UFC 63
Encyclopedia
UFC 63: Hughes vs. Penn was a mixed martial arts
event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship
on September 23, 2006. The event took place at the Arrowhead Pond
in Anaheim, California
and was broadcast live on pay-per-view
in the United States
and Canada
.
The event, originally subtitled "Hughes vs. St-Pierre," was scheduled to feature a UFC Welterweight Title match between champion Matt Hughes
and Georges St-Pierre. Nevertheless, a groin injury—which was reported early in August, forced St-Pierre off the card. At first, St-Pierre sought a physiotherapist, hoping the injury would heal on its own during training; however, it was later announced that St-Pierre would indeed withdraw from his long-awaited title shot. Taking his place was former UFC Welterweight Champion, B.J. Penn, who defeated Hughes in a championship fight in 2004, and was beaten by St-Pierre at UFC 58
.
In the post fight interview Georges St-Pierre stated that he wasn't impressed with Matt Hughes
' performance and that he was looking forward to their rematch The Hughes/St-Pierre rematch would finally take place at UFC 65
that November, with St-Pierre winning by TKO.
The co-main event saw 'The Crow' David Loiseau
taking on Mike Swick
in the middleweight division.
The Quad-City Times
reported that Pat Miletich
expressed outrage that the UFC had apparently scheduled this event alongside a bout he had forthcoming in the IFL
, which caused him to miss cornering Hughes and Pulver, fighters whom he coaches, in their UFC matches.
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...
on September 23, 2006. The event took place at the Arrowhead Pond
Arrowhead Pond
The Honda Center, previously known as the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim and colloquially called The Pond or The Ponda, is an indoor arena in Anaheim, California. The arena is home to the National Hockey League's Anaheim Ducks and was home of the former National Lacrosse League's Anaheim Storm, which...
in Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
and was broadcast live on pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Background
Matt Hughes (fighter)
Matthew Allen Hughes is an American mixed martial artist, UFC Hall of Famer, and former two-time UFC Welterweight Champion. Hughes put together two separate six-fight winning streaks in the UFC, won the welterweight title on two occasions, defended the belt a record seven times, and holds the...
and Georges St-Pierre. Nevertheless, a groin injury—which was reported early in August, forced St-Pierre off the card. At first, St-Pierre sought a physiotherapist, hoping the injury would heal on its own during training; however, it was later announced that St-Pierre would indeed withdraw from his long-awaited title shot. Taking his place was former UFC Welterweight Champion, B.J. Penn, who defeated Hughes in a championship fight in 2004, and was beaten by St-Pierre at UFC 58
UFC 58
UFC 58: USA vs Canada was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 4, 2006. It was held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada, and broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States....
.
In the post fight interview Georges St-Pierre stated that he wasn't impressed with Matt Hughes
Matt Hughes (fighter)
Matthew Allen Hughes is an American mixed martial artist, UFC Hall of Famer, and former two-time UFC Welterweight Champion. Hughes put together two separate six-fight winning streaks in the UFC, won the welterweight title on two occasions, defended the belt a record seven times, and holds the...
' performance and that he was looking forward to their rematch The Hughes/St-Pierre rematch would finally take place at UFC 65
UFC 65
UFC 65: Bad Intentions was a mixed martial arts competition held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on November 18, 2006 at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California – the UFC’s first show at this venue.-Background:...
that November, with St-Pierre winning by TKO.
The co-main event saw 'The Crow' David Loiseau
David Loiseau
David Loiseau is a Canadian mixed martial artist from Montreal, Quebec. He has fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, EliteXC, and TKO Major League MMA and is the former TKO Middleweight Champion. He was the first French Canadian to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
taking on Mike Swick
Mike Swick
Mike Swick is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship as a welterweight....
in the middleweight division.
The Quad-City Times
Quad-City Times
The Quad-City Times is a daily morning newspaper based in Davenport, Iowa, and circulated throughout the Quad Cities metropolitan area ....
reported that Pat Miletich
Pat Miletich
Patrick Jay Miletich is a retired American mixed martial artist and a current sports commentator. He is known for his fights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he became the first UFC Welterweight Champion and UFC 16 tournament champion....
expressed outrage that the UFC had apparently scheduled this event alongside a bout he had forthcoming in the IFL
International Fight League
The International Fight League was an American mixed martial arts promotion billed as the world's first MMA league. It was founded on January 7, 2006 and closed on July 31, 2008...
, which caused him to miss cornering Hughes and Pulver, fighters whom he coaches, in their UFC matches.
Preliminary card
- Lightweight bout:
Tyson GriffinTyson GriffinTyson Lee Griffin is an American mixed martial artist from Albany, California. Griffin currently fights as a Featherweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship .-Early life:...
vs.
David LeeDavid Lee (fighter)David Lee is an English professional mixed martial artist who has competed for Ultimate Fighting Championship, Cage Rage, BAMMA, Bushido and Cage Rage UK...
- Griffin wins by submission (rear naked chokeRear naked chokeThe Rear naked choke is a chokehold in martial arts applied from an opponent's back. Depending on the context, the term may refer to one of two variations of the technique, either arm can be used to apply the choke in both cases...
) at 1:50 of round one. The fight, although preliminary, was aired on the broadcast.
- Lightweight bout:
Jorge GurgelJorge GurgelJorge Valente Gurgel is a Brazilian-American Mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner who currently competes in Strikeforce's lightweight division.- Early life :...
vs. Danny Abbadi
- Gurgel wins by split decision after three rounds. Judges scored the bout 29–28 (Abbadi), 29–28 (Gurgel) and 29–28 (Gurgel). This preliminary bout was not aired on the broadcast.
- Heavyweight bout: Mario NetoMario NetoMario Neto is a Brazilian mixed martial artist with a record of 12-5. He is now in his 15th year as a mixed martial artist with a victory over UFC veteran Seth Petruzelli...
vs. Eddie SanchezEddie SanchezEduardo Arturo Sanchez is an American mixed martial arts fighter.-Ultimate Fighting Championship:On February 3, 2007 at the Ultimate Fighting Championship's UFC 67, he lost to Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović by technical knockout due to punches at 4:33 of the first round, in Filipović's debut fight in...
- Sanchez wins by knockout due to a punch at :17 of round two. Sanchez accepted the fight on short notice, replacing Gabriel Gonzaga. The fight, although preliminary, was aired on the broadcast.
- Lightweight bout: Roger HuertaRoger HuertaRoger Huerta , is an American mixed martial artist. He initially gained exposure by competing in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and later Bellator Fighting Championships.-Early life:...
vs. Jason DentJason DentJason William Dent is an American mixed martial artist. The Lightweight competitor has held several regional championships, most recently he won the IFBL Welterweight Championship. He runs the GriffonRawl MMA Academy in Mentor, Ohio, and previously hosted an MMA oriented radio talk show on WWGK...
- Huerta wins by unanimous decision after three rounds. All three judges scored the bout 30–27. Dent came as a late replacement for Jason Reinhardt, who had pulled out of the card due to lingering medical concerns with his neck. This preliminary bout was not aired on the broadcast.
Main card
- Lightweight bout: Jens PulverJens PulverJens Johnnie Pulver is an American mixed martial artist . He was the first Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight champion and was a coach on the The Ultimate Fighter 5 reality show, which aired on Spike TV. He was formerly signed as a featherweight with World Extreme Cagefighting , which is...
vs. Joe LauzonJoe LauzonJoseph E. Lauzon Jr. is an American mixed martial artist from Brockton, Massachusetts. He currently lives in Massachusetts and is training at Lauzon MMA in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.-Early life and background:...
- Lauzon wins by knockout due to strikes at :47 of round one.
- Light Heavyweight bout: Rashad EvansRashad EvansRashad Anton Evans is an American mixed martial artist from Niagara Falls, New York, currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Evans won the heavyweight division of The Ultimate Fighter 2. Evans lost the UFC Light Heavyweight...
vs. Jason LambertJason Lambert (fighter)Jason L. Lambert is an American mixed martial artist from Victorville, California, who fought in the light heavyweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship prior to being released from the company. He fights out of North County Fight Club and is represented by NCFC Fight Management.-...
- Evans wins by knockout due to punches from the mounted position at 2:22 of round two.
- Lightweight bout: Melvin GuillardMelvin GuillardMelvin Paul Guillard, Jr. is an American mixed martial artist currently fighting in the lightweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship . He debuted with the company on The Ultimate Fighter 2 television series, losing in the first welterweight elimination bout to Josh Burkman...
vs. Gabe RuedigerGabe RuedigerGabriel G. "Gabe" Ruediger is an American mixed martial artist, currently competing in the lightweight division.-Mixed martial arts career:...
- Guillard wins by TKO due to a body punch at 1:01 of round two.
- Middleweight bout: Mike SwickMike SwickMike Swick is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship as a welterweight....
vs.
David LoiseauDavid LoiseauDavid Loiseau is a Canadian mixed martial artist from Montreal, Quebec. He has fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, EliteXC, and TKO Major League MMA and is the former TKO Middleweight Champion. He was the first French Canadian to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
- Swick wins by unanimous decision. All three judges scored the bout 29–28.
- Welterweight Championship bout: Matt HughesMatt Hughes (fighter)Matthew Allen Hughes is an American mixed martial artist, UFC Hall of Famer, and former two-time UFC Welterweight Champion. Hughes put together two separate six-fight winning streaks in the UFC, won the welterweight title on two occasions, defended the belt a record seven times, and holds the...
(c) vs. B.J. Penn
- Hughes wins by TKO due to strikes at 3:53 of round three. Hughes retains the UFC Welterweight Championship.
Fighter Payouts
The disclosed fighter payroll for UFC 63 was $332,000. Individual payouts are listed below. The numbers only include figures the UFC disclosed to the state athletic commission; pay-per-view buyrate bonuses, sponsorship fees, and other bonuses were not disclosed.Main card
- Jens Pulver: $30,000 (lost to Joe Lauzon)
- Rashad Evans: $24,000 (defeated Jason Lambert)
- Mike Swick: $14,000 (defeated David Loiseau)
- Melvin Guillard: $10,000 (defeated Gabe Ruediger)
- Jason Lambert: $9,000 (lost to Rashad Evans)
- David Loiseau: $9,000 (lost to Mike Swick)
- Joe Lauzon: $6,000 (defeated Jens Pulver)
- Gabe Ruediger: $3,000 (lost to Melvin Guillard)
Preliminary card
- Tyson Griffin: $14,000 (defeated David Lee)
- Jorge Gurgel: $10,000 (defeated Danny Abaddi)
- Roger Huerta: $6,000 (defeated Jason Dent)
- Danny Abaddi: $5,000 (lost to Jorge Gurgel)
- Eddie Sanchez: $4,000 (defeated Mario Neto)
- Jason Dent: $3,000 (lost to Roger Huerta)
- Mario Neto: $3,000 (lost to Eddie Sanchez)
- David Lee: $2,000 (lost to Tyson Griffin)