UFC 69
Encyclopedia
UFC 69: Shootout was a mixed martial arts
event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship
on Saturday, April 7, 2007 at the Toyota Center
in Houston, Texas
. UFC 69: Shootout was the first UFC event ever held in the state of Texas
.
defending his welterweight
title against The Ultimate Fighter 4
welterweight winner Matt Serra
.
The co-main event was a rematch held between top welterweight contenders Josh Koscheck
and then-undefeated Diego Sanchez
. Sanchez defeated Koscheck by split decision in the semi-finals of the original Ultimate Fighter 1
series in the middleweight
division; as with all TUF bouts prior to the finals, this was an exhibition bout and is not on either fighter's record.
UFC President Dana White
announced the signing of former PRIDE FC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
during the broadcast.
During UFC 69, light heavyweights Tito Ortiz
and Rashad Evans
were in a brief ringside altercation.
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 Saturday, April 7, 2007 at the Toyota Center
Toyota Center (Houston)
The Toyota Center is an indoor arena located in downtown Houston, Texas. It is named after the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. The arena is home to the Rockets of the National Basketball Association, the principal owners of the building, and the Aeros of the American Hockey League.Rockets...
in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. UFC 69: Shootout was the first UFC event ever held in the state of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Background
The card was headlined by heavy favorite Georges St-PierreGeorges St. Pierre
Georges St-Pierre , often referred to as GSP, is a Canadian mixed martial artist and the current Welterweight Champion of the UFC. St-Pierre is ranked as the No. 1 Welterweight in the world according to Sherdog, MMAWeekly and numerous other publications. St-Pierre is ranked the No. 2 pound for...
defending his welterweight
Welterweight (MMA)
The welterweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*The UFC's & Strikeforce's welterweight division, which groups competitors within 156 to 170 lb...
title against The Ultimate Fighter 4
The Ultimate Fighter 4
The Ultimate Fighter 4: The Comeback is the fourth season of the mixed martial arts reality television series The Ultimate Fighter. It premiered on August 17, 2006, immediately after the conclusion of UFC Fight Night 6. The finale was aired on November 11, 2006.This series featured a change from...
welterweight winner Matt Serra
Matt Serra
Matthew John Serra is an American mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. He is a former UFC Welterweight Champion and an ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship silver medalist. He began practicing martial arts at an early age, first studying kung fu...
.
The co-main event was a rematch held between top welterweight contenders Josh Koscheck
Josh Koscheck
Josh 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,...
and then-undefeated Diego Sanchez
Diego Sánchez
Diego 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...
. Sanchez defeated Koscheck by split decision in the semi-finals of the original Ultimate Fighter 1
The Ultimate Fighter
The Ultimate Fighter is an American reality television series and mixed martial arts competition produced by Spike TV and the Ultimate Fighting Championship , and soon to be shown on FX. The show features unknown, professional MMA fighters living together in Las Vegas, Nevada, and follows them as...
series in 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...
division; as with all TUF bouts prior to the finals, this was an exhibition bout and is not on either fighter's record.
UFC President Dana White
Dana White
Dana White is the current President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship , a mixed martial arts organization based in the United States.- Biography :...
announced the signing of former PRIDE FC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira is a Brazilian mixed martial artist known for his technical mastery of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He competes in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he is a former UFCInterim Heavyweight Champion...
during the broadcast.
During UFC 69, light heavyweights 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...
and Rashad Evans
Rashad Evans
Rashad 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...
were in a brief ringside altercation.
Preliminary card
- Welterweight bout:
Luke CummoLuke CummoLuke Joseph Cummo is an American mixed martial artist who appeared in the second season of the reality TV series The Ultimate Fighter on Spike TV. After winning two exhibition fights, he made it to the finals where he was defeated by Joe Stevenson by decision in a close bout...
vs. Josh HaynesJosh HaynesJoshua Lee Haynes is an American mixed martial artist. He fights out of Las Vegas, Nevada with Xtreme Couture where he is also a coach. His MMA record is 17 wins, 11 losses. He was also a contestant on the third season of The Ultimate Fighter reality television show, training under Tito Ortiz...
- Cummo defeated Haynes via KO (punch) at 2:45 of round 2. This preliminary bout was aired at the end of the pay-per-view broadcast following the Serra vs. St-Pierre fight.
- Welterweight bout: Marcus DavisMarcus DavisMarcus Paul Davis , is an Irish-American mixed martial artist. He currently fights as a welterweight. He was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter 2 on Spike TV. He holds notable wins over Chris Lytle, Paul Taylor, Jonathan Goulet, and Shonie Carter.-Boxing career:Marcus began boxing at 14...
vs. 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:...
- Davis defeated Spratt via submission (ankle lock) at 2:57 of round 2.
- Middleweight bout:
Thales LeitesThales LeitesThales Leites Lourenço is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He is the current Superior Challenge middleweight champion.-Mixed martial arts:A relative newcomer to the sport, Leites made his mixed martial arts debut at Shooto Brazil in 2003, defeating Felipe Arinelli by arm-triangle choke submission...
vs. Pete SellPete SellPeter K. Sell, is an American mixed martial artist specializing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He is a black belt under teacher and fellow mixed martial artist Matt Serra in East Meadow, New York, and has trained extensively under striking coach Ray Longo in Garden City, New York...
- Leites defeated Sell via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).
- Heavyweight bout: Heath HerringHeath HerringHeath Herring is an inactive American Heavyweight professional mixed martial artist who attained popularity fighting for PRIDE FC in Japan and most recently fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
vs. Brad ImesBrad ImesBradley Imes Smith , is a retired American mixed martial artist. Imes appeared on the second season of The Ultimate Fighter reality show on Spike TV. He has competed as a heavyweight in the UFC, WEC, and most recently King of the Cage...
- Herring defeated Imes via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).
Main card
- Middleweight bout: Kendall GroveKendall GroveKendall Kekoa Grove is an American mixed martial artist. He was the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 3 on Spike TV.- Early life :...
vs. Alan BelcherAlan BelcherJohn Alan Belcher , is an American mixed martial artist who fights in the middleweight division of the UFC. He fights out of Remix MMA in Biloxi, Mississippi, where he is also the owner. Belcher holds notable wins over Jorge Santiago, Jason MacDonald, Ed Herman, Dennis Kang, and Patrick Côté...
- Grove defeated Belcher via technical submission (D'Arce choke) at 4:37 of round 2.
- Middleweight bout: Mike SwickMike SwickMike Swick is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship as a welterweight....
vs.
Yushin OkamiYushin Okamiis a Japanese mixed martial artist. He currently fights at middleweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship . Okami is currently ranked the #3 best middleweight in the world by Sherdog and the #2 best middleweight by MMAWeekly....
- Okami defeated Swick via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 30–27).
- 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. Leonard GarciaLeonard GarciaLeonard Garcia is an American mixed martial artist who currently competes in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He previously fought for the UFC in the lightweight division before moving down to the featherweight division in the World Extreme Cagefighting...
- Huerta defeated Garcia via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27). Garcia was a short-notice replacement for Huerta's original scheduled opponent, Alvin RobinsonAlvin RobinsonAlvin L Robinson is an American professional mixed martial artist currently fighting as a lightweight for the Bellator Fighting Championships. He is a former Ring of Fire lightweight champion...
.
- Welterweight 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. 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,...
- Koscheck defeated Sanchez via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).
- Welterweight Championship bout:
Georges St-PierreGeorges St. PierreGeorges St-Pierre , often referred to as GSP, is a Canadian mixed martial artist and the current Welterweight Champion of the UFC. St-Pierre is ranked as the No. 1 Welterweight in the world according to Sherdog, MMAWeekly and numerous other publications. St-Pierre is ranked the No. 2 pound for...
(c) vs. Matt SerraMatt SerraMatthew John Serra is an American mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. He is a former UFC Welterweight Champion and an ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship silver medalist. He began practicing martial arts at an early age, first studying kung fu...
- Serra defeated St-Pierre via TKO (punches) at 3:25 of round 1 to become the UFC Welterweight Champion.