UFC 37.5
Encyclopedia
UFC 37.5: As Real As It Gets was a mixed martial arts
event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship
at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino
in Las Vegas
, Nevada
on June 22, 2002.
and Chuck Liddell
, with the winner getting a shot at the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. UFC 37.5 was the first UFC event to feature Joe Rogan
as a color commentator
.
UFC 37.5 was a last-minute event specifically held to promote the UFC on Fox Sports Net
's The Best Damn Sports Show Period
, where the "best fight" of the night was to air during the BDSSPs "All Star Summer" celebration in June of 2002. The fight aired was Steve Berger vs Robbie Lawler
, which has the distinction of being the first mixed martial arts
fight to be aired on US cable television.
The event featured only six fights, which is a much smaller card than others under the UFC banner at the time, and was the first event since UFC Japan
not to be broadcast live on pay per view. The event was later broadcast on pay-per-view in its entirety. The number 37.5 was used because UFC 38
had already been announced and marketed in England, where the UFC was making their debut just three weeks later.
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...
at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino
Bellagio (hotel and casino)
Bellagio is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in the Paradise area of unincorporated Clark County, Nevada, USA and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. It is owned by MGM Resorts International and was built on the site of the demolished Dunes hotel and casino.Inspired by the...
in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
on June 22, 2002.
Background
The fight card was headlined by a bout between Vitor BelfortVitor Belfort
Vítor Vieira Belfort is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Belfort was born in Rio de Janeiro and studied jiu-jitsu with the Gracie family, namely Carlson Gracie. He received a black belt under Carlson and currently trains with Xtreme Couture, fighting in...
and Chuck Liddell
Chuck Liddell
Charles David "Chuck" Liddell is a retired American mixed martial artist and former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion. Liddell has an extensive striking background in Kempo, Koei-Kan karate and kickboxing, as well as a grappling background in collegiate wrestling.As of his...
, with the winner getting a shot at the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. UFC 37.5 was the first UFC event to feature Joe Rogan
Joe Rogan
Joseph James "Joe" Rogan is an American comedian, video blogger, actor, writer, podcaster, and martial artist. He is best known for his work on NewsRadio, his work as color commentator for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and his hosting work on Fear Factor.-Acting:In 1994, Rogan co-starred on...
as a color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
.
UFC 37.5 was a last-minute event specifically held to promote the UFC on Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
's The Best Damn Sports Show Period
The Best Damn Sports Show Period
The Best Damn Sports Show Period is an American sports television show on Fox Sports Net and Comcast SportsNet. The show regularly featured irreverent and opinionated interviews with top athletes, coaches, celebrities, and entertainers. It also aired Top 50 countdown shows and other sports...
, where the "best fight" of the night was to air during the BDSSPs "All Star Summer" celebration in June of 2002. The fight aired was Steve Berger vs Robbie Lawler
Robbie Lawler
Robert Glen "Robbie" Lawler is an American mixed martial artist Lawler was the EliteXC middleweight champion before EliteXC filed for bankruptcy. Lawler has recently signed with Strikeforce. He is a member of Team Hughes fighting out of H.I.T...
, which has the distinction of being the first mixed martial arts
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...
fight to be aired on US cable television.
The event featured only six fights, which is a much smaller card than others under the UFC banner at the time, and was the first event since UFC Japan
UFC Japan
UFC Japan: Ultimate Japan was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 21, 1997, in Yokohama, Japan...
not to be broadcast live on pay per view. The event was later broadcast on pay-per-view in its entirety. The number 37.5 was used because UFC 38
UFC 38
UFC 38: Brawl at the Hall was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England, on July 13, 2002...
had already been announced and marketed in England, where the UFC was making their debut just three weeks later.
Results
- Lightweight bout:
Yves EdwardsYves Edwards|-| Win| align="center" | 41-17-1| Rafaello Oliveira| TKO | UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson| | align="center" | 2| align="center" | 2:44| Washington, D.C||-| Loss| align="center" | 40-17-1| Sam Stout| KO...
vs.
Joao Marcos Pierini
- Edwards wins by technical knockout due to injury at 1:19 of Round 1. Pierini injured his shoulder falling to the mat after a high kick from Edwards.
- Middleweight bout:
Tony Fryklund vs. Rodrigo RuasRodrigo Ruas|-| Win|align=center| 4–5-1 | Marcus Vinicios| Submission | HCF - Crow's Nest| |align=center| 3|align=center| 0:52|Gatineau, Canada||-| Loss|align=center| 3-5-1 | Donnie Liles| Submission | IFL - Chicago|...
- Fryklund wins by technical knockout due to strikes from the mount at 3:34 of Round 2.
- Welterweight bout: Robbie LawlerRobbie LawlerRobert Glen "Robbie" Lawler is an American mixed martial artist Lawler was the EliteXC middleweight champion before EliteXC filed for bankruptcy. Lawler has recently signed with Strikeforce. He is a member of Team Hughes fighting out of H.I.T...
vs. Steve Berger
- Lawler wins by technical knockout due to punches at :27 of Round 2.
- Welterweight bout: Pete SprattPete SprattAaron Pete Spratt is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. He is a welterweight known for his appearances in the UFC and on The Ultimate Fighter 4 reality television show.-MMA Career:...
vs. Zach LightZach LightZach Light is an American mixed martial artist, who fights at Welterweight. He has fought in a number of organizations including the Ultimate Fighting Championship, World Extreme Cagefighting, bodogFight and Strikeforce.-Biography:...
- Spratt wins by submission due to an armbar at 2:22 of Round 1.
- Welterweight bout: Benji RadachBenji RadachBenji Russell Radach is an American mixed martial arts fighter. He is a former member of the Los Angeles Anacondas of the International Fight League.-Biography:...
vs. Nick SerraNick SerraNicholas Marcos 'Nick' Serra is a retired American mixed martial artist and the younger brother of former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Serra. The second American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under world renowned Renzo Gracie, he is Chief Instructor along with his brother Matt Serra in this...
- Radach wins by unanimous decision. The judges scored the bout 29–28, 30–27, and 30–27 for Radach.
- Light Heavyweight bout: Chuck LiddellChuck LiddellCharles David "Chuck" Liddell is a retired American mixed martial artist and former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion. Liddell has an extensive striking background in Kempo, Koei-Kan karate and kickboxing, as well as a grappling background in collegiate wrestling.As of his...
vs. Vitor BelfortVitor BelfortVítor Vieira Belfort is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Belfort was born in Rio de Janeiro and studied jiu-jitsu with the Gracie family, namely Carlson Gracie. He received a black belt under Carlson and currently trains with Xtreme Couture, fighting in...
- Liddell wins by unanimous decision. Judges scored the bout 30–27, 30–27, 29–28.