UFC 53: Heavy Hitters

From CageWiki

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

Background

UFC 53: Heavy Hitters was an 8-bout fight card that was held on June 4, 2005 at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The card aired live on pay-per-view and was headlined by an Interim Heavyweight Championship bout between Interim champion, Andrei Arlovski and Pat Miletich trained, Justin Eilers.

A middleweight championship bout between champion, Evan Tanner and Rich Franklin served as a co-main event.

Fight Card

Preliminary Card

Welterweight Bout: Nick Diaz vs. Koji Oishi
Middleweight Bout: David Loiseau vs. Charles McCarthy
Middleweight Bout: Nate Quarry vs. Shonie Carter

Main Card

Heavyweight Bout: Paul Buentello vs. Kevin Jordan
Light Heavyweight Bout: Forrest Griffin vs. Bill Mahood
Middleweight Championship Bout: Evan Tanner vs. Rich Franklin
Welterweight Bout: Karo Parisyan vs. Matt Serra
Interim Heavyweight Championship Bout: Andrei Arlovski vs. Justin Eilers

Pre-Event Notes

It was originally rumored that Andrei Arlovski could face former heavyweight champion, Ricco Rodriguez in a rematch at the event but that ended up falling through. It was then said to be Paul Buentello that would face him but after Buentello had to withdraw due to injury, he was replaced by recent Buentello victim, Justin Eilers. Strangely enough, Buentello recovered in time to face Kevin Jordan on the card.

Forrest Griffin will fight for the first time since defeating Stephan Bonnar at The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale to claim The Ultimate Fighter crown.

David Loiseau replaced David Terrell against Charles McCarthy once Terrell pulled out with injury. Loiseau was originally to face Pete Sell on the card but Sell was relocated to the future UFC Fight Night 1 card.

Tim Sylvia was rumored in the early stages to be on this event facing possibly, PRIDE stars Sergei Kharitonov or Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira but that did not come to fruition.

Results

Preliminary Card

Welterweight Bout: Nick Diaz defs. Koji Oishi via KO (punches) at 1:24 of round 1.
Middleweight Bout: David Loiseau defs. Charles McCarthy via TKO (spinning back kick and flying knee) at 2:10 of round 2.
Middleweight Bout: Nate Quarry defs. Shonie Carter via TKO (strikes) at 2:37 of round 1.

Main Card

Heavyweight Bout: Paul Buentello defs. Kevin Jordan via submission (guillotine choke) at 4:10 of round 1.
Light Heavyweight Bout: Forrest Griffin defs. Bill Mahood via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:18 of round 1.
Middleweight Championship Bout: Rich Franklin defs. Evan Tanner via TKO (doctor stoppage) at 3:25 of round 4.
Welterweight Bout: Karo Parisyan defs. Matt Serra via unanimous decision.
Interim Heavyweight Championship Bout: Andrei Arlovski defs. Justin Eilers via TKO (knee injury) at 4:10 of round 1.