UFC 68
UFC 68: The Uprising was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 3, 2007 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. UFC 68 was the first UFC event held in the state of Ohio, and coincided with the 2007 Arnold Sports Festival. The sold-out event produced the highest verifiable live attendance for a mixed martial arts event in North America with 19,079 spectators. To date it is the largest attendance for a MMA event in the United States.
Background
In the main event, UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia was set to defend his title against Randy Couture, who was coming out of a 12-month retirement. Couture, a former UFC Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight Champion, last fought as a heavyweight at UFC 39 in 2002.
Also featured at UFC 68 were the return bouts for former champions Matt Hughes (welterweight) and Rich Franklin (middleweight).
Results
Preliminary card
* Lightweight bout: United States Jamie Varner vs. United States Jason Gilliam
Varner wins by submission (rear naked choke) at 1:34 of round one. This preliminary bout was not aired on the broadcast.
* Lightweight bout: Brazil Gleison Tibau vs. United States Jason Dent
Tibau wins by unanimous decision. All three judges score the bout 30–27. This preliminary bout was not aired on the broadcast.
* Welterweight bout: United States Jon Fitch vs. United States Luigi Fioravanti
Fitch wins by submission (rear naked choke) at 3:05 of round two. This preliminary bout was not aired on the broadcast.
* Light Heavyweight bout: United States Matt Hamill vs. United States Rex Holman
Hamill wins by technical knockout due to strikes at 4:00 of round one. This preliminary bout was not aired on the broadcast.
Main card
* Light Heavyweight bout: Brazil Renato Sobral vs. United States Jason Lambert
Lambert wins by knockout due to a punch at 3:36 of round two.
* Middleweight bout: Denmark Martin Kampmann vs. United States Drew McFedries
Kampmann wins by technical submission (arm triangle choke) at 4:06 of round one.
* Welterweight bout: United States Matt Hughes vs. United States Chris Lytle
Hughes wins by unanimous decision. All three judges score the bout 30–27.
* Middleweight bout: United States Rich Franklin vs. Canada Jason MacDonald
Franklin wins by technical knockout between rounds two and three. Excessive damage to MacDonald's right eye prompted his corner to signal for the end of the bout.
* Heavyweight Championship bout: United States Tim Sylvia (c) vs. United States Randy Couture
Couture wins by unanimous decision and becomes the new UFC Heavyweight Champion for a record 3rd time. All three judges scored the bout 50–45.
