UFC: Fight for the Troops
Encyclopedia
UFC: Fight for the Troops, also referred to as UFC Fight Night 16, was a mixed martial arts
event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship
(UFC) on December 10, 2008 at the Crown Coliseum
in Fayetteville, North Carolina
. The event helped raise money for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which provides support for severely wounded military personnel and veterans and the families of military personnel lost in service. The event reportedly raised $4 million during its three-hour broadcast.
The event was officially announced on September 17, 2008 during UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs. Neer
. Razak Al-Hassan
replaced Stann, and Jim Miller
came in with only three weeks notice as a late replacement for Edgar.
The event resulted in an unusual number of serious injuries. Corey Hill
, Razak Al-Hassan
, Brandon Wolff
, Jonathan Goulet
, Nate Loughran
, and Yoshiyuki Yoshida
were all hospitalized for injuries sustained during their fights. The referees assigned for the event were Dan Miragliotta, Donnie Jessup, Al Coley and Mario Yamasaki
.
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 December 10, 2008 at the Crown Coliseum
Cumberland County Crown Coliseum
Cumberland County Crown Coliseum is an 8,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Fayetteville, North Carolina that opened in 1997. It is currently home to the Fayetteville FireAntz ice hockey team, the Fayetteville Force indoor football team, and formerly home to the Fayetteville Patriots of the NBA...
in Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
. The event helped raise money for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which provides support for severely wounded military personnel and veterans and the families of military personnel lost in service. The event reportedly raised $4 million during its three-hour broadcast.
The event was officially announced on September 17, 2008 during UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs. Neer
UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs. Neer
UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs. Neer, also referred to as UFC Fight Night 15, was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 17, 2008 at the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska....
. Razak Al-Hassan
Razak Al-Hassan
-Early life:Al-Hassan's parents are from Ghana and he was the first person in his family to be born in the United States-Ultimate Fighting Championship:...
replaced Stann, and Jim Miller
Jim Miller (fighter)
James Andrew Miller is an American mixed martial artist. He has held the Cage Fury Fighting Championships Lightweight Championship and Reality Fighting Featherweight Championship. He currently fights for the UFC's lightweight division. He is the younger brother of fellow MMA fighter Dan Miller...
came in with only three weeks notice as a late replacement for Edgar.
The event resulted in an unusual number of serious injuries. Corey Hill
Corey Hill
Corey Cornelius Hill is an American mixed martial artist. He was a high school state champion wrestler on multiple occasions in Florida. Hill was a multi-time high school state champion wrestler in Florida and 2x National Finalist college wrestler.-The Ultimate Fighter:Hill competed as a...
, Razak Al-Hassan
Razak Al-Hassan
-Early life:Al-Hassan's parents are from Ghana and he was the first person in his family to be born in the United States-Ultimate Fighting Championship:...
, Brandon Wolff
Brandon Wolff
Brandon W.K. Wolff is an American mixed martial artist and former Navy SEAL. He has a twin brother, Brenton, who has followed the same path. He made his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut in 2008 at UFC: Fight for the Troops, where he suffered a technical knockout loss to Ben Saunders after a...
, Jonathan Goulet
Jonathan Goulet
Jonathan Goulet is a retired French Canadian mixed martial artist. He has most recently fought as a welterweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he made his successful debut at Ultimate Fight Night 2, defeating Jay Hieron by technical knockout.-Mixed martial arts career:Goulet is...
, Nate Loughran
Nate Loughran
Nathaniel James Loughran is an American mixed martial artist. Loughran currently fought for Ultimate Fighting Championship in their middleweight division. After his loss to Tim Credeur he asked to be released from the UFC...
, and Yoshiyuki Yoshida
Yoshiyuki Yoshida
is a Japanese mixed martial artist competing in the welterweight division. A student of former Shooto competitor Noboru Asahi, he has competed in Shooto, Cage Force, and the UFC...
were all hospitalized for injuries sustained during their fights. The referees assigned for the event were Dan Miragliotta, Donnie Jessup, Al Coley and Mario Yamasaki
Mario Yamasaki
Mario Yamasaki is a mixed martial arts referee licensed in many states, most recognizable from his duties with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, as well as founder and chief instructor of the Yamasaki Academy in the USA...
.
Preliminary card
- Heavyweight bout:
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...
vs. Justin McCullyJustin McCullyJustin McCully is an American mixed martial artist who most recently fought in the UFC heavyweight division.He has a professional fight record of ten wins, five losses, and two draws...
- McCully defeated Sanchez via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, and 29–28).
- Lightweight bout: Corey HillCorey HillCorey Cornelius Hill is an American mixed martial artist. He was a high school state champion wrestler on multiple occasions in Florida. Hill was a multi-time high school state champion wrestler in Florida and 2x National Finalist college wrestler.-The Ultimate Fighter:Hill competed as a...
vs. Dale Hartt
- Lightweight bout:
- Hartt defeated Hill via TKO (injury) at 0:20 of round 2.
- Welterweight bout: Ben SaundersBen Saunders (fighter)Benjamin Saunders , is an American professional mixed martial artist. His background is in Jeet Kune Do Concepts and he was a featured fighter on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra, fighting on Team Serra....
vs. Brandon WolffBrandon WolffBrandon W.K. Wolff is an American mixed martial artist and former Navy SEAL. He has a twin brother, Brenton, who has followed the same path. He made his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut in 2008 at UFC: Fight for the Troops, where he suffered a technical knockout loss to Ben Saunders after a...
- Welterweight bout:
- Saunders defeated Wolff via TKO (strikes) at 1:49 of round 1. This preliminary bout was aired on the broadcast.
- Welterweight bout: Steve BrunoSteve BrunoSteve Bruno an American mixed martial artist. He competes in the Welterweight division. Born in Brooklyn, New York. He currently resides in Pompano Beach, Florida. Before starting his fighting career Steve was a Naval Air Crewman and Rescue Swimmer in the United States Navy...
vs. Johnny ReesJohnny ReesJohnny Rees is an American mixed martial artist. He is a former employee of the Ultimate Fighting Championships . He made his debut at UFC Fight Night 14 losing to Nate Loughran then he lost his second straight fight at UFC: Fight for the Troops to Steve Bruno.He was set make his Bellator debut at...
- Welterweight bout:
- Bruno defeated Rees via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:44 of round 2. This preliminary bout was aired on the broadcast.
- Catchweight bout (173 pounds): Luigi FioravantiLuigi FioravantiLuigi Fioravanti is an American mixed martial artist who fights out of Orlando, Florida with American Top Team. He was released by the UFC shortly after his first round TKO defeat to Anthony Johnson at UFC Fight Night 17...
vs. Brodie FarberBrodie FarberBrodie Kyle Farber is an American mixed martial artist.-MMA Career:His most notable fight to date was a submission loss to eventual UFC Lightweight Champion Sean Sherk. His last win was at MMAX 18 – MMA Xtreme 18 against Eduardo Gonzalez on January 26, 2008. Farber made his UFC debut against...
- Catchweight bout (173 pounds):
- Fioravanti defeated Farber via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, and 30–27).
Main card
- Lightweight bout: Matt WimanMatt WimanMatthew Charles Wiman is an American mixed martial artist, who competes as a lightweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
vs. Jim MillerJim Miller (fighter)James Andrew Miller is an American mixed martial artist. He has held the Cage Fury Fighting Championships Lightweight Championship and Reality Fighting Featherweight Championship. He currently fights for the UFC's lightweight division. He is the younger brother of fellow MMA fighter Dan Miller...
- Miller defeated Wiman via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, and 30–26).
- Middleweight bout: Tim CredeurTim CredeurTimothy Wallace Credeur II is an American mixed martial artist. He was a cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter 7 and was defeated by fellow cast member Jesse Taylor in the semi-finals. He was then brought back into the competition following the disqualification of Taylor. He fought C.B...
vs. Nate LoughranNate LoughranNathaniel James Loughran is an American mixed martial artist. Loughran currently fought for Ultimate Fighting Championship in their middleweight division. After his loss to Tim Credeur he asked to be released from the UFC...
- Middleweight bout:
- Credeur defeated Loughran via TKO (Verbal Submission) at the end of round 2.
- Light Heavyweight bout: Steve CantwellSteve CantwellSteven Francis Cantwell is an American mixed martial artist who competes as a middleweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
vs. Razak Al-HassanRazak Al-Hassan-Early life:Al-Hassan's parents are from Ghana and he was the first person in his family to be born in the United States-Ultimate Fighting Championship:...
- Light Heavyweight bout:
- Cantwell defeated Al-Hussan via technical submission (armbar) at 4:04 of round 1.
- Welterweight bout: Mike SwickMike SwickMike Swick is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship as a welterweight....
vs.
Jonathan GouletJonathan GouletJonathan Goulet is a retired French Canadian mixed martial artist. He has most recently fought as a welterweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he made his successful debut at Ultimate Fight Night 2, defeating Jay Hieron by technical knockout.-Mixed martial arts career:Goulet is...
- Welterweight bout:
- Swick defeated Goulet via KO (strikes) at 0:33 of round 1.
- Welterweight 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.
Yoshiyuki YoshidaYoshiyuki Yoshidais a Japanese mixed martial artist competing in the welterweight division. A student of former Shooto competitor Noboru Asahi, he has competed in Shooto, Cage Force, and the UFC...
- Welterweight bout:
- Koscheck defeated Yoshida via KO (punch) at 2:15 of round 1.
Bonus awards
At the end of the night, the UFC awarded $30,000 to each of the fighters who received one of these awards:- Knockout of the Night: Josh Koscheck
- Submission of the Night: Steve Cantwell
- Fight of the Night: Jim Miller vs. Matt Wiman