UFC 112: Invincible | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Ariel Helwhiney
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Introduction
UFC 112: Invincible. April 10, 2010. Concert Arena at Ferrari World, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE. The first UFC event in the Middle East and the first outdoor UFC. Live on US PPV at 1 PM ET due to the time zone difference.
Frankie Edgar defeated BJ Penn by unanimous decision — 50-45, 48-47, 49-46 — to become the new UFC Lightweight Champion in one of the sport’s biggest upsets. Penn’s knee was injured going into the fight.
Anderson Silva retained the Middleweight Championship against Demian Maia by unanimous decision — but was booed relentlessly throughout five rounds. The referee warned Silva about avoiding the fight. Dana White stated he was “the most embarrassed I’ve ever been for a fighter.”
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: April 10, 2010 (live at 1 PM ET USA)
Venue: Concert Arena at Ferrari World, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE (first UFC in Middle East; first outdoor UFC)
Main Event: Anderson Silva (c) vs. Demian Maia — UFC MW Championship
MW Result: Anderson Silva def. Maia — UD — R5, 5:00 — booed; referee warning; Dana White ‘most embarrassed’
Co-Main: Frankie Edgar def. BJ Penn — UD (50-45, 48-47, 49-46) — R5, 5:00 — Edgar wins LW title; massive upset
Notable: Matt Hughes def. Renzo Gracie TKO R3; Phil Davis subs Gustafsson; $50k bonuses
The Build-Up
The event was scheduled at Abu Dhabi’s Ferrari World after Abu Dhabi government-owned Flash Entertainment purchased a 10% stake in UFC parent company Zuffa. It was the promotion’s first outdoor event, the first in the Middle East, and broadcast live at 1 PM ET due to the time zone.
Vitor Belfort was originally scheduled to fight Anderson Silva but withdrew with a shoulder injury. Demian Maia — the top-ranked MW grappler — replaced him.
Main Event
Anderson Silva (c) vs. Demian Maia — UFC Middleweight Championship
Anderson Silva landed a right hand early in round one that bloodied Maia’s face. From that point, rather than finishing, Silva danced, taunted, pointed, and refused to engage. Maia shot for takedowns repeatedly; Silva evaded without aggression. Referee Dan Miragliotta stopped the fight in round four and told Silva he would lose a point if he continued avoiding. The crowd booed from round two onwards. By rounds four and five, the chants of ‘GSP’ had returned from UFC 97.
Anderson Silva won all five rounds on the scorecards. Dana White’s post-fight statement became one of the most quoted in UFC history: ‘I’ve never been more embarrassed for a fighter in my life. This has nothing to do with Anderson Silva being the best fighter in the world. It has to do with what he did to all those fans.’
Co-Main Event
BJ Penn (c) vs. Frankie Edgar — UFC Lightweight Championship
BJ Penn entered as a heavy favourite and was defending for the fourth time. Edgar used speed and movement to frustrate Penn across five rounds, scoring two takedowns and never allowing Penn to land cleanly. Penn’s knee was visibly affecting his movement. By round five, Penn’s aggression was not enough.
Scores of 50-45, 48-47, and 49-46 for Edgar. A new UFC Lightweight Champion. One of the most significant upsets in the division’s history.
Full Results
Preliminary Card
Jon Madsen def. Mostapha Al-Turk — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00
Paul Kelly def. Matt Veach — Submission (Guillotine) — R2, 3:41 — LW
DaMarques Johnson def. Brad Blackburn — TKO — R3, 2:08
Rick Story def. Nick Osipczak — Decision (Split) — R3, 5:00 (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Phil Davis def. Alexander Gustafsson — Submission (Anaconda Choke) — R1, 4:55 — LHW
Rafael dos Anjos def. Terry Etim — Submission (Armbar) — R2, 4:30 — LW
Main Card
Mark Muñoz def. Kendall Grove — TKO — R2, 2:50 — MW
Matt Hughes def. Renzo Gracie — TKO (Strikes) — R3, 4:40 — WW
BJ Penn loses LW title to Frankie Edgar — UD (50-45, 48-47, 49-46) — R5, 5:00 — MASSIVE UPSET; Penn’s 8-year unbeaten LW streak ends
UFC MW Championship (5 rounds) — Main Event
Anderson Silva def. Demian Maia — UD — R5, 5:00 — Silva booed throughout; referee warned him; Dana White ‘most embarrassed’
Bonuses & Awards
Fight of the Night: BJ Penn vs. Frankie Edgar — $50,000 to each fighter.
Sub of the Night: Phil Davis vs. Alexander Gustafsson — $50,000 to Davis.
Records & Milestones
First UFC in the Middle East — Concert Arena, Ferrari World, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
First outdoor UFC event — open-air arena erected as a temporary structure.
BJ Penn's 8-year unbeaten streak at LW ended — Penn was unbeaten in the LW division since losing to Jens Pulver in January 2002.
Anderson Silva UD over Maia — ninth consecutive title defence; but worst reception from fans of his career.
Legacy & Impact
Frankie Edgar’s win over BJ Penn is one of the LW division’s defining moments. A fighter who had not been regarded as a serious title threat entered, executed a perfect game plan, and left as champion. Penn’s era was over — the rematch at UFC 118 in August 2010 produced the same result, confirming Edgar’s legitimacy.
Anderson Silva's UFC 112 performance was the second major boo-storm of his championship era (after UFC 97 vs. Leites) and the more severe. The Abu Dhabi crowd, which had paid to see a title fight, witnessed a five-round taunt. Dana White’s public statement after the event was the strongest rebuke of a reigning champion the UFC had made publicly. The context — Zuffa’s business relationship with Abu Dhabi — made the embarrassment especially acute.
FAQ
Was UFC 112 the first UFC event in the Middle East?
Yes. UFC 112 at the Concert Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE was the first UFC event held in the Middle East.
Why was UFC 112 broadcast at 1 PM ET in the USA?
The event was held outdoors in Abu Dhabi, which is eight hours ahead of US Eastern time. To broadcast live, the event started at 9 PM in Abu Dhabi (1 PM ET).
How did Frankie Edgar beat BJ Penn at UFC 112?
Edgar used speed, footwork, and takedowns to neutralise Penn across five rounds. Penn had a knee injury and could not cut off Edgar's movement. Judges scored 50-45, 48-47, and 49-46 for Edgar.
Why was Dana White angry at Anderson Silva after UFC 112?
Silva danced and taunted Demian Maia for five rounds instead of attempting to finish the fight. The referee warned him about avoiding combat. Dana White publicly stated he had never been more embarrassed for a fighter in his life.
What was notable about Phil Davis vs Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 112?
Davis submitted Gustafsson with an anaconda choke in round one, just seconds before the bell. It was an impressive early submission against a fighter who would go on to be a two-time UFC LHW title challenger.
References
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