UFC 15.5

UFC Japan: Ultimate Japan (also known as UFC 15.5) was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 21, 1997, in Yokohama, Japan. The event was seen on pay per view in the United States, on cable TV in Japan, and was later released on home video.

History

The event featured a four man heavyweight tournament, the first ever UFC Middleweight Championship bout, a Heavyweight Championship bout, a Superfight and an alternate bout. Ultimate Japan 1 featured the first UFC appearance of MMA legends Kazushi Sakuraba and Frank Shamrock.

The event was the first appearance of longtime UFC announcer Mike Goldberg, who replaced Bruce Beck as the play by play announcer. Another notable first was the use of unique entry music for each fighter, though this was not repeated in UFC 16.

Sakuraba's Tale

In an attempt to gain attention for the Japanese Kingdom Pro Wrestling, Hiromitsu Kanehara and Yoji Anjoh signed on to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship's Ultimate Japan tournament. As fate would have it, Kanehara was injured in his training for the tournament, and Kazushi Sakuraba wound up as his late hour substitute. The tournament was intended for heavyweights, and Sakuraba, at 183 pounds, was nearly twenty pounds beneath the UFC's 200 pound designation for the weight class. Reporting himself as 203 pounds in order to gain entry, Sakuraba was paired off against the 243 pound Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blackbelt and former Extreme Fighting champion, Marcus Silveira.

Following a barrage of blows by Silveira, Sakuraba dropped for a low-single, only for the fight to be prematurely ended on a KO. Referee John McCarthy had mistakenly thought Sakuraba to have been knocked out. A loud protest followed from the crowd and an angry Sakuraba attempted unsuccessfully to take the microphone and address the Japanese audience. However, after reviewing tape, McCarthy changed his decision to a no-contest. Tank Abbott, who had earlier defeated Yoji Anjo, dropped from the tournament due to an injured hand, leaving Sakuraba and Silveira to face off once more that night in what would be the championship bout of the tournament. This time, Sakuraba claimed the victory, submitting Silveira with an armbar. Afterwards, Sakuraba famously stated, "In fact, professional wrestling is strong".

Results

Alternate Bout

* United States Tra Telligman vs. United States Brad Kohler

Telligman wins by submission (armbar) at 10:10.

Middleweight Championship Bout

* United States Frank Shamrock vs. United States Kevin Jackson

Shamrock wins by submission (armbar) at 0:16

Frank Shamrock claimed the inaugural UFC Middleweight Championship with this victory. After UFC 31, the UFC changed this weight class to the light-heavyweight class and the accompanying title to the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.

Superfight

* Superfight: Brazil Vitor Belfort vs. United States Joe Charles

Belfort wins by submission (armbar) at 4:04.

Heavyweight Championship Bout

* United States Randy Couture vs. United States Maurice Smith

Couture wins by majority decision at 21:00.

UFC Japan Tournament

	Semifinals					Finals

	Kazushi Sakuraba
	Marcus Silveira
						Kazushi Sakuraba
						Marcus Silveira
	Tank Abbott
	Yoji Anjo

Heavyweight Semifinals

* Japan Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Brazil Marcus Silveira

Ruled a No Contest (referee stopped the bout early at 1:51)

* United States David "Tank" Abbott vs. Japan Yoji Anjo

Abbott wins a unanimous decision at 15:00. Abbott is unable to continue in the tournament due to a broken hand.

Heavyweight Finals