UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Conor McBragger
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Introduction
UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion. September 8, 2007. The O2 Arena, London, England. The first UFC event at The O2 and the fourth in the United Kingdom. Quinton Jackson retained the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship against Dan Henderson by unanimous decision over five rounds — 48-47, 49-46, 49-46 — in the first unification of UFC and PRIDE titles.
Michael Bisping defeated Matt Hamill by controversial split decision in the co-main, fighting before a partisan London crowd in their rematch following a TUF Season 3 rivalry. Cheick Kongo defeated Mirko Cro Cop by unanimous decision. Marcus Davis submitted Paul Taylor in round one to win Fight of the Night. The event drew 16,235 fans.
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: September 8, 2007 (Saturday)
Venue: The O2 Arena, London, England, UK (first UFC at The O2)
Attendance: 16,235 (fourth UK UFC; first at The O2)
Main Event: Quinton Jackson (c) vs. Dan Henderson — UFC LHW Championship (5 rounds; unification)
Result: Quinton Jackson def. Dan Henderson — Decision (Unanimous) — R5, 5:00 (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)
Co-Main: Michael Bisping def. Matt Hamill — Decision (Split) — R3, 5:00 — controversial result
Notable: First UFC/PRIDE title unification; Kongo def. Cro Cop; Marcus Davis FOTN sub win
The Build-Up
Dan Henderson had been the PRIDE dual champion — holding both the PRIDE Middleweight (185 lb) and Middleweight Grand Prix titles. He had knocked out Wanderlei Silva in February 2007 at PRIDE 33, becoming the first simultaneous two-division champion in major MMA history. With PRIDE collapsing into the UFC by late 2007, this fight carried genuine unification weight.
The Bisping-Hamill matchup settled a TUF Season 3 rivalry. Both had trained in the same house; their dislike was genuine. The London crowd was overwhelmingly behind Bisping, whose TUF 3 win had made him the face of British MMA.
Main Event
Quinton Jackson (c) vs. Dan Henderson — UFC LHW Championship Unification
A competitive five-round championship fight. Henderson’s right hand — the H-Bomb — threatened throughout, and he landed significant ground and pound in the clinch. Jackson’s wrestling and power gave him the cleaner exchanges. Judges scored it 48-47, 49-46, 49-46 for Jackson — a reasonable but close result, with one judge giving Henderson round four.
The win was Jackson’s second LHW title defence and the formal unification of the UFC and PRIDE light heavyweight titles. Henderson entered the UFC with his PRIDE belts; Jackson retained his UFC belt. By October 2007, PRIDE had ceased operations entirely.
Co-Main Event
Michael Bisping vs. Matt Hamill — Light Heavyweight
The fight was competitive. Hamill landed significant shots across all three rounds — many ringside observers and commentators scored it for Hamill. The judges split: two scored it for Bisping, one for Hamill. Bisping won by split decision.
The result was immediately controversial. Hamill, who is deaf, had fought a controlled, effective game. Bisping’s hometown crowd made the arena electric for him. The decision remains one of the most disputed in UK UFC history. Bisping moved on; the debate followed him for years.
Full Results
Preliminary Card
Jess Liaudin def. Anthony Torres — TKO (Punches) — R1, 4:10
Dennis Siver def. Naoyuki Kotani — KO (Punch) — R2, 2:04
Thiago Silva def. Tomasz Drwal — TKO (Punches) — R2, 4:23
Gleison Tibau def. Terry Etim — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 — LW
Main Card
Houston Alexander def. Alessio Sakara — TKO (Knee and Punches) — R1, 1:01 — LHW
Marcus Davis def. Paul Taylor — Submission (Armbar) — R1, 4:14 — WW; Fight of the Night
Cheick Kongo def. Mirko Cro Cop — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 — HW; Cro Cop second consecutive loss
Michael Bisping def. Matt Hamill — Decision (Split) — R3, 5:00 — LHW; Co-Main; controversial result
UFC Light Heavyweight Championship Unification (5 rounds)
Quinton Jackson def. Dan Henderson — Decision (Unanimous) — R5, 5:00 (48-47, 49-46, 49-46) — Jackson retains; first UFC/PRIDE title unification
Bonuses & Awards
Fight of the Night: Marcus Davis vs. Paul Taylor — armbar submission at 4:14 of round one. $40,000 to each fighter.
Houston Alexander received a bonus for his 61-second TKO of Sakara.
Records & Milestones
First UFC event at The O2 Arena, London — which became a regular UFC venue; 16,235 attendance.
First unification of UFC and PRIDE Light Heavyweight titles — Jackson (UFC) vs. Henderson (PRIDE); Jackson wins.
Cheick Kongo def. Mirko Cro Cop — Cro Cop’s second consecutive UFC loss after the Gonzaga head kick at UFC 70; his UFC run stalling.
PRIDE ceases operations October 2007 — announced during the month of this event; the UFC/PRIDE merger era was complete.
Legacy & Impact
UFC 75 established The O2 Arena as the UFC’s primary London venue. The arena’s 20,000 capacity and central location made it the most commercially viable UK venue the UFC had used. Multiple UFC events returned to The O2 in subsequent years.
The Bisping-Hamill result created a controversy that followed Bisping throughout his career. He went on to become UFC Middleweight Champion in 2016. The UFC 75 split decision is still referenced by Hamill’s supporters as a moment the sport got wrong.
FAQ
What was the significance of the main event at UFC 75?
The Jackson vs. Henderson fight was a title unification match between UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton Jackson and PRIDE dual-champion Dan Henderson. Jackson won by unanimous decision over five rounds, unifying the UFC and PRIDE light heavyweight titles.
Was the Bisping vs Hamill result controversial at UFC 75?
Yes. Many ringside observers and commentators scored the fight for Hamill. Bisping won by split decision — two judges for Bisping, one for Hamill. The result is considered one of the most disputed in UK UFC history.
What was the attendance at UFC 75 at The O2?
16,235 fans attended UFC 75 at The O2 Arena in London — the first UFC event at the venue.
What happened to Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 75?
Cro Cop lost to Cheick Kongo by unanimous decision — his second consecutive UFC loss following the Gonzaga head kick at UFC 70. His credibility as a top UFC heavyweight had taken serious damage.
What were the scores for Jackson vs Henderson at UFC 75?
48-47, 49-46, 49-46 in favour of Quinton Jackson. The fight was competitive, with Henderson taking one round on one judge’s card.
References
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