UFC 140

UFC 140, officially promoted as UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida, was a numbered mixed martial arts event staged by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 10, 2011, at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. It was the UFC's penultimate event of 2011 and one of the promotion's major Canadian shows. The event was built around a UFC Light Heavyweight Championship fight between reigning champion Jon Jones and former champion Lyoto Machida, with a heavyweight rematch between Frank Mir and Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira serving as the co-main event. The main event reflected a rapidly changing light heavyweight division. Jones had won the championship earlier in 2011 by defeating Maurício Rua and had successfully defended it against Quinton Jackson at UFC 135. Machida, a former champion who had won the title from Rashad Evans in 2009, entered the bout after losses to Rua and Jackson. The matchup was not the UFC's first intended plan for the event. Early announcements involved Machida facing Phil Davis and reports also considered Jones defending against Evans, but Evans was not medically ready following hand surgery. Machida ultimately became the replacement challenger. Jones retained the championship by technical submission in the second round. After an initially competitive contest, Jones opened a cut on Machida's forehead, stunned him with a punch, and finished the fight with a standing guillotine choke. Machida lost consciousness when Jones released the hold, making Jones the first fighter to submit him in professional competition at that point in his career. The co-main event produced one of the card's most notable historical results. Mir and Nogueira had previously met at UFC 92, where Mir became the first fighter to stop Nogueira by knockout or technical knockout. In the rematch, Nogueira appeared to hurt Mir early, but Mir countered during a grappling exchange with a kimura. Nogueira did not submit, and the hold broke his arm, giving Mir a technical-submission victory. Mir consequently became the first fighter to defeat Nogueira by both knockout and submission. The twelve-fight card also included victories by Chan Sung Jung, Antônio Rogério Nogueira, Brian Ebersole, Igor Pokrajac, Costas Philippou, Dennis Hallman, and Mark Bocek. Jung's seven-second knockout of Mark Hominick was tied for the second-fastest official knockout in UFC history at the time and earned Knockout of the Night. The event's Fight of the Night award went to Jones and Machida, while Mir received Submission of the Night. UFC 140 was distributed through a combination of international television, pay-per-view, Canadian and United States cable broadcasts, and online streaming. The event was sanctioned in Ontario under the province's athletic commission and used the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. Reported attendance exceeded 18,000, ticket revenue was close to $4 million, and the pay-per-view audience was reported at approximately 485,000 buys. These figures are historical event metrics rather than ongoing commercial performance indicators. The event also influenced subsequent UFC matchmaking. Jones's previously discussed title defense against Rashad Evans was eventually held at UFC 145 in April 2012. Mir's victory later positioned him for a heavyweight title opportunity after Alistair Overeem was removed from a scheduled championship bout following a failed pre-fight drug test. As a one-night sporting property, UFC 140 is defunct, but it remains a recognized entry in the UFC numbered-event catalogue and is remembered for its championship finish, Mir's landmark victory over Nogueira, and several rapid stoppages.

UFC 140 was a UFC numbered event held on December 10, 2011, at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. The promotion designed the card around the light heavyweight championship and a heavyweight rematch involving two established former champions. It was the UFC's second-to-last event of 2011 and continued the organization's expansion of major events in Canada. The original matchmaking plans changed several times. Dana White initially discussed Lyoto Machida against Phil Davis, although Davis was still recovering from a knee injury. A separate Jones–Rashad Evans championship matchup was also considered. Evans required medical clearance after surgery on his right hand, and when he could not prepare in time, Machida replaced him as Jones's challenger. Jones entered as champion after defeating Maurício Rua at UFC 128 and Quinton Jackson at UFC 135. Machida had previously held the same belt after defeating Evans at UFC 98, before losing it to Rua at UFC 113. Frank Mir and Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira met in a rematch of their UFC 92 fight. Mir had stopped Nogueira by technical knockout in their first meeting, the first stoppage defeat of Nogueira's career. The rematch developed into a grappling exchange after Nogueira initially hurt Mir with punches. Mir secured a kimura and maintained the hold through several rolls until Nogueira's arm broke. The referee awarded Mir a technical-submission victory. The championship main event was competitive during its opening exchanges. Jones used kicks and varied strikes while Machida countered effectively. In the second round Jones cut Machida, and after the cage-side doctor allowed the fight to continue, Jones stunned him and applied a standing guillotine choke. Machida did not tap and lost consciousness, giving Jones a technical-submission win and preserving the championship. It was Machida's first professional submission loss at the time. The rest of the card combined established UFC names, Canadian talent, prospects, and replacement fighters. Antônio Rogério Nogueira stopped Tito Ortiz by first-round technical knockout. Brian Ebersole defeated Claude Patrick by split decision. Chan Sung Jung knocked out Mark Hominick in seven seconds, while Costas Philippou, Igor Pokrajac, Dennis Hallman, Mark Bocek, Yves Jabouin, and Jake Hecht also recorded victories. Hallman's failure to make weight resulted in a catchweight bout and a purse deduction. Twelve bouts were sanctioned under Ontario athletic regulation and conducted under the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. The event was distributed through international television, pay-per-view, Canadian and United States cable programming, and online streams. Its reported attendance exceeded 18,000, with ticket revenue near $4 million and pay-per-view buys of about 485,000. The event's official bonuses included $75,000 awards for Jones versus Machida as Fight of the Night, Jung for Knockout of the Night, and Mir for Submission of the Night. UFC 140's consequences extended beyond the event itself. Jones's unresolved rivalry with Evans eventually produced a championship fight at UFC 145 in April 2012. Mir's performance strengthened his position in the heavyweight division and later led to his selection as a replacement for Overeem after Overeem was removed from a title bout following a failed pre-fight test. UFC 140 therefore occupies a notable place in UFC history as a Toronto event with a championship retention, two significant submission-related records, and several memorable stoppages.

• 2012

  Mir receives a later heavyweight title opportunity

  [1]UFC 140en.wikipedia.org

  Mir is selected to replace Alistair Overeem in a title fight after Overeem is removed following a failed pre-fight test.

• 2011

  UFC announces and revises the headline matchup

  [1]UFC 140en.wikipedia.org

  Early plans involving Machida, Phil Davis, and Rashad Evans changed before Machida was confirmed as Jon Jones's title challenger.

• 2011

  UFC 140 takes place in Toronto

  [1]UFC 140en.wikipedia.org

  The twelve-bout event is held at the Air Canada Centre on December 10.

• 2011

  Jones defends the light heavyweight title

  [1]UFC 140en.wikipedia.org

  Jon Jones defeats Lyoto Machida by technical submission in the second round.

• 2011

  Mir wins the Nogueira rematch

  [1]UFC 140en.wikipedia.org

  Frank Mir submits Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira with a kimura, becoming the first fighter to defeat Nogueira by both knockout and submission.

A major UFC numbered event centered on a light heavyweight championship defense, a high-profile heavyweight rematch, and broad Canadian and international broadcast distribution.

• Combat sports event · 2011

  UFC 140 live event

  The live Toronto card consisted of twelve professional mixed martial arts bouts sanctioned by Ontario's athletic authority. It used the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, with non-title contests scheduled for three five-minute rounds and the championship contest scheduled for five rounds.

• Sports media broadcast · 2011

  UFC 140 pay-per-view broadcast

  The event's principal commercial media offering was an international pay-per-view broadcast led by Jones versus Machida and Mir versus Nogueira. Preliminary bouts were also carried through television and online streaming arrangements in Canada, the United States, and other markets.

• 2011

  Replace Evans with Machida in the championship boutStrategy

  Background

  Rashad Evans was not medically ready after hand surgery, while the previously discussed matchup plans had changed.

  Action taken

  The UFC booked former champion Lyoto Machida to challenge Jon Jones at UFC 140.

  Aftermath

  Jones retained the title, and the Jones–Evans championship matchup was later held at UFC 145.

  Source

• 2011

  Convert Hallman–Makdessi to a catchweight boutOther

  Background

  Dennis Hallman weighed 158.5 pounds and exceeded the allowance for his planned lightweight contest.

  Action taken

  The bout was changed to catchweight, and Hallman was fined 20 percent of his earnings.

  Aftermath

  Hallman defeated Makdessi by rear-naked choke in the first round.

  Source

• 2011

  Adjust preliminary-bout distributionOther

  Background

  Several televised preliminary fights ended early, leaving additional scheduled content available for distribution.

  Action taken

  The bouts initially planned for Facebook streaming were also shown on cable television.

  Aftermath

  The event offered expanded preliminary-card television exposure in Canada and the United States.

  Source

1. 1UFC 140en.wikipedia.org