UFC 89
UFC 89: Bisping vs. Leben was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on October 18, 2008, at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England, marking the promotion's first visit to the city.[1][2] The event drew an attendance of 9,515 spectators and generated a live gate of $1,200,000, with the main card broadcast on Spike TV in the United States, attracting an average of 2.6 million viewers.[3][4] The card consisted of 11 bouts across multiple weight classes, headlined by a middleweight clash between hometown favorite Michael Bisping and the durable Chris Leben, a matchup billed to showcase Bisping's technical striking against Leben's brawling style.[1] Bisping emerged victorious via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds, solidifying his status as the UK's premier UFC star at the time and positioning him for future title contention.[1] In a controversial co-main event, light heavyweight Keith Jardine defeated Brandon Vera by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), a result that sparked debate over the judges' scoring due to Vera's early dominance.[1] Other notable main card outcomes included Luiz Cane's second-round TKO of Rameau Sokoudjou via punches, Chris Lytle's unanimous decision win over Paul Taylor in a gritty welterweight fight, and Marcus Davis's guillotine choke submission of Paul Kelly in the second round.[1] The preliminary card featured several finishes, such as Shane Carwin's first-round knockout of Neil Wain and Dan Hardy's split decision victory over Akihiro Gono, while decisions rounded out fights like Terry Etim over Sam Stout and David Bielkheden over Jess Liaudin.[1] Post-event, Leben tested positive for the anabolic steroid Stanozolol, resulting in a nine-month suspension by the UFC, which cast a shadow over his performance and highlighted the organization's ongoing anti-doping efforts in 2008.[5] Overall, UFC 89 underscored the growing popularity of MMA in the United Kingdom, with Bisping's win serving as a pivotal moment in elevating the sport's profile in Europe.[2]Background
Announcement and promotion
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) officially announced UFC 89 on July 1, 2008, positioning it as the promotion's return to the United Kingdom after the 2007 event UFC 70 in Manchester.[6] The event, titled UFC 89: Bisping vs. Leben, was scheduled for October 18, 2008, at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England, marking the UFC's first show in the British Midlands. This announcement followed the main event reveal on June 28, 2008, by UFC UK President Marshall Zelaznik, confirming a middleweight bout between local star Michael Bisping and Chris Leben, which had been postponed from an earlier planned date due to Leben's legal issues. Promotional efforts heavily emphasized Bisping's homecoming, portraying the bout as a marquee opportunity for the British fighter to shine in front of his home crowd in England—his third UFC appearance on UK soil.[6] Marketing campaigns highlighted Bisping's rising status as a national hero and the event's role in expanding the UFC's footprint in the region, with ticket sales launching on July 6, 2008, following early access for UFC fans.[7] Additional hype was generated through initial fight card reveals, including three bouts announced on July 15, 2008: light heavyweight clashes between Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou and Luiz Cane, as well as Mark Munoz and Tomasz Drwal, and a welterweight matchup featuring Akihiro Gono against Tamdan McCrory.[8] Broadcast partnerships formed a key part of the promotion, with Setanta Sports securing live airing rights for the United Kingdom and Ireland to capitalize on local interest in Bisping. In the United States, Spike TV was confirmed on July 26, 2008, to broadcast the event via tape delay starting at 9 p.m. ET, providing free access to American audiences and serving as a lead-in to subsequent pay-per-view programming.[9] These tie-ins aimed to maximize global reach, blending live UK excitement with delayed U.S. exposure to build anticipation across markets.Key matchups and storylines
UFC 89, held in Birmingham, England, highlighted Michael Bisping's pivotal role in the promotion's European expansion, as the English fighter headlined his third UK event to draw local crowds and cultivate international interest in MMA.[10] Bisping, entering with a 7-2 UFC record following losses to Patrick Côté and Rashad Evans, aimed to leverage home-country support against Chris Leben, reinforcing his status as the UFC's premier UK star.[10] This matchup, originally slated for UFC 85 but delayed due to Leben's legal issues, pitted Bisping's technical striking and movement against Leben's iron chin and brawling style, with the winner positioned for middleweight title contention.[11] Leben, a durable veteran with an 8-3 UFC mark following a career revival in Hawaii, sought to disrupt Bisping's momentum and claim the top spot in the division, declaring the bout a direct path to title eligibility.[12] The co-main event featured light heavyweight Keith Jardine attempting a resurgence after back-to-back losses, including a knockout defeat to Wanderlei Silva, against Brandon Vera, a highly touted prospect under pressure to deliver after a lackluster light heavyweight debut.[11] Jardine, known for his unorthodox striking and resilience with a 5-3-1 UFC record, needed a statement win to re-enter title discussions, while Vera, with a 2-2 UFC record coming off a submission loss to Jason Lambert, aimed to recapture his early undefeated promise and solidify his contender status.[12] Other compelling bouts included the light heavyweight clash between Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou and Luiz Cane, blending Sokoudjou's explosive hype as a Cameroonian judo black belt who burst onto the scene with PRIDE knockouts over elite competition, against Cane's devastating Muay Thai knockout power demonstrated in his quick destruction of Jason Lambert.[13] Sokoudjou 1-0 and Cane 2-0 in the UFC, the African import Sokoudjou looked to build on his rapid-rise narrative post a UFC 76 loss, while Brazilian Cane sought to affirm his striking prowess and climb the ranks.[11] In the welterweight division, Chris Lytle faced Paul Taylor in a matchup of relentless, fan-favorite action fighters, with Lytle's veteran durability from 46 professional bouts testing Taylor's high-pressure, fast-paced style amid the Brit's need to secure his UFC spot after mixed results.[11] These narratives underscored UFC 89's emphasis on international talent and high-stakes rivalries to bolster the promotion's foothold in Europe.[14]Event details
Venue and attendance
UFC 89 took place on October 18, 2008, at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England, marking the promotion's first event in the city and its fourth on mainland UK soil following UFC 70 in Manchester the previous year.[8][6] The National Indoor Arena, now known as Utilita Arena Birmingham, was configured for mixed martial arts with a capacity of approximately 10,000 spectators.[15] The event drew 9,515 paid attendees, generating a live gate revenue of $1.2 million.[3] Opened in 1991 as a premier indoor sports venue, the arena had previously hosted numerous boxing matches and wrestling events, requiring adaptations such as an octagon setup and reinforced flooring for the UFC's cage-based format.[16]Broadcast and viewership
UFC 89 was broadcast live in the United Kingdom and Ireland on Setanta Sports, commencing at 8:00 PM GMT to accommodate European audiences. This live coverage allowed UK viewers to experience the event in real time from the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England. In the United States and Canada, the event received a tape-delayed premiere on Spike TV on October 18, 2008, starting at 9:00 PM ET/PT. The broadcast averaged 2.6 million viewers overall, achieving a peak of 3.4 million during the main event matchup between Michael Bisping and Chris Leben.[17][18] As a non-pay-per-view event, UFC 89 was not offered via PPV in the US, limiting its domestic accessibility to the Spike TV airing, while international distribution relied on regional partners like Setanta Sports for broader but constrained global reach.Fight card
Main card
The main card for UFC 89 featured four bouts broadcast on pay-per-view, headlined by a middleweight clash between English fighter Michael Bisping and American Chris Leben.[1] Bisping weighed in at 185 pounds, while Leben came in at 186 pounds; both made weight without issue.[19][20] The co-main event pitted light heavyweight contenders Keith Jardine against Brandon Vera. Jardine weighed in at 205 pounds, and Vera registered 203 pounds, both meeting the limit.[1][19][20] Preceding the co-main was another light heavyweight matchup between Luiz Cane and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou. Cane weighed 206 pounds, while Sokoudjou hit 205 pounds on the scale.[1][3][20] Opening the main card was a welterweight bout featuring Chris Lytle versus Paul Taylor. Lytle weighed 170 pounds, with Taylor also 170 pounds.[1][19][20]| Bout Order | Weight Class | Fighter 1 (Weight) | vs. | Fighter 2 (Weight) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (Opener) | Welterweight | Chris Lytle (170 lbs.) | vs. | Paul Taylor (170 lbs.)[1][20] |
| 2 | Light Heavyweight | Luiz Cane (206 lbs.) | vs. | Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (205 lbs.)[1][3][20] |
| 3 (Co-Main) | Light Heavyweight | Keith Jardine (205 lbs.) | vs. | Brandon Vera (203 lbs.)[1][3][20] |
| 4 (Main Event) | Middleweight | Michael Bisping (185 lbs.) | vs. | Chris Leben (186 lbs.)[1][19][20] |
Preliminary card
The preliminary card for UFC 89 featured seven bouts, primarily in the lightweight division with additional matchups at welterweight and heavyweight, serving as the undercard to the main event attractions. These fights were not broadcast on pay-per-view but contributed to the event's overall lineup at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England.[1][3] The scheduled preliminary bouts, in order, were:- Lightweight: Per Eklund vs. Samy Schiavo[21]
- Lightweight: Jim Miller vs. David Baron[22]
- Lightweight: Terry Etim vs. Sam Stout[23]
- Lightweight: David Bielkheden vs. Jess Liaudin[24]
- Heavyweight: Shane Carwin vs. Neil Wain[25]
- Welterweight: Dan Hardy vs. Akihiro Gono[26]
- Welterweight: Marcus Davis vs. Paul Kelly[27]