UFC 18
UFC 18: The Road to the Heavyweight Title was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on January 8, 1999 at the Pontchartrain Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event was seen live on pay per view in the United States, and later released on home video.
History
The event featured a UFC Lightweight Championship bout and six other bouts. UFC 18 was technically part two of what the UFC called "The Road To The Heavyweight Title", a tournament, spanning four events, held to crown the new UFC Heavyweight Champion after the title was vacated by Randy Couture.
Part one was held at UFC Brazil, with Tsuyoshi Kosaka taking a win to advance to UFC 18. UFC 18 featured the first US appearance of MMA legend Bas Rutten, and the first appearance of the late Evan Tanner, who would go on to become the UFC Middleweight Champion.
Results
* Alternate bout: United States Laverne Clark vs. United States Frank Caracci
Clark wins by submission due to strikes at 6:59.
* Middleweight bout: United States Evan Tanner vs. United States Darrel Gholar
Tanner wins by submission (rear naked choke) at 7:57.
* Lightweight bout: United States Mikey Burnett vs. United States Townsend Saunders
Mikey Burnett wins by unanimous decision at 15:00.
* Middleweight bout: United States Tito Ortiz vs. United States Jerry Bohlander
Ortiz wins by TKO (doctor stoppage due to cut) at 14:31.
* Heavyweight bout: Brazil Pedro Rizzo vs. United States Mark Coleman
Rizzo wins by split decision at 15:00.
* Lightweight Championship bout: United States Pat Miletich vs. Brazil Jorge Patino
Miletich wins by unanimous decision at 21:00.
* Heavyweight bout: Netherlands Bas Rutten vs. Japan Tsuyoshi Kosaka
Rutten wins by TKO (referee stoppage due to strikes) at 14:15.
