UFC 120: Bisping vs. Akiyama | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Tito Wordsmith
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Introduction
UFC 120: Bisping vs. Akiyama. October 16, 2010. The O2 Arena, London. The ninth UFC event in the United Kingdom and the first since UFC 105 in November 2009. Michael Bisping defeated Yoshihiro Akiyama by unanimous decision — 30-27 on all three scorecards — in a three-round middleweight main event. 17,133 fans attended. Gate: $2,518,852. Spike TV peaked at 2.47 million viewers in the USA.
Carlos Condit knocked out Dan Hardy with a left hook at 4:27 of round one in the co-main event, to the heavy disapproval of the London crowd. Mike Pyle defeated John Hathaway by unanimous decision, ending Hathaway’s unbeaten run. Cheick Kongo and Travis Browne fought to a majority draw.
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: October 16, 2010 (tape-delayed USA)
Venue: The O2 Arena, London, England, UK (4th UFC at O2; 9th UK event; first UK event since UFC 105)
Attendance: 17,133 (paid: 14,292); Gate: $2,518,852; Spike TV peak 2.47M viewers USA
Main Event: Michael Bisping vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama — Middleweight
Result: Bisping def. Akiyama — UD (30-27 x3)
Notable: Condit KOs Hardy R1 (crowd boo); Pyle upsets Hathaway; Kongo/Browne majority draw; Gustafsson KO Diabate; $60k bonuses
The Build-Up
UFC 120 marked the return to London after a nearly 12-month absence following UFC 105. Michael Bisping was the British main event, as he had been for both UFC 70 and UFC 105. Dana White addressed the Oxford Union Society during the event week, reflecting the UFC’s growing institutional profile in the UK.
Main Event
Michael Bisping vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama — Middleweight
Akiyama was sharp in the opening seconds, landing a heavy right. Bisping absorbed it and took control from there. He used his jabs and right hands, lateral movement, and low kicks to outwork Akiyama across all three rounds. A low blow in round three gave Akiyama recovery time, but Bisping returned to work cleanly. All three judges scored 30-27 for Bisping. It was the best version of Bisping the London crowd had seen.
Co-Main Event
Dan Hardy vs. Carlos Condit — Welterweight
Hardy was the home favourite, booed by no one. Condit was booed heavily before the bout began. The two exchanged strikes in round one. At 4:27, Condit landed a left hook that dropped Hardy. Two follow-up shots confirmed the finish. Condit, booed throughout, celebrated in the octagon. Hardy’s second consecutive UFC loss continued his decline from the title fight with GSP.
Full Results
Preliminary Card
Fabio Maldonado def. James McSweeney — TKO — R1 — HW
Spencer Fisher def. Curt Warburton — Decision — R3, 5:00 — LW
Paul Sass def. Mark Holst — Submission — R1 — LW; Sub Night ($60k to Sass)
Rob Broughton def. Vinicius Queiroz — Decision — R3, 5:00 — HW
Alexander Gustafsson def. Cyrille Diabate — TKO — R1 — LHW; KO Night ($60k to Gustafsson)
Claude Patrick def. James Wilks — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 — WW
Main Card
Cheick Kongo vs. Travis Browne — Majority Draw — R3, 5:00 (28-28 x3) — HW
Mike Pyle def. John Hathaway — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 (27-30 x3) — WW; Hathaway’s first loss; unbeaten run ended
Carlos Condit def. Dan Hardy — KO/TKO (Punch) — R1, 4:27 — WW; Co-Main; crowd booed Condit
Main Event — Middleweight
Michael Bisping def. Yoshihiro Akiyama — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 (30-27 x3) — MW; Fight of the Night ($60k each)
Bonuses & Awards
Fight of the Night: Michael Bisping vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama — $60,000 to each fighter.
KO of the Night: Alexander Gustafsson vs. Cyrille Diabate — $60,000 to Gustafsson.
Sub of the Night: Paul Sass vs. Mark Holst — $60,000 to Sass.
Records & Milestones
Ninth UFC event in the UK; first since UFC 105 (November 2009); fourth at The O2 Arena.
John Hathaway first loss — Pyle’s unanimous decision ended Hathaway’s unbeaten run; the young WW contender had been 14-0.
Kongo vs. Browne majority draw — Travis Browne’s UFC debut ended in a draw.
Legacy & Impact
UFC 120 confirmed the O2 Arena as the UFC’s permanent London home. The attendance of 17,133 placed it among the top-ten largest UFC events at that time. Michael Bisping’s dominant performance over Akiyama was his clearest statement yet of MW title ambitions, maintaining his perfect European record.
Carlos Condit’s KO of Dan Hardy was received poorly by the London crowd but was a significant moment in Condit’s trajectory. He was positioning himself as one of the WW division’s most exciting finishers, a reputation that would culminate in his interim title fight against Nick Diaz at UFC 143 in February 2012.
FAQ
Was UFC 120 the first UFC event in London since UFC 105?
Yes. UFC 120 was the first UFC event in the UK since UFC 105 in Manchester in November 2009, and the first in London since UFC 95 in February 2009.
Did the UFC 120 London crowd like Carlos Condit?
No. Condit was booed heavily before his fight against Dan Hardy, the home favourite. After knocking out Hardy in round one, Condit celebrated in an octagon that was hostile to him throughout.
What happened to John Hathaway at UFC 120?
Hathaway, who entered 14-0 and had been regarded as one of the most promising young WW fighters in the world, lost his unbeaten record to Mike Pyle by unanimous decision 30-27 on all three scorecards.
What was notable about the Kongo vs Browne fight at UFC 120?
The fight ended in a majority draw (28-28 on all three scorecards). It was Travis Browne's UFC debut. Majority draws are uncommon in MMA.
What were the UFC 120 bonus amounts?
$60,000 per recipient. Bisping and Akiyama earned Fight Night bonuses; Gustafsson earned KO Night; Sass earned Sub Night.
References
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