Ultimate Ultimate 1996
| Ultimate Ultimate 1996 | ||||
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| Information | ||||
| Promotion | Ultimate Fighting Championship | |||
| Date | December 7, 1996 | |||
| Venue | Fair Park Arena | |||
| City |  Birmingham, Alabama, USA |
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| Attendance | 6,000 | |||
| Buyrate | 120,000 | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
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The Ultimate Ultimate 2 (also referred to as "Ultimate Ultimate 1996" and "UFC 11.5") was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 7, 1996. The event took place at the Fair Park Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, and was broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States, and released on home video.
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[edit] History
The card featured an eight man tournament with two alternate bouts, and was the UFC's second "Ultimate Ultimate" tournament, held to find the best of the winners and runners up from past UFC events. This event was the first to introduce the "no grabbing of the fence" rule.
Ken Shamrock appeared as a guest on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on the mainstream network NBC to promote the event, a groundbreaking moment for the young sport of mixed martial arts.
UFC 10 and UFC 11 champion Mark Coleman was originally scheduled to compete in the tournament but was forced to withdraw from the event due to a virus.
The Ultimate Ultimate 1996 also marked the final appearance of UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock before leaving the UFC to go to the World Wrestling Federation. Shamrock would not return to the UFC until 2002 at UFC 40.
The event would also be the last time Don Frye fought in the UFC, as he would also transition into pro wrestling, signing with New Japan Pro Wrestling.
[edit] Results
[edit] Alternate bouts
Mark Hall vs. Felix Lee Mitchell
- Hall defeated Mitchell via TKO (punches) at 1:45.
- Steve Nelmark vs. Marcus Bossett
- Nelmark defeated Bossett via submission (choke) at 1:37.
- Tai Bowden vs. Jack Nilson
- Bowden defeated Nilson via submission (headbutts) at 4:46.
[edit] Quarterfinals
- Shamrock defeated Johnston via submission (forearm choke) at 5:49. Shamrock was unable to continue in the tournament because of a broken hand he suffered after pinning Johnston up against the cage and unleashing a series of punches.
- Abbott defeated Worsham via submission (punches) at 2:51.
- Frye defeated Goodridge via submission (fatigue) at 11:19.
- Leopoldo defeated Varelans via TKO (corner stoppage) at 9:08. Leopoldo was unable to continue in the tournament due to fatigue.
[edit] Semifinals
- Tank Abbott vs. Steve Nelmark
- Abbott defeated Nelmark via KO (punch) at 1:05. Nelmark was an alternate for Ken Shamrock, who could not continue due to a broken hand.
- Don Frye vs. Mark Hall
- Frye defeated Hall via submission (Achilles lock) at 0:20. Hall was an alternate for Kimo Leopoldo, who could not continue due to fatigue.
[edit] Finals
- Don Frye vs. Tank Abbott
- Frye defeated Abbott via submission (rear naked choke) at 1:23 to win the Ultimate Ultimate 1996 Tournament.
[edit] Ultimate Ultimate 96 bracket
| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | |||||||||||
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Ken Shamrock | SUB | |||||||||||
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Brian Johnston | 5:49 | |||||||||||
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Tank Abbott | KO | |||||||||||
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Steve Nelmark 1 | 1:05 | |||||||||||
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Tank Abbott | SUB | |||||||||||
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Cal Worsham | 2:51 | |||||||||||
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Tank Abbott | 1:23 | |||||||||||
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Don Frye | SUB | |||||||||||
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Don Frye | SUB | |||||||||||
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Gary Goodridge | 11:19 | |||||||||||
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Don Frye | SUB | |||||||||||
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Mark Hall 2 | 0:20 | |||||||||||
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Kimo Leopoldo | TKO | |||||||||||
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Paul Varelans | 9:08 | |||||||||||
1Ken Shamrock withdrew due to injury, and was replaced by alternate Steve Nelmark.
2Kimo Leopoldo withdrew due to fatigue, and was replaced by alternate Mark Hall.
