UFC 17.5
UFC Brazil: Ultimate Brazil (also known as UFC 17.5) was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship in São Paulo, Brazil on October 16th, 1998. The event was seen on pay per view in the United States and Brazil, and was later released on home video.
History
Ultimate Brazil was the first appearance of the UFC in Brazil, and the third UFC event to take place outside of the US. Ultimate Brazil marked the first UFC event (other than UFC 9) to not utilize the tournament format, which aside from UFC 23, was abandoned completely in following events. The event featured the first ever UFC Lightweight Championship fight, as well as a Middleweight Championship fight.
Ultimate Brazil was part one of what the UFC called "The Road To The Heavyweight Title" (not to be confused with the event of the same name), a tournament of sorts, spanning four events, to crown the new UFC Heavyweight Champion following Randy Couture's relinquishing of the belt.
UFC Brazil marked the first appearance of Pedro Rizzo, who would go on to become a top UFC heavyweight contender. The event also featured the first appearance of former PRIDE Middleweight Champion Wanderlei Silva.
UFC Brazil caused controversy due to the fact that the Brazilian flag was wrongly represented on the promotional material. The flag is composed of 27 stars in the lower part of the blue circle and one lone star in the top half that symbolizes the city of Brasília.
Results
Alternate Bouts
* Brazil Tulio Palhares vs. Brazil Adriano Santos
Palhares wins by TKO (referee stoppage due to strikes) at 9:00.
* Brazil Cesar Marscucci vs. Brazil Paulo Santos
Marscucci wins by TKO due to strikes at 10:27.
Main Card
* Middleweight Bout: Brazil Ebenezer Fontes Braga vs. United States Jeremy Horn
Braga wins by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:28.
* Heavyweight Bout: Japan Tsuyoshi Kosaka vs. United States Pete Williams
Kosaka wins by unanimous decision at 15:00.
* Lightweight Championship Bout: United States Pat Miletich vs. United States Mikey Burnett
Miletich wins by split decision at 21:00.
* Heavyweight Bout: Brazil Pedro Rizzo vs. United States David "Tank" Abbott
Rizzo wins by KO at 8:07.
* Middleweight Bout: Brazil Vitor Belfort vs. Brazil Wanderlei Silva
Belfort wins by TKO (referee stoppage due to strikes) at 0:44.
* Middleweight Championship Bout: United States Frank Shamrock (c) vs. United States John Lober
Shamrock wins by submission (strikes) at 7:41.
