UFC 12
| UFC 12: Judgement Day | ||||
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| Information | ||||
| Promotion | Ultimate Fighting Championship | |||
| Date | February 7th, 1997 | |||
| Venue | Dothan Civic Center | |||
| City |  Dothan, Alabama, USA |
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| Attendance | 3,100 | |||
| Buyrate | 122,000 | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
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UFC 12: Judgement Day was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 7, 1997 at the Dothan Civic Center in Dothan, Alabama. The event was seen live on pay per view in the United States, and later released on home video.
Contents |
[edit] History
UFC 12 was the first UFC event to feature weight classes; heavyweights (200 lb and over) and lightweights (199 lb and under) battled in two separate mini tournaments, each consisting of two semifinal bouts and a finals match.
The event also featured a Superfight between Dan Severn and Mark Coleman. The fight would unify the UFC Superfight Championship with the UFC tournament championship and determine the first ever UFC Heavyweight Champion. Mark Coleman was a late substitution for Don Frye, who had earned the rematch with Severn after winning the Ultimate Ultimate 1996, but was unable to participate in UFC 12 because of injuries he had suffered in that previous event. Frye never returned to the UFC. "Judgement Day" also featured two alternate bouts in case of tournament injury.
UFC 12 marked the first UFC appearance of Vitor Belfort, who won the heavyweight tournament and was only 19 years of age. UFC 12 also marked the first appearance of commentator Joe Rogan, who handled backstage interviews for the event and interviewed the winners of the main events.
After being removed from many pay per view carriers, and with mounting pressure from politicians such as Senator John McCain, the UFC had continuing troubles finding a venue, and a state, that would host UFC 12. It was first announced that UFC 12 would be held in New York, to which it was ultimately denied sanctioning rights. Next, it was announced that UFC 12 would be held in Oregon, which soon banned the event. Finally, the UFC returned to Alabama, where it appeared in the small city of Dothan, located about 200 miles southeast of Birmingham.
The UFC would continue to hold events exclusively in Southern US States (aside from occasional shows in Japan and Brazil) until 2001, when the UFC was sanctioned by the New Jersey State Athletic Commission.
[edit] Results
- Lightweight Tournament Alternate bout:
Nick Sanzo vs. Jackie Lee
- Sanzo defeated Lee via TKO (strikes) at 0:48.
- Heavyweight Tournament Alternate bout: Justin Martin vs. Eric Martin
- Justin Martin defeated Eric Martin via submission (heel hook) at 0:14.
- Lightweight Tournament Semifinals: Jerry Bohlander vs. Rainy Martinez
- Bohlander defeated Martinez via submission (choke) at 1:24.
- Lightweight Tournament Semifinals:
Yoshiki Takahashi vs. 
Wallid Ismail
- Takahashi defeated Ismail via decision at 15:00. Takahashi broke his hand during the bout, and was unable to continue in the tournament.
- Heavyweight Tournament Semifinals: Scott Ferrozzo vs. Jim Mullen
- Ferrozzo defeated Mullen via TKO (punches) at 8:17.
- Heavyweight Tournament Semifinals: Vitor Belfort vs. Tra Telligman
- Belfort defeated Telligman via TKO (cut) at 1:17.
- Lightweight Tournament Finals: Jerry Bohlander vs. Nick Sanzo
- Bohlander defeated Sanzo via submission (crucifix) at 0:35 to win the Lightweight Tournament. Sanzo replaced Takahashi who broke his hand fighting Ismail.
- Heavyweight Tournament Finals: Vitor Belfort vs. Scott Ferrozzo
- Belfort defeated Ferrozzo via TKO (punches) at 0:43 to win the Heavyweight Tournament.
- Heavyweight Championship bout: Mark Coleman vs. Dan Severn
- Coleman defeated Severn via submission (choke) at 2:57 to become the inaugural UFC Heavyweight Champion.
[edit] UFC 12 Lightweight Tournament Bracket
| Semifinals | Finals | |||||||
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Jerry Bohlander | SUB | ||||||
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Rainy Martinez | 1:18 | ||||||
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Jerry Bohlander | SUB | ||||||
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Nick Sanzo1 | 0:39 | ||||||
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Yoshiki Takahashi | DEC | ||||||
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Wallid Ismail | 15:00 | ||||||
1 Nick Sanzo replaced Yoshiki Takahashi who withdrew due to a broken hand.
[edit] UFC 12 Heavyweight Tournament Bracket
| Semifinals | Finals | |||||||
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Scott Ferrozzo | TKO | ||||||
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Jim Mullen | 8:02 | ||||||
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Scott Ferrozzo | 0:43 | ||||||
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Vitor Belfort | TKO | ||||||
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Vitor Belfort | TKO | ||||||
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Tra Telligman | 1:17 | ||||||
