UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos (also known as UFC on Fox 1) was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on November 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.^[2] The event was the most-watched live MMA event in the United States with an average of 5.7 million viewers and a ratings peak of 8.8 million viewers during the main event.

Background

The UFC held its first MMA event exactly 18 years prior to this date. This card marked the UFC's debut on the Fox Network. Zuffa CEO Lorenzo Fertitta confirmed that the debut show would be a one hour special with only the main event airing live on television, but a full preliminary card taking place beforehand.^[3][4]

Fox Deportes aired the Guida/Henderson and Poirer/Garza fights.^[5]

The winner of the Clay Guida/Ben Henderson match determined who is next to get a title shot against Frankie Edgar at UFC 144 in Japan.^[6]

The UFC on Fox main event broadcast marked the most-watched live hour ever for MMA in the United States and averaged 5.7 million viewers.^[7] The ratings peaked in the United States at 8.8 million views.^[8].

Results

Preliminary card (Facebook)

• Light Heavyweight bout: Aaron Rosa vs. Matt Lucas

Rosa defeated Lucas via majority decision (28–28, 30–26, 30–26). Lucas was deducted one point in the second round for repeatedly dropping his mouthpiece.

• Welterweight bout: Mike Pierce vs. Paul Bradley

Pierce defeated Bradley via split decision (29–28, 30–27, 28–29).

• Bantamweight bout: Alex Caceres vs. Cole Escovedo

Caceres defeated Escovedo via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).

• Featherweight bout: Mackens Semerzier vs. Robbie Peralta

Bout ruled no contest by CSAC.^[9] Originally, Peralta defeated Semerzier via TKO (accidental headbutt and punches) at 1:54 of round 3.

• Bantamweight bout: Norifumi Yamamoto vs. Darren Uyenoyama

Uyenoyama defeated Yamamoto via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–26, 30–27).

• Welterweight bout: DaMarques Johnson vs. Clay Harvison

Johnson defeated Harvison via KO (punches) at 1:34 of round 1. This bout aired last on the international broadcast following the Velasquez vs. dos Santos fight.

• Featherweight bout: Cub Swanson vs. Ricardo Lamas

Lamas defeated Swanson via submission (arm triangle choke) at 2:16 of round 2.

• Featherweight bout: Dustin Poirier vs. Pablo Garza

Poirier defeated Garza via submission (D'Arce choke) at 1:32 of round 2.

• Lightweight bout: Clay Guida vs. Benson Henderson

Henderson defeated Guida via unanimous decision (29–28, 30–27, 30–27). This bout aired first on the international broadcast before the Velasquez vs. dos Santos fight.

Main event

• UFC Heavyweight Championship bout: Cain Velasquez (c) vs. Junior dos Santos

Dos Santos defeated Velasquez via KO (punches) at 1:04 of round 1 to become the new UFC Heavyweight Champion.

Bonus awards

Fighters were awarded $65,000 bonuses.^[10]

• Fight of the Night: Clay Guida vs. Benson Henderson
• Knockout of the Night: Junior dos Santos
• Submission of the Night: Ricardo Lamas

Reported payout

The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to the California State Athletic Commission. It does not include sponsor money or "locker room" bonuses often given by the UFC and also do not include the UFC's traditional "fight night" bonuses.^[11]

• Junior dos Santos: $220,000 ($110,000 win bonus) def. Cain Velasquez: $100,000
• Ben Henderson: $60,000 ($30,000 win bonus) def. Clay Guida: $40,000
• Dustin Poirier: $20,000 ($10,000 win bonus) def. Pablo Garza: $8,000
• Ricardo Lamas: $20,000 ($10,000 win bonus) def. Cub Swanson: $15,000
• DaMarques Johnson: $28,000 ($14,000 win bonus) def. Clay Harvison: $8,000
• Darren Uyenoyama: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus) def. Norifumi Yamamoto: $15,000
• Robert Peralta: $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus) def. Mackens Semerzier: $8,000
• Alex Caceres: $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus) def. Cole Escovedo: $6,000
• Mike Pierce: $36,000 ($18,000 win bonus) def. Paul Bradley: $8,000
• Aaron Rosa: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus) def. Matt Lucas: $6,000

References