UFC 163
UFC 163: Aldo vs. Korean Zombie was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on August 3, 2013, at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, featuring 12 bouts with a main card headlined by a UFC Featherweight Championship defense for champion José Aldo against challenger Chan Sung Jung.[1][2][3] The main event saw Aldo retain his title via technical knockout (punches) at 2:00 of the fourth round, marking his seventh successful defense of the belt he first won in the WEC before the promotion's absorption into the UFC, and extending his unbeaten streak in the division to 16 fights.[1][4][5] Jung, known as "The Korean Zombie" for his relentless style, entered on a five-fight winning streak but was forced to withdraw mid-fight due to a shoulder dislocation from an earlier takedown attempt.[1][4] In the co-main event, Phil Davis defeated former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida by unanimous decision (29-28 on all cards), a controversial outcome that drew widespread criticism as many observers, including UFC President Dana White, scored it for Machida based on effective striking and control.[1][6][7] The undercard highlighted Brazilian talent, including quick submission wins by Cezar Ferreira and Amanda Nunes, the latter marking an early UFC appearance for the future champion.[1][8] The event drew an announced attendance of 13,873 fans, and served as a homecoming for several Brazilian fighters amid the UFC's growing international expansion in South America.[9][9]Background
Event Announcement
UFC 163 was officially announced during the post-fight press conference of UFC on FX 8 on May 18, 2013, in Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil.[10] UFC executive vice president and general manager of international events Marshall Zelaznik confirmed the details, marking the promotion's return to Rio de Janeiro for a major pay-per-view event.[11] The event was scheduled for August 3, 2013, at the HSBC Arena, with the main event featuring UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo defending his title against Anthony Pettis in Pettis's debut at 145 pounds.[12] The co-main event was set as a welterweight matchup between Brazilian contender Demian Maia and former title challenger Josh Koscheck.[10] This announcement highlighted the UFC's continued expansion in Brazil, building on the success of prior events in the region. Tickets for UFC 163 went on sale to the public on June 12, 2013.[13] The card was expected to feature a mix of local Brazilian talent and international stars, though additional bouts were to be revealed in the following weeks.[10]Key Changes to the Card
The UFC 163 event, originally scheduled for August 3, 2013, at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, underwent several significant alterations to its fight card due to injuries and medical issues in the weeks leading up to the pay-per-view. The most prominent change occurred in the main event, where featherweight champion José Aldo was initially set to defend his title against Anthony Pettis in what would have marked Pettis's UFC featherweight debut. However, Pettis withdrew in mid-June 2013 after suffering a knee injury during training, prompting the UFC to replace him with Chan Sung Jung, known as "The Korean Zombie," who stepped in on short notice.[14][15] Subsequent adjustments affected multiple bouts across weight classes. In early July 2013, welterweight contender Josh Koscheck was forced to withdraw from his scheduled matchup against Demian Maia due to an undisclosed injury, resulting in the complete cancellation of the fight with no replacement opponent named; Maia was subsequently rescheduled for a later event.[16][17] Later that month, on July 17, 2013, light heavyweight Robert Drysdale pulled out of his UFC debut against Ednaldo Oliveira after contracting a staph infection, leading to promotional newcomer Francimar Barroso stepping in as a late replacement for the preliminary card bout.[18] Further injuries compounded the revisions in the final weeks. Middleweight Clint Hester was sidelined by torn cartilage in his ribs, causing him to exit his main card fight against The Ultimate Fighter Brazil winner Cezar Ferreira; Thiago Santos, making his promotional debut, filled the vacancy on July 19, 2013.[19][20] On the same day, flyweight Phil Harris withdrew from his preliminary card clash with John Lineker after fracturing his orbital bone in training, with untested Brazilian prospect José Maria Tomé selected as the substitute opponent.[19][21] These modifications, announced via UFC officials and fighters' social media updates, ultimately shaped a 12-fight card that proceeded without further disruptions.Event Information
Venue
UFC 163 took place at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 3, 2013.[2][3] The HSBC Arena, situated in the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood, is a multi-purpose indoor arena constructed between 2005 and 2007 specifically for the 2007 Pan American Games, where it hosted basketball and artistic gymnastics competitions.[22][23] At the time of the event, the venue operated under a naming rights sponsorship with HSBC, which it held from 2008 until 2017.[22] With a seating capacity of up to 18,000 for major events, the arena features retractable bleachers allowing flexible configurations for sports like mixed martial arts, concerts, and other spectacles.[23][24] It has since been renamed multiple times—Jeunesse Arena in 2017 and Farmasi Arena in 2023—but remains one of Latin America's premier indoor venues for international competitions.[22]Attendance and Revenue
UFC 163 drew a crowd of 13,873 spectators to the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, as announced by UFC executive Marshall Zelaznik during the post-event press conference.[9] This figure represented a solid turnout for an international event in Brazil, though official gate revenue from ticket sales was not publicly disclosed by the promotion at the time. Independent reports later estimated the live gate at $180,000, a modest sum attributable to affordable ticket pricing aimed at expanding the UFC's fanbase in South America, where entry-level seats were available for as low as 80 Brazilian reais (approximately $35 USD).[25] The event's overall revenue was bolstered by pay-per-view sales, with industry analyst Dave Meltzer estimating approximately 180,000 buys for the broadcast headlined by Jose Aldo's defense against Chan Sung Jung.[26] This buyrate placed UFC 163 among the lower-performing numbered events of 2013 in terms of PPV draw, influenced by the regional time difference and competition from other sports, yet it still contributed significantly to the promotion's global earnings alongside sponsorships and media rights. Additional revenue streams included merchandise sales and international broadcasting deals, though specific breakdowns beyond attendance and estimates remain proprietary to the UFC.Results
Main Card
The main card of UFC 163 featured five bouts, headlined by a featherweight championship clash, with results as follows:| Weight Class | Fighters | Result | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Featherweight (c) | José Aldo (c) vs. Chan Sung Jung | José Aldo def. Chan Sung Jung | TKO (punches) | 4 | 2:00 [1][27] |
| Light Heavyweight | Phil Davis vs. Lyoto Machida | Phil Davis def. Lyoto Machida | Unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 [1][27][3] |
| Middleweight | Cezar Ferreira vs. Thiago Santos | Cezar Ferreira def. Thiago Santos | Submission (guillotine choke) | 1 | 0:47 [1][27] |
| Middleweight | Thales Leites vs. Tom Watson | Thales Leites def. Tom Watson | Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 [1][27] |
| Bantamweight | John Lineker vs. José Maria Tomé | John Lineker def. José Maria Tomé | TKO (punches and elbows) | 1 | 2:08 [1][27][3] |
Preliminary Card
The preliminary card of UFC 163 consisted of seven fights, broadcast across Facebook (early prelims) and FX (main prelims), highlighting emerging Brazilian prospects alongside veteran competitors in various weight classes. These bouts set the stage for the main event, featuring rapid knockouts, submissions, and competitive decisions that underscored the event's international flavor at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro.[29]| Weight Class | Fighters | Result | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welterweight | Viscardi Andrade vs. Bristol Marunde | Andrade def. Marunde | TKO (punches) | 1 | 1:36 |
| Light Heavyweight | Francimar Barroso vs. Ednaldo Oliveira | Barroso def. Oliveira | Unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Featherweight | Rani Yahya vs. Josh Clopton | Yahya def. Clopton | Unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Flyweight | Ian McCall vs. Iliarde Santos | McCall def. Santos | Unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Welterweight | Sergio Moraes vs. Neil Magny | Moraes def. Magny | Submission (triangle choke) | 1 | 3:13 |
| Women's Bantamweight | Amanda Nunes vs. Sheila Gaff | Nunes def. Gaff | TKO (elbows and punches) | 1 | 2:08 |
| Light Heavyweight | Anthony Perosh vs. Vinny Magalhães | Perosh def. Magalhães | KO (punch) | 1 | 0:14 |
Aftermath
Bonus Awards
At UFC 163, the Ultimate Fighting Championship awarded $50,000 bonuses to four fighters for their standout performances during the event held on August 3, 2013, at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[31] The bonuses were distributed as follows:| Award | Recipient(s) | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Fight of the Night | Ian McCall and Iliarde Santos | For their competitive three-round flyweight bout, which showcased intense exchanges and resilience.[31] |
| Knockout of the Night | Anthony Perosh | For his 14-second knockout victory over Vinny Magalhães in the light heavyweight division via punches.[31] |
| Submission of the Night | Sérgio Moraes | For his second-round submission win over Neil Magny in the welterweight division using a mounted triangle choke.[31] |