UFC 120
UFC 120: Bisping vs. Akiyama was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) that took place on October 16, 2010, at The O2 Arena in London, England.[1] The event featured 10 bouts, with the main card broadcast on pay-per-view following prelims on Spike TV, drawing a crowd to witness a mix of decision victories, knockouts, submissions, and one draw.[1] It marked the UFC's return to London since UFC 95 in February 2009, showcasing a blend of international talent and emerging stars in divisions from lightweight to heavyweight.[2] The main event pitted British middleweight Michael Bisping against Japanese fighter Yoshihiro Akiyama in a highly anticipated matchup, with Bisping emerging victorious via unanimous decision after three rounds of technical striking and grappling exchanges marred by occasional fouls like eye-pokes.[1] In the co-main event, American welterweight Carlos Condit delivered a stunning first-round TKO over England's Dan Hardy with a series of knees and punches, earning Performance of the Night honors.[1] Other notable results included Alexander Gustafsson's second-round submission win over Cyrille Diabaté in the light heavyweight division, signaling the start of Gustafsson's rise in the UFC, and a controversial majority draw between heavyweights Cheick Kongo and Travis Browne after a competitive three-round affair.[2] Fight of the Night was awarded to the main event between Michael Bisping and Yoshihiro Akiyama.[1] The undercard featured quick finishes, such as Paul Sass's first-round submission of Mark Holst and Fabio Maldonado's third-round TKO of James McSweeney, contributing to the event's reputation for diverse and action-packed outcomes; the welterweight bout between John Hathaway and Mike Pyle also went to a unanimous decision victory for Pyle in a back-and-forth battle of wrestling and striking.[1] Overall, UFC 120 highlighted the growing global appeal of the UFC in Europe, with Bisping's win boosting his profile as a top middleweight contender.[3]Event Overview
Date, Location, and Format
UFC 120 was held on October 16, 2010, at The O2 Arena in London, England.[1] This marked the fourth time the Ultimate Fighting Championship had hosted an event at the venue, following UFC 75, UFC 85, and UFC 95, and represented the eighth UFC event overall in the United Kingdom.[4] The event formed part of the UFC's ongoing expansion efforts in the UK, building on the success of UFC 105 in Manchester the prior year by showcasing a strong contingent of British and international mixed martial artists.[5] As a numbered pay-per-view event, UFC 120 followed the standard UFC format for such cards, consisting of 10 total bouts divided between a main card of five fights available via pay-per-view television and a preliminary card of five bouts.[6] All contests adhered to the unified mixed martial arts rules, with fights structured in three five-minute rounds for non-title bouts.Broadcast and Fan Expo
UFC 120 was broadcast live on pay-per-view in North America, featuring the main card starting at 3:00 p.m. ET on October 16, 2010. The main card aired on a same-day tape delay on Spike TV in the United States, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET, to accommodate prime time viewing despite the time difference from the event's London location. The preliminary card was not televised. Internationally, the event received live coverage through broadcast partners, including ESPN in the United Kingdom, where it aligned with local prime time viewing.[7] Coinciding with UFC 120, the promotion hosted its first-ever UFC Fan Expo in the United Kingdom, held on October 15 and 16, 2010, at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London. The two-day event featured interactive seminars, autograph sessions with UFC fighters, vendor booths showcasing MMA merchandise, and appearances by UFC executives such as Lorenzo Fertitta. Designed to engage and expand the growing UK fanbase, the expo drew thousands of attendees and included participation from over 20 fighters, including Michael Bisping and international stars like Jon Fitch.Background
Main Event and Co-Main Event
The main event for UFC 120 was a middleweight bout between England's Michael Bisping and Japan's Yoshihiro Akiyama, officially announced on July 20, 2010, as the headline fight for the October 16 event at The O2 Arena in London.[8][4] Bisping, a former The Ultimate Fighter winner and rising star in the division, was positioned as the local favorite to energize the UK audience, drawing on his aggressive striking style and vocal personality to build anticipation.[8] Akiyama, known for his judo background and explosive grappling, brought international appeal as a seasoned competitor seeking to rebound from recent setbacks.[9] The co-main event featured a welterweight clash between British fighter Dan Hardy and American Carlos Condit, confirmed alongside the main event announcement in July 2010, though the matchup had been targeted as early as late June.[4][10] Originally, Hardy was slated to face Dustin Hazelett, but Hazelett withdrew in May due to a scheduling conflict with his wedding, prompting UFC officials to seek a replacement and ultimately pairing Hardy with the former WEC champion Condit.[11] Hardy, dubbed "The Outlaw" for his knockout power and brash trash-talking, represented another key UK presence on the card, while Condit's well-rounded skill set, including sharp submissions and knockout ability, promised a high-stakes striking battle.[10] These top fights underscored UFC's strategic push into Europe, particularly the UK market, by spotlighting local talent like Bisping and Hardy to foster fan engagement without a championship on the line—differing from prior UK events that had featured title bouts.[12] UFC executive Marshall Zelaznik highlighted the event's role in broader continental expansion, aiming to build on previous London successes and establish the promotion's foothold amid growing international interest.[12] The pairings generated significant pre-fight hype through media appearances and promotional tours, emphasizing national pride and stylistic contrasts to draw record crowds.[4]Injuries, Replacements, and Card Changes
The UFC 120 event underwent several changes to its fight card in the months leading up to the October 16, 2010, date at The O2 Arena in London. Initial announcements for the card began in June 2010, with the main event of Michael Bisping versus Yoshihiro Akiyama confirmed alongside other bouts, including a planned welterweight matchup between Dan Hardy and Dustin Hazelett.[4][13] One of the earliest alterations occurred when Hazelett withdrew from his bout with Hardy due to personal commitments surrounding his September wedding, prompting the UFC to seek a replacement opponent.[11][14] In late June 2010, Carlos Condit was announced as Hazelett's substitute, securing a verbal agreement to face Hardy in what became a key co-main event slot on the card.[14] Further adjustments followed in July 2010, when Dong Hyun Kim was forced to withdraw from his scheduled welterweight fight against John Hathaway due to elbow surgery. Mike Pyle stepped in as the replacement opponent for Hathaway, maintaining the bout's position on the main card. These and other minor tweaks, such as the addition of preliminary fights like Mark Holst versus Paul Sass, led to the card being finalized with 10 bouts by late August 2010, with no major changes reported through September. The substitutions contributed to a lineup that emphasized UK representation, featuring prominent British fighters including Bisping, Hardy, and Hathaway, which aligned with the event's London hosting to boost local engagement.[13]Promotion, Criticism, and Expectations
The Ultimate Fighting Championship promoted UFC 120 by emphasizing homegrown talent to engage the British audience, spotlighting middleweight Michael Bisping and welterweight Dan Hardy as key draws in marketing materials and public appearances.[15] Promotional videos were produced specifically for the main event matchup of Bisping versus Yoshihiro Akiyama and the co-main event of Hardy versus Carlos Condit, distributed through platforms like ESPN and Spike TV to build anticipation.[1] A pre-fight press conference was held in London, where fighters exchanged words in a lively atmosphere, further amplifying local interest.[16] UFC president Dana White contributed to the buildup by addressing the Oxford Union Society, discussing the promotion's global ambitions alongside the event.[17] The event was positioned as a significant return to the O2 Arena, marking the third UFC visit to London in three years, with tickets going on sale in July 2010 to capitalize on prior successes in the region.[4] Despite these efforts, UFC 120 drew criticism for featuring what many perceived as a weak card, lacking title bouts or high-profile international stars such as Anderson Silva or Georges St-Pierre, which led to accusations of the promotion simply pandering to British fans rather than delivering a globally competitive lineup.[18] UK MMA enthusiasts expressed frustration on forums and in media discussions, arguing that the event shortchanged local supporters compared to earlier UK shows with stronger international appeal, with Bisping's main event status seen as a symptom of diminished star power.[18] Dana White addressed such critiques during promotional appearances, defending the card's focus on emerging British talent while acknowledging the challenges of scheduling overseas events without top-tier matchups. Expectations centered on leveraging the rising popularity of MMA in the United Kingdom, with the British-heavy lineup—featuring multiple home-country fighters—aimed at fostering national pride and driving robust attendance despite the absence of championship implications.[19] Analysts predicted the event could solidify the UFC's foothold in Europe by showcasing local heroes like Bisping and Hardy, potentially boosting the sport's growth amid increasing fan engagement in the region.[20] Pre-event media coverage was enthusiastic in UK outlets, highlighting the potential for breakout performances, in contrast to more muted interest in North America, where the same-day delayed broadcast on Spike TV underscored logistical hurdles and reduced immediacy for U.S. viewers.[21]Results
Main Card Results
The main card of UFC 120 opened with a welterweight bout between Claude Patrick and James Wilks. Patrick controlled the fight throughout three rounds with effective takedowns and ground control, earning a unanimous decision victory with scores of 30–27 across all three judges.[22] In the heavyweight matchup, Cheick Kongo faced Travis Browne in a back-and-forth contest marked by striking exchanges and grappling attempts. The fight ended in a unanimous draw after three rounds, with all judges scoring it 28–28, due to a one-point deduction against Kongo in round three for repeatedly grabbing Browne's shorts.[23][22] Welterweights Mike Pyle and John Hathaway delivered a grappling-heavy affair, where Pyle utilized superior wrestling to neutralize Hathaway's offense and land ground strikes. Pyle secured a unanimous decision win after three rounds, with judges' scores of 30–27 on all cards.[22] The co-main event pitted welterweights Carlos Condit against Dan Hardy, amid pre-fight hype surrounding Hardy's local support in London. Condit ended it decisively, dropping Hardy with a left hook and finishing with hammerfists on the ground for a first-round knockout at 4:27.[1][22] Headlining the event, middleweight contenders Michael Bisping and Yoshihiro Akiyama engaged in a striking battle, with Bisping maintaining distance and landing combinations while Akiyama pressed forward aggressively. Bisping's dominant performance, highlighted by higher output and a brief stoppage in round three due to a low blow, resulted in a unanimous decision victory with scores of 30–27 across all three judges.[1][22]Preliminary Card Results
The preliminary card at UFC 120 consisted of five bouts across the lightweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions, with three of the fights ending in submission victories that highlighted the event's grappling emphasis.[24][3]| Weight Class | Winner | Loser | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light Heavyweight | Alexander Gustafsson | Cyrille Diabaté | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 2 | 2:41 |
| Heavyweight | Rob Broughton | Vinicius Queiroz | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 3 | 1:43 |
| Lightweight | Paul Sass | Mark Holst | Submission (triangle choke) | 1 | 4:45 |
| Lightweight | Spencer Fisher | Curt Warburton | Unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Light Heavyweight | Fabio Maldonado | James McSweeney | TKO (punches) | 3 | 0:48 |
Post-Event
Bonus Awards
At UFC 120, the Ultimate Fighting Championship awarded its standard post-event performance bonuses to recognize standout fights and finishes, selected by UFC executives based on exciting or dominant performances during the event.[26] The Fight of the Night bonus went to Michael Bisping and Yoshihiro Akiyama for their middleweight main event bout, which Bisping won by unanimous decision; each received $60,000.[26] Carlos Condit earned the Knockout of the Night award for his first-round knockout of Dan Hardy via left hook and ground strike, also netting $60,000.[26] Paul Sass received the Submission of the Night bonus for submitting Mark Holst with a triangle choke in the first round, earning $60,000 as well.[26] In total, $240,000 in bonuses were distributed among the four recipients.[26]| Award | Recipient(s) | Amount | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fight of the Night | Michael Bisping, Yoshihiro Akiyama | $60,000 each | Main event unanimous decision win for Bisping |
| Knockout of the Night | Carlos Condit | $60,000 | KO of Dan Hardy (R1, 4:27) |
| Submission of the Night | Paul Sass | $60,000 | Submission of Mark Holst (R1, 4:45) |