UFC 166
{{short description|UFC mixed martial arts event in 2013}}
{{Infobox MMA event
|name=UFC 166: Velasquez vs. dos Santos III
|image=UFC 166 (mixed martial arts event) poster.gif
|promotion=Ultimate Fighting Championship
|date=October 19, 2013
|venue=Toyota Center
|previousevent=UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Shields
|followingevent=UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Muñoz
}}
UFC 166: Velasquez vs. dos Santos III was a mixed martial arts event held on October 19, 2013, at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmamania.com/2013/6/13/4427854/cain-velasquez-vs-junior-dos-santos-3-trilogy-fight-announced-for-ufc-166-in-october-mma|title=Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos 3 trilogy fight announced for UFC 166 in October|publisher=mmamania.com|author=Mike Bohn|date=2013-06-13|access-date=2013-06-13}}
Background
The main event was a UFC Heavyweight Championship bout between the current champion Cain Velasquez and top contender Junior dos Santos.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/9442556/cain-velasquez-junior-dos-santos-meet-3rd|title=Velasquez, dos Santos To Fight For Third Time|publisher=espn.go.com.|author=Brett Okamoto|date=2013-07-01|access-date=2013-07-01}} The two have split their two previous encounters with Dos Santos winning the first bout via first round knockout at UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. dos Santos and then Velasquez winning the rematch via unanimous decision at UFC 155.
A bout between Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov was rescheduled from UFC 164 however visa complications left Nurmagomedov unable to compete and was subsequently replaced by Mike Rio.
A bout between George Roop and Francisco Rivera was scheduled for this card, but was moved to UFC Fight Night 31 and replaced by Sarah Kaufman vs. Jessica Eye.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/08/ufc-166-adds-eye-vs-kaufman-sends-rivera-vs-roop-to-ufc-fight-night-31|title=UFC 166 adds Eye vs. Kaufman, sends Rivera vs. Roop to UFC Fight Night 31|publisher=MMAJunkie.com|author=Staff|date=2013-08-23|access-date=2013-08-23}}
Matt Grice was expected to face Jeremy Larsen at the event. However, Grice was forced out of the bout after sustaining serious injuries in a September 8 car crash in his home state of Oklahoma.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/09/ufcs-matt-grice-hospitalized-after-overnight-car-accident|title=UFC's Matt Grice hospitalized after overnight car accident|publisher=MMAJunkie.com|author=Staff|date=2013-09-09|access-date=2013-09-09}} Grice was replaced by Charles Oliveira who also lost his original opponent, Estevan Payan, due to injury.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/09/with-estevan-payan-out-charles-oliveira-meets-jeremy-larsen-at-ufc-166|title=With Estevan Payan out, Charles Oliveira meets Jeremy Larsen at UFC 166|publisher=MMAJunkie.com|author=Staff|date=2013-09-10|access-date=2013-09-10}} Subsequently on October 5, Oliveira pulled out of the Larsen bout citing a strained thigh muscle.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmamania.com/2013/10/5/4805686/charles-oliveira-injured-removed-ufc-166-fight-card-houston-mma|title=Charles Oliveira injured, removed from UFC 166 fight card in Houston|publisher=MMAMania.com|author=Thomas Myers|date=2013-10-05|access-date=2013-10-05}} Larsen instead faced promotional newcomer Andre Fili.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/10/ufc-signs-andre-fili-to-meet-jeremy-larsen-at-ufc-166-in-houston|title=UFC signs Andre Fili to meet Jeremy Larsen at UFC 166 in Houston|publisher=MMAJunkie.com|author=Staff|date=2013-10-07|access-date=2013-10-07}}
Luke Rockhold was expected to face Tim Boetsch at the event. However, Rockhold was forced out of the bout citing a knee injury and was replaced by C. B. Dollaway.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/09/luke-rockhold-out-c-b-dollaway-meets-tim-boetsch-at-ufc-166|title=Luke Rockhold out, C. B. Dollaway meets Tim Boetsch at UFC 166|publisher=MMAJunkie.com|author=Staff|date=2013-09-18|access-date=2013-09-18}}
Andre Fili weighed in 2.5 pounds too heavy. As a result, 20-percent of Fili's purse was forfeited to his opponent, Jeremy Larsen.{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.com/2013/10/dana-white-andre-fili-gets-a-pass-for-missing-weight-for-ufc-166|title=Dana White: Andre Fili gets a pass for missing weight for UFC 166|publisher=MMAJunkie.com|author=Staff|date=2013-10-20|access-date=2013-10-20}}
Results
{{MMAevent}}
{{MMAevent card|Main card}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Heavyweight
|Cain Velasquez (c)
| def.
|TKO (slam and punch)
|5
|3:09
|For the UFC Heavyweight Championship.
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Heavyweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–27, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Heavyweight
|def.
|KO (punches)
|1
|1:33
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Flyweight
|def.
|KO (punch)
|1
|4:13
|
}}
{{MMAevent card|Preliminary card (Fox Sports 1)|header=no}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Middleweight
|def.
|Decision (split) (30–26, 27–29, 30–26)
|3
|5:00
|Dollaway had 1 point deducted in round 3 for a second poke to the eye.
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Welterweight
|def.
|KO (punches)
|1
|1:48
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Bantamweight
|vs.
|No Contest (overturned)
|3
|5:00
|Originally ruled a Split Decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) victory for Eye, result overturned due to Eye testing positive for marijuana during a post fight screening.
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent card|Preliminary card (Facebook/Youtube)|header=no}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Welterweight
|def.
|KO (punches)
|1
|3:00
|This bout aired on the broadcast following the Melendez vs Sanchez bout.
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|Submission (D'Arce choke)
|1
|1:52
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Catchweight (148.5 lb)
|def.
|TKO (punches)
|2
|0:53
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Bantamweight
|def.
|TKO (punches)
|2
|3:51
|
}}
{{MMAevent end|notes=yes}}
Bonus awards
The following fighters received $60,000 bonuses.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/10/ufc-166-bonuses-melendez-sanchez-dodson-and-ferguson-win-60000|title=UFC 166 bonuses: Melendez, Sanchez, Dodson and Ferguson win $60,000|publisher=MMAjunkie.com|author=Staff|date=20 October 2013 |access-date=2013-10-20}}
- Fight of The Night: Gilbert Melendez vs. Diego Sanchez
- Knockout of The Night: John Dodson
- Submission of the Night: Tony Ferguson