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UFC 135
UFC 135
UFC 135
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UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage
The poster for UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateSeptember 24, 2011
VenuePepsi Center
CityDenver, Colorado
Attendance16,344[1]
Total gate$2,089,575[1]
Buyrate520,000[2]
Event chronology
UFC Fight Night: Shields vs. Ellenberger UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson

UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 24, 2011, at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.[3]

Background

[edit]

The Ultimate Fighting Championship had its first ever event[4] in Denver nearly 20 years prior to UFC 135, but the promotion has not operated a pay-per-view event in the Mile High City since The Ultimate Ultimate in 1995. Zuffa, the UFC's parent company, was not the owner back then. UFC president Dana White, in an interview with MMAWeekly.com, says that the company has long been on a course to return to Denver, but they wanted to do it the right way. “We knew that we wanted to bring a big exciting card back to Denver, and we finally got it done.”[5]

Jon Jones was expected to make his first title defense on August 6, 2011, at UFC 133 against Rashad Evans, but Jones was sidelined with a hand injury.[6] It was initially announced that the hand injury would require surgery, but Jones opted for rest and rehabilitation without surgery after further consultations with doctors.[7] Jones' injury was originally thought to keep him out of action until late 2011, but instead, he made his first title defense against Quinton Jackson at this event.[8]

UFC 135 featured two preliminary fights live on Spike TV.[9]

Manny Gamburyan was scheduled to face Diego Nunes. However, on August 15, it was announced Gamburyan had to pull out of the bout due to a shoulder injury.[10] Then, on August 29, Nunes confirmed his own exit from the card, citing injury and a murder attempt on his father.[11] The fight was later rescheduled for UFC 141, where Nunes won via unanimous decision.

A bout between Norifumi Yamamoto and Damacio Page was expected for this event.[12] However, the bout was scrapped on September 1 after both fighters sustained injuries while training for the bout.[13]

Diego Sanchez was expected to face Matt Hughes, but was forced out of the bout with a broken hand and replaced by Josh Koscheck.[14] After this fight Matt Hughes was offered a non competitive role in the UFC which resulted in his retirement from MMA.

Results

[edit]
Main Card
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Light Heavyweight Jon Jones (c) def. Quinton Jackson Submission (rear-naked choke) 4 1:14 [a]
Welterweight Josh Koscheck def. Matt Hughes KO (punches) 1 4:59
Heavyweight Mark Hunt def. Ben Rothwell Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Heavyweight Travis Browne def. Rob Broughton Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Lightweight Nate Diaz def. Takanori Gomi Submission (armbar) 1 4:27
Preliminary card (Spike TV)
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Lightweight Tony Ferguson def. Aaron Riley TKO (corner stoppage) 1 5:00
Middleweight Tim Boetsch def. Nick Ring Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) 3 5:00
Preliminary card (Facebook)
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Featherweight Junior Assunção def. Eddie Yagin Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–26, 30–27) 3 5:00
Bantamweight Takeya Mizugaki def. Cole Escovedo TKO (punches) 2 4:30 [b]
Light Heavyweight James Te Huna def. Ricardo Romero KO (punches) 1 0:47 [c]
  1. ^ For the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
  2. ^ This bout aired last on PPV broadcast following the Jones vs. Jackson fight.
  3. ^ This bout aired on the Spike broadcast following the Ferguson vs. Riley fight.

Bonus awards

[edit]

The following fighters received $75,000 bonuses.[15]

  • Fight of the Night: Jon Jones vs. Quinton Jackson
  • Knockout of the Night: Josh Koscheck
  • Submission of the Night: Nate Diaz

References

[edit]
[edit]
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UFC 135

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from Grokipedia
UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage was a (MMA) event produced by the (UFC) on September 24, 2011, at the Pepsi Center in , . The pay-per-view event featured ten bouts, headlined by a UFC Championship defense between champion Jon Jones and challenger Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, a former titleholder known for his knockout power and prior success in . It marked Jones' first defense of the belt he won earlier that year and drew an announced attendance of 16,344 spectators, generating a live gate of approximately $2 million. In the main event, Jones retained his title by submitting Jackson via rear-naked choke at 1:14 of the fourth round, showcasing his grappling prowess after dominating with strikes and takedowns in the early rounds. The co-main event saw welterweight veterans defeat Matt Hughes by TKO (punches) at 4:59 of the first round, ending Hughes' attempted comeback and highlighting Koscheck's striking improvements. Other notable performances included lightweight submitting with an armbar in just 4:27 of the first round, and light heavyweight securing a quick victory over Ricardo Romero at 0:47 of the opening round. The undercard featured competitive decisions and finishes, such as outpointing Rob Broughton by unanimous decision in the heavyweight division and edging out similarly, contributing to a card with a mix of established stars and rising talents. UFC 135 was significant as the promotion's return to after a 16-year absence and underscored Jones' rapid ascent as a dominant in the light heavyweight division.

Event Information

Date and Venue

UFC 135 was held on September 24, 2011, at the Pepsi Center in , . The venue, situated at an elevation of 5,280 feet above , marked the UFC's return to the city that hosted its inaugural event in , a decision emphasized by UFC President as a planned homecoming to a key market. The high altitude of presented unique logistical challenges for fighters, requiring to thinner air that can impact stamina and performance. The event's broadcast schedule featured preliminary bouts streaming live on starting at 6:30 p.m. EDT, followed by a Spike TV special airing two additional prelims at 8:00 p.m. EDT. The main card then commenced at 9:00 p.m. EDT on , aligning with the standard timing for UFC events in 2011. The Pepsi Center was configured for , with a of approximately 18,000 spectators to accommodate the anticipated crowd. This setup included the standard placement on the arena floor, surrounded by tiered seating and suites to optimize visibility and atmosphere for the audience.

Broadcast and Attendance

UFC 135 was broadcast on through the UFC's platform, generating an estimated 520,000 buys, driven by the high-profile main event matchup. The preliminary card featured two bouts aired live on Spike TV starting at 8:00 p.m. ET: a contest between and Nick Ring, followed by a lightweight matchup between and Aaron Riley. The Spike TV prelims averaged 1.6 million viewers, marking a strong lead-in to the main card. Additional preliminary fights were streamed for free on the UFC's official page, including three bouts accessible to users who liked the profile. The event's production team included handling play-by-play duties, with providing color commentary, a standard pairing for UFC broadcasts at the time. Veteran ring announcer introduced the fighters and announced the results throughout the night. At the Pepsi Center in , UFC 135 drew an announced attendance of 16,344 paid fans, representing the second-highest attendance figure for a UFC event in 2011. The live gate revenue totaled $2,089,575. These metrics underscored the event's commercial success amid heightened interest from the Jones-Jackson rivalry.

Background

Main Event Build-up

entered UFC 135 as the reigning UFC Champion, having captured the title just six months earlier at by defeating Mauricio "Shogun" Rua via third-round technical knockout, making him the youngest champion in UFC history at age 23. At that point, Jones maintained an undefeated professional record of 14-1 (with one no contest), showcasing a rapid rise through the division with his unorthodox striking, elite wrestling, and exceptional reach advantage. Challenging Jones was Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, a former UFC who held the title from 2007 to 2008 after knocking out at and defending it once against at before losing to at UFC 86. Jackson was returning after a 16-month layoff following a loss to at in May 2010, during which he expressed frustration with the UFC and a desire for a high-profile rematch with Liddell to reestablish his stardom, but ultimately accepted the title shot against Jones amid ongoing from the champion. The buildup featured intense promotional angles, including Jackson's voiced concerns about competing at Denver's high altitude, which he addressed by training there to acclimate, and his struggles with the weight cut that left him appearing visibly drained at the official weigh-in where he came in at 204 pounds—four pounds under the limit—while Jones weighed in at 204.5 pounds looking sharp and muscular. Heated exchanges escalated at press conferences, with Jackson accusing Jones of sending a spy to his camp and Jones mocking Jackson's acting career and physique, fueling a narrative of personal animosity. The stakes were high, marking Jones' first title defense after an postponed his bout with Evans, positioning the 24-year-old phenom to solidify his dominance against a battle-tested . Jackson, seeking a second championship reign at age 33, aimed to exploit his knockout power against Jones' creative, reach-heavy style in a matchup marketed by the UFC as a generational clash of unorthodox innovation versus proven punching prowess.

Undercard Developments

A featured bout pitted former champion Mauricio "Shogun" against . Rua entered the fight as his first since losing the UFC title to via third-round TKO at in March 2011. Henderson, meanwhile, was making his return to the UFC after a successful stint in Strikeforce, where he captured the title with a knockout victory over and later defeated by in a heavyweight bout on April 2, 2011. The pairing evoked their previous meeting at Pride FC 21 in June 2003, where Rua defeated Henderson by , fueling anticipation for a rematch between two Pride-era standouts. In the welterweight division, Hall of Famer Matt Hughes, aged 37 and aiming for a career resurgence following recent setbacks, faced , a top contender renowned for his All-American wrestling pedigree from Edinboro University. The matchup arose from a long-standing rivalry, with Koscheck publicly expressing desire to test himself against the seven-time title challenger for several years. It also came about after an injury to forced changes to the card, positioning Koscheck as Hughes' opponent. Heavyweight action featured , celebrated for his devastating power honed during stints in K-1 and FC, against , a former IFL emphasizing and wrestling. Rothwell was returning from a 15-month layoff due to an ACL injury sustained in his previous fight. Hunt sought to build on his recent upset win over at , marking his first victory in the UFC. The preliminary card included notable clashes, such as , riding a two-fight winning streak with a over and a submission victory over , against , the former FC who was 0-2 in the UFC with a TKO loss to and a submission loss to . Another bout saw , preserving his perfect 12-0 professional record following his TUF 13 tournament victory, take on Aaron Riley. Card adjustments were necessitated by injuries to featherweights Diego Nunes and , leading to Junior Assunção stepping in to face Eddie Yagin; no other significant cancellations occurred.

Fight Card

Main Card

The main card for UFC 135 featured five high-profile bouts broadcast on pay-per-view, headlined by the championship and including matchups across , , and divisions. The scheduled fights were as follows:
Weight ClassBoutRecords at Time of Event
Championship (c) vs. Jones: 13-1; Jackson: 32-8
Matt Hughes vs. Hughes: 45-7; Koscheck: 15-5
vs. Rothwell: 29-7; Hunt: 7-7
vs. Diaz: 14-6; Gomi: 32-7
vs. Rob BroughtonBrowne: 11-0-1; Broughton: 15-6-1
All main card fighters made weight without issue during the official weigh-ins held on September 23, 2011, at the Wells Fargo Theatre in , . No weight-related problems were reported for the undercard either.

Preliminary Card

The preliminary card of UFC 135 consisted of five bouts spanning , , , , and divisions, serving as supporting matchups to the main event. These fights were broadcast across multiple platforms, with two airing live on Spike TV, two streaming on , and one untelevised but available post-event. The undercard highlighted a mix of established veterans and undefeated prospects, contributing to the event's overall depth. The matchups, along with the fighters' professional records entering the event, were as follows:
Weight ClassFight MatchupEntering Records
vs. Aaron RileyFerguson (12-2) vs. Riley (21-10)
Middleweight vs. Nick RingBoetsch (11-3) vs. Ring (10-0)
FeatherweightJunior Assunção vs. Eddie YaginAssunção (13-2) vs. Yagin (14-4)
Bantamweight vs. Cole EscovedoMizugaki (12-5-2) vs. Escovedo (12-4)
Light Heavyweight vs. Ricardo RomeroTe Huna (9-2) vs. Romero (13-0)
All fighters on the preliminary card made weight at the official weigh-ins held on September 23, 2011.

Results

Main Card Outcomes

In the main event, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones defended his title against Quinton Jackson, securing a submission victory via rear-naked choke at 1:14 of the fourth round. Jones, leveraging his significant reach advantage, opened a deep cut on Jackson with spinning back elbows in the first round and followed with multiple takedowns to control the fight on the ground, despite Jackson's early aggression with power punches. Referee Josh Rosenthal oversaw the bout. The co-main event featured welterweights and Matt Hughes, where Koscheck earned a TKO win with punches at 4:59 of the first round. Koscheck closed the distance aggressively, landing a devastating right hand that dropped the veteran Hughes, then finished with ground-and-pound strikes as Hughes absorbed unanswered damage. Kerry Hatley stopped the contest. Heavyweight defeated by after three rounds (29-28, 29-27, 30-27). Rothwell pressed with wrestling attempts and secured several takedowns, but Hunt absorbed the pressure, defended from the bottom, and countered with heavy striking throughout, outlanding Rothwell in significant strikes. Adam Martinez in charge. Lightweight Nate Diaz submitted Takanori Gomi via armbar at 4:27 of the first round. Diaz pulled guard early to work for submissions, transitioning fluidly to isolate Gomi's arm after absorbing initial strikes from the Japanese veteran. Referee Mario Yamasaki called for the stoppage when Gomi tapped. In the heavyweight bout, Travis Browne outpointed Rob Broughton by unanimous decision (30-27 x3). Browne utilized clinch knees and short elbows to wear down Broughton against the fence, mixing in takedown defense and superior cardio to control the pace over three rounds. Referee Herb Dean officiated the matchup.

Preliminary Card Outcomes

The preliminary card for UFC 135 featured five bouts broadcast on and Spike TV, showcasing a mix of finishes and decisions that highlighted emerging talents and veteran performances. These fights set the tone for the event at the Pepsi Center in , , on September 24, 2011. Opening the Facebook prelims, defeated Ricardo by via punches at 0:47 of the first round. Te Huna capitalized on Romero's failed attempt with a right that rendered Romero unconscious, earning an emphatic stoppage from Tim Mills. In the following bantamweight bout, overcame Cole Escovedo by TKO (punches) at 4:30 of the second round. Mizugaki controlled the pace with superior wrestling and clinch work, dropping Escovedo with a left hook before finishing with ground strikes, as referee Adam Martinez intervened to halt the action. Junior Assuncao then dominated Eddie Yagin via (30-27, 30-26, 30-26) after three rounds. Assuncao utilized effective takedowns and ground control, particularly in the decisive third round, to outpoint Yagin in a one-sided affair, refereed by . Shifting to the Spike TV portion, bested Nick Ring by (30-27, 29-28, 29-28). Boetsch's relentless pressure, including a notable throw and superior striking volume, wore down Ring over three rounds, with Josh Rosenthal overseeing. secured a TKO victory over Aaron Riley due to a doctor's stoppage at 5:00 of the first round. Ferguson's aggressive striking, including an that fractured Riley's jaw, prompted the halt after the round, as ruled by Tom Johnson.

Bonus Awards

Performance Bonuses

At UFC 135, the performance bonuses were awarded in the form of Knockout of the Night and Submission of the Night, recognizing fighters for their exceptional individual finishes. received the Knockout of the Night bonus of $75,000 for his first-round knockout victory over Matt Hughes, highlighted by a powerful overhand right that ended the fight decisively. Similarly, earned the Submission of the Night bonus of $75,000 for submitting with an armbar at 4:27 of the first round, showcasing his grappling prowess in a bout. These bonuses, standard at $75,000 for major events in 2011, were selected by UFC executives to reward standout single performances that demonstrated finishing ability and excitement. UFC President announced the recipients during the post-fight on September 24, 2011, emphasizing the high-impact nature of Koscheck's striking power and Diaz's submission skills.

Fight of the Night

The Fight of the Night award at UFC 135 was presented to the main event title bout between champion and challenger Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, recognizing their shared performance as the most thrilling matchup of the evening. Each fighter earned a $75,000 bonus for the honor. This selection aligned with UFC's standard criteria for the award, emphasizing sustained action, dramatic exchanges, and high fan appeal through competitive intensity and resilience under pressure. The bout stood out for Jackson's early aggression and defensive toughness against Jones' relentless offense, creating moments of tension despite the champion's overall control. Key highlights included Jones' unorthodox tactics in the opening round, such as clinch knees, spinning elbows, and leg kicks that targeted Jackson's mobility, met with the challenger's counter-punches and clinch resistance. Jackson's durability shone through as he absorbed damage and pursued takedown counters, but Jones shifted momentum with multiple takedowns across rounds two and three, mounting ground-and-pound and submission threats that wore down his opponent. The fight concluded dramatically in round four when Jones secured a rear-naked choke at 1:14, forcing Jackson to submit after a prolonged battle of wills. UFC President Dana White announced the bonus during the post-fight press conference, highlighting the main event's draw as a pivotal factor in its selection over other competitive undercard bouts, with only one Fight of the Night awarded that night. This recognition reinforced the matchup's role in elevating the event's entertainment value, drawing significant viewership and acclaim for blending veteran grit with emerging dominance.

References

  1. https://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-135
  2. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2011/09/ufc-135-draws-reported-16344-attendance-for-2-million-gate
  3. https://www.mmafighting.com/2011/9/24/2737669/ufc-135-nate-diaz-submits-takanori-gomi
  4. https://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-135-denver-september-24
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHqjVgI7c8I
  6. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/862369-ufc-135-live-streaming-where-to-watch-ppv-listing-full-fight-card
  7. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/859075-ufc-135-live-streaming-info-ppv-listing-full-fight-card
  8. https://www.uncovercolorado.com/activities/ball-arena/
  9. https://www.tapology.com/search/mma-event-figures/ppv-pay-per-view-buys-buyrate
  10. https://www.givemesport.com/1668862-jon-jones-ufc-ppv-numbers-revealed-after-he-asks-for-conor-mcgregorstyle-pay-rise/
  11. https://www.ufc.com/news/official-ufc-135-weigh-results
  12. https://www.mmamania.com/2011/9/24/2444260/ufc-135-results-spike-tv-jon-jones-rampage-jackson-ppv
  13. https://www.sherdog.com/news/interviews/1/UFC-135-Prelims-Live-Nets-16-Million-Viewers-on-Spike-TV-35994
  14. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2011/09/facebook-to-stream-three-remaining-ufc-135-preliminary-bouts
  15. https://www.reddit.com/r/MMA/comments/kqcne/ufc_135_jones_vs_jackson_official_discussion/
  16. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2011/09/ufc-135-draws-16344-for-2-1-million-live-gate-second-best-attendance-of-2011
  17. https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/events/9686-ufc-135
  18. http://ufcstats.com/fighter-details/07f72a2a7591b409
  19. https://talksport.com/mma/3092895/ive-lost-confidence-rampage-jackson-issues-statement-to-explain-cancelled-fight-with-former-ufc-champion/
  20. https://www.westword.com/news/rampage-jackson-keeps-cool-in-denver-in-advance-of-ufc-135-photos-5855565/
  21. https://www.nola.com/sports/jones-to-defend-title-vs-rampage-jackson/article_ddc08953-dd56-552a-840a-93fc8e4cd94f.html
  22. https://lasvegassun.com/news/2011/sep/20/jon-jones-rampage-jackson-ufc-135/
  23. https://www.si.com/boxing/2011/09/26/stock-watch-ufc-135
  24. https://www.ufc.com/news/blueprint-jones-vs-rampage
  25. https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/jackson-vs-jones-ufc-135-promo-kinda-awesome-184758515.html
  26. https://www.ufc.com/news/suga-rush-evans-defining-moments
  27. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2011/09/ufc-135-live-and-official-weigh-in-results
  28. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/860875-ufc-135-weigh-in-results-exclusive-photo-gallery
  29. https://www.sherdog.com/events/UFC-135-Jones-vs-Rampage-17043
  30. https://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-135-prelim-results-boetsch-roughs-ring-middle-action
  31. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2011/09/ufc-135-preliminary-card-results-ferguson-breaks-rileys-jaw-boetsch-cruises
  32. https://www.mmafighting.com/2011/9/24/2737686/ufc-135-live-blog-tim-boetsch-vs-nick-ring-updates
  33. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2011/09/ufc-135-bonuses-koscheck-diaz-jones-and-jackson-earn-75k-fighter-awards
  34. https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-135-Bonuses-Jones-Jackson-Koscheck-Diaz-Bank-3675K-Each-35908
  35. https://www.mmafighting.com/2011/9/24/2737664/jon-jones-rampage-jackson-nate-diaz-josh-koscheck-earn-ufc-13
  36. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2011/02/06/ufc-126-bonuses-silva-jones-cerrone-and-kelly-each-earn-75k-awards/82517806007/
  37. https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-135-Jones-vs-Rampage-Live-Results-and-PlaybyPlay-35713
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