UFC 78
{{short description|UFC mixed martial arts event in 2007}}
{{Infobox MMA event
|name=UFC 78: Validation
|image=UFC 78 Validation Poster.jpg
|promotion=Ultimate Fighting Championship
|date=November 17, 2007
|venue=Prudential Center
|city=Newark, New Jersey
|attendance=14,071
|gate=$2,100,000
|buyrate= 400,000
|previousevent=UFC 77: Hostile Territory
|followingevent=The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra Finale
}}
UFC 78: Validation was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), that took place on November 17, 2007, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.{{cite web
|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ys-091907junkiecom
|title=McCrory-Gono set for UFC 78
|last=Stupp
|first=Dann
|publisher=Yahoo! Sports
|date=September 18, 2007
|access-date=2007-09-21
}} Validation was the first UFC event held in New Jersey since UFC 53: Heavy Hitters in Atlantic City on June 5, 2005.
Background
This was the 100th event in UFC's history.
The main event featured TUF 2 Heavyweight winner Rashad Evans against TUF 3 Light Heavyweight winner Michael Bisping in a light heavyweight contest. This was Bisping's last fight before dropping to Middleweight.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4826&zoneid=2|title=Jake Daniels vs. Michael Bisping at UFC 78|last=Martin|first=Damon|publisher=MMA Weekly|date=October 3, 2007|access-date=2007-10-03|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011143009/http://mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4826&zoneid=2|archive-date=October 11, 2007}} Originally, Evans and Bisping were set to rematch their previous opponents Tito Ortiz and Matt Hamill at this event after their bouts ended in a draw and a controversial split decision at UFC 73 and UFC 75. However, Ortiz's commitments to filming Celebrity Apprentice forced his fight with Evans to be cancelled and an injury to Hamill forced him to withdraw from his fight with Bisping.
PRIDE veteran and Cuban judoka Hector Lombard was also scheduled to debut on the event but did not participate due to visa issues.[http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=9396 Lombard Denied Entry Into U.S] Lombard ended up signing after UFC 145. Lombard's original opponent Karo Parisyan instead faced Ryo Chonan, while Chonan's previous opponent Thiago Alves fought Chris Lytle.
Additionally, PRIDE veterans Ryo Chonan and Akihiro Gono both made their UFC debuts. Both fighters fought at 183 pounds in Japan, but with the UFC's inclusion of the 170 pound division each fighter moved down to fight at welterweight.
Results
{{MMAevent}}
{{MMAevent card|Main card (PPV)}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Light Heavyweight
|def.
|Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Light Heavyweight
|def.
|TKO (punches)
|1
|3:25
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Welterweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Middleweight
|def.
|KO (punch)
|3
|0:39
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–26)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent card|Preliminary card|header=no}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Welterweight
|def.
|TKO (doctor stoppage)
|2
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|1
|1:14
|This preliminary bout aired on the broadcast after the Evans-Bisping fight.
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|TKO (punches)
|1
|4:29
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Welterweight
|def.
|Submission (armbar)
|2
|3:19
|
}}
{{MMAevent end|notes=yes}}
Bonus awards
The following fighters received $55,000 bonuses.{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2007/11/alves-lytle-herman-and-gono-win-55000-ufc-78-bonuses|title=Alves, Lytle, Herman and Gono Win $55,000 UFC 78 Bonuses|date=November 18, 2007|work=MMAjunkie.com|access-date=2021-07-01}}
- Fight of the Night: Thiago Alves vs. Chris Lytle
- Knockout of the Night: Ed Herman
- Submission of the Night: Akihiro Gono
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071011194940/http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=eventDetail.fightCard&eid=958 UFC 78 fight card]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071230065258/http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?eventid=5708 UFC 78 results at Sherdog.com]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071118143945/http://78.ufc.com/ Official UFC 78 website]
{{UFC Events}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ufc 078}}
Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship flagship events
Category:2007 in mixed martial arts
Category:Mixed martial arts events in Newark, New Jersey
Category:2007 in sports in New Jersey