UFC 16
Encyclopedia
UFC 16: Battle in the Bayou was a mixed martial arts
event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship
on March 13, 1998 in New Orleans, Louisiana
. The event was seen live on pay per view in the United States
, and later released on home video
.
UFC 16 marked the first appearance of the influential fighter Pat Miletich
, who would go on to create Miletich Fighting Systems
. It also marked the first appearance of Mike Goldberg doing the play-by-play announcing. Tank Abbott
is a guest commentator.
The Middleweight Championship bout, was billed to be champion Frank Shamrock
's biggest test, in Battlecade star, Igor Zinoviev
. This would end up being the final match of Zinoviev's career, as he suffered a career-ending collarbone injury from Shamrock's victorious KO slam.
Kimo Leopoldo
returned to the UFC at UFC 16 and fought top Japanese fighter Tsuyoshi Kohsaka. Kimo dominated the first portion of the fight but began to fatigue and eventually lost the fight by decision. He did not carry the cross into the ring this time like he did at UFC 3
.
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 March 13, 1998 in New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. The event was seen live on pay per view in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and later released on home video
Home video
Home video is a blanket term used for pre-recorded media that is either sold or rented/hired for home cinema entertainment. The term originates from the VHS/Betamax era but has carried over into current optical disc formats like DVD and Blu-ray Disc and, to a lesser extent, into methods of digital...
.
History
UFC 16 featured the first ever UFC Lightweight tournament (for fighters under 170 lb), as well as a Middleweight Championship bout, a Heavyweight and a Middleweight Superfight, and two alternate bouts in case of tournament injury.UFC 16 marked the first appearance of the influential fighter 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....
, who would go on to create Miletich Fighting Systems
Miletich Fighting Systems
Miletich Fighting Systems is a mixed martial arts training organization. It is recognized as an excellent training camp. It has been the training camp for fighters such as Matt Hughes, Tim Sylvia, Jens Pulver, Robbie Lawler, and Jeremy Horn...
. It also marked the first appearance of Mike Goldberg doing the play-by-play announcing. Tank Abbott
Tank Abbott
David Lee Abbott is an American mixed martial arts fighter and former professional wrestler. He has described his fighting style, which he developed brawling in the bars and streets of Huntington Beach, California, as "street fighting"...
is a guest commentator.
The Middleweight Championship bout, was billed to be champion Frank Shamrock
Frank Shamrock
Frank Shamrock is a retired mixed martial arts fighter. Shamrock was the first to hold the UFC Middleweight Championship and retired as the four-time defending undefeated champion...
's biggest test, in Battlecade star, Igor Zinoviev
Igor Zinoviev
Igor Zinoviev is a Russian former mixed martial artist. He competed in the Extreme Fighting organization, holding the middleweight title until their demise, then moved to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Most recently, he coached the Chicago Red Bears in the International Fight League.-Early...
. This would end up being the final match of Zinoviev's career, as he suffered a career-ending collarbone injury from Shamrock's victorious KO slam.
Kimo Leopoldo
Kimo Leopoldo
Kimo Leopoldo , or simply Kimo, is an American mixed martial artist. He made his MMA debut at UFC 3 in 1994 losing to Royce Gracie by submission. Kimo's fighting style has been described as freestyle, with a mixture of striking and grappling techniques.He was credited with a black belt in Taekwondo...
returned to the UFC at UFC 16 and fought top Japanese fighter Tsuyoshi Kohsaka. Kimo dominated the first portion of the fight but began to fatigue and eventually lost the fight by decision. He did not carry the cross into the ring this time like he did at UFC 3
UFC 3
UFC 3: The American Dream was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 9, 1994, at Grady Cole Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The event was seen live on pay-per-view in the United States, and was later released on home video.-History:UFC 3 used an...
.
Results
- Lightweight Tournament Alternate bout:
Laverne Clark vs. Josh StewartJosh StewartJoshua Regnall Stewart is an American actor best known for his role as Holt McLaren in the FX TV series Dirt. He was also cast as Brendan Finney in the final season of the NBC TV series Third Watch.-Early life:...
- Clark defeated Stewart via TKO (punches) at 1:15.
- Lightweight Tournament Alternate bout: Chris BrennanChris BrennanChris "The Westside Strangler" Brennan is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division. He was born in Compton, California at the Compton Community Hospital. He was the 3 time King of the Cage Middleweight World Champion where he was at one point the poster boy of that...
vs. Courtney Turner
- Brennan defeated Turner via submission (armbar) at 1:20.
- Lightweight Tournament Semifinals: Mikey BurnettMikey BurnettMichael Wayne Burnett is a former American mixed martial artist who was a member of the legendary fight team the Lion's Den...
vs.
Eugenio Tadeu
- Burnett defeated Tadeu via TKO (punches) at 9:46. Burnett had to withdraw from the tournament due to a broken finger suffered during this bout.
- Lightweight Tournament Semifinals: Pat MiletichPat MiletichPatrick 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....
vs. Townsend SaundersTownsend SaundersTownsend Saunders is an Olympic silver medalist in wrestling who was a two-time All-American at Arizona State University. In 1987 Saunders became an NCAA Div. II National Champion for California State University-Bakersfield.-Biography:Known in college as "Junior" Saunders, he adopted his given...
- Miletich defeated Saunders via split decision at 15:00.
- Middleweight Superfight: Jerry BohlanderJerry BohlanderJerry Bohlander is an American former mixed martial artist. He is most notable for his UFC appearances and was a former UFC champion, winning the first lightweight tournament at UFC 12. He was a member of the legendary fight team the Lion's Den alongside other notable fighters such as Ken...
vs. Kevin JacksonKevin JacksonKevin Andre Jackson is the head wrestling coach at Iowa State University, having been hired in 2009 when Cael Sanderson quit the post and moved to Penn State University...
- Bohlander defeated Jackson via technical submission (armbar) at 10:21. (Jackson refused to tap, referee John McCarthyJohn McCarthy (referee)John Michael McCarthy, the 'Octagon's ninth side', is the first head referee for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, a retired Los Angeles Police Officer, and a Tactical Self-Defense Instructor at the Los Angeles Police Academy. He formerly provided commentary and analysis for The Fight Network's...
stopped the fight)
- Lightweight Tournament Finals: Pat MiletichPat MiletichPatrick 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....
vs. Chris BrennanChris BrennanChris "The Westside Strangler" Brennan is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division. He was born in Compton, California at the Compton Community Hospital. He was the 3 time King of the Cage Middleweight World Champion where he was at one point the poster boy of that...
- Miletich defeated Brennan via submission (choke) at 9:01 to win the UFC 16 Lightweight Tournament. (Mikey Burnett withdrew from the tournament due to a broken finger and was replaced by Brennan.)
- Heavyweight Superfight:
Tsuyoshi KosakaTsuyoshi Kosakais a Japanese retired mixed martial artist. He has competed in notable mixed martial arts promotions like the Ultimate Fighting Championship, RINGS, and Pancrase. He holds notable wins over Kimo Leopoldo, Mario Sperry, Volk Han, Gilbert Yvel and Egan Inoue. He is one of only four fighters to defeat...
vs. Kimo LeopoldoKimo LeopoldoKimo Leopoldo , or simply Kimo, is an American mixed martial artist. He made his MMA debut at UFC 3 in 1994 losing to Royce Gracie by submission. Kimo's fighting style has been described as freestyle, with a mixture of striking and grappling techniques.He was credited with a black belt in Taekwondo...
- Kosaka defeated Leopoldo via unanimous decision at 15:00.
- Middleweight Championship bout: Frank ShamrockFrank ShamrockFrank Shamrock is a retired mixed martial arts fighter. Shamrock was the first to hold the UFC Middleweight Championship and retired as the four-time defending undefeated champion...
(c) vs.
Igor ZinovievIgor ZinovievIgor Zinoviev is a Russian former mixed martial artist. He competed in the Extreme Fighting organization, holding the middleweight title until their demise, then moved to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Most recently, he coached the Chicago Red Bears in the International Fight League.-Early...
- Shamrock defeated Zinoviev via KO (slam) at 0:22 to retain the UFC Middleweight Championship.