UFC 157
UFC 157: Rousey vs. Carmouche was a mixed martial arts (MMA) event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) that took place on February 23, 2013, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.[1] It marked the UFC's historic debut of women's MMA divisions, headlined by the inaugural UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship bout between undefeated Strikeforce champion Ronda Rousey and challenger Liz Carmouche.[1] The event featured 12 fights across multiple weight classes and was broadcast on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and Facebook.[1] The main card opened with a heavyweight bout between Brendan Schaub and Lavar Johnson, which Schaub won by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).[1] This was followed by a welterweight clash where Robbie Lawler defeated Josh Koscheck via first-round TKO at 3:57.[1] Urijah Faber then submitted Ivan Menjivar with an arm-triangle choke in the first round at 4:34 during their bantamweight matchup.[1] The co-main event saw former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida edge out Dan Henderson by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), a controversial outcome that propelled Machida toward a title shot.[1] In the main event, Rousey won the inaugural UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship by submitting Carmouche with an armbar just 4:49 into the first round, solidifying her status as a crossover star in MMA.[1] UFC 157's introduction of women's fights was a pivotal moment for the promotion, driven by UFC President Dana White's reversal of his long-held opposition to female competitors, largely influenced by Rousey's rising popularity from Strikeforce.[2] The event drew significant attention for its role in expanding the UFC's roster and audience, with Rousey's quick victory underscoring the potential for women's MMA to thrive in the organization.[3] Notable prelim fights included Court McGee's unanimous decision win over Josh Neer in welterweight, contributing to the card's depth.[4] Overall, the pay-per-view generated 450,000 buys, reflecting the event's commercial success.Event Overview
Date and Venue
UFC 157: Rousey vs. Carmouche was a mixed martial arts event promoted by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) that took place on February 23, 2013.[1][5] The event was held at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, United States, a multi-purpose arena with a capacity suitable for major combat sports gatherings.[1][4][6] Broadcast scheduling aligned with standard UFC pay-per-view formatting, with the main card beginning at 10:00 PM EST (7:00 PM PST), following preliminary bouts on FX starting at 8:00 PM EST and early prelims on Facebook at 6:30 PM EST.[7][8][9][10]Attendance and Revenue
UFC 157 attracted 13,257 spectators to the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, marking a solid live audience for the event's debut of women's fights in the promotion.[11] This attendance figure contributed to a total gate revenue of $1,350,191, reflecting strong ticket sales driven by the historic main event featuring Ronda Rousey.[11] The event's pay-per-view performance further underscored its commercial appeal, with an estimated 450,000 buys, a figure that highlighted Rousey's emerging star power and the public's interest in the inaugural women's bantamweight title bout.[4] These buys positioned UFC 157 as one of the more successful numbered events of its era in terms of viewership revenue.[12] Broadcast coverage amplified the event's reach, with the main card airing exclusively on pay-per-view starting at 10:00 p.m. ET, while preliminary bouts were streamed on Facebook at 6:30 p.m. ET and broadcast on FX at 8:00 p.m. ET.[8] The FX prelims drew approximately 1.3 million viewers, demonstrating broad television accessibility beyond PPV subscribers.[4]Background
Announcement and Build-Up
UFC 157 was initially announced on November 14, 2012, with the event date set for February 23, 2013, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, marking a significant step in the promotion's schedule for early 2013.[5] This announcement came amid the UFC's broader expansion into women's mixed martial arts, following the signing of Ronda Rousey as the organization's first female champion in the bantamweight division on November 16, 2012.[13] The event quickly became a focal point for promotional campaigns, emphasizing the historic debut of women's bouts in the UFC Octagon and positioning it as a landmark moment for gender inclusion in the sport.[14] The main event matchup between Rousey and Liz Carmouche was officially revealed on December 6, 2012, with Rousey awarded the inaugural UFC women's bantamweight title belt during the announcement.[15] Promotional tie-ins heavily highlighted the pioneering nature of the women's division, including media appearances, trailers, and press conferences that underscored Rousey's role in changing UFC president Dana White's previous stance against female fighters.[16] Tickets went on sale December 21, 2012, generating buzz through targeted marketing that framed the card as a breakthrough for women's MMA. Leading up to the event, several logistical adjustments occurred due to injuries. On February 8, 2013, featherweight Manny Gamburyan withdrew from his scheduled bout against Chad Mendes after suffering a broken thumb and fractured elbow during training. Without a suitable replacement found, the fight was canceled, resulting in Mendes being removed from the card entirely.[17] Additionally, at the official weigh-ins on February 22, 2013, welterweight Nah-Shon Burrell came in at 175.8 pounds, exceeding the 170-pound limit by 5.8 pounds, which led to his bout against Yuri Villefort proceeding at a catchweight of 175.8 pounds and Burrell forfeiting 20 percent of his purse as a fine.[18] These changes were managed swiftly to maintain the event's momentum in the final days.Key Storylines and Changes
The primary storyline surrounding UFC 157 revolved around the main event, where Ronda Rousey made her first UFC title defense against Liz Carmouche in the inaugural women's bout in the promotion's history. Rousey, who had been awarded the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship on December 6, 2012, without competing for it, entered as an undefeated judo Olympian and former Strikeforce titleholder, bringing unprecedented attention to women's MMA. Carmouche, a Marine Corps veteran with a gritty wrestling background, represented a credible challenge and the broader push for gender inclusion in the UFC, as their matchup marked a historic milestone in the sport's evolution.[19][20][21] The co-main event pitted former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida against two-division champion Dan Henderson in a matchup long anticipated by UFC President Dana White, with the winner earning strong consideration for a title shot. Machida's elusive karate-based style contrasted sharply with Henderson's power punching and wrestling pedigree, creating intrigue around whether the Brazilian's counterstriking could neutralize the American's explosive offense. This veteran showdown highlighted the depth of the light heavyweight division and served as a critical test for both fighters' relevance in contention.[22][23] Additional narratives included Robbie Lawler's return to the UFC after nearly eight years away, following his release in 2004 and subsequent success in Strikeforce, where he aimed to reestablish himself at welterweight against Josh Koscheck. Meanwhile, Urijah Faber faced Ivan Menjivar in a rematch of their 2006 TKO encounter, which ended in a disqualification due to an illegal kick from Menjivar to a downed opponent; Faber, coming off a win against Brad Pickett but aiming to solidify his status after a loss to Renan Barao, sought to affirm his standing as a bantamweight mainstay. The card underwent adjustments when Manny Gamburyan withdrew due to injury, elevating the welterweight bout between Court McGee and Josh Neer to the main pay-per-view portion and providing McGee an opportunity in his welterweight debut.[24][25][26][27][28]Fight Card and Results
Main Card
The main card of UFC 157, broadcast on pay-per-view, featured five high-profile bouts headlined by the inaugural women's bantamweight title fight.[1] In the main event, Ronda Rousey defended her UFC women's bantamweight championship against Liz Carmouche, winning by submission via armbar at 4:49 of the first round after overcoming an early neck crank attempt from Carmouche.[2][29] The co-main event saw Lyoto Machida defeat Dan Henderson by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds, relying on evasive footwork and precise leg kicks to outpoint the veteran wrestler.[2][29] Urijah Faber submitted Ivan Menjivar via rear-naked choke at 4:34 of the first round, reversing an early takedown attempt and applying the choke while still on the feet.[2][29] Court McGee won a unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) over Josh Neer after three rounds, controlling the fight with effective strikes and takedowns.[2][29] Opening the main card, Robbie Lawler defeated Josh Koscheck by TKO (punches) at 3:57 of the first round, countering a takedown attempt with ground-and-pound strikes that forced the stoppage.[2][30][29]Preliminary Card
The preliminary card of UFC 157 featured seven bouts across heavyweight, lightweight, featherweight, and welterweight divisions, with the action airing on FX and Facebook. These undercard fights provided competitive matchups, highlighted by two submission victories and several closely contested decisions. One bout proceeded at a catchweight of 175 pounds due to Yuri Villefort missing the welterweight limit during weigh-ins.[31]| Result | Weight Class | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brendan Schaub def. Lavar Johnson | Heavyweight | Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Michael Chiesa def. Anton Kuivanen | Lightweight | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 2 | 2:29 |
| Dennis Bermudez def. Matt Grice | Featherweight | Split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Sam Stout def. Caros Fodor | Lightweight | Split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Kenny Robertson def. Brock Jardine | Welterweight | Submission (Suloev stretch) | 1 | 2:57 |
| Neil Magny def. Jon Manley | Welterweight | Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Nah-Shon Burrell def. Yuri Villefort | Catchweight (175 lbs) | Unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 |