). Dan Hardy was looking to return to winning ways having been defeated in his title fight back at UFC 111, whereas Condit looked to improve after a difficult start to life in the UFC.

Dan Hardy aimed to recover from a title loss at UFC 111 by taking on former WEC champion, Carlos Condit

Hardy entered the fight with an MMA record of 23 wins, 7 losses with 1 no contest, of which 4 wins and 1 loss came in fights within the UFC.[21] Hardy had joined the UFC in late 2008, after compiling a record of 19–6, predominantly in the English MMA circuit. He quickly made a name for himself defeating MMA veteran Akihiro Gono via split decision at UFC 89 and Rory Markham via KO at UFC 95;[22] both taking place in England. Hardy then began to gain recognition as he openly baited Marcus Davis into a fight at UFC 99 by mocking Davis' Irish heritage by stating: "He's had a couple of fights in the UK, and he's kind of building himself a fan base, but he's not English; he's not Irish. I was born here, and I've been bred here. I don't mind taking on that challenge and showing him this is my home and not his."[22] Hardy went on to defeat Davis and was placed in a title contender fight against Mike Swick at UFC 105, in Manchester, England.[23] After defeating Swick, Hardy faced the champion Georges St-Pierre at UFC 111. This was Hardy's last fight before UFC 120 and he was thoroughly dominated by St-Pierre's wrestling and top control resulting in a loss via unanimous decision (50–43, 50–44, 50–45).[24]

Carlos Condit held a UFC record of 2–1, prior to UFC 120

Condit entered the fight with an MMA record of 25 wins and 5 losses, of which 2 wins and 1 loss were in the UFC.[21] Condit moved to the UFC in April 2009, having been the final World Extreme Cagefighting Welterweight Champion.[25] Condit had arguably struggled since his move to the UFC, however, as he began with a split decision loss to Martin Kampmann at UFC Fight Night 18[25] and then followed it up with a split decision victory over Jake Ellenberger at UFC Fight Night 19, which was disputed by some pundits[26] and the live crowd in attendance.[27] Condit's final fight before UFC 120 was against the youngster Rory MacDonald. Condit was taken down 3 times in the opening round and largely controlled. Condit came back with a more aggressive attitude in the final round and finished MacDonald with a combination of elbows and punches. After the fight, the judges scorecards were revealed and showed that had MacDonald not been finished in the last seven seconds, then he would have picked up a split decision victory.[28] Though Condit was 2–1 in the UFC, each fight had been close, which was in contrast to Hardy's largely successful start in the promotion.

Pre-fight hype for the co-main event focused on Hardy's well-documented desire to fight someone who could put on an entertaining fight. Hardy was vocal in his criticism of Nik Lentz after Lentz defeated Hardy's teammate, Andre Winner in a fight marred by a perceived lack of action.[29] Before his fight with Condit, Hardy said "Rather than saying "oh, these guys can't wrestle", I think the problem is there's beginning to be too much wrestling in the UFC Octagon, not too little of it in the gym. There are a lot of people out there calling themselves "UFC fighters" who are nothing of the kind. In the UFC, you should go for finishes."[29] The comments drew criticism by fighters and pundits who believed he was referring to his fight against Georges St-Pierre,[30] which Hardy later denied, stating: "People are assuming I'm making these comments because of that fight and I'm not. [St-Pierre] had his submissions attempts, and he played the game the right way. I was under pressure in the fight – there was no point where he was just holding me down. But there are some fighters who think, 'I've got a takedown, I can rest a bit here now.' There just isn't the intention to damage the opponent or submit them."[30] When Hardy was paired up with Condit (ironically a teammate of St-Pierre's), Hardy seemed happy with the match-up, saying "When Joe Silva [the UFC matchmaker] called me up and said 'How about Condit?' I said to myself, 'That's an awesome fight.' I know he's going to come to have a fight, there's no doubt about it, he'll do everything he can to win. That's what I'm interested in."[30]

Main card

[edit]

The third main card bout featured English fighter John Hathaway facing MMA veteran Mike Pyle in the welterweight division. Hathaway was coming off an upset victory over The Ultimate Fighter 1 winner, Diego Sanchez[31] Hathaway was regarded as England's top prospect due to his takedown defence being higher than most fighters in the country.[31] Hathaway was also undefeated, holding an MMA record of 14 wins and 0 defeats, with 4 of those wins coming in UFC events.[32] Pyle was an experienced veteran, holding a professional MMA record of 20 wins, 7 losses and 1 draw and a UFC record of 2–2.[32] His most recent fight prior to UFC 120 was a win over Jesse Lennox at UFC 115 via triangle choke submission.[32] Before the fight, Pyle sought to downplay the achievement of Hathaway defeating Diego Sanchez, stating: "Diego's a small, somewhat average-(sized) [155-pound fighter]."[32] Hathaway responded by stating "I definitely think he's [Pyle] a step up. [Pyle is] incredibly experienced and very dangerous. I think he finishes like 80 to 90 percent of his fights by submission, so he's definitely a dangerous opponent."[32]

Also on the main card was a heavyweight (206–265 pounds) fight between French fighter and UFC veteran Cheick Kongo and the relative newcomer Travis Browne.[4] Kongo held an MMA record of 15 wins, 6 losses and 1 draw, with a UFC record of 8–4. Browne, on the other hand was undefeated going into the fight and won in his UFC debut which took place 4 months prior to UFC 120.[4] For Kongo, this bout was a chance for redemption. Kongo had lost two fights in mid/late 2009 and whilst he was victorious in his final bout prior to UFC 120, he had been accused of unsportsmanlike conduct by many fans, after being deducted a point (on the judges' scorecards) against Paul Buentello at UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones.[33] For Browne, it was a chance to build on his successful UFC debut, where he defeated James McSweeney via TKO in the opening round of their bout. Browne held a professional record of 10–0 coming into the fight and of his 10 victories, he had finished the fight in the first round due to KO or TKO in 7 of them.[34]

The opening fight on the main card was a welterweight contest between Claude Patrick and the winner of The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom, James Wilks. Prior to the fight, Wilks had an MMA record of 7 wins and 3 losses, with 2 wins and a loss coming within the UFC.[35] Patrick, who had an MMA record of 12 wins and 1 loss, was making his second UFC appearance, having won in his debut via guillotine choke just a few months earlier.[35]

Injuries and replacements

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Dan Hardy was originally scheduled to fight Dustin Hazelett at this event before Hazelett pulled out because of his wedding in September.[36] Carlos Condit replaced Hazelett as Dan Hardy's opponent.[21] John Hathaway was also expected to fight the then-undefeated Dong Hyun Kim. However, Kim was forced off the card with an elbow injury sustained during training and was replaced by Mike Pyle.[37]

Tom Blackledge, an assistant coach for Team Rampage on The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights was originally set to fight James Te-Huna. However, Te-Huna withdrew after an injury in training.[38] Blackledge was then scheduled to fight TUF 10 semi-finalist, James McSweeney.[39] However, on September 28, 2010, Tom Blackledge withdrew from the matchup with James McSweeney for unknown reasons and was replaced by Fabio Maldonado.[40]

Steve Cantwell was scheduled to fight Stanislav Nedkov, however the fight was cancelled less than 48 hours prior to the event, after Cantwell suffered a knee injury in training.[41]

Card criticism

[edit]

UFC 120 had drawn criticism before it had even taken place. The most common theme was that pundits and fans felt that the UFC events held in England were too focused on English fighters, rather than the "big name", world recognised fighters that audiences in the United States were used to.[42] Past UFC events held in England featured title fights, such as UFC 80 (held in Newcastle, England), which had a UFC Lightweight Championship bout; the last time a UFC championship fight took place in England.[43] Other main events held in England featured well known former champions, such as Randy Couture[44] and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović, though UFC 120 was perceived to have less star power.[42] The complaints by English fans were slightly exacerbated due to the length of time between when events were held in the country. UFC had only held one event in England in 2010 (UFC 120), which was down from two events in 2009 and three in 2008.[45]

The criticism resulted in members of the UFC – both management and fighters – defending the event. The UK president of the UFC, Marshall Zelaznik stated: "Obviously, championship fights for the most part are elevated to the pay-per-view cards. The pay-per-view cards over here, because of the time change, make it a bit of a challenge in the U.S. to see the impact you're hoping to see from the championship fights."[43] In an effort to appease the dissatisfied fans, he also added: "It's a bit of a business decision, but that's not to say we'll never have a pay-per-view here or we'll never have a championship fight here."[43]

John Hathaway, who was competing on the main card at UFC 120 said: "I think it's a good card. It's great to see so many British fighters fighting international opponents. I'm more than happy with the card, I'm happy to compete, and I'm always keen to put a good performance on for the fans."[46]

Dana White, the UFC president also defended the event, stating: "You cannot say a card sucks until it's over. It's like when we are sitting down and debating over who is going to win a fight. The cards get criticised and those are the events that normally end up being the most exciting, with great fights on them. At the end of the day you are paying to see good fights as a fan. I guarantee the card we are bringing to England will be great."[47]

UFC Fan Expo

[edit]

The UFC also held their first international Fan Expo, having held their first expo at UFC 100.[48] It was held at Earls Court Exhibition Centre on October 15 and 16 and it allowed fans to visit over 100 MMA-related vendors and also get autographs from several UFC fighters who attended the expo.[48] Around two dozen fighters were announced for the event to sign autographs and interact with fans,[49] with other fighters, such as Randy Couture and Wanderlei Silva holding their own seminars.[50]

Attendance and gate figures

[edit]

Despite the negative reaction to the event and its participants, Marshall Zelaznik announced that UFC 120 was expected to break the European attendance and gate receipts records,[51] having sold out the original seating plan.[52] The gate record prior was 16,693, set by UFC 105, with the record gate receipts coming in at $2.7m at UFC 75.[51] This later proved partially correct, as the event set a new European attendance record of 17,133, but fell just short of the gate receipts figure with $2.56m.[1] With over 17,000 spectators, the event became, at that time, the ninth most attended event in UFC history.[1]

Despite the record attendance, the viewing figures on Spike TV were reduced from the last event to take place in England. UFC 120 averaged 1.9 million viewers, whereas UFC 105, in November 2009 had averaged 2.9 million.[53]

Results

[edit]
Main Card
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Middleweight Michael Bisping def. Yoshihiro Akiyama Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Welterweight Carlos Condit def. Dan Hardy KO (punch) 1 4:27
Welterweight Mike Pyle def. John Hathaway Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Heavyweight Cheick Kongo vs. Travis Browne Draw (unanimous) (28–28, 28–28, 28–28) 3 5:00 [a]
Welterweight Claude Patrick def. James Wilks Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Preliminary card
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Light Heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson def. Cyrille Diabaté Submission (rear-naked choke) 2 2:41
Heavyweight Rob Broughton def. Vinicius Queiroz Submission (rear-naked choke) 3 1:43
Lightweight Paul Sass def. Mark Holst Submission (triangle choke) 1 4:45
Lightweight Spencer Fisher def. Curt Warburton Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Light Heavyweight Fabio Maldonado def. James McSweeney TKO (punches) 3 0:48
  1. ^ Kongo had 1 point deducted in round 3 for repeatedly grabbing Browne's shorts.

Bonus awards

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The following fighters received $60,000 bonuses.[54]

  • Fight of the Night: Michael Bisping vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama
  • Knockout of the Night: Carlos Condit
  • Submission of the Night: Paul Sass

See also

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References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

UFC 120

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from Grokipedia
UFC 120: Bisping vs. Akiyama was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) that took place on October 16, 2010, at The O2 Arena in London, England. The event featured 10 bouts, with the main card broadcast on pay-per-view following prelims on Spike TV, drawing a crowd to witness a mix of decision victories, knockouts, submissions, and one draw. It marked the UFC's return to London since UFC 95 in February 2009, showcasing a blend of international talent and emerging stars in divisions from lightweight to heavyweight. The main event pitted British middleweight against Japanese fighter in a highly anticipated matchup, with Bisping emerging victorious via unanimous decision after three rounds of technical striking and grappling exchanges marred by occasional fouls like eye-pokes. In the co-main event, American delivered a stunning first-round TKO over England's with a series of knees and punches, earning Performance of the Night honors. Other notable results included Alexander Gustafsson's second-round submission win over Cyrille Diabaté in the light heavyweight division, signaling the start of Gustafsson's rise in the UFC, and a controversial between heavyweights and after a competitive three-round affair. Fight of the Night was awarded to the main event between and . The undercard featured quick finishes, such as Paul Sass's first-round submission of Mark Holst and Fabio Maldonado's third-round TKO of , contributing to the event's reputation for diverse and action-packed outcomes; the bout between and Mike Pyle also went to a victory for Pyle in a back-and-forth battle of wrestling and striking. Overall, UFC 120 highlighted the growing global appeal of the UFC in , with Bisping's win boosting his profile as a top contender.

Event Overview

Date, Location, and Format

UFC 120 was held on October 16, 2010, at in , . This marked the fourth time the had hosted an event at the venue, following , , and , and represented the eighth UFC event overall in the . The event formed part of the UFC's ongoing expansion efforts in the UK, building on the success of UFC 105 in the prior year by showcasing a strong contingent of British and international mixed martial artists. As a numbered pay-per-view event, UFC 120 followed the standard UFC format for such cards, consisting of 10 total bouts divided between a main card of five fights available via television and a preliminary card of five bouts. All contests adhered to the unified , with fights structured in three five-minute rounds for non-title bouts.

Broadcast and Fan Expo

UFC 120 was broadcast live on in , featuring the main card starting at 3:00 p.m. ET on October 16, 2010. The main card aired on a same-day tape delay on Spike TV in the United States, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET, to accommodate viewing despite the time difference from the event's location. The preliminary card was not televised. Internationally, the event received live coverage through broadcast partners, including in the , where it aligned with local viewing. Coinciding with UFC 120, the promotion hosted its first-ever UFC Fan Expo in the , held on October 15 and 16, 2010, at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre in . The two-day event featured interactive seminars, autograph sessions with UFC fighters, vendor booths showcasing MMA merchandise, and appearances by UFC executives such as . Designed to engage and expand the growing fanbase, the expo drew thousands of attendees and included participation from over 20 fighters, including and international stars like .

Background

Main Event and Co-Main Event

The main event for UFC 120 was a bout between England's and Japan's , officially announced on July 20, 2010, as the headline fight for the October 16 event at in . Bisping, a former winner and rising star in the division, was positioned as the local favorite to energize the audience, drawing on his aggressive striking style and vocal personality to build anticipation. Akiyama, known for his background and explosive grappling, brought international appeal as a seasoned competitor seeking to rebound from recent setbacks. The co-main event featured a welterweight clash between British fighter Dan Hardy and American Carlos Condit, confirmed alongside the main event announcement in July 2010, though the matchup had been targeted as early as late June. Originally, Hardy was slated to face Dustin Hazelett, but Hazelett withdrew in May due to a scheduling conflict with his wedding, prompting UFC officials to seek a replacement and ultimately pairing Hardy with the former WEC champion Condit. Hardy, dubbed "The Outlaw" for his knockout power and brash trash-talking, represented another key UK presence on the card, while Condit's well-rounded skill set, including sharp submissions and knockout ability, promised a high-stakes striking battle. These top fights underscored UFC's strategic push into , particularly the market, by spotlighting local talent like Bisping and Hardy to foster fan engagement without a championship on the line—differing from prior events that had featured title bouts. UFC executive Marshall Zelaznik highlighted the event's role in broader continental expansion, aiming to build on previous successes and establish the promotion's foothold amid growing international interest. The pairings generated significant pre-fight hype through media appearances and promotional tours, emphasizing national pride and stylistic contrasts to draw record crowds.

Injuries, Replacements, and Card Changes

The UFC 120 event underwent several changes to its fight card in the months leading up to the October 16, 2010, date at in . Initial announcements for the card began in June 2010, with the main event of versus confirmed alongside other bouts, including a planned matchup between and Dustin Hazelett. One of the earliest alterations occurred when Hazelett withdrew from his bout with Hardy due to personal commitments surrounding his September wedding, prompting the UFC to seek a replacement opponent. In late June 2010, was announced as Hazelett's substitute, securing a verbal agreement to face Hardy in what became a key co-main event slot on the card. Further adjustments followed in July 2010, when was forced to withdraw from his scheduled fight against due to elbow surgery. Mike Pyle stepped in as the replacement opponent for Hathaway, maintaining the bout's position on the main card. These and other minor tweaks, such as the addition of preliminary fights like Mark Holst versus , led to the card being finalized with 10 bouts by late August 2010, with no major changes reported through September. The substitutions contributed to a lineup that emphasized representation, featuring prominent British fighters including Bisping, Hardy, and Hathaway, which aligned with the event's London hosting to boost local engagement.

Promotion, Criticism, and Expectations

The promoted UFC 120 by emphasizing homegrown talent to engage the British audience, spotlighting middleweight and welterweight as key draws in marketing materials and public appearances. Promotional videos were produced specifically for the main event matchup of Bisping versus and the co-main event of Hardy versus , distributed through platforms like and Spike TV to build anticipation. A pre-fight was held in , where fighters exchanged words in a lively atmosphere, further amplifying local interest. UFC president contributed to the buildup by addressing the Society, discussing the promotion's global ambitions alongside the event. The event was positioned as a significant return to the O2 Arena, marking the third UFC visit to in three years, with tickets going on sale in July 2010 to capitalize on prior successes in the region. Despite these efforts, UFC 120 drew criticism for featuring what many perceived as a weak card, lacking title bouts or high-profile international stars such as or , which led to accusations of the promotion simply pandering to British fans rather than delivering a globally competitive lineup. UK MMA enthusiasts expressed frustration on forums and in media discussions, arguing that the event shortchanged local supporters compared to earlier UK shows with stronger international appeal, with Bisping's main event status seen as a symptom of diminished star power. addressed such critiques during promotional appearances, defending the card's focus on emerging British talent while acknowledging the challenges of scheduling overseas events without top-tier matchups. Expectations centered on leveraging the rising popularity of MMA in the , with the British-heavy lineup—featuring multiple home-country fighters—aimed at fostering national pride and driving robust attendance despite the absence of championship implications. Analysts predicted the event could solidify the UFC's foothold in by showcasing local heroes like Bisping and Hardy, potentially boosting the sport's growth amid increasing fan engagement in the region. Pre-event media coverage was enthusiastic in outlets, highlighting the potential for breakout performances, in contrast to more muted interest in , where the same-day delayed broadcast on Spike TV underscored logistical hurdles and reduced immediacy for U.S. viewers.

Results

Main Card Results

The main card of UFC 120 opened with a bout between Claude Patrick and . Patrick controlled the fight throughout three rounds with effective takedowns and ground control, earning a victory with scores of 30–27 across all three judges. In the matchup, faced in a back-and-forth contest marked by striking exchanges and attempts. The fight ended in a unanimous draw after three rounds, with all judges scoring it 28–28, due to a one-point deduction against Kongo in round three for repeatedly grabbing Browne's shorts. Welterweights Mike Pyle and delivered a grappling-heavy affair, where Pyle utilized superior wrestling to neutralize Hathaway's offense and land ground strikes. Pyle secured a win after three rounds, with judges' scores of 30–27 on all cards. The co-main event pitted welterweights against , amid pre-fight hype surrounding Hardy's local support in . Condit ended it decisively, dropping Hardy with a left hook and finishing with hammerfists on the ground for a first-round at 4:27. Headlining the event, contenders and engaged in a striking battle, with Bisping maintaining distance and landing combinations while Akiyama pressed forward aggressively. Bisping's dominant performance, highlighted by higher output and a brief stoppage in round three due to a low blow, resulted in a victory with scores of 30–27 across all three judges.

Preliminary Card Results

The preliminary card at UFC 120 consisted of five bouts across the lightweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions, with three of the fights ending in submission victories that highlighted the event's grappling emphasis.
Weight ClassWinnerLoserMethodRoundTime
Light HeavyweightAlexander GustafssonCyrille DiabatéSubmission (rear-naked choke)22:41
HeavyweightRob BroughtonVinicius QueirozSubmission (rear-naked choke)31:43
LightweightPaul SassMark HolstSubmission (triangle choke)14:45
LightweightSpencer FisherCurt WarburtonUnanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)35:00
Light HeavyweightFabio MaldonadoJames McSweeneyTKO (punches)30:48
Alexander Gustafsson's dominant performance against Cyrille Diabaté, where he used striking to drop his opponent multiple times before securing a takedown and rear-naked choke, helped establish the Swede as an emerging prospect in the light heavyweight division. impressed with his expertise, extending his record of first-round wins to 10 by submitting Mark Holst late in the opening frame. Rob Broughton's resilient debut victory over Vinicius Queiroz demonstrated effective ground control after weathering early pressure, while relied on veteran striking to outpoint Curt Warburton over three rounds, and Fabio Maldonado's body work led to a late TKO of . The prevalence of submission finishes underscored the depth of talent among the undercard fighters.

Post-Event

Bonus Awards

At UFC 120, the awarded its standard post-event performance bonuses to recognize standout fights and finishes, selected by UFC executives based on exciting or dominant performances during the event. The Fight of the Night bonus went to and for their main event bout, which Bisping won by ; each received $60,000. Carlos Condit earned the Knockout of the Night award for his first-round knockout of via left hook and ground strike, also netting $60,000. received the Submission of the Night bonus for submitting Mark Holst with a in the first round, earning $60,000 as well. In total, $240,000 in bonuses were distributed among the four recipients.
AwardRecipient(s)AmountDetails
Fight of the Night, $60,000 eachMain event unanimous decision win for Bisping
Knockout of the Night$60,000KO of (R1, 4:27)
Submission of the Night$60,000Submission of Mark Holst (R1, 4:45)

Fighter Impact and Legacy

UFC 120 drew an of 17,133 spectators to in , generating $2,518,852 in gate revenue and marking the ninth-highest attendance for a UFC event at the time. This commercial success underscored the growing popularity of in , particularly in the UK, where the event set a regional attendance record despite pre-fight criticisms of the card's quality. Michael Bisping's unanimous decision victory over in the main event provided a significant boost to his career trajectory, reinforcing his status as a top contender and maintaining momentum toward high-profile matchups, including eventual title opportunities. In the light heavyweight division, Alexander Gustafsson's second-round submission of Cyrille Diabaté via rear-naked choke highlighted his emerging talent and power, serving as a pivotal early win that contributed to his ascent as a perennial contender and future title challenger. Carlos Condit's first-round knockout of further solidified his reputation as "The Natural Born Killer," showcasing his explosive striking in a manner that elevated his standing within the ranks during a four-fight winning streak. Conversely, Hardy's knockout loss marked his first career finish via strikes and prompted a period of reflection, influencing his approach amid subsequent challenges and a string of defeats that tested his resilience in the UFC. The event's legacy extended beyond individual performances, as it helped cement the UFC's foothold in the UK market by demonstrating sustained fan interest and financial viability, despite the lackluster outcomes for several British fighters; this paved the way for expanded European scheduling in the years following. The only minor controversy arose from a point deduction to Cheick Kongo in his draw with Travis Browne for repeated shorts-grabbing infractions, which had no broader repercussions.

References

  1. https://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-120
  2. https://www.sherdog.com/events/UFC-120-Bisping-vs-Akiyama-14025
  3. https://www.espn.com/mma/fightcenter/_/id/400252099/league/ufc
  4. https://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-returns-london-ufc-120-oct-16
  5. https://www.ufc.com/news/extra-tickets-now-available-ufc-120
  6. http://ufcstats.com/event-details/d512d9f204059f57
  7. https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/events/ufc-120-bisping-vs-akiyama
  8. https://www.mmafighting.com/2010/07/20/183810/ufc-120-fight-card-michael-bisping-vs-yoshihiro-akiyama
  9. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2010/07/michael-bisping-vs-yoshihiro-akiyama-nearly-finalized-for-ufc-120-in-london
  10. https://www.sbnation.com/2010/6/29/1543283/hardy-vs-condit-announced-for-ufc-120-london-o2
  11. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2010/05/welterweight-contender-dan-hardy-still-targeted-for-ufc-120-opponent-search-underway
  12. https://www.mmafighting.com/2010/07/05/183343/marshall-zelaznik-confirms-ufc-120-discusses-european-expansion
  13. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2010/07/ufc-120-official-for-oct-16-in-london-bisping-vs-akiyama-hardy-vs-condit-headline
  14. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2010/06/carlos-condit-vs-dan-hardy-targeted-for-ufc-120-in-london
  15. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/493220-ufc-120-results-michael-bispings-win-salvages-near-disaster-for-mma-in-the-uk
  16. https://www.ufc.com/video/44130
  17. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2010/08/ufc-president-dana-white-to-address-oxford-union-society-during-ufc-120
  18. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/428759-are-we-brits-really-being-short-changes-at-ufc-120
  19. https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/ufc-120-analysis-iole-one-brits-turn-phony--mma.html
  20. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/493510-ufc-120-reactions-what-does-ufc-120-say-about-the-state-of-british-mma
  21. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2010/10/why-didnt-ufc-120-air-live-on-spike-tv-broadcast-format-to-blame
  22. https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-120-Results-Live-PlaybyPlay-27509
  23. https://www.mmafighting.com/2010/10/16/182880/ufc-120-cheick-kongo-travis-browne-fight-to-a-draw
  24. https://www.ufc.com/news/spoiler-ufc-120-prelim-results
  25. https://bloodyelbow.com/2010/10/16/ufc-120-complete-preliminary-results/
  26. https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-120-Bonuses-Four-Fighters-Bank-3660K-27556
  27. https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/ufc-gradually-growing-across-world-235600088--mma.html
  28. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2010/10/ufc-120-reportedly-sets-european-attendance-record
  29. http://ufcstats.com/fight-details/0b5b0000e850eaaa
  30. https://www.ufc.com/video/46471
  31. https://www.espn.co.uk/ufc/sport/story/50970.html
  32. http://ufcstats.com/fight-details/00ecb8ea731e64d6
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