UFC 122: Marquardt vs. Okami | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Roe Jogan
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Introduction
UFC 122: Marquardt vs. Okami. November 13, 2010. König Pilsener Arena, Oberhausen, Germany. The second UFC event in Germany and the second in continental Europe. Yushin Okami defeated Nate Marquardt by unanimous decision — 29-28, 29-28, 30-27 — in a middleweight main event that earned him the next UFC Middleweight Championship fight against Anderson Silva.
The event aired tape-delayed on Spike TV in the USA. Attendance: 8,421; Gate: $600,000. The sport of MMA had been banned from broadcast in Germany in March 2010 due to concerns about the extent of violence; the UFC held the event regardless. UFC president Dana White: ‘Not getting TV isn’t going to stop us; we’re going to keep going.’ Dennis Siver submitted Andre Winner in the co-main event. Pascal Krauss and Mark Scanlon, both making their UFC debuts, won Fight of the Night.
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: November 13, 2010 (tape-delayed Spike TV USA)
Venue: König Pilsener Arena, Oberhausen, Germany (2nd UFC in Germany; 2nd in continental Europe)
Attendance: 8,421; Gate: $600,000
Main Event: Nate Marquardt vs. Yushin Okami — MW title eliminator (winner gets Anderson Silva)
Result: Yushin Okami def. Marquardt — UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) — Okami earns Silva title shot
Notable: MMA broadcast banned in Germany (March 2010); UFC held event regardless; Krauss/Scanlon FOTN (both debut); $60k bonuses
The Build-Up
The original main event was Vitor Belfort vs. Yushin Okami, with the winner receiving a UFC Middleweight Championship fight. Belfort withdrew on September 21, 2010, to prepare for his title fight with Anderson Silva at UFC 126 in February 2011. Nate Marquardt replaced him. The fight’s status as a title eliminator remained; Okami’s win confirmed the Silva matchup.
The German context was complicated. MMA had faced severe criticism from German media and had been banned from broadcast in Germany in March 2010 by regulators. The UFC proceeded with the event at the König Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen despite the television restrictions, relying on international broadcast and ticket revenue.
Main Event
Nate Marquardt vs. Yushin Okami — Middleweight (Title Eliminator)
Okami used his wrestling and ground control across three rounds to neutralise Marquardt’s striking offence. Marquardt landed some shots on the feet but was repeatedly taken down and controlled. Two judges scored 29-28 for Okami; one scored 30-27. The win earned Okami his long-awaited title shot against Anderson Silva, which materialised at UFC 134 in August 2011.
Co-Main Event
Dennis Siver vs. Andre Winner — Lightweight
Siver controlled the striking early and secured a rear-naked choke at 3:37 of round one. Submission of the Night bonus went to Siver. A clean, efficient finish from the German fighter fighting in front of a home crowd.
Full Results
Preliminary Card (undercard and live)
Carlos Eduardo Rocha def. Kris McCray — Submission (Kneebar) — R1, 2:21 — WW
Karlos Vemola def. Seth Petruzelli — TKO (Punches) — R1, 3:46 — LHW; KO Night ($60k to Vemola)
Kyle Noke def. Rob Kimmons — Submission (RNC) — R2, 1:33 — MW
Pascal Krauss def. Mark Scanlon — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 (30-27 x3) — WW; Fight of the Night ($60k each; both UFC debutants)
Vladimir Matyushenko def. Alexandre Ferreira — TKO — R1, 2:20 — LHW
Duane Ludwig def. Nick Osipczak — Decision (Split) — R3, 5:00 (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) — WW
Main Card
Krzysztof Soszynski def. Goran Reljic — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 — LHW
Amir Sadollah def. Peter Sobotta — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 (30-27 x3) — WW
Dennis Siver def. Andre Winner — Submission (RNC) — R1, 3:37 — LW; Co-Main; Sub Night ($60k to Siver)
Main Event — Middleweight (Title Eliminator)
Yushin Okami def. Nate Marquardt — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) — MW; Okami earns Anderson Silva title fight
Bonuses & Awards
Fight of the Night: Pascal Krauss vs. Mark Scanlon — $60,000 to each fighter (both making UFC debuts).
KO of the Night: Karlos Vemola vs. Seth Petruzelli — $60,000 to Vemola.
Sub of the Night: Dennis Siver vs. Andre Winner — $60,000 to Siver.
Records & Milestones
Second UFC in Germany — König Pilsener Arena, Oberhausen; second UFC in continental Europe (after UFC 99 in Cologne, June 2009).
MMA broadcast ban in Germany — German regulators banned MMA from broadcast in March 2010; UFC held UFC 122 regardless; the event aired internationally and was tape-delayed in the USA on Spike TV.
Pascal Krauss and Mark Scanlon FOTN — both fighting their UFC debut; the fight won Fight of the Night bonus.
Legacy & Impact
UFC 122 is notable primarily for its German context. The broadcast ban meant the event had limited local television exposure, but the UFC’s insistence on returning demonstrated its international expansion strategy. Germany’s complicated relationship with MMA in 2010 — combined with the relatively small attendance — suggested that the market had not yet developed the way Canada and the UK had.
Yushin Okami’s methodical decision win over Marquardt set up one of the easier title defences of Anderson Silva’s reign. Silva finished Okami in round two with an overhand right at UFC 134 in August 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
FAQ
Was UFC 122 the second UFC event in Germany?
Yes. UFC 122 at König Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen was the second UFC in Germany, following UFC 99 at Lanxess Arena in Cologne in June 2009.
Was MMA banned in Germany before UFC 122?
MMA had been banned from broadcast in Germany in March 2010 by regulators who said the extent of violence was unacceptable. The UFC held UFC 122 regardless and aired it internationally. Dana White said the ban wouldn't stop the UFC from returning to Germany.
How did Yushin Okami earn his Anderson Silva title fight?
Okami defeated Nate Marquardt by unanimous decision in the UFC 122 main event, which had been designated a title eliminator. The win earned him the next shot at the UFC Middleweight Championship.
What was unique about the UFC 122 Fight of the Night?
The Fight of the Night bonus went to Pascal Krauss and Mark Scanlon, both of whom were making their UFC debuts. It was a rare instance of two debutants winning the top bonus together.
What happened when Okami eventually fought Anderson Silva?
Okami fought Anderson Silva for the Middleweight Championship at UFC 134 in August 2011 in Rio de Janeiro. Silva finished him with an overhand right in round two.
References
Comments