UFC 68
UFC 68: The Uprising was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) that took place on March 3, 2007, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.[1] It featured nine bouts, headlined by a UFC Heavyweight Championship match between champion Tim Sylvia and challenger Randy Couture, with four fights airing on pay-per-view and the remainder on a preliminary card broadcast via Spike TV.[2] The event marked the UFC's debut in Ohio, coinciding with the 2007 Arnold Sports Festival and selling out Nationwide Arena in advance, drawing an attendance of 19,049 fans and generating a live gate of $3,014,000.[3] Approximately 540,000 pay-per-view buys were reported, contributing to its commercial success as one of the promotion's stronger draws in early 2007.[2] In the main event, 43-year-old Randy Couture, returning from retirement, defeated Sylvia by unanimous decision (50-45 on all three judges) over five rounds to claim the heavyweight title, making him the first fighter to capture UFC championships in two weight classes (heavyweight and light heavyweight) and the promotion's first five-time champion.[4] Other key matchups on the main card included former welterweight champion Matt Hughes earning a unanimous decision victory (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) over Chris Lytle in a non-title welterweight bout, former middleweight champion Rich Franklin securing a TKO (corner stoppage) win against Jason MacDonald at the end of the second round, and Danish prospect Martin Kampmann submitting Drew McFedries via arm-triangle choke at 4:06 of the first round.[2] The preliminary card featured notable performances such as Jason Lambert's second-round knockout (punch) of Renato "Babalu" Sobral, which earned Fight of the Night and Knockout of the Night honors, while Kampmann's finish received Submission of the Night.[2] Additional prelim results included Matt Hamill's first-round TKO (punches) of Rex Holman, Jon Fitch's second-round rear-naked choke submission of Luigi Fioravanti, Gleison Tibau's unanimous decision over Jason Dent, and Jamie Varner's first-round rear-naked choke of Jason Gilliam.[2]Event Information
Venue and Logistics
UFC 68: The Uprising was held on March 3, 2007, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.[1] This marked the inaugural Ultimate Fighting Championship event in the state of Ohio.[3] The multi-purpose indoor arena, with a seating capacity exceeding 18,000 for combat sports configurations, drew a total attendance of 19,049 spectators, setting a then-record for mixed martial arts events in North America. The event's timing followed standard UFC pay-per-view protocols, with doors opening to the public at 5:00 PM ET to allow for pre-event activities and seating.[1] Preliminary bouts commenced around 8:15 PM ET, leading into the main card at 10:00 PM ET.[5] Tickets were initially available via pre-sale for UFC Fight Club members on January 6, 2007, followed by general public sales on January 8 through Ticketmaster, with prices ranging from $50 for upper-level seats to $400 for premium ringside positions; the event sold out rapidly, reflecting strong regional demand.[6] Produced by Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of the UFC, the event was distributed exclusively via pay-per-view on major cable and satellite providers such as DirecTV, Dish Network, and iN Demand, priced at $39.95 in standard definition.[4] Preliminary card fights were not broadcast on television, a common practice for UFC events at the time prior to the introduction of free prelims programming.[7] The promotion aligned the event with the 2007 Arnold Sports Festival, enhancing logistical coordination in the Columbus area.[8]Attendance and Financials
UFC 68 achieved significant commercial success, drawing a total attendance of 19,049, with 17,358 paid tickets, establishing it as the largest verified crowd for an MMA event in North American history as of 2007.[2][9] This figure surpassed the previous high of 13,761 set at UFC 66 and 10,227 at UFC 67, reflecting heightened interest in the promotion's expansion to new markets like Ohio, where it marked the first UFC event.[10] The live gate revenue reached $3,014,000, contributing to the event's economic impact despite not topping UFC 66's $5,397,300 haul from fewer attendees.[2] Pay-per-view sales were strong at 540,000 buys, exceeding UFC 67's 350,000 and underscoring the draw of the main event featuring Randy Couture's return against champion Tim Sylvia.[11] Disclosed fighter purses totaled $697,000, encompassing base pay and win bonuses where applicable for victors.[12] Notable payouts included Randy Couture's $250,000 base salary for his unanimous decision victory over Sylvia, Tim Sylvia's $100,000 base pay as the defeated champion, and Rich Franklin's $42,000 total ($21,000 show + $21,000 win bonus) for his TKO win over Jason MacDonald.[13][14] Other examples featured Matt Hughes earning $150,000 total ($75,000 show + $75,000 win bonus) against Chris Lytle and Jon Fitch receiving $28,000 total ($14,000 show + $14,000 win bonus) in his decision win.[13] These figures exclude undisclosed incentives, sponsorships, or performance bonuses.Background
Promotion and Hype
UFC 68 was branded with the subtitle "The Uprising," a thematic choice that highlighted the resurgence of established veterans like Randy Couture alongside the ascent of promising newcomers in the promotion.[1] Scheduled as the inaugural UFC event in Ohio, the March 3, 2007, card at Columbus's Nationwide Arena capitalized on regional excitement, coinciding with the 2007 Arnold Sports Festival to amplify interest among fitness enthusiasts and combat sports fans.[3] Tickets sold out swiftly, underscoring the strong local anticipation for the promotion's Midwest expansion.[3] Promotional efforts included video trailers and training montages spotlighting Couture's comeback from a year-long retirement to challenge for the heavyweight title, generating buzz about his age-defying potential.[15] A pre-fight press conference in Columbus featured key participants like Couture and champion Tim Sylvia, fostering direct media engagement. Coverage extended across MMA outlets such as MMA Junkie, where fighters provided in-depth interviews on their preparations and stakes, while mainstream platforms like ESPN contributed to the narrative through event previews and fighter profiles.[16][17] This multifaceted buildup emphasized the event's historic Ohio landing and sold-out draw, positioning it as a pivotal moment in the UFC's growth.[3]Key Storylines and Fighter Returns
One of the central narratives surrounding UFC 68 was the highly anticipated return of Randy Couture, who had retired for over a year following his loss to Chuck Liddell at UFC 57, only to come back and challenge for the heavyweight title.[18] Couture, a Hall of Famer and former champion, viewed the bout as an opportunity to reclaim glory against a much taller and heavier opponent, generating significant buzz among fans and analysts.[19] The heavyweight championship itself added layers to the event's intrigue, with Tim Sylvia serving as the defending champion after capturing the belt at UFC 61 by defeating Andrei Arlovski via third-round TKO and successfully defending it against Jeff Monson at UFC 65 by unanimous decision.[20] Sylvia's reign, marked by his imposing 6-foot-8 frame and knockout power, represented a test of endurance and strategy for challengers, positioning the title fight as a pivotal clash between experience and physical dominance.[21] Complementing the main event were the returns of other former champions seeking redemption. Matt Hughes, who had lost the welterweight title to Georges St-Pierre at UFC 65, aimed to rebound and reassert his dominance as one of the division's premier wrestlers. Similarly, Rich Franklin entered the event looking to restore his standing after dropping the middleweight belt to Anderson Silva at UFC 64, marking his first appearance since that setback. Interpersonal and stylistic rivalries heightened the anticipation across the card. Hughes' matchup against Chris Lytle pitted the grappling specialist against a durable striker with strong submission skills, creating a classic contrast in approaches.[22] Franklin's encounter with Jason MacDonald promised a technical battle between Franklin's Muay Thai striking and MacDonald's Brazilian jiu-jitsu expertise.[23] Meanwhile, emerging talents like Martin Kampmann, a Danish striker making waves in the middleweight division, and Jon Fitch, a surging welterweight contender on a four-fight UFC win streak, added depth to the narratives of rising momentum.[24][25] Undercard bouts further built excitement through debuts and momentum-building opportunities, exemplified by Fitch's ongoing ascent as a top prospect in the welterweight ranks. The event, held in Columbus, Ohio, in conjunction with the 2007 Arnold Sports Festival, amplified its promotional reach among fitness enthusiasts.[26]Fight Card
Preliminary Card
The preliminary card for UFC 68 consisted of four bouts across the light heavyweight, welterweight, and lightweight divisions, broadcast on Spike TV as the lead-in to the pay-per-view main card and highlighting the event's status as the UFC's debut in Ohio.[1][27] In the light heavyweight opener, Matt Hamill faced Rex Holman. Hamill, leveraging his background as a former NCAA Division III wrestling champion, was set against Holman, a seasoned competitor and recent UFC signee with notable wrestling experience from his college days.[28][29] The welterweight matchup featured Jon Fitch opposite Luigi Fioravanti. Fitch entered with a reputation for his elite ground game and wrestling control, contrasting Fioravanti's emphasis on striking and his military training background.[30] Lightweight action included Gleison Tibau taking on Jason Dent. Tibau's grappling expertise, rooted in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestling, was pitted against Dent's quickness and speed in stand-up exchanges.[29] Closing the prelims was a lightweight bout between Jamie Varner and Jason Gilliam. Varner, crossing over from the WEC with his developing striking arsenal, met the undefeated underdog Gilliam in a test of emerging talent.[29][31]Main Card
The main card of UFC 68: The Uprising, held on March 3, 2007, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, featured five high-profile bouts broadcast on pay-per-view, with the headline fight scheduled for five rounds and the others for three rounds each.[1] These matchups highlighted established stars seeking redemption and emerging contenders vying for momentum in their divisions.[32] The main event was a heavyweight championship clash between defending champion Tim Sylvia, entering with a professional record of 23-2, and challenger Randy Couture, who returned from a 13-month retirement with a 14-8 record.[33][34] This title bout carried significant stakes for Couture, marking his attempt to reclaim UFC gold at age 43 after previous successes and setbacks in the division.[32] In the co-main event, light heavyweight contenders Jason Lambert (22-6) and Renato Sobral (30-7) faced off in a non-title fight aimed at positioning the winner for a potential ranking climb.[35][36] The middleweight bout between Rich Franklin (22-2, 1 NC), the former UFC middleweight champion rebounding from a recent title loss, and Jason MacDonald (18-7) offered Franklin a chance to reassert his status in the division while providing MacDonald an opportunity against top competition.[37][38][39] Another middleweight matchup pitted Martin Kampmann (12-1), a Danish prospect, against Drew McFedries (5-1), both seeking to advance toward contention in a stacked division.[40][41] Rounding out the card was a welterweight bout featuring former two-time UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes (41-5), looking to rebuild after a recent defeat, against Chris Lytle (21-13-5), a durable veteran aiming to upset the elite wrestler.[42][43]Results
Fight Outcomes
UFC 68 featured a total of nine bouts, with the main event seeing Randy Couture reclaim the UFC Heavyweight Championship via unanimous decision over Tim Sylvia (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) after five rounds.[27] The event proceeded without any reported judging controversies.[4]| Bout | Weight Class | Winner | Loser | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Event - Heavyweight Championship | Heavyweight | Randy Couture | Tim Sylvia | Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) | 5 | 5:00 |
| Co-Main Event | Middleweight | Martin Kampmann | Drew McFedries | Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) | 1 | 4:06 |
| Middleweight | Rich Franklin | Jason MacDonald | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Welterweight | Matt Hughes | Chris Lytle | Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Jason Lambert | Renato Sobral | KO (Punch) | 2 | 3:26 | |
| Preliminary Card | Light Heavyweight | Matt Hamill | Rex Holman | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 4:00 |
| Welterweight | Jon Fitch | Luigi Fioravanti | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 2 | 3:05 | |
| Lightweight | Gleison Tibau | Jason Dent | Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Lightweight | Jamie Varner | Jason Gilliam | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 1:34 |