UFC 73
UFC 73: Stacked was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on July 7, 2007, at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California.[1] The card consisted of nine professional bouts across multiple weight classes, headlined by a UFC Middleweight Championship defense and including a UFC Lightweight Championship matchup.[2] The event earned its "Stacked" moniker for assembling a deep lineup of established stars and rising talents shortly after the UFC's acquisition of Pride Fighting Championships, which brought in high-profile fighters like Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.[3] In the main event, champion Anderson Silva retained his middleweight title with a dominant first-round technical knockout (punches) over challenger Nate Marquardt at 4:50, showcasing his striking prowess.[2] The co-main event saw Sean Sherk capture the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship via unanimous decision over Hermes Franca after five rounds, marking Sherk's first title win in the organization.[2] Other marquee fights included Kenny Florian securing a first-round knockout (elbows) victory against Alvin Robinson at 4:30, solidifying his position in the lightweight division.[2] A light heavyweight bout between Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz ended in a controversial unanimous draw after three rounds, with Ortiz hampered by pre-fight back pain that affected his performance.[4][5] Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, making his UFC debut, defeated Heath Herring by unanimous decision in a heavyweight clash, bringing Pride-era expertise to the promotion.[2] The preliminary card featured submission and decision victories for Stephan Bonnar, Jorge Gurgel, Chris Lytle, and a first-round TKO win for Frankie Edgar.[2] UFC 73 marked the promotion's first event in Sacramento and highlighted the integration of international talent, contributing to the UFC's expansion during a pivotal era.[1]Event Overview
Date, Location, and Promotion
UFC 73, subtitled "Stacked," was held on July 7, 2007, at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California.[3][1] The event marked the second UFC pay-per-view card hosted in the city, following UFC 65 the previous year.[2][6] The subtitle "Stacked" reflected the event's high-profile lineup, featuring multiple title fights and marquee matchups, including Anderson Silva defending his middleweight championship against Nate Marquardt and a light heavyweight clash between Tito Ortiz and Rashad Evans.[4] The main card was broadcast live on pay-per-view, beginning at 10 p.m. EDT, allowing viewers across the United States to access the five-fight lineup.[7] Preliminary bouts were not televised, consistent with UFC's broadcast practices at the time, though promotional programming like "UFC 73 Countdown" aired on Spike TV earlier that evening to build anticipation.[7] This event fit into the Ultimate Fighting Championship's expanding 2007 schedule, which saw numbered pay-per-views occurring roughly monthly to capitalize on growing mainstream interest in mixed martial arts.[3]Attendance and Financial Performance
UFC 73, held at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California, drew an attendance of 13,183 spectators.[8][9] The event generated a total gate revenue of $1,551,920 from ticket sales, reflecting solid live attendance during a period of expanding popularity for mixed martial arts promotions.[8][9] In terms of pay-per-view performance, UFC 73 achieved approximately 425,000 buys, contributing significantly to the promotion's revenue streams at the time.[8] This figure underscored the event's draw as part of the UFC's broader commercialization efforts under Zuffa LLC. These financial metrics occurred amid UFC's robust growth phase in mid-2007, following Zuffa's 2001 acquisition of the promotion, with expectations of over 50% EBITDA margins and sustained revenue expansion driven by increased event marketing and media partnerships.[10] Overall, the event's commercial success highlighted the UFC's transition toward mainstream viability, with live gates and PPV sales playing key roles in scaling operations during this era.[11]Background
Key Matchups and Title Implications
The headline bout of UFC 73 featured middleweight champion Anderson Silva defending his title for the first time against Nate Marquardt.[12] Silva had captured the belt just eight months earlier at UFC 64 by knocking out Rich Franklin in the first round, marking his arrival as a dominant force in the division after a successful stint in Pride FC.[12] Marquardt, a highly regarded wrestler with a background in Pancrase and a recent four-fight winning streak in the UFC, represented a significant test for Silva's striking prowess and adaptability, with a victory potentially positioning Marquardt as the next big threat in the middleweight landscape.[1] In the co-main event, lightweight champion Sean Sherk put his title on the line against Hermes Franca, his first defense since winning the vacant belt at UFC 64 in 2006.[13] The lightweight division had lacked a definitive champion since Jens Pulver vacated the title in 2002 amid roster instability and frequent weight issues among contenders, making Sherk's reign a stabilizing force despite limited activity.[14] Franca, a submission specialist and former WEC lightweight champion, earned his shot through a recent victory in the UFC over Rich Clementi at UFC 69, bringing high-stakes grappling intrigue to the matchup as the division sought to reestablish its hierarchy.[14] The main card also highlighted a pivotal light heavyweight clash between Tito Ortiz and Rashad Evans. Ortiz, returning after losing his title to Chuck Liddell at UFC 66, aimed to reassert his status as a top contender with his wrestling-based style. Evans, riding an undefeated streak of 10 wins, including dominant performances on The Ultimate Fighter, represented the next generation of talent and a potential title path if he could neutralize Ortiz's ground control. Another key heavyweight bout pitted Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira against Heath Herring in what marked Nogueira's UFC debut following the closure of Pride FC earlier in 2007. As a two-time Pride heavyweight champion known for his resilient jiu-jitsu, Nogueira's arrival bolstered the UFC's heavyweight roster amid the influx of Japanese talent post-Pride, while their trilogy history added personal stakes.[15] Though non-title, the fight carried implications for positioning in the heavyweight division, where champion Randy Couture's intermittent absences due to contract disputes created opportunities for an interim title or contention amid a thin field.Pre-Event Developments and Changes
The UFC 73 event underwent several changes to its fight card in the lead-up to July 7, 2007, primarily due to injuries affecting scheduled bouts. Originally, welterweight Chris Lytle was set to face Jeff Joslin, but Joslin withdrew because of an injury, prompting Drew Fickett to step in as a replacement. Fickett, however, also pulled out shortly before the event after sustaining a knee injury during training, leading to Jason Gilliam being tapped as the final substitute opponent for Lytle.[16][17][18] Several fighters entered the event dealing with recent injuries or health concerns that added uncertainty to key matchups. Light heavyweight Tito Ortiz, returning after a loss to Chuck Liddell at UFC 66, had been managing a pre-existing neck injury but chose to compete against Rashad Evans despite the risk, later revealing post-fight that it had worsened during the bout.[19] In the lightweight title fight, challenger Hermes Franca carried the weight of his past performances, including a recent win over Rich Clementi at UFC 69 that earned him the shot, though his career had seen inconsistent results prior to this opportunity.[20] Promotional efforts for UFC 73 highlighted the event's stacked lineup, featuring two title fights and the debut of high-profile talent from the recently acquired Pride FC roster to boost the UFC's heavyweight division. A key element of the hype centered on former Pride heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's signing and Octagon debut against Heath Herring, positioning the card as a showcase for the influx of international stars following Pride's 2007 collapse. UFC President Dana White emphasized the significance of Nogueira's arrival alongside multiple championship opportunities during pre-event media calls, aiming to capitalize on the promotional crossover.[21][22] At the official weigh-ins held on July 6, 2007, all fighters successfully made their contracted weight classes without any misses or forfeits, ensuring the card proceeded as planned despite the earlier adjustments.[23][8]Fight Results
Main Card Outcomes
The main card of UFC 73 consisted of five bouts, highlighted by two title defenses and several competitive matchups in the middleweight, lightweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions. These fights showcased a mix of striking finishes and decisions, with notable moments of resilience and controversy. In the main event for the UFC Middleweight Championship, Anderson Silva retained his title against Nate Marquardt with a dominant first-round performance. Silva absorbed an early takedown but quickly reversed position, landing a right hand followed by a jumping knee that rocked Marquardt. As Marquardt attempted another takedown, Silva countered with a series of undefended punches from above, forcing the referee to stop the contest via TKO at 4:50 of Round 1.[24][4] Opening the main card, Kenny Florian faced Alvin Robinson in a lightweight clash that ended swiftly in Florian's favor. Robinson initially surprised Florian with a takedown, but Florian scrambled to mount and unleashed ground-and-pound strikes, including elbows that prompted Robinson to tap, ruled as a TKO (elbows) at 4:30 of Round 1.[24][4] A highly anticipated light heavyweight bout between Tito Ortiz and Rashad Evans concluded in a unanimous draw after three rounds, scored 28-28 across all judges. Ortiz controlled Round 1 with a takedown and top pressure, but in Round 2, referee John McCarthy deducted a point from Ortiz for repeatedly grabbing the fence during a scramble, evening the momentum. Evans then asserted dominance in Round 3 with superior striking and a late takedown slam, but the penalty ensured the draw.[24][25][4] For the UFC Lightweight Championship co-main event, champion Sean Sherk defended his belt against Hermes Franca over five rounds, securing a unanimous decision victory with scores of 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46. Sherk weathered early guillotine attempts by Franca and methodically controlled the fight with repeated takedowns, ground control, and damaging elbows from top position throughout, preventing any significant offense from the challenger.[24][4] In the heavyweight opener, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira outpointed Heath Herring via unanimous decision, with all judges scoring 30-27. Herring stunned Nogueira with a powerful left head kick early in Round 1, briefly dropping him, but Nogueira recovered and used his grappling to take Herring down in Rounds 2 and 3, advancing to back control and landing short strikes to secure the win despite Herring's late rally.[24][4]Preliminary Card Outcomes
The preliminary card for UFC 73 featured four non-televised bouts that showcased a mix of quick finishes and veteran performances, highlighting emerging talents in the lightweight and welterweight divisions.[2] Stephan Bonnar, a light heavyweight known from The Ultimate Fighter, secured a rapid victory over Mike Nickels via submission with a rear-naked choke at 2:14 of the first round, demonstrating his grappling prowess early in the event.[26] In the lightweight division, Jorge Gurgel outpointed rival Diego Saraiva over three rounds, earning a unanimous decision with scores of 30-27 across all three judges in a heated matchup that underscored Gurgel's striking edge.[27] Chris Lytle, a durable welterweight veteran, delivered one of the night's most creative finishes against Jason Gilliam, submitting him with a triangle choke at 2:15 of the first round in a bout that emphasized Lytle's submission expertise. Finally, undefeated lightweight prospect Frankie Edgar made a strong UFC debut by defeating Mark Bocek via TKO (punches) at 4:55 of the first round, signaling his potential as a future contender with sharp striking and cardio. These results contributed to the undercard's excitement, with three of the four fights ending inside the first round.[2]| Fighter | Opponent | Result | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephan Bonnar | Mike Nickels | Win | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 2:14 |
| Jorge Gurgel | Diego Saraiva | Win | Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Chris Lytle | Jason Gilliam | Win | Submission (triangle choke) | 1 | 2:15 |
| Frankie Edgar | Mark Bocek | Win | TKO (punches) | 1 | 4:55 |