UFC 44: Undisputed

From CageWiki

1 Background
2 Fight Card
3 Pre-Event Notes
4 Results
5 UFC Event Chronology
6 External Links

Background

UFC 44: Undisputed was a 9-bout fight card that was held on September 26, 2003 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The card aired live on pay-per-view and was headlined by a light heavyweight championship unification bout between champion, Tito Ortiz and interim champion, Randy Couture.

A heavyweight championship bout between champion, Tim Sylvia and 6 ft. 11 in. giant, Gan McGee served as a co-main event.

Fight Card

Preliminary Card

Lightweight Bout: Josh Thomson vs. Gerald Strebendt
Lightweight Bout: Caol Uno vs. Hermes Franca
Welterweight Bout: Nick Diaz vs. Jeremy Jackson
Welterweight Bout: Karo Parisyan vs. Dave Strasser

Main Card

Light Heavyweight Bout: Rich Franklin vs. Edwin Dewees
Middleweight Bout: Middleweight Bout: David Loiseau vs. Jorge Rivera
Heavyweight Bout: Andrei Arlovski vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
Heavyweight Championship Bout: Tim Sylvia vs. Gan McGee
Light Heavyweight Championship Bout: Tito Ortiz vs. Randy Couture

Pre-Event Notes

Ortiz and Couture face each other in a unification bout after Couture was awarded the interim 205 lbs. title after defeating Chuck Liddell at UFC 43. At the time of Couture's victory it was up in the air whether the interim belt would become the actual belt with Ortiz holding out on contract negotiations and his refusal to fight Liddell. However, everything was worked out with Ortiz resigning and keeping his title and facing Couture at this event to unify the titles.

The event received significant mainstream exposure with Ortiz appearing on Jay Leno, both fighters appearing on FSN's Best Damned Sports Show Period and parts of the weigh-ins shown on ESPN.

Ortiz headed into the bout as an 8:5 favorite over Couture.

Nick Diaz and Jeremy Jackson enter the event after having faced each other on two previous occasions with each fighter taking a victory via KO/TKO.

Results

Preliminary Card

Lightweight Bout: Josh Thomson defs. Gerald Strebendt via TKO (strikes) at 2:45 of round 1.
Lightweight Bout: Hermes Franca defs. Caol Uno via KO (punches) at 2:46 of round 2.
Welterweight Bout: Nick Diaz defs. Jeremy Jackson via submission (armbar)at 2:04 of round 3.
Welterweight Bout: Karo Parisyan defs. Dave Strasser via submission (kimura) at 3:52 of round 1.

Main Card

Light Heavyweight Bout: Rich Franklin defs. Edwin Dewees via TKO (strikes) at 3:35 of round 1.
Middleweight Bout: Middleweight Bout: Jorge Rivera defs. David Loiseau via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-28).
Heavyweight Bout: Andrei Arlovski defs. Vladimir Matyushenko via KO (punches) at 1:59 of round 1.
Heavyweight Championship Bout: Tim Sylvia defs. Gan McGee via TKO (punches) at 1:54 of round 1 to retain the heavyweight championship.

McGee unwisely chose to stand and strike with Sylvia and paid the price as his poor defense was eventually exposed and he was dropped heavily and pounded out on the ground.

Light Heavyweight Championship Bout: Randy Couture defs. Tito Ortiz via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-45) to become the new UFC light heavyweight champion.

Couture surprised the majority of fans as he was able to consistently put Ortiz on his back and batter him with punches from various positions on the ground. Ortiz's offense was completely nullified and Couture added insult to injury in the fifth round as Ortiz rolled for a kneebar while Couture was standing only for the fighters to end in a stalemated position with Couture condescendingly spanking Ortiz for his troubles. A shutout was handed back on the cards with UFC commentator declaring Couture "his hero".