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UFC 79
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UFC 79: Nemesis
The poster for UFC 79: Nemesis
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateDecember 29, 2007
VenueMandalay Bay Events Center
CityLas Vegas, Nevada
Attendance11,075 (10,968 paid)
Total gate$4,994,000
Buyrate650,000[1]
Event chronology
The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra Finale UFC 79: Nemesis UFC 80: Rapid Fire

UFC 79: Nemesis was a mixed martial arts (MMA) event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), that took place on December 29, 2007, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.[2]

Background

[edit]

The main events featured the fight between Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva,[3] as well as the rubber match between former UFC Welterweight Champions Georges St-Pierre and Matt Hughes for the interim Welterweight championship.[4]

Additionally, Pride Light Heavyweight Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou made his UFC debut against undefeated Lyoto Machida.[5]

The main event was originally scheduled to have The Ultimate Fighter 6 coaches Matt Serra and Matt Hughes for Serra's UFC Welterweight Championship, which Serra won at UFC 69: Shootout on April 7, 2007, in an upset victory over Georges St-Pierre.[2] Serra, however, withdrew from the fight due to a back injury,[6] Serra was replaced by St-Pierre, though the fight would now be contested for the interim Welterweight Championship, with the winner facing Serra afterwards.

Results

[edit]
Main card
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Welterweight Georges St-Pierre def. Matt Hughes Submission (armbar) 2 4:54 [a]
Light Heavyweight Chuck Liddell def. Wanderlei Silva Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Heavyweight Eddie Sanchez def. Soa Palelei TKO (punches) 3 3:24
Light Heavyweight Lyoto Machida def. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou Submission (arm-triangle choke) 2 4:20
Lightweight Rich Clementi def. Melvin Guillard Submission (rear-naked choke) 1 4:40
Preliminary card
Light Heavyweight James Irvin def. Luiz Cane Disqualification (illegal knee) 1 1:51
Lightweight Manvel Gamburyan def. Nate Mohr Submission (ankle lock) 1 1:31 [b]
Middleweight Dean Lister def. Jordan Radev Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Welterweight Roan Carneiro def. Tony DeSouza TKO (punches) 2 3:33
Lightweight Mark Bocek def. Doug Evans Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
  1. ^ For the interim UFC Welterweight Championship.
  2. ^ This bout was aired on the broadcast following the St-Pierre vs Hughes bout.

Bonus awards

[edit]

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[7]

  • Fight of the Night: Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva
  • Knockout of the Night: Eddie Sanchez
  • Submission of the Night: Georges St-Pierre

See also

[edit]

References

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

UFC 79

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
UFC 79: Nemesis was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on December 29, 2007, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Paradise, Nevada, marking the promotion's final pay-per-view of the year. The event was headlined by a welterweight interim title bout between former champion Georges St-Pierre and Matt Hughes, stemming from champion Matt Serra's back injury that forced him to vacate the main event slot; St-Pierre defeated Hughes via armbar submission at 4:54 of the second round, securing the interim belt and improving his trilogy record against Hughes to 2-1. The co-main event featured a long-awaited light heavyweight clash between former UFC champion Chuck Liddell and Pride FC veteran Wanderlei Silva, delayed for years due to organizational differences; Liddell won by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) in a high-intensity three-round battle that earned Fight of the Night honors and helped Liddell snap a two-fight losing skid. Other notable main card bouts included Lyoto Machida's second-round submission (arm-triangle choke) victory over Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Rich Clementi's first-round submission (rear-naked choke) of Melvin Guillard, and Eddie Sanchez's third-round TKO (punches) of Soa Palelei, showcasing emerging talents in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. UFC 79 drew significant attention for bridging rival promotions through the Liddell-Silva matchup and advancing the division's narrative toward St-Pierre's eventual undisputed title reign, while the undercard highlighted international fighters like Brazilian and Peruvian Tony De Souza in a bout won by Carneiro via TKO. The event underscored the UFC's growing mainstream appeal in 2007, featuring 5 main card fights on , with 6 preliminary bouts.

Event Details

Date and Venue

UFC 79 took place on December 29, 2007, at the Events Center in , . The venue, a prominent multi-purpose arena known for hosting high-profile combat sports, was configured specifically for events.

Promotion and Broadcast

UFC 79, subtitled "," was named to evoke the themes of and revenge central to its marquee bouts, including the rubber match between contenders and Matt Hughes, as well as the highly anticipated showdown between legends and . The event was officially announced on October 25, 2007, through a UFC media hosted by President and featuring key fighters Liddell, , and to generate early buzz around the card's star-driven matchups. Promotional activities ramped up with the release of an official video trailer on November 22, 2007, followed by the "Countdown to UFC 79" preview special airing on Spike TV on December 26, 2007, at 11 p.m. ET, which highlighted the historical stakes and fighter narratives to build viewer excitement. A final took place on December 27, 2007, in , further amplifying hype through fighter face-offs and media interactions. Marketing campaigns positioned UFC 79 as a pivotal year-end within the UFC's schedule, with significant emphasis on the crossover appeal of the Liddell-Silva "dream fight," a long-sought matchup between UFC's former champion and PRIDE's iconic striker that had tantalized fans for years. The preliminary card aired on Spike TV starting at 9 p.m. ET, preceding the main card, which aired live on pay-per-view starting at 10 p.m. ET on December 29, 2007, from the Events Center in Paradise, with play-by-play commentary by , color analysis by , and post-fight interviews conducted by .

Background

Welterweight Division Context

The welterweight division in late 2007 was marked by significant upheaval following Matt Serra's unexpected capture of the undisputed UFC welterweight championship earlier that year at , where he defeated the previously dominant via first-round knockout. As the new champion, Serra was scheduled to defend his title against former two-time welterweight champion Matt Hughes in the main event of UFC 79, a matchup anticipated to test Serra's credentials against one of the division's most accomplished grapplers. However, Serra suffered a severe back injury—a herniated disc—during training, forcing him to withdraw from the bout just weeks before the event and leaving the title defense in jeopardy. In response to Serra's injury, the UFC pivoted to an interim between Hughes and St-Pierre, elevating the stakes of what would become their third professional encounter and providing a pathway for the eventual unification of the belts upon Serra's recovery. Their had already defined much of the division's narrative: Hughes had submitted St-Pierre in the first round at in October 2004, establishing his unchallenged reign as the era's premier welterweight with a record of seven successful title defenses characterized by his elite wrestling and ground control. St-Pierre, then an emerging talent, rebounded decisively by knocking out Hughes in the second round at in November 2006 to claim the title, fueling a personal quest for redemption after the earlier defeat. This interim bout underscored the division's transitional state, with Serra's sidelining creating an urgent need to maintain momentum and crown a placeholder champion capable of defending the interim belt until a unification fight could occur. Hughes, at 34, represented the old guard's enduring legacy, having dominated the 170-pound weight class throughout the early with a style that emphasized physicality and mat mastery, while the 26-year-old St-Pierre embodied the division's evolving future as a versatile striker and wrestler seeking to solidify his status as the next great champion. The matchup not only addressed the immediate vacancy but also reignited a storied central to the landscape, promising to shape the division's direction amid Serra's absence.

Light Heavyweight Rivalries

The co-main event of UFC 79 featured a highly anticipated superfight between former UFC light heavyweight champion and former middleweight champion , pitting icons from rival promotions against each other in a clash of aggressive striking styles. Liddell, known for his precise and knockout power, faced Silva, renowned for his relentless forward pressure and aggression, in a matchup that embodied the UFC- rivalry. Talks of this dream bout dated back to 2003, when Liddell competed in 's Middleweight Grand Prix with the potential to face Silva in the finals, though Quinton Jackson's upset victory over Liddell prevented it. Negotiations resurfaced multiple times, including a verbal agreement in July 2007 for , but fell through due to contractual issues; the fight was finally realized after Zuffa LLC's acquisition of FC in March 2007, which integrated Silva into the UFC roster and positioned the bout as a symbolic "nemesis" encounter between the promotions' flagship strikers. Adding to the light heavyweight intrigue was Lyoto Machida's bout against debuting Rameau Thierry , a Cameroonian ka who had generated buzz with stunning upsets in FC earlier that year. , a 2001 U.S. Open champion, shocked the MMA world by knocking out Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in just 23 seconds at in February 2007, followed by a quick submission win over at : Kamikaze in April 2007, earning him the nickname "The African Assassin" and a high-profile UFC debut opposite the undefeated, karate-based Machida. This matchup highlighted the influx of talent post-acquisition, testing Sokoudjou's explosive power against Machida's elusive counterstriking in a pivotal moment for the division's evolving landscape. The undercard further showcased rising prospects with Luiz Cane facing James Irvin, positioning the undefeated Brazilian as a momentum-builder against the experienced American. Cane entered UFC 79 on an eight-fight winning streak, including a first-round of James Damien Stelly in September 2007 under the Art of War promotion, marking him as a promising striker with submission skills eager to make an impact in his debut. Irvin, a TUF 6 contestant with a background in wrestling and , was selected as a stern test for Cane, bringing his own pedigree from prior UFC appearances to create a high-stakes prospect clash that underscored the division's depth.

Results

Main Card Outcomes

The main card of UFC 79 opened with a lightweight bout between and . Clementi controlled the fight early with grappling, securing a rear-naked choke submission victory at 4:40 of the first round. Next, undefeated faced Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, who had recently scored back-to-back first-round knockouts in Pride FC. Machida weathered an early storm before taking the fight to the ground, where he locked in an arm-triangle choke for the submission at 4:20 of the second round. In the heavyweight matchup, took on in a battle of debuting fighters. Sanchez survived Palelei's early aggression and turned the tide with ground-and-pound, earning a TKO stoppage via punches at 3:24 of the third round. The co-main event featured a highly anticipated light heavyweight clash between former champion and . The fight was a stand-up war marked by heavy exchanges, with Liddell landing more effective strikes to secure a victory (30-27, 30-27, 29-28). The main event was a welterweight interim between and Matt Hughes, their third meeting. St-Pierre dominated with wrestling and striking before transitioning to an armbar submission at 4:54 of the second round to claim the interim UFC Championship.

Preliminary Card Outcomes

The preliminary card at UFC 79 featured five bouts involving a mix of UFC veterans and prospects, primarily in the and divisions, with several fights ending abruptly due to submissions or stoppages. One notable upset came in the form of a rare disqualification, underscoring the strict enforcement of rules in the . These undercard matchups provided competitive action for the live audience at Events Center, though they drew less attention than the star-studded main card. The results were as follows:
Weight ClassResultMethodRoundTime
Mark Bocek def. Doug Evans (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)35:00
def. Tony De SouzaTKO (punches)23:33
def. Jordan Radev (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)35:00
def. Nate MohrSubmission (ankle lock)11:31
James Irvin def. Luiz CaneDisqualification (illegal knee to grounded opponent)11:51
The Irvin-Cane fight ended controversially when Cane delivered a to Irvin's head while he was grounded, resulting in the stoppage and awarding the win to Irvin despite Cane's early dominance. Gamburyan's quick submission showcased his wrestling background from , while Lister's decision win relied on consistent control against the Bulgarian judoka Radev. Carneiro's TKO came after weathering an early storm from De Souza, finishing with ground-and-pound strikes. Bocek controlled the fight with to earn a over Evans.

Aftermath

Title and Division Impacts

Georges St-Pierre's submission victory over Matt Hughes via armbar in the second round at UFC 79 secured him the interim UFC championship, a title created due to reigning champion Matt Serra's back injury—a herniated disc sustained during training that sidelined him indefinitely. This outcome positioned St-Pierre for a unification bout against Serra at in April 2008, where he would reclaim the undisputed title, while Hughes' defeat in their trilogy fight effectively halted his immediate path to championship contention, shifting his focus to non-title matchups in subsequent events. In the light heavyweight division, Chuck Liddell's unanimous decision win (29–28, 30–27, 30–27) over marked a career revival following back-to-back losses to and , restoring his status as a top contender and leading to a title challenge against at UFC 88. Conversely, Silva's defeat in his UFC debut exposed early adaptation challenges from his Pride FC background, contributing to a rocky 1–7 record in his first eight appearances amid struggles with weight cuts and stylistic adjustments. Lyoto Machida's second-round arm-triangle submission of Rameau Thierry further entrenched his undefeated streak at 12–0, elevating his profile as an elusive counterstriker and paving the way for high-profile bouts against contenders like . Beyond the headline divisions, Eddie Sanchez's third-round TKO (punches) upset of favored heavyweight Soa "The Hulk" Palelei—a durable striker returning from a three-year —highlighted undercard potential and brought greater visibility to emerging heavyweights, with Sanchez earning of the Night honors for the gritty exchange. Overall, UFC 79's lineup of MMA icons and competitive outcomes bolstered the promotion's momentum, a pivotal year marked by record pay-per-view buys and mainstream breakthroughs like coverage, solidifying UFC's trajectory toward global dominance.

Fighter Career Developments

Georges St-Pierre's dominant submission victory over Matt Hughes at UFC 79 secured him the UFC Interim Welterweight Championship and marked the beginning of an unparalleled 12-fight that solidified his status as the division's premier talent. This performance directly paved the way for his unification bout against champion at in April 2008, where he reclaimed the undisputed belt via second-round TKO, initiating a reign that included nine successful defenses over the next five years against elite contenders such as , , Thiago Alves, and . St-Pierre's tactical mastery and physical evolution post-UFC 79 not only established him as a dominant champion but also positioned him for a historic win against in 2017, capping a career defined by resilience and excellence. Chuck Liddell's unanimous decision win over at UFC 79 ended a two-fight skid following title-losing defeats to and , reigniting his contention status in the light heavyweight division and earning him a high-profile matchup against at in September 2008, billed as a critical step toward another championship opportunity. Although Liddell fell to Evans via first-round , the victory over Silva provided a temporary career resurgence, allowing him one final push for relevance before consecutive losses to Mauricio Rua at and at led to his retirement announcement in 2010. This bout highlighted Liddell's enduring drawing power and striking prowess amid declining durability, influencing his transition to a prominent role as UFC Executive Vice President of Business Development. Lyoto Machida's second-round arm-triangle submission of Rameau Thierry at UFC 79 reinforced his undefeated record and elusive fighting style, blending karate precision with submissions, which quickly elevated him from promising newcomer to top contender in the ranks. Building on this momentum, Machida defeated by unanimous decision at UFC 84 in May 2008 and by first-round at in January 2009, then claimed the UFC Championship with a second-round of at in May 2009. This was followed by victories over at UFC 109 in February 2010, at in April 2011, and later Mark Munoz by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 30 in October 2013 after moving to . The performance against cemented Machida's "The Dragon" moniker and his reputation for unorthodox counterstriking, setting the stage for a title reign that showcased his tactical innovation until losses to Mauricio Rua in 2011. Rameau Thierry entered UFC 79 riding immense hype from his 2007 FC knockouts of and , positioning him as a potential star, but his submission loss to Machida abruptly tempered expectations and shifted his UFC trajectory toward damage control. Despite the setback, rebounded with a victory over Kazuhiro Nakamura at UFC 84 in May 2008, demonstrating resilience, only to suffer a second-round TKO defeat to Luiz Cane at in October 2008, after which the UFC released him amid a 1-2 overall record. This rapid rise and fall underscored the challenges of transitioning from 's grand prix format to UFC's structured matchmaking, leading to pursue opportunities in organizations like Affliction, DREAM, and KSW, where he later captured the KSW title in 2011. James Irvin's disqualification victory over Luiz Cane at UFC 79, stemming from an illegal knee to the head while Irvin was grounded, sparked controversy as many argued the bout should have been ruled a no-contest given Irvin's visible distress from prior exchanges, yet it granted him a hard-fought win that briefly boosted his profile. Capitalizing on the result, Irvin delivered an explosive 21-second knockout of at UFC Fight Night 13 in April 2008, showcasing his knockout power, but his UFC tenure unraveled with a first-round TKO loss to at UFC Fight Night 14 in July 2008, followed by a suspension for testing positive for anabolic steroids, which contributed to his release and a truncated stay in the promotion. These events highlighted Irvin's athletic potential marred by inconsistencies and external issues, limiting him to sporadic returns in regional circuits thereafter.

Financial Aspects

Attendance and Gate Revenue

UFC 79, held at the Events Center in , , on December 29, 2007, drew an official attendance of 11,075 spectators, including 10,968 paid attendees. The event generated a live gate revenue of $4,994,000 from ticket sales, marking the largest reported U.S. MMA gate of 2007 and underscoring the promotion's rising commercial appeal during that period. The pay-per-view broadcast achieved an estimated buyrate of 650,000 buys, reflecting significant viewer interest driven by the main event matchup between and Matt Hughes for the interim title, as well as the light heavyweight clash between and . This figure positioned UFC 79 as a strong performer among 2007 UFC events, benefiting from the organization's expansion following its acquisition by and the popularity surge from series.

Payouts and Bonuses

The disclosed fighter payroll for UFC 79 totaled $1,199,000, excluding undisclosed incentives, sponsorship earnings, licensing fees, or taxes. This figure represented base salaries and win bonuses for the event's 20 participants, with compensation varying significantly by fighter prominence and bout outcome. Among the highest earners, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion received a base salary of $500,000 for his unanimous decision victory over , marking the event's top payout. In the welterweight co-main event, earned $160,000 ($80,000 show purse plus $80,000 win bonus) for submitting Matt Hughes to claim the interim UFC , while Hughes received $100,000 for the loss. Other notable payouts included Lyoto Machida's $60,000 ($30,000 show plus $30,000 win bonus) for defeating Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, and Eddie Sanchez's $46,000 ($23,000 show plus $23,000 win bonus) for his preliminary card win. Lower-card fighters, such as prelim bout losers like and Nate Mohr, earned modest flat purses of $5,000 and $6,000, respectively, illustrating the wide disparity in UFC compensation structures during this era. UFC distributed $200,000 in performance bonuses at the post-event , adhering to the promotion's standard $50,000 awards per category introduced in . The Fight of the Night bonus went to Liddell and for their highly anticipated, back-and-forth clash, with each receiving $50,000. Knockout of the Night was awarded to Sanchez for his third-round TKO of Palelei, earning him an additional $50,000. St-Pierre claimed Submission of the Night honors—and another $50,000—for his second-round armbar finish of Hughes, underscoring the UFC's emphasis on incentivizing decisive and entertaining performances.

References

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  2. https://www.ufc.com/news/end-year-rewind-ufc-79
  3. https://www.sherdog.com/events/UFC-79-Nemesis-5458
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  10. https://www.mmamania.com/2007/12/26/201634/watch-ufc-79-weigh-in-for-nemesis-online-and-other-event-info
  11. https://www.ufc.com/news/flashback-matt-serra-takes-aim-georges-st-pierre-title
  12. https://www.mmafighting.com/2007/11/25/ufc-79-with-matt-serra-injured-georges-st-pierre-to-fight-matt
  13. https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/back-injury-forces-serra-title-defense--mma.html
  14. https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-The-Numbers-Georges-St-PierreMatt-Hughes-Trilogy-188157
  15. https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/bouts/2622-ufc-50-matt-hughes-vs-georges-rush-st-pierre-i
  16. https://www.ufc.com/video/45869
  17. https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/2335661/matt-hughes
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  19. https://www.espn.com/sports/news/story?id=2814235
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  21. https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Rameau-Thierry-Sokoudjou-17010
  22. https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Luiz-Cane-17559
  23. https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-79-Nemesis-PlaybyPlay-10598
  24. http://ufcstats.com/event-details/7269329bd87eb479
  25. http://ufcstats.com/fight-details/b03816c9ccd089d7
  26. http://ufcstats.com/fight-details/478b0eaf22475be0
  27. http://ufcstats.com/fight-details/2b2a50d442da2b84
  28. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/mma/2007/12/29/ufc-79-round-by-round-updates-and-live-results/82562733007/
  29. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/165160-matt-hughes-vs-matt-serra-an-in-depth-look
  30. https://www.mmamania.com/2007/12/30/201804/ufc-79-recap-and-final-thoughts-on-nemesis
  31. http://ufcstats.com/fight-details/6d691b736d8c98b0
  32. https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/mma-ufc/ufcs-top-ten-cards/
  33. https://www.ufc.com/news/top-500-ufc-moments-list
  34. https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Georges-St-Pierre-3500
  35. https://www.ufc.com/news/epic-ufc-trilogies-mcgregor-poirier-miocic-cormier-liddell-couture-st-pierre-hughes
  36. https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Chuck-Liddell-192
  37. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2008/09/ufc-88-preview-final-hurdle-to-title-shot-awaits-chuck-liddell
  38. https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Lyoto-Machida-7513
  39. https://www.ufc.com/news/complete-machida
  40. https://www.mmamania.com/2008/11/28/195531/rameau-thierry-sokoudjou-released-from-the-ufc
  41. https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/James-Irvin-7780
  42. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2007/12/ufc-79-earns-49-million-gate
  43. https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/events/ufc-79-nemesis
  44. https://bloodyelbow.com/2008/02/25/7475/
  45. https://www.mmamania.com/2007/12/31/201663/ufc-79-fighter-paydays-and-salaries-for-nemesis
  46. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2007/12/chuck-liddell-earns-event-best-500000-in-ufc-79-victory
  47. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2007/12/ufc-issues-200000-in-ufc-79-bonuses
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