UFC 97

Background

This event broke the UFC attendance record that was set 364 days earlier in Montreal at UFC 83.

Due to time constraints, the preliminary bout between Sam Stout and Matt Wiman was moved to the main card, resulting in a six-fight live main card.

Sanctioning and rules controversy

On February 12, 2009, reports surfaced that province regulators ("Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux", or RACJ) requested a set of rule changes that differ from the Unified Rules of MMA put the event at risk from taking place. The proposed rule changes banned elbow and knee strikes, mandated a smaller cage, and would stop a fight when a fighter gets knocked down. Before, the RACJ has followed the Unified Rules, but as laws differ by city, state, or province, a commission can insist on the usage of its own rules.

On February 18, 2009, it was announced that UFC officials were able to convince the RACJ to reverse its stand and use the Unified Rules. As a concession, the UFC agreed to the banning of foot stomps for this event.

Results

|Middleweight |Anderson Silva (c) |def. |Thales Leites |Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 48–47, 50–46) |5 |5:00 |For the UFC Middleweight Championship. |Lightweight |Sam Stout |def. |Matt Wiman |Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) |3 |5:00 | |Light Heavyweight |Maurício Rua |def. |Chuck Liddell |TKO (punches) |1 |4:28 | |Light Heavyweight |Krzysztof Soszynski |def. |Brian Stann |Submission (kimura) |1 |3:53 | |Heavyweight |Cheick Kongo |def. |Antoni Hardonk |TKO (punches) |2 |2:29 | |Light Heavyweight |Luiz Cane |def. |Steve Cantwell |Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) |3 |5:00 | |Middleweight |Denis Kang |def. |Xavier Foupa-Pokam |Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) |3 |5:00 | |Middleweight |Nate Quarry |def. |Jason MacDonald |TKO (elbows) |1 |2:27 | |Middleweight |Ed Herman |def. |David Loiseau |Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–27, 30–27) |3 |5:00 | |Catchweight (157) |Mark Bocek |def. |David Bielkheden |Submission (rear-naked choke) |1 |4:57 |Bielkheden did not make the 156 pound lightweight limit, weighing in at 157 pounds. |Welterweight |T. J. Grant |def. |Ryo Chonan |Decision (split) (30–27, 28–29, 29–28) |3 |5:00 | |Light Heavyweight |Eliot Marshall |def. |Vinny Magalhães |Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–27, 30–27) |3 |5:00 |

Bonus awards

The following fighters received $70,000 bonuses.

• Fight of the Night: Sam Stout vs. Matt Wiman
• Knockout of the Night: Maurício Rua
• Submission of the Night: Krzysztof Soszynski

References

References

1. Meltzer, Dave. (2010-02-15). "UFC remains king of PPV hill". sports.yahoo.com.
2. "UFC 97: Redemption". tapology.com.
3. Pishna, Ken. (February 12, 2009). "Possible Rule Changes Put UFC 97 in Jeopardy". MMAWeekly.com.
4. (February 12, 2009). "Possible Quebec Athletic Commission rule changes puts UFC 97 in jeopardy". FightTrend.com.
5. "UFC's Montreal in jeopardy?". Sportsnet.ca.
6. Holland, Jesse. (February 18, 2009). "UFC 97 to remain in Montreal on April 18". MMAmania.com.
7. (April 18, 2009). "UFC 97 bonuses: Rua, Soszynski, Stout and Wiman each earn $70K awards". MMAjunkie.com.