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UFC 146
UFC 146
from Wikipedia
UFC 146: dos Santos vs. Mir
The poster for UFC 146: dos Santos vs. Mir
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateMay 26, 2012
VenueMGM Grand Garden Arena
CityLas Vegas, Nevada
Attendance14,674[1]
Total gate$3,428,775[1]
Buyrate560,000[2][3]
Total purse$1,513,000[4]
Event chronology
UFC on Fuel TV: The Korean Zombie vs. Poirier UFC 146: dos Santos vs. Mir The Ultimate Fighter: Live Finale

UFC 146: dos Santos vs. Mir was a mixed martial arts (MMA) pay-per-view event (PPV) promoted by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on May 26, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card featured five MMA bouts which were shown on PPV, as well as seven preliminary bouts which were shown on FX, and Facebook. This was the first time in UFC history that the main card featured all heavyweight bouts. It was the twelfth UFC event of 2012.

The main event featured the UFC Heavyweight Champion, Junior dos Santos, defending his title against former two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir. The contest was heavily promoted, featuring the return of UFC Primetime to promote the UFC Heavyweight Championship. The co-main event of the evening was a battle between former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, and newly acquired Strikeforce heavyweight, Antônio Silva, who made his UFC debut.[5]

Background

[edit]

Frank Mir was riding a three fight win streak leading up to this event, including a submission victory over Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, a friend and mentor of Junior dos Santos, at UFC 140. Nogueira refused to tap to the kimura lock submission attempt, until it broke after his arm snapped under the pressure, then he tapped. Not only was Mir the first fighter to ever submit Nogueira, but he did so in devastating fashion. This was the first title defense for dos Santos since winning the belt by knocking out Cain Velasquez in November 2011 at UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos.[6]

UFC Primetime returned to promote the UFC Heavyweight Championship between Mir and dos Santos.[7] The heavyweight championship at UFC 146 was the featured fight on the main card, which for the first time in UFC history had all heavyweight bouts.[8]

Evan Dunham was expected to face Edson Barboza at the event. However, Dunham was forced from the event with an injury and replaced by returning veteran Jamie Varner.[9]

Mark Hunt was originally scheduled to face Stefan Struve on the main card. However, on May 17, 2012, Hunt withdrew from the bout due to injury and was replaced by Lavar Johnson.[10]

Alistair Overeem removal and card changes

[edit]

Originally scheduled to headline the event was a Heavyweight Championship bout between one of UFC's newest stars, Alistair Overeem (who defeated former champion Brock Lesnar in his UFC debut to earn the title shot), and champion Junior dos Santos. On April 4, 2012, however, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) announced Overeem had failed his pre-fight drug test.[11] Overeem's March drug test showed a 14:1 testosterone-epitestosterone ratio, according to the NSAC.

This resulted in a considerable shake up of the matches on the main card.[12] On April 20, 2012, UFC President Dana White announced that Junior dos Santos would now defend his title against Frank Mir instead.[13] Two days later, White announced Cain Velasquez (who was originally slated to fight Mir in the co-main event) would face Antônio Silva.[14] Roy Nelson (who was originally scheduled to fight Silva, and then briefly Gabriel Gonzaga)[15] faced Dave Herman.[16][17] And Shane del Rosario (who was originally slated to fight Gonzaga) faced Stipe Miocic.[18]

Results

[edit]
Main Card
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Heavyweight Junior dos Santos (c) def. Frank Mir TKO (punches) 2 3:04 [a]
Heavyweight Cain Velasquez def. Antônio Silva TKO (punches) 1 3:36
Heavyweight Roy Nelson def. Dave Herman KO (punch) 1 0:51
Heavyweight Stipe Miocic def. Shane del Rosario TKO (elbows) 2 3:14
Heavyweight Stefan Struve def. Lavar Johnson Submission (armbar) 1 1:05
Preliminary Card (FX)
Featherweight Darren Elkins def. Diego Brandao Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Lightweight Jamie Varner def. Edson Barboza TKO (punches) 1 3:23 [b]
Middleweight C. B. Dollaway def. Jason Miller Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–26, 29–28) 3 5:00
Welterweight Dan Hardy def. Duane Ludwig KO (punch and elbows) 1 3:51 [c]
Preliminary Card (Facebook)
Lightweight Paul Sass def. Jacob Volkmann Submission (triangle armbar) 1 1:54 [d]
Light Heavyweight Glover Teixeira def. Kyle Kingsbury Submission (arm-triangle choke) 1 1:53 [e]
Featherweight Mike Brown def. Daniel Pineda Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00 [f]
  1. ^ For the UFC Heavyweight Championship.
  2. ^ This bout aired on the broadcast following the Hardy vs Ludwig bout.
  3. ^ This bout aired on the broadcast following the Nelson vs Herman bout.
  4. ^ This bout aired on the broadcast following the Teixeira vs Kingsbury bout.
  5. ^ This bout aired on the broadcast following the Brown vs Pineda bout.
  6. ^ This bout aired on the broadcast following the dos Santos vs Mir bout.

Bonus awards

[edit]

The following fighters received $70,000 bonuses.[19]

  • Fight of the Night: None Awarded
  • Knockout of the Night: Roy Nelson and Dan Hardy
  • Submission of the Night: Stefan Struve and Paul Sass

Reported payout

[edit]

The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. It does not include sponsor money and also does not include the UFC's traditional "fight night" bonuses.[4]

  • Junior dos Santos: $200,000 (no win bonus) def. Frank Mir: $200,000
  • Cain Velasquez: $200,000 (includes $100,000 win bonus) def. Antonio Silva: $70,000
  • Roy Nelson: $40,000 (includes $20,000 win bonus) def. Dave Herman: $21,000
  • Stipe Miocic: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Shane del Rosario: $20,000
  • Stefan Struve: $58,000 (includes $29,000 win bonus) def. Lavar Johnson: $26,000
  • Darren Elkins: $28,000 (includes $14,000 win bonus) def. Diego Brandao: $15,000
  • Jamie Varner: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Edson Barboza: $18,000
  • C. B. Dollaway: $40,000 (includes $20,000 win bonus) def. Jason Miller: $45,000
  • Dan Hardy: $50,000 (includes $25,000 win bonus) def. Duane Ludwig: $18,000
  • Paul Sass: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Jacob Volkmann: $20,000
  • Glover Teixeira: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) def. Kyle Kingsbury: $12,000
  • Mike Brown: $52,000 (includes $26,000 win bonus) def. Daniel Pineda: $10,000

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Mir was a event promoted by the (UFC) on May 26, 2012, at the in , . The event featured a historic all-heavyweight main card, the first of its kind in UFC history, highlighting top contenders in the division across five bouts. Originally slated to be headlined by a UFC Heavyweight Championship matchup between champion and No. 1 contender , the card underwent a significant change when Overeem was removed after failing a pre-fight administered by the , which revealed an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio of 14:1. Dos Santos instead defended his title against former two-time champion , securing a second-round TKO victory at 3:04 to retain the belt. The co-main event pitted former champion against Brazilian knockout artist Antonio Silva, with Velasquez earning a first-round TKO stoppage at 3:36. Additional main card highlights included Roy Nelson's explosive 51-second knockout of Dave Herman in the first round and Stipe Miocic's second-round TKO of , further solidifying the event's reputation for heavyweight action. The event featured 12 fights in total, with the preliminary card comprising seven bouts spanning multiple weight classes, including , , , , and light heavyweight, with notable performances such as Diego Brandao's unanimous decision win over and Edson Barboza's first-round knockout of . Broadcast live on following prelims on FX and Facebook, UFC 146 drew significant attention for its stacked lineup and the dramatic main event alteration, contributing to its status as a landmark in UFC's division history.

Event Details

Date, Venue, and Attendance

UFC 146 was held on May 26, 2012, at the in , part of the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The event attracted a total attendance of 14,674 spectators, including 11,428 paid tickets and 3,246 complimentary passes, with 276 seats remaining unsold. The average ticket price was $300.03, contributing to a live gate revenue of $3,428,775.

Broadcast and Revenue

The main card of UFC 146 was distributed via (PPV) through UFC's partnerships with major satellite and cable providers, including and . The preliminary card included four televised bouts on , which averaged 1.3 million viewers overall, marking a solid performance consistent with prior UFC prelims broadcasts on the network. Two additional untelevised prelims were streamed live on . Promotion for the event featured the UFC Primetime series, a three-part aired on that provided behind-the-scenes buildup to the main event, with the debut episode attracting 540,000 viewers. UFC 146 achieved approximately 560,000 PPV buys, a figure reported by industry analyst . When combined with a live gate of $3,428,775 from 14,674 attendees, the event's PPV and gate revenues underscored its success as a strong performer among non-superfight cards.

Background

Announcement and Promotion

UFC 146 was officially announced in early March 2012 as a event headlined by a UFC Championship bout between champion and challenger , positioning it as a stacked card within the heavyweight division. The event, scheduled for May 26 at the in , quickly gained attention for its focus on elite heavyweights, with UFC officials highlighting the potential for high-impact matchups that would showcase the division's top talents. Billed as the "Heavyweight Edition," UFC 146 was promoted as the first event in UFC history to feature an entirely heavyweight main card, comprising five bouts to emphasize the size, power, and star power of the division. This unique theme was unveiled on March 14, 2012, when the full all-heavyweight lineup was confirmed, generating buzz among fans and media for its unprecedented scale and the combined weight of over 2,500 pounds across the fighters. Marketing efforts centered on building hype through the UFC Primetime documentary series, which aired on and delved into the personal and professional rivalry between dos Santos and Overeem, offering behind-the-scenes access to their training camps and preparations. Press conferences, including a major on-sale event in late March, featured UFC President alongside key fighters, underscoring the event's role in elevating the heavyweight class's prominence within the organization. The initial card structure adopted a semi-final tournament feel, with the title fight serving as one bracket and the co-main event pitting former champion against to determine the next title contender, enhancing the promotional narrative of high-stakes progression toward future heavyweight dominance. Although Overeem's subsequent removal altered the final lineup, the early promotion successfully framed UFC 146 as a landmark showcase for .

Overeem's Failed Drug Test

, the scheduled challenger for the UFC title at UFC 146, underwent a random administered by the (NSAC) on March 27, 2012, immediately following a promotional in . The results, disclosed to the UFC on April 4, 2012, indicated an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone (T/E) ratio of 14:1 in Overeem's sample, well above the NSAC's permissible threshold of 6:1. This violation stemmed from a surprise screening that also tested five other fighters on the card, all of whom passed. Overeem's camp initially remained silent on the matter, but on April 23, 2012, he announced his withdrawal from the event, citing the failed test as the reason and vacating his title shot against champion . In his statement, Overeem explained the high T/E ratio as resulting from an anti-inflammatory injection prescribed by Dr. Hector Oscar Molina to treat a lingering rib injury sustained earlier in his career; he claimed of the fact that the mixture contained testosterone. The NSAC rejected this defense during a hearing the following day, April 24, 2012, noting inconsistencies in Overeem's disclosure to Molina about his ongoing drug testing obligations under a prior conditional license. At the hearing, the NSAC unanimously denied Overeem's application for a fight , deeming him ineligible to reapply until December 27, 2012—effectively imposing a nine-month period of ineligibility dating back to the test date. No monetary fine was levied, as Overeem was not holding a full at the time of the violation. The decision immediately disrupted the UFC 146 card, opening Dos Santos' opponent slot and prompting the promotion to elevate from the co-main event to headline the .

Card Changes and Replacements

Following Alistair Overeem's removal from UFC 146 due to a failed pre-fight , the UFC implemented a series of adjustments to the event's lineup, ensuring the main card remained exclusively bouts. , originally slated for the co-main event against , was elevated to the main event to challenge for the title on May 26, 2012, at the in . This shift canceled the planned Mir-Velasquez matchup. To address the co-main event vacancy, Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva was promoted from his original bout against Roy Nelson to face Velasquez. Subsequent injuries necessitated additional replacements: Gabriel Gonzaga, who had stepped in to oppose Nelson following Silva's elevation, withdrew due to injury and was substituted by Dave Herman. Mark Hunt's later injury against Stefan Struve also led to Lavar Johnson stepping in as his replacement. To fill the fifth main card slot and maintain the all-heavyweight format, unbeaten prospects Stipe Miocic and Shane del Rosario— the latter left without an opponent after Gonzaga's withdrawal—were matched together. Non-heavyweight bouts, including the featherweight matchup between and as well as the lightweight clash between and Jamie Varner, were assigned to the preliminary card to uphold the event's all-heavyweight main card structure. These alterations were announced progressively from April 21 to May 17, 2012, with all fighters, including the revised lineup, successfully making weight at the official weigh-in on May 25, 2012.

Results

Main Card

The main card of UFC 146 featured the first-ever all- lineup on a UFC event, consisting of five bouts that showcased the division's raw power and finishing ability. Held on May 26, 2012, at the in , , the card was adjusted multiple times due to injuries and other issues prior to the event. All fights were contested at , emphasizing the promotion's focus on high-impact matchups following Overeem's withdrawal from the original title defense. In the main event, UFC Heavyweight Champion defended his title against former champion . Dos Santos retained the belt via TKO (punches) at 3:04 of Round 2, overwhelming Mir with precise striking after a competitive first round that saw Mir attempt takedowns. The victory improved dos Santos's record to 15-1 and marked his second successful title defense. The co-main event pitted former champion against Strikeforce import Antônio Silva. Velasquez secured a dominant TKO (punches) victory at 3:36 of Round 1, grounding Silva early and delivering relentless ground-and-pound that opened a severe cut on his opponent's face. This win avenged Velasquez's prior title loss and reestablished him as a top contender in the division. Roy Nelson faced Dave Herman in the third bout, delivering a signature punch just 51 seconds into Round 1. Nelson's overhand right dropped Herman, leading to a quick stoppage and highlighting his one-punch power. The finish extended Nelson's UFC knockout streak and earned him widespread praise for the efficiency of his striking. Stipe Miocic made his promotional debut against , winning by TKO (elbows) at 3:14 of Round 2. After surviving early pressure, Miocic reversed position in the clinch, landed an uppercut that dropped del Rosario, mounted him, and delivered ground strikes that forced the referee stoppage. The victory propelled Miocic toward future contention in the heavyweight ranks. Opening the main card, met short-notice replacement Lavar Johnson. Struve submitted Johnson via armbar at 1:05 of Round 1, pulling guard early and isolating the limb for the tap. This quick finish demonstrated Struve's prowess against Johnson's aggressive striking style. Four of the five main card bouts ended inside the first round or early in the second, underscoring the heavyweight division's for explosive and the event's emphasis on decisive outcomes. The rapid finishes contributed to the card's as a showcase of the weight class's knockout potential.

Preliminary Card

The preliminary card for UFC 146, broadcast on FX and , showcased seven bouts across , , , , and divisions, highlighting a blend of prowess, striking exchanges, and veteran performances. Following card adjustments prompted by earlier heavyweight lineup changes, these fights provided competitive undercard action at the in . The event opened on with a clash where Mike Brown defeated Daniel Pineda by (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds of back-and-forth action, with Brown controlling the while fending off Pineda's submission attempts. In the subsequent bout, submitted via arm-triangle choke at 1:53 of the first round, showcasing his dominant ground control and finishing ability in his UFC debut. The portion concluded with submitting via triangle armbar at 1:54 of Round 1, capitalizing on a swift transition from guard to force the tap in a bout marked by Volkmann's wrestling pressure. Shifting to FX, secured a first-round knockout victory over at 3:51 with a left hook followed by ground strikes and elbows, ending a personal skid and revitalizing his momentum. In middleweight, outworked Jason "Mayhem" Miller to a win (30-26, 29-28, 29-28) over three rounds, relying on takedowns and top control to neutralize Miller's unorthodox striking. Lightweight provided one of the night's biggest surprises as Jamie Varner upset previously unbeaten via TKO (punches) at 3:23 of Round 1, absorbing early leg kicks before landing a standing flurry to drop and finish Barboza with ground strikes. The FX prelims closed with featherweight Darren edging Diego by (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) in a gritty three-round war, absorbing heavy shots but reversing momentum through relentless wrestling and cardio. Overall, the card featured four finishes—two submissions, one knockout, and one TKO—contrasting with three decisions, underscoring the prelims' diversity and delivering notable moments like Varner's underdog triumph that propelled his career resurgence.

Post-Fight

Bonus Awards

At UFC 146, Dan Hardy and Roy Nelson each received a Knockout of the Night bonus, while Stefan Struve and Paul Sass each received a Submission of the Night bonus, each valued at $70,000, for their exceptional individual displays during the event. These awards highlighted standout finishes on the card: Roy Nelson earned his for a first-round knockout victory over Dave Herman via a powerful right hand; Stefan Struve for submitting Lavar Johnson with an armbar in the opening round; Dan Hardy for a first-round knockout of Duane Ludwig with a head kick; and Paul Sass for tapping out Jacob Volkmann via twister in the first round. No Fight of the Night bonus was awarded due to the lack of a standout co-main event or decision-heavy bout that met the criteria for exceptional back-and-forth action. The bonuses were announced post-event by UFC President during the press conference, emphasizing the heavyweight-heavy card's emphasis on decisive finishes over prolonged battles.

Reported Payouts

The disclosed fighter payroll for UFC 146 totaled $1,233,000, according to figures released by the (NSAC). These amounts represent base salaries and win bonuses where applicable, but exclude revenue shares, sponsorship earnings, and discretionary performance bonuses such as the $70,000 awards given to select fighters for knockouts and fight of the night. The highest earners were champion , challenger , and , each receiving $200,000. Dos Santos earned a flat $200,000 with no additional win bonus listed, while Mir received $200,000 as the loser of the main event. Velasquez's payout included a $100,000 base salary plus a $100,000 win bonus for his victory. Other notable payouts included Antônio Silva at $70,000 with no win bonus, Roy Nelson at $40,000 ($20,000 base plus $20,000 win bonus), and Stefan Struve at $58,000 ($29,000 base plus $29,000 win bonus). Win bonuses in these filings generally equaled the base pay for victorious fighters, reflecting standard UFC contractual structure at the time.
FighterBase SalaryWin BonusTotal Payout
$200,000-$200,000
$200,000-$200,000
$100,000$100,000$200,000
Antônio Silva$70,000-$70,000
Roy Nelson$20,000$20,000$40,000
Dave Herman$21,000-$21,000
$10,000$10,000$20,000
$20,000-$20,000
$29,000$29,000$58,000
Lavar Johnson$26,000-$26,000
Diego Brandao$15,000$15,000$30,000
$14,000-$14,000
$18,000$18,000$36,000
Jamie Varner$10,000-$10,000
$20,000$20,000$40,000
Jason Miller$45,000-$45,000
$25,000$25,000$50,000
$18,000-$18,000
$10,000$10,000$20,000
$20,000-$20,000
$15,000$15,000$30,000
$12,000-$12,000
Mike Brown$26,000$26,000$52,000
Daniel Pineda$10,000-$10,000

References

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