UFC 97
UFC 97: Redemption (not to be confused with UFC 17: Redemption) was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on April 18, 2009 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It broke the UFC attendance record that was set 364 days earlier in Montreal at UFC 83, by 61 people.
Results
Preliminary card
* Light Heavyweight bout: Brazil Vinicius Magalhães vs. United States Eliot Marshall
Marshall defeated Magalhães via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–28).
* Welterweight bout: Japan Ryo Chonan vs. Canada TJ Grant
Grant defeated Chonan via split decision (30–27, 29–28, 28–29).
* Lightweight bout: Canada Mark Bocek vs. Sweden David Bielkheden
Bocek defeated Bielkheden via submission (rear naked choke) at 4:57 of round 1.
* Middleweight bout: Canada David Loiseau vs. United States Ed Herman
Herman defeated Loiseau via unanimous decision (30–26, 30–27, 30–27).
* Middleweight bout: Canada Jason MacDonald vs. United States Nate Quarry
Quarry defeated MacDonald via TKO (elbows) at 2:27 of round 1.
* Middleweight bout: Canada Denis Kang vs. France Xavier Foupa-Pokam
Kang defeated Foupa-Pokam via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).
Main card
* Light Heavyweight bout: United States Steve Cantwell vs. Brazil Luiz Arthur Cane
Cane defeated Cantwell via unanimous decision (29–28, 30–27, 30–27).
* Heavyweight bout: France Cheick Kongo vs. Netherlands Antoni Hardonk
Kongo defeated Hardonk via TKO (strikes) at 2:29 of round 2.
* Light Heavyweight bout: Canada Krzysztof Soszynski vs. United States Brian Stann
Soszynski defeated Stann via submission (kimura) at 3:53 of round 1.
* Light Heavyweight bout: United States Chuck Liddell vs. Brazil Mauricio Rua
Rua defeated Liddell via TKO (strikes) at 4:28 of round 1.
* Lightweight bout: Canada Sam Stout vs. United States Matt Wiman
Stout defeated Wiman via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28). This bout was originally scheduled for the preliminary card but was moved to the main card due to time constraints.
* Middleweight Championship bout: Brazil Anderson Silva (c) vs. Brazil Thales Leites
Silva defeated Leites via unanimous decision (49–46, 48–47, 50–46) to retain the Middleweight Championship.
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.
* Fight of the Night: Canada Sam Stout vs. United States Matt Wiman
* Knockout of the Night: Brazil Mauricio Rua
* Submission of the Night: Poland Krzysztof Soszynski
