UFC Japan
Encyclopedia
UFC Japan: Ultimate Japan (also known as UFC 15.5) was a 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...

 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 December 21, 1997, in Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...

, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. The event was seen 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...

, on cable TV in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

, and was 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

The event featured a four man heavyweight tournament, the first ever UFC Middleweight Championship bout, a Heavyweight Championship bout, a Superfight and an alternate bout. Ultimate Japan 1 featured the first UFC appearance of MMA legends Kazushi Sakuraba
Kazushi Sakuraba
is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler. He has competed in pro-wrestling for New Japan Pro Wrestling, UWFi and Kingdom Pro Wrestling. He has fought in MMA competition in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, PRIDE Fighting Championships, K-1 Hero's and Dream...

 and 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...

.

The event was the first appearance of longtime UFC announcer Mike Goldberg
Mike Goldberg
Mike Goldberg is an American play-by-play commentator, mainly known for his work with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Broadcasting career:...

, who replaced Bruce Beck
Bruce Beck
Bruce Beck is the weekday Sports anchor at WNBC-TV. He is currently in his twelfth year with News 4 New York. He also files numerous sports reports for the station's various newscasts....

 as the play by play announcer. Another notable first was the use of unique entry music for each fighter, though this was not repeated in UFC 16
UFC 16
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...

.

Sakuraba's Tale

In an attempt to gain attention for the Japanese Kingdom Pro Wrestling
Kingdom (professional wrestling)
Kingdom, was a professional wrestling company in Japan from 1997 to 1998. It was essentially a continuation of UWF International, having most of its former roster: Nobuhiko Takada, Yoji Anjo, Kazushi Sakuraba, Daijiro Matsui, Naoki Sano, Masahito Kakihara, Yoshihiro Takayama, Kenichi Yamamoto and...

, Hiromitsu Kanehara
Hiromitsu Kanehara
is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competes in the light heavyweight division.Although starting as a professional wrestler in 1991, Kanehara did not have much success as such, and eventually abandoned professional wrestling when his then-home circuit, Fighting Network RINGS, abandoned the...

 and Yoji Anjo
Yoji Anjo
, is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. He was born in Suginami, Japan on December 31, 1969.-Professional wrestling career:...

 signed on to compete in 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...

's Ultimate Japan tournament. As fate would have it, Kanehara was injured in his training for the tournament, and Kazushi Sakuraba
Kazushi Sakuraba
is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler. He has competed in pro-wrestling for New Japan Pro Wrestling, UWFi and Kingdom Pro Wrestling. He has fought in MMA competition in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, PRIDE Fighting Championships, K-1 Hero's and Dream...

 wound up as his late hour substitute. The tournament was intended for heavyweights, and Sakuraba, at 183 pounds, was nearly twenty pounds beneath the UFC's 200 pound designation for the weight class. Reporting himself as 203 pounds in order to gain entry, Sakuraba was paired off against the 243 pound Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blackbelt and former Extreme Fighting champion, Marcus Silveira
Marcus Silveira
Marcus "Conan" Silveira is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He competes in the Heavyweight division. He won his last fight at PFL - Genesis against Johnathan Ivey on March 31, 2007. He is the co-founder of American Top Team.-Arrest:...

.

Following a barrage of blows by Silveira, Sakuraba dropped for a low-single, only for the fight to be prematurely ended on a KO. Referee John McCarthy
John 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...

 had mistakenly thought Sakuraba to have been knocked out. A loud protest followed from the crowd and an angry Sakuraba attempted unsuccessfully to take the microphone and address the Japanese audience. However, after reviewing tape, McCarthy changed his decision to a no-contest. 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"...

, who had earlier defeated Yoji Anjo
Yoji Anjo
, is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. He was born in Suginami, Japan on December 31, 1969.-Professional wrestling career:...

, dropped from the tournament due to an injured hand, leaving Sakuraba and Silveira to face off once more that night in what would be the championship bout of the tournament. This time, Sakuraba claimed the victory, submitting Silveira with an armbar. Afterwards, Sakuraba famously stated, "In fact, professional wrestling is strong".

Results

  • Heavyweight Alternate bout:   Tra Telligman
    Tra Telligman
    Tracy Telligman is a retired American mixed martial artist and boxer who has fought in Japan, Russia and the USA...

     vs.   Brad Kohler
    Brad Kohler
    Brad Kohler is an American mixed martal artist who competes in the Heavyweight division.-Career:Kohler's most notable fight occurred at UFC 22 against Steve Judson, where he scored one of the more infamous knockouts in MMA history. 30 seconds into Round 1, Kohler feigned a takedown attempt, only...

Telligman defeated Kohler via submission (armbar) at 10:10.

  • Heavyweight Tournament Semifinals:   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"...

     vs.   Yoji Anjo
    Yoji Anjo
    , is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. He was born in Suginami, Japan on December 31, 1969.-Professional wrestling career:...

Abbott defeated Anjo via decision at 15:00. Abbott is unable to continue in the tournament due to a broken hand.

  • Heavyweight Tournament Semifinals:   Kazushi Sakuraba
    Kazushi Sakuraba
    is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler. He has competed in pro-wrestling for New Japan Pro Wrestling, UWFi and Kingdom Pro Wrestling. He has fought in MMA competition in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, PRIDE Fighting Championships, K-1 Hero's and Dream...

     vs.   Marcus Silveira
    Marcus Silveira
    Marcus "Conan" Silveira is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He competes in the Heavyweight division. He won his last fight at PFL - Genesis against Johnathan Ivey on March 31, 2007. He is the co-founder of American Top Team.-Arrest:...

Originally Silveira was thought to have knocked out Sakuraba at 1:51, but referee John McCarthy
John 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...

 mistakenly stopped the bout early, with Sakuraba in good fighting condition. After a protest, the decision was changed to a no-contest.

  • Middleweight Championship bout:   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...

     vs.   Kevin Jackson
    Kevin Jackson
    Kevin 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...

Shamrock defeated Jackson via submission (armbar) at 0:16 to become the inaugural UFC Middleweight Champion, now known as the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.

  • Heavyweight Superfight:   Vitor Belfort
    Vitor 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...

     vs.   Joe Charles
Belfort defeated Charles via submission (armbar) at 4:04.

  • Heavyweight Tournament Finals:   Kazushi Sakuraba
    Kazushi Sakuraba
    is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler. He has competed in pro-wrestling for New Japan Pro Wrestling, UWFi and Kingdom Pro Wrestling. He has fought in MMA competition in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, PRIDE Fighting Championships, K-1 Hero's and Dream...

     vs.   Marcus Silveira
    Marcus Silveira
    Marcus "Conan" Silveira is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He competes in the Heavyweight division. He won his last fight at PFL - Genesis against Johnathan Ivey on March 31, 2007. He is the co-founder of American Top Team.-Arrest:...

Sakuraba defeated Silveira via submission (armbar) at 3:45 to win the UFC Japan Heavyweight Tournament. Due to the earlier no-contest, and Tank Abbott bowing out of the tournament, UFC officials ruled that a rematch between Sakuraba and Silveira would serve as the Heavyweight Tournament Finals.

  • Heavyweight Championship bout:   Maurice Smith (c) vs.   Randy Couture
    Randy Couture
    Randy Duane Couture is a retired American mixed martial artist, Greco-Roman wrestler, actor, a three-time former heavyweight champion, two-time former light-heavyweight champion, former interim light heavyweight champion and UFC 13 tournament winner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship...

Couture defeated Smith via decision at 21:00 to become the new UFC Heavyweight Champion. However, he was stripped of the title in January 1998 due to a contract dispute.

UFC Japan Heavyweight Tournament Bracket

1 Due to the NC, and Tank Abbott bowing out of the tournament, UFC officials ruled that a rematch between Sakuraba and Silveira would serve as the Heavyweight Tournament Finals.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK