The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale
Encyclopedia
The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale was a mixed martial arts
event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship
(UFC) on April 9, 2005. Featured were the finals from The Ultimate Fighter 1
in both the Middleweight
and Light Heavyweight
divisions.
Even though the main attraction of the event was Rich Franklin
vs the UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock
the spotlight was stolen by the incredible bout between Forrest Griffin
and Stephan Bonnar
. Hailed as one of the greatest fights in MMA history by many, Forrest and Stephan produced a 3 round stand up war that went the distance. Although Forrest would take the decision both men were given UFC contracts for their amazing performance.
Originally, Tito Ortiz
was offered to fight Ken Shamrock
in a rematch at this event. However, Ortiz left the UFC shortly after UFC 51
due to contract disputes.
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
(UFC) on April 9, 2005. Featured were the finals from The Ultimate Fighter 1
The Ultimate Fighter 1
The debut season of The Ultimate Fighter premiered on January 17, 2005. Sixteen mixed martial arts fighters were invited to participate in the show where they would reside together and train in two separate teams...
in both the Middleweight
Middleweight (MMA)
The middleweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*UFC's & Strikeforce's middleweight division, which groups competitors within 171 to 185 lb...
and Light Heavyweight
Light Heavyweight (MMA)
The light heavyweight division in mixed martial arts generally refers to competitors weighing between 186 and 205 lb . It sits between the lighter middleweight division, and the heavyweight division....
divisions.
Even though the main attraction of the event was Rich Franklin
Rich Franklin
Rich Jay Franklin II is an American mixed martial artist and former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight champion.-Background:...
vs the UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock
Ken Shamrock
Kenneth Wayne Shamrock is an American mixed martial arts fighter, UFC Hall of Famer and professional wrestler...
the spotlight was stolen by the incredible bout between Forrest Griffin
Forrest Griffin
Forrest Griffin is an American mixed martial artist. He is currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is a former UFC light heavyweight champion....
and Stephan Bonnar
Stephan Bonnar
Stephan Patrick Bonnar is an American mixed martial artist who currently competes for the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
. Hailed as one of the greatest fights in MMA history by many, Forrest and Stephan produced a 3 round stand up war that went the distance. Although Forrest would take the decision both men were given UFC contracts for their amazing performance.
Originally, Tito Ortiz
Tito Ortiz
Jacob Christopher "Tito" Ortiz is a Mexican-American mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, having held the title from April 14, 2000 to September 26, 2003. Along with fighters like Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell, he was one of the sport's early stars...
was offered to fight Ken Shamrock
Ken Shamrock
Kenneth Wayne Shamrock is an American mixed martial arts fighter, UFC Hall of Famer and professional wrestler...
in a rematch at this event. However, Ortiz left the UFC shortly after UFC 51
UFC 51
UFC 51: Super Saturday was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 5, 2005 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada...
due to contract disputes.
Preliminary card
- Welterweight bout:
Alex KaralexisAlex KaralexisAlex Karalexis is an American mixed martial artist of Greek descent. He has a professional record of 10 wins and 6 losses...
vs. Josh RaffertyJosh RaffertyJosh Rafferty is an American mixed martial artist from Cincinnati, Ohio. He best known for his appearance on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, a reality television series produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
- Karalexis wins by TKO (strikes) at 1:40 of the first round.
- Middleweight bout:
Alex SchoenauerAlex SchoenauerAlex Schoenauer is an Argentine American professional mixed martial arts fighter. He last fought for the Los Angeles Anacondas of the International Fight League and resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Early life:...
vs. Mike SwickMike SwickMike Swick is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship as a welterweight....
- Swick wins by KO at 0:20 of the first round.
- Middleweight bout: Nate QuarryNate QuarryNathan Parker Quarry is an American mixed martial arts fighter who is most notable for his appearance in The Ultimate Fighter, a reality show from the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Early life:...
vs. Lodune SincaidLodune SincaidLodune Sincaid is an American professional mixed martial artist from North Hollywood, California. He is a former World Extreme Cagefighting light heavyweight champion, and was featured on the UFC's The Ultimate Fighter 1 reality show, losing to Bobby Southworth by knockout in the first...
- Quarry wins by TKO at 3:17 of the first round.
- Middleweight bout: Josh KoscheckJosh KoscheckJosh D. Koscheck is an American mixed martial artist from Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, a former collegiate wrestling champion and is currently fighting at welterweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He made his debut with the organization on the first season of the reality television show,...
vs. Chris Sanford
- Koscheck wins by KO at 4:21 of the first round.
- Middleweight bout: Chris LebenChris LebenChristian Cyrus Leben is an American mixed martial artist currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he fights as a middleweight....
vs.
Jason Thacker
- Leben wins by TKO at 1:35 of the first round.
- Light Heavyweight bout: Sam HogerSam HogerSamuel Earl Hoger is an American mixed martial artist most notable for appearing on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, a reality television series produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship and broadcast on Spike TV...
vs. Bobby SouthworthBobby SouthworthBobby Southworth is an American mixed martial arts fighter. He fights as a light heavyweight. He has also fought in PRIDE FC and appeared on Season 1 of The Ultimate Fighter...
- Hoger wins by unanimous decision.
Main card
- Middleweight bout: Diego SanchezDiego SánchezDiego J. Sanchez is an American mixed martial artist of Mexican descent, with a background in wrestling and Gaidojutsu, system of submission wrestling developed by his longtime trainer Greg Jackson...
vs. Kenny FlorianKenny FlorianKenneth Alan Florian is a Peruvian-American mixed martial artist who competes as a featherweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He has a background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai, and is known for his cerebral approach to the sport based on his meticulous game plans and...
- Sanchez wins by TKO at 2:46 of the first round, to become the first Middleweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter.
- Light Heavyweight bout: Forrest GriffinForrest GriffinForrest Griffin is an American mixed martial artist. He is currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is a former UFC light heavyweight champion....
vs. Stephan BonnarStephan BonnarStephan Patrick Bonnar is an American mixed martial artist who currently competes for the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
- Griffin wins by unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) in what is described as one of the best fights in the history of the UFC. He wins the first Ultimate Fighter Championship in the Light Heavyweight division, but Dana WhiteDana WhiteDana White is the current President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship , a mixed martial arts organization based in the United States.- Biography :...
grants Bonnar a UFC contract as well after his performance (see Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan BonnarForrest Griffin vs. Stephan BonnarForrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar is a duo of fights starting in the finals of The Ultimate Fighter 1 contest which received national acclaim, and was highly regarded among fans as one of the most exciting and memorable fights in the history of not only the UFC, but MMA in general...
).
- Light Heavyweight bout: Rich FranklinRich FranklinRich Jay Franklin II is an American mixed martial artist and former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight champion.-Background:...
vs. Ken ShamrockKen ShamrockKenneth Wayne Shamrock is an American mixed martial arts fighter, UFC Hall of Famer and professional wrestler...
- Franklin wins by TKO at 2:42 of the first round.