UFC 64: Unstoppable | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy

Roe Jogan
5 days ago
5 min read

Introduction

UFC 64: Unstoppable. October 14, 2006. Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas. Anderson Silva won the UFC Middleweight Championship by stopping Rich Franklin with body knees in the clinch at 2:59 of round one, beginning a title reign that lasted 2,457 days — the longest in UFC history.

In the co-main event, Sean Sherk defeated Kenny Florian by unanimous decision over five rounds (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) to capture the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship — the first undisputed lightweight title in UFC history. The Lightweight Championship had been dormant since BJ Penn and Caol Uno fought to a draw at UFC 41 in 2003. The title that had been absent for over three years was now held by Sherk.

The card was historic from start to finish. Jon Fitch continued his rise. Clay Guida made an impressive UFC debut. Rich Franklin

Quick Stats

Date: October 14, 2006

Venue: Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Main Event: Anderson Silva vs. Rich Franklin — UFC Middleweight Championship

Result: Anderson Silva def. Rich Franklin — KO (Knees) — R1, 2:59 — Silva wins MW title; KO of the Night

Co-Main: Sean Sherk def. Kenny Florian — Decision (Unanimous) — R5, 25:00 (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) — first undisputed UFC LW Champion; Fight of the Night

Historic: First LW title since UFC 41 (2003); Silva begins 2,457-day record title reign; Guida UFC debut

The Build-Up

Anderson Silva had made his UFC debut at Fight Night 5 in June 2006, knocking out Chris Leben in 49 seconds. That was four months before UFC 64. One fight, 49 seconds, and he was the Middleweight Championship challenger.

Rich Franklin had been the division's dominant champion since winning the title at UFC 52 in April 2005. He had defended successfully against Nate Quarry at UFC 56 and David Loiseau at UFC 58. His striking precision and physical durability had made him appear an imposing champion. The question was whether Silva's Muay Thai and unorthodox movement could neutralise that.

Main Event

Anderson Silva vs. Rich Franklin — UFC Middleweight Championship

Anderson Silva worked the clinch and targeted Rich Franklin's body with knees. Each knee caused Franklin to lower his guard. Silva landed knees to the body repeatedly until Franklin was crumpled and unable to continue. Big John McCarthy stopped the fight at 2:59. Franklin later described being hit by Silva's body knees as 'like getting hit by a car.'

Anderson Silva's title reign that began at UFC 64 lasted 2,457 days. He made 10 consecutive successful Middleweight Championship defences before losing to Chris Weidman at UFC 162 in July 2013. He is the longest-reigning champion in UFC history.

Co-Main Event

Sean Sherk vs. Kenny Florian — Vacant UFC Lightweight Championship (5 rounds)

The Lightweight Championship had not been contested since BJ Penn and Caol Uno drew at UFC 41 in April 2003. Sean Sherk and Kenny Florian fought a gruelling five-round contest for the vacant title. Sherk's wrestling and relentless pace controlled the fight. He won by unanimous decision — 50-45, 49-46, 49-46 — to become the first undisputed UFC Lightweight Champion.

Sherk's reign was later vacated when he tested positive for nandrolone following a UFC 73 title defence. The division then became one of the UFC's most competitive and celebrated weight classes through the Frankie Edgar and BJ Penn era.

Full Results

Preliminary Card

Kurt Pellegrino def. Junior Assuncao — Submission — R?

Clay Guida def. Justin James — Submission (RNC) — R2 — Guida UFC debut

Yushin Okami def. Kalib Starnes — TKO — R3 — MW

Spencer Fisher def. Joe Lauzon — Decision — R3, 5:00 — LW

Carmelo Marrero def. Cheick Kongo — Decision (Split) — R3, 5:00 (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) — HW

Main Card

Jon Fitch def. Kuniyoshi Hironaka — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 — WW

Vacant UFC Lightweight Championship (5 rounds)

Sean Sherk def. Kenny Florian — Decision (Unanimous) — R5, 25:00 (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) — Sherk wins vacant LW title; Fight of the Night

UFC Middleweight Championship

Anderson Silva def. Rich Franklin — KO (Knees) — R1, 2:59 — Silva wins MW title; KO of the Night; begins 2,457-day reign

Bonuses & Awards

KO of the Night: Anderson Silva — body knee barrage of Rich Franklin; finish at 2:59 R1. ($30,000)

Fight of the Night: Sean Sherk vs. Kenny Florian — five-round lightweight title fight. ($30,000 each)

Submission of the Night: Clay Guida — rear-naked choke UFC debut submission. ($30,000)

Records & Milestones

Anderson Silva wins MW title — begins 2,457-day reign; longest title reign in UFC history; 10 consecutive successful defences.

Sean Sherk wins first undisputed UFC Lightweight Championship — first LW title since the Penn-Uno draw at UFC 41 in April 2003.

Clay Guida UFC debut — wins by submission in round two; begins a career that put him on the roster for over a decade.

Keith Jardine vs. Mike Nickels cancelled day before — Nickels reaggravated a back injury in training; the only scheduled bout on the card that did not take place.

Legacy & Impact

UFC 64 is where the Anderson Silva era begins. The 49-second debut at Fight Night 5 was a statement; the 2:59 Middleweight Championship win at UFC 64 was a beginning. Anderson Silva did not lose in the UFC for 2,457 days after this fight. He defeated Franklin again (UFC 77), Nate Marquardt (UFC 73), Dan Henderson (UFC 82), Forrest Griffin (UFC 101), and Chael Sonnen twice before meeting Chris Weidman.

The Lightweight Championship's return was also significant. Sherk's reign was short and tainted, but the division it restored produced some of the sport's most beloved fights and the Penn and Frankie Edgar eras. Two champions crowned in one night — a moment of genuine transformation in how the UFC's divisional landscape was organised.

FAQ

How did Anderson Silva win the UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 64?

Silva worked the clinch and targeted Rich Franklin's body with repeated knees. Each knee caused Franklin to lower his guard. Silva kneed him to the body until the fight was stopped at 2:59 of round one. Franklin later described being hit by Silva's knees as 'like getting hit by a car.'

Why was Sean Sherk vs. Kenny Florian a significant fight at UFC 64?

They fought for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship — the first lightweight title contest since BJ Penn and Caol Uno drew at UFC 41 in April 2003. Sherk won by unanimous decision to become the first undisputed UFC Lightweight Champion in history.

How long was Anderson Silva's UFC Middleweight title reign?

2,457 days — from October 14, 2006 (UFC 64) until July 6, 2013 (UFC 162, when Chris Weidman knocked him out). Silva made 10 consecutive successful title defences. It is the longest title reign in UFC history.

What happened to Sean Sherk's UFC Lightweight Championship?

Sherk's reign was later vacated after he tested positive for nandrolone following a title defence at UFC 73 in July 2007. He was suspended, and the title was then contested between BJ Penn and Joe Stevenson.

Who made their UFC debut at UFC 64?

Clay Guida made his UFC debut at UFC 64, submitting Justin James with a rear-naked choke in round two and winning Submission of the Night.

References

UFC 64 — Wikipedia

UFC 64 — Tapology