UFC 144

UFC 144 was held at the Saitama Super Arena in the Chūō-ku central ward of Saitama City in Saitama Prefecture. The sellout{{cite news|last=Non|first=Sergio|title=Henderson outpoints Edgar, wins UFC title|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/mma/post/2012-02-26/henderson-outpoints-edgar-wins-ufc-title/634892/1|access-date=23 April 2012|newspaper=USA Today|date=26 February 2012}} event was held in the Super Arena's[http://www.saitama-arena.co.jp/blog/2012/02/?event=1 2012年2月のイベント/UFC JAPAN]{{in lang|ja}} Main Stage Center Arena configuration,[http://www.saitama-arena.co.jp/seats_info/arena_center/ メインアリーナ – センターステージ]{{in lang|ja}}[http://www.saitama-arena.co.jp/e/facility.html Facility information] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417202609/http://www.saitama-arena.co.jp/e/facility.html |date=2012-04-17 }} with a ticket cost of between ¥5,800 and ¥100,000 (ca. US$70 – US$1250).

UFC 144 marked the UFC's fifth appearance in Japan, their first event in Japan since UFC 29 in 2000, and its first event in Japan since the 2007 purchase of Pride Fighting Championships, which held many of its cards at Saitama Super Arena. The UFC event featured seven fights on the main card.Nagatsuka, Kaz, "[http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sp20120228a1.html UFC hopes to shake up Japan fight scene]", Japan Times, 28 February 2012, p. 15.

George Sotiropoulos was expected to face Takanori Gomi at this event, but was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Eiji Mitsuoka.{{cite web |url=http://mmaweekly.com/sotiropoulos-out-eiji-mitsuoka-faces-takanori-gomi-at-ufc-144|title=Sotiropoulos Out; Eiji Mitsuoka Faces Takanori Gomi at UFC 144|date=27 January 2012 |publisher=mmaweekly.com |access-date=2012-01-27}}

Leonard Garcia was expected to face Zhang Tiequan at this event, but was forced out of the bout with an injury.{{cite web |url=http://mmaweekly.com/leonard-garcia-injured-and-out-of-ufc-144|title=Leonard Garcia Injured and Out of UFC 144 |date=30 January 2012 |publisher=mmaweekly.com |access-date=2012-01-30}} Issei Tamura stepped in for Garcia and fought Zhang.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/27386/with-leonard-garcia-hurt-tiequan-zhang-meets-newcomer-issei-tamura-at-ufc-144.mma|title=With Leonard Garcia hurt, Tiequan Zhang meets newcomer Issei Tamura at UFC 144|author=MMAjunkie.com Staff|date=February 11, 2012|publisher=mmajunkie.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713225334/mmajunkie.com/news/27386/with-leonard-garcia-hurt-tiequan-zhang-meets-newcomer-issei-tamura-at-ufc-144.mma|archive-date=July 13, 2012}}

At the UFC 144 weigh ins, Quinton Jackson failed to make the 206 lb weight limit and came in 5 lbs overweight at 211 lbs. Jackson was fined 20 percent of his earnings and the bout was contested at a catchweight of 211 lb.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/2012/2/24/2822889/ufc-144-weigh-in-results-edgar-vs-henderson|title=UFC 144 Weigh-In Results: Rampage Jackson Misses Weight|author=Shaun Al-Shatti|date=February 24, 2012|publisher=mmafighting.com}}

{{MMAevent}}

{{MMAevent card|Main card}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Lightweight

|Benson Henderson

|def

|Frankie Edgar (c)

|Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 48–47, 49–46)

|5

|5:00

|For the UFC Lightweight Championship.

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Catchweight (211 lb)

|Ryan Bader

|def

|Quinton Jackson

|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)

|3

|5:00

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Heavyweight

|Mark Hunt

|def

|Cheick Kongo

|TKO (punches)

|1

|2:11

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Welterweight

|Jake Shields

|def

|Yoshihiro Akiyama

|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)

|3

|5:00

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Middleweight

|Tim Boetsch

|def

|Yushin Okami

|TKO (punches)

|3

|0:54

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Featherweight

|Hatsu Hioki

|def

|Bart Palaszewski

|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28)

|3

|5:00

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Lightweight

|Anthony Pettis

|def

|Joe Lauzon

|KO (head kick and punches)

|1

|1:21

|

}}

{{MMAevent card|Preliminary card (FX)|header=no}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Lightweight

|Takanori Gomi

|def

|Eiji Mitsuoka

|TKO (punches)

|2

|2:21

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Bantamweight

|Vaughan Lee

|def

|Norifumi Yamamoto

|Submission (armbar)

|1

|4:29

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Middleweight

|Riki Fukuda

|def

|Steve Cantwell

|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–27, 30–27)

|3

|5:00

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Bantamweight

|Chris Cariaso

|def

|Takeya Mizugaki

|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)

|3

|5:00

|

}}

{{MMAevent card|Preliminary card (Facebook)|header=no}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Featherweight

|Issei Tamura

|def

|Zhang Tiequan

|KO (punch)

|2

|0:32

|

}}

{{MMAevent end|notes=yes}}

The following fighters received $65,000 bonuses.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/27580/ufc-144-bonuses-awards.mma|title=UFC 144 bonuses: Pettis, Lee, Henderson and Edgar earn $65K awards|date=February 26, 2012|publisher=MMAjunkie.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712234625/mmajunkie.com/news/27580/ufc-144-bonuses-awards.mma|archive-date=July 12, 2012}}

• Fight of the Night: Frankie Edgar vs. Benson Henderson
• Knockout of the Night: Anthony Pettis
• Submission of the Night: Vaughan Lee

• List of UFC events
• 2012 in UFC

{{Reflist|2}}

{{UFC Events}}

Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship flagship events

Category:2012 in mixed martial arts

Category:Mixed martial arts in Japan

Category:Sport in Saitama (city)

Category:2012 in Japanese sport