UFC 111: St-Pierre vs. Hardy | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Conor McBragger
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Introduction
UFC 111: St-Pierre vs. Hardy. March 27, 2010. Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey. Georges St-Pierre retained the Welterweight Championship with a dominant five-round decision over Dan Hardy — 50-43, 50-44, 50-45. Hardy became the first British fighter in UFC history to challenge for a title.
Frank Mir was knocked out in round one by Shane Carwin at 3:48, who won the Interim Heavyweight Championship. Hardy refused to tap to a kimura and armbar in round two; both became celebrated moments in British MMA history. The event was the first UFC broadcast in movie theaters via Fathom Events. PPV: ~770,000 buys.
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Quick Stats
3. The Build-Up
4. Main Event
5. Co-Main Event
6. Full Results
7. Bonuses & Awards
8. Records & Milestones
9. Legacy & Impact
10. FAQ
11. References
Quick Stats
Date: March 27, 2010
Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, USA
PPV: ~770,000 buys; sold out by March 10
Main Event: Georges St-Pierre (c) vs. Dan Hardy — UFC WW Championship (first British fighter to challenge for a UFC title)
Result: GSP def. Hardy — Decision (Unanimous) — R5, 5:00 (50-43, 50-44, 50-45)
Co-Main: Shane Carwin def. Frank Mir — KO (Punches) — R1, 3:48 — Interim HW Championship
Notable: Hardy refuses to tap to kimura AND armbar; first UFC in movie theaters; Alves removed for brain irregularity; $65k bonuses
The Build-Up
Georges St-Pierre had not lost a round across three title defences (Fitch, Penn, Alves). Dan Hardy had gone 4-0 in the UFC after his run in Europe, earned the title shot with the Swick win at UFC 105. The UFC Primetime series returned for the build-up. Hardy was the first British fighter to fight for a UFC title.
Thiago Alves was removed from the card the day before the weigh-ins after a pre-fight CAT scan showed a brain irregularity. Dana White praised the UFC’s medical procedures and said fighter safety came before commercial considerations. His opponent Ben Saunders was quickly matched with Jon Fitch.
Main Event
Georges St-Pierre (c) vs. Dan Hardy — UFC Welterweight Championship
Georges St-Pierre took Hardy down within seconds of round one and repeated this pattern throughout five rounds. Hardy’s standup accuracy was elite on the feet — landing head kicks and punches — but he could not stop the takedowns. In round two, GSP nearly finished with a kimura; Hardy refused to tap. In round five, GSP nearly finished with an armbar; Hardy refused to tap again. The bell saved Hardy. All five judges’ scorecards were lopsided for GSP.
Hardy’s refusal to tap became one of the most discussed moments in British MMA history. He always maintained that neither submission was fully locked.
Co-Main Event
Shane Carwin vs. Frank Mir — Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship
Carwin had never previously been taken past the 2:11 mark in his career. Frank Mir extended him past that point — and then Carwin landed a right hand that dropped Mir, followed with ground and pound, and stopped the fight at 3:48 of round one. Carwin won the Interim HW Championship and earned a unification bout against Brock Lesnar at UFC 116.
Full Results
Preliminary Card (some on Spike TV)
Matt Riddle def. Greg Soto — Disqualification (Illegal Upkick) — R3, 1:30 — WW; unusual DQ result
Jared Hamman def. Rodney Wallace — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 (29-28 x3) — LHW; Fight of the Night ($65k each)
Rousimar Palhares def. Tomasz Drwal — Submission (Heel Hook) — R1, 0:45 — MW
Nate Diaz def. Rory Markham — TKO (Strikes) — R1 — catchweight 177 lbs; Markham missed weight; shown on Spike
Ricardo Almeida def. Matt Brown — Submission (RNC) — R2, 3:30 — WW; shown on Spike
Main Card
Jim Miller def. Mark Bocek — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 — LW
Jon Fitch def. Ben Saunders — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 — WW; Saunders replaced injured Alves last-minute
Kurt Pellegrino def. Fabriçio Camões — Submission (RNC) — R2 — LW; Sub Night ($65k to Pellegrino)
Shane Carwin def. Frank Mir — KO (Punches) — R1, 3:48 — Interim HW Championship; Carwin earns Lesnar unification at UFC 116; KO Night ($65k)
UFC WW Championship (5 rounds) — Main Event
Georges St-Pierre def. Dan Hardy — UD (50-43, 50-44, 50-45) — R5, 5:00 — GSP retains WW title; Hardy refuses to tap kimura (R2) and armbar (R5)
Bonuses & Awards
Fight of the Night: Jared Hamman vs. Rodney Wallace — $65,000 to each fighter.
KO of the Night: Shane Carwin vs. Frank Mir — $65,000 to Carwin.
Sub of the Night: Kurt Pellegrino vs. Fabricio Camoes — $65,000 to Pellegrino.
Records & Milestones
Dan Hardy — first British fighter to challenge for a UFC title.
Hardy refuses to tap — survived both a kimura (R2) and armbar (R5); celebrated moment in British MMA history.
First UFC in movie theaters — shown via National CineMedia’s Fathom Events distribution service.
Thiago Alves removed for brain irregularity — the UFC’s pre-fight CAT scan detected a concern; fight cancelled for safety; widely praised decision.
Legacy & Impact
Georges St-Pierre's dominance at UFC 111 was so complete that the conversation shifted to whether any welterweight could stop him. Dan Hardy’s refusal to tap gave the fight a legacy beyond the scorecards — it became the defining image of British competitive spirit in the sport.
Shane Carwin’s KO of Mir set up the most anticipated HW fight since Couture-Lesnar. Carwin had been 11-0 with 11 first-round finishes. The Lesnar unification at UFC 116 in July 2010 delivered on the hype — Carwin nearly finished Lesnar in round one before running out of gas and being submitted in round two.
FAQ
Was Dan Hardy the first British fighter to fight for a UFC title?
Yes. Dan Hardy became the first British fighter in UFC history to challenge for a UFC championship at UFC 111, fighting Georges St-Pierre for the Welterweight Championship.
Did Dan Hardy tap at UFC 111?
No. Hardy refused to tap to a kimura in round two and an armbar in round five, going the full five rounds despite being dominated on the scorecards. Hardy has consistently said neither submission was fully locked.
What was notable about the removal of Thiago Alves from UFC 111?
Alves was removed the day before the event after a pre-fight CAT scan identified a brain irregularity. The UFC cancelled his bout on safety grounds. Dana White praised the decision, saying fighter safety took priority over commercial considerations.
Was UFC 111 available in movie theaters?
Yes. UFC 111 was shown in movie theaters throughout the United States via National CineMedia's Fathom Events service. It was the first time a UFC event was distributed this way.
What did Shane Carwin's win at UFC 111 earn him?
Carwin won the Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship by knocking out Frank Mir in round one. He earned a title unification bout against Brock Lesnar, which took place at UFC 116 in July 2010.
References
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