The year 2012 was the 20th year in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. 2012 started with UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes and ended with UFC 155: dos Santos vs. Velasquez 2. The year saw the successful UFC Featherweight title defense by José Aldo, the crowning of Carlos Condit as the Interim Welterweight Champion, a new Lightweight Champion in Benson Henderson, a tournament to crown the first UFC Flyweight Champion as well as the finales of The Ultimate Fighter 15 and The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.
2012 UFC.com awards
2012 UFC.COM AwardsNoBest FighterThe UpsetsThe SubmissionsThe NewcomersThe KnockoutsThe Fights1Benson HendersonTim Boetsch defeats Héctor Lombard UFC 149The Korean Zombie defeats Dustin Poirier UFC on Fuel TV: The Korean Zombie vs. PoirierGlover TeixeiraEdson Barboza defeats Terry Etim UFC 142Jim Miller defeats Joe Lauzon 1 UFC 1552Jon JonesRyan Bader defeats Quinton Jackson UFC 144Matt Wiman defeats Paul Sass UFC on Fuel TV: Struve vs. MiocicErik PérezCung Le defeats Rich Franklin 2 UFC on Fuel TV: Franklin vs. LeThe Korean Zombie defeats Dustin Poirier UFC on Fuel TV: The Korean Zombie vs. Poirier3Demetrious JohnsonJamie Varner defeats Edson Barboza UFC 146 Charles Oliveira defeats Eric Wisely UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis Max HollowayAnthony Pettis defeats Joe Lauzon UFC 144Eddie Yagin defeats Mark Hominick UFC 1454Matt BrownMatt Wiman defeats Paul Sass UFC on Fuel TV: Struve vs. MiocicNate Diaz defeats Jim Miller UFC on Fox: Diaz vs. MillerHéctor LombardSiyar Bahadurzada defeats Paulo Thiago UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. SilvaBenson Henderson defeats Frankie Edgar 1 UFC 1445Cain VelasquezRicardo Lamas defeats Hatsu Hioki UFC on FX: Maynard vs. GuidaTJ Waldburger defeats Nick Catone The Ultimate Fighter 16 FinaleSiyar BahadurzadaPat Barry defeats Shane del Rosario The Ultimate Fighter 16 FinaleGeorges St-Pierre defeats Carlos Condit UFC 1546Stefan StruveC. B. Dollaway defeats Jason Miller UFC 146Antônio Rogério Nogueira defeats Dave Herman UFC 153John MoragaRyan Jimmo defeats Anthony Perosh UFC 149 Jon Fitch defeats Erick Silva UFC 153 7Cub SwansonTim Boetsch defeats Yushin Okami UFC 144Ivan Menjivar defeats John Albert UFC on Fuel TV: Sanchez vs. EllenbergerMyles JuryDonald Cerrone defeats Melvin Guillard UFC 150Demetrious Johnson defeats Joseph Benavidez UFC 1528Mike PyleMatt Brown defeats Mike Swick UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. DiazMartin Kampmann defeats Thiago Alves UFC on FX: Alves vs. KampmannGunnar NelsonStephen Thompson defeats Dan Stittgen UFC 143Anderson Silva defeats Chael Sonnen 2 UFC 1489Anderson SilvaJames Head defeats Brian Ebersole UFC 149Demian Maia defeats Rick Story UFC 153Ryan JimmoMike Pyle defeats Josh Neer UFC on FX: Johnson vs. McCall 2James Te Huna defeats Joey Beltran UFC on Fox: Diaz vs. Miller10Costas PhilippouSteven Siler defeats Cole Miller UFC on FX: Alves vs. KampmannRousimar Palhares defeats Mike Massenzio UFC 142Rustam KhabilovRustam Khabilov defeats Vinc Pichel The Ultimate Fighter 16 FinaleLouis Gaudinot defeats John Lineker UFC on Fox: Diaz vs. MillerRef
Debut UFC fighters
The following fighters fought their first UFC fight in 2012: Fighter Division Abel Trujillo Lightweight Akira Corassani Featherweight Al Iaquinta Lightweight Andrew Craig Middleweight Andy Ogle Featherweight Anistavio Medeiros Lightweight Anton Kuivanen Lightweight Antonio Carvalho Featherweight Antônio Silva Heavyweight Azamat Gashimov Flyweight Ben Alloway Welterweight Bernardo Magalhaes Lightweight Besam Yousef Welterweight Brad Scott Middleweight Brendan Loughnane Featherweight Brock Jardine Welterweight Buddy Roberts Middleweight C.J. Keith Lightweight Caio Magalhaes Middleweight Carlo Prater Lightweight Cezar Ferreira Middleweight Chad Griggs Heavyweight Chico Camus Bantamweight Chris Clements Welterweight Chris Saunders Lightweight Chris Tickle Featherweight Cody Donovan Light Heavyweight Colin Fletcher Lightweight Colton Smith Lightweight Cristiano Marcello Lightweight Dan Stittgen Welterweight Daniel Pineda Featherweight Daron Cruickshank Lightweight Delson Heleno Welterweight Derek Brunson Middleweight Ednaldo Oliveira Heavyweight Eiji Mitsuoka Lightweight Eric Wisely Featherweight Erik Pérez Bantamweight
Fighter Division Francisco Trinaldo Lightweight Glover Teixeira Light Heavyweight Godofredo Pepey Featherweight Gunnar Nelson Welterweight Hacran Dias Featherweight Héctor Lombard Middleweight Henry Martinez Lightweight Hugo Viana Bantamweight Ian McCall Flyweight Issei Tamura Featherweight Jared Papazian Bantamweight Jeremy Larsen Lightweight Jimi Manuwa Light Heavyweight Joe Proctor Lightweight Joey Gambino Featherweight John Cofer Lightweight John Lineker Bantamweight John Moraga Flyweight John Teixeira Featherweight John-Olav Einemo Heavyweight Jon Tuck Lightweight Jussier Formiga Flyweight Justin Lawrence Featherweight Justin Salas Lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov Lightweight Lavar Johnson Heavyweight Leonardo Mafra Lightweight Magnus Cedenblad Middleweight Manuel Rodriguez Lightweight Marcelo Guimarães Welterweight Marcos Vinicius Bantamweight Marcus LeVesseur Lightweight Max Holloway Featherweight Maximo Blanco Featherweight Michael Chiesa Lightweight Michael Kuiper Middleweight Mike Ricci Lightweight Mike Rio Lightweight Mike Wilkinson Featherweight
Fighter Division Milton Vieira Featherweight Mitch Gagnon Bantamweight Motonobu Tezuka Bantamweight Myles Jury Featherweight Nick Denis Bantamweight Nick Penner Light Heavyweight Norman Parke Lightweight Oli Thompson Heavyweight Pat Schilling Featherweight Phil Harris Flyweight Renee Forte Lightweight Reza Madadi Lightweight Robert Whittaker Welterweight Rodrigo Damm Lightweight Rony Mariano Bezerra Featherweight Rustam Khabilov Lightweight Ryan Jimmo Light Heavyweight Sam Sicilia Featherweight Sergio Moraes Middleweight Shane del Rosario Heavyweight Shawn Jordan Heavyweight Simeon Thoresen Welterweight Siyar Bahadurzada Welterweight Stephen Thompson Welterweight Thiago Perpétuo Middleweight Tim Elliott Flyweight Tim Means Lightweight Tom DeBlass Light Heavyweight Tom Watson Middleweight Tommy Hayden Lightweight Ulysses Gomez Flyweight Vinc Pichel Lightweight Wagner Campos Lightweight Wagner Prado Light Heavyweight Yaotzin Meza Featherweight Yasuhiro Urushitani Flyweight Yoislandy Izquierdo Lightweight
The Ultimate Fighter SeasonFinaleDivisionWinnerRunner-upTUF 15: LiveJun 1, 2012Lightweight Michael Chiesa Al IaquintaTUF: BrazilJun 23, 2012Featherweight Rony Mariano Bezerra Godofredo PepeyMiddleweight Cezar Ferreira Sergio MoraesTUF 16: Team Carwin vs. Team NelsonDec 15, 2012Welterweight Colton Smith Mike RicciTUF: The SmashesDec 15, 2012Lightweight Norman Parke Colin FletcherWelterweight Robert Whittaker Brad Scott
Title fights
Events list
# Event Date Venue Location Attendance224UFC 155: dos Santos vs. Velasquez 2MGM Grand Garden ArenaLas Vegas, Nevada, U.S.223Hard Rock Hotel and CasinoLas Vegas, Nevada, U.S.222UFC on FX: Sotiropoulos vs. PearsonGold Coast Convention and Exhibition CentreGold Coast, Australia221UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. DiazKeyArenaSeattle, Washington, U.S.220UFC 154: St-Pierre vs. ConditBell CentreMontreal, Quebec, Canada219UFC on Fuel TV: Franklin vs. LeCotaiArenaMacau, SAR, China218UFC 153: Silva vs. BonnarHSBC ArenaRio de Janeiro, Brazil217UFC on FX: Browne vs. BigfootTarget CenterMinneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.216UFC on Fuel TV: Struve vs. MiocicCapital FM ArenaNottingham, England, U.K.215UFC 152: Jones vs. BelfortAir Canada CentreToronto, Ontario, Canada –UFC 151: Jones vs. HendersonMandalay Bay Events CenterLas Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Cancelled214UFC 150: Henderson vs. Edgar IIPepsi CenterDenver, Colorado, U.S.213UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. VeraStaples CenterLos Angeles, California, U.S.212UFC 149: Faber vs. BarãoScotiabank SaddledomeCalgary, Alberta, Canada211UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz vs. WeidmanHP PavilionSan Jose, California, U.S.210UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen IIMGM Grand Garden ArenaLas Vegas, Nevada, U.S.209UFC 147: Silva vs. Franklin IIMineirinho ArenaBelo Horizonte, Brazil208UFC on FX: Maynard vs. GuidaRevel Casino HotelAtlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.207UFC on FX: Johnson vs. McCallBankAtlantic CenterSunrise, Florida, U.S.206Palms Casino ResortLas Vegas, Nevada, U.S.205UFC 146: dos Santos vs. MirMGM Grand Garden ArenaLas Vegas, Nevada, U.S.204UFC on Fuel TV: Korean Zombie vs. PoirierPatriot CenterFairfax, Virginia, U.S.203UFC on Fox: Diaz vs. MillerIZOD CenterEast Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.202UFC 145: Jones vs. EvansPhilips ArenaAtlanta, Georgia, U.S.201UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. SilvaEricsson Globe ArenaStockholm, Sweden200UFC on FX: Alves vs. KampmannAllphones ArenaSydney, Australia199UFC 144: Edgar vs. HendersonSaitama Super ArenaSaitama, Japan198UFC on Fuel TV: Sanchez vs. EllenbergerOmaha Civic AuditoriumOmaha, Nebraska, U.S.197UFC 143: Diaz vs. ConditMandalay Bay Events CenterLas Vegas, Nevada, U.S.196UFC on Fox: Evans vs. DavisUnited CenterChicago, Illinois, U.S.195UFC on FX: Guillard vs. MillerBridgestone ArenaNashville, Tennessee, U.S.194UFC 142: Aldo vs. MendesHSBC ArenaRio de Janeiro, Brazil
UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis
UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis (also known as UFC on Fox 2) was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on January 28, 2012, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Background The event was the first to be broadcast on Fox as part of a seven-year agreement between the UFC and the network and the second to air live on Fox after the inaugural UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos.
A bout between Demetrious Johnson and Eddie Wineland was originally slated for this event. However, Johnson was pulled from the bout to be a participant in the UFC's Flyweight tournament set to begin in March. Wineland was then expected to face Johnny Bedford at this event. However, Wineland himself was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by promotional newcomer Mitch Gagnon. Then just days before the event, the bout was cancelled due to an alleged visa issue for Gagnon.
Paul Sass was expected to face Evan Dunham, but was forced from the bout with an injury and replaced by Nik Lentz.
Cody McKenzie was expected to face Michael Johnson at the event, but was forced from the bout with an injury and replaced by Shane Roller.
Mark Muñoz was expected to face Chael Sonnen in a #1 contender's bout for a middleweight title shot, but Munoz was forced out of the bout with an injury. Michael Bisping, who was pulled from a scheduled fight with Demian Maia, replaced Munoz to face Sonnen in the #1 contender's bout. Chris Weidman would step in on 11 days notice to face Maia as Bisping's replacement.
The preliminary bout between Chris Camozzi and Dustin Jacoby was not aired on television or Facebook, making it the first bout on a UFC card to go unaired on the event's live broadcast since UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Davis in March 2011.
The event averaged 4.7 million viewers with a ratings peak of 6 million viewers for the main event.
Results
Bonus awards The following fighters received $65,000 bonuses.
Fight of the Night: Evan Dunham vs. Nik Lentz Knockout of the Night: Lavar Johnson Submission of the Night: Charles Oliveira
UFC on Fuel TV: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger
UFC on Fuel TV: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger (also known as UFC on Fuel TV 1), was the first UFC event to air exclusively on Fuel TV. It was held on February 15, 2012, at the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska. At the time, the event was the most watched show ever aired on Fuel TV with 217,000 viewers tuning in.
Background