UFC 79: Nemesis | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Dana Black
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Introduction
UFC 79: Nemesis. December 29, 2007. Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. The last UFC card of 2007 delivered two of the year’s most anticipated fights. Georges St-Pierre submitted
Chuck Liddell defeated Wanderlei Silva by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) in the co-main — a fight nine years in the making. Both men threw bombs for three rounds. Liddell bloodied Silva and took the fight clearly. Lyoto Machida continued his unbeaten UFC run by submitting Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou with an arm triangle in round two.
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: December 29, 2007
Venue: Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Attendance: 11,075
Main Event: Georges St-Pierre vs. Matt Hughes III — Interim UFC Welterweight Championship
Result: Georges St-Pierre def. Matt Hughes — Submission (Armbar) — R2, 4:54 — GSP wins interim WW title
Co-Main: Chuck Liddell def. Wanderlei Silva — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Notable: Interim title (Serra injured); Hughes hints retirement; Machida unbeaten; Liddell-Silva 9 years in the making
The Build-Up
The main event was originally Matt Serra vs. Matt Hughes for the WW Championship — the TUF 6 coaches clash. Serra withdrew with a back injury in November. Georges St-Pierre stepped in, and the fight was reconstituted as GSP vs.
Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva had been teased, announced, postponed, and cancelled for the better part of two years. It finally happened at UFC 79. Fans who had waited for this matchup since at least 2006 finally got it.
Main Event
Georges St-Pierre vs. Matt Hughes III — Interim UFC Welterweight Championship
Georges St-Pierre dominated from the opening bell. In round one he took
Matt Hughes was gracious in defeat and hinted post-fight this might be his last fight.
Co-Main Event
Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva — Light Heavyweight
The fight everyone had waited for. Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva had been circling each other for years. When it finally happened at UFC 79, it delivered: three rounds of exchanges, Silva landing his left hands, Liddell countering with rights and combinations that opened cuts on Silva’s face.
Chuck Liddell won clearly on the scorecards: 29-28 and 30-27 twice. The fight lived up to everything fans had expected.
Full Results
Preliminary Card
Mark Bocek def. Douglas Evans — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 — LW
Roan Carneiro def. Tony DeSouza — TKO (Strikes) — R2 — WW
Dean Lister def. Jordan Radev — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 — MW
Manny Gamburyan def. Nate Mohr — Submission (Heel Hook) — R1 — LW
James Irvin def. Luiz Cané — Disqualification (Illegal Knee) — R1 — LHW
Main Card
Rich Clementi def. Melvin Guillard — Submission (RNC) — R1 — LW
Lyoto Machida def. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou — Submission (Arm Triangle) — R2, 4:20 — LHW; Sokoudjou UFC debut; Machida still unbeaten
Chuck Liddell def. Wanderlei Silva — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) — LHW; Fight of the Night ($50k each)
Interim UFC Welterweight Championship — Main Event
Georges St-Pierre def. Matt Hughes — Submission (Armbar) — R2, 4:54 — GSP wins interim WW title; Sub of the Night ($50k to GSP)
Bonuses & Awards
Fight of the Night: Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva — $50,000 to each fighter.
Sub of the Night: Georges St-Pierre vs. Matt Hughes III — $50,000 to GSP.
KO of the Night: Eddie Sanchez vs. Soa Palelei — $50,000 to Sanchez.
Records & Milestones
Georges St-Pierre sweeps the Hughes trilogy — lost to Hughes at UFC 50 (2004), won at UFC 65 (2006), now armbar finish at UFC 79 (2007). Hughes hints at retirement post-fight.
Chuck Liddell def. Wanderlei Silva — the most anticipated LHW matchup of the era, finally delivered at UFC 79.
Interim WW title created — due to Matt Serra’s back injury withdrawal; GSP wins interim belt; rematch with Serra set for UFC 83 in April 2008.
Lyoto Machida remains undefeated — subs Sokoudjou with arm triangle in round two; still unbeaten through 12 UFC fights.
Legacy & Impact
Georges St-Pierre's armbar on Hughes at UFC 79 was the clearest possible statement of his evolution as a complete fighter. He dominated every phase. The GSP of UFC 79 was qualitatively different from any previous version — wrestling, striking, submissions, control. The rematch with Serra at UFC 83 in April 2008 in Montreal drew 21,390 fans and ended with GSP stopping Serra in round two.
Chuck Liddell defeating Wanderlei Silva at UFC 79 gave him a victory over the one fighter his era had always been compared to. Both men were past their peaks — Liddell had lost twice in 2007 before this — but the fight happened and it delivered.
FAQ
Why was the UFC 79 WW title fight an interim championship?
Matt Serra, the actual UFC Welterweight Champion, withdrew from the main event with a back injury. Georges St-Pierre stepped in to fight Matt Hughes for an interim belt. GSP won and then faced Serra at UFC 83 in April 2008 to unify the titles.
How did GSP finish Matt Hughes at UFC 79?
GSP dominated two rounds, controlling Hughes on the ground throughout. In round two, he transitioned from a kimura attempt to a locked armbar. Hughes submitted verbally at 4:54.
Was the Liddell vs Wanderlei Silva fight at UFC 79 good?
Yes. Three rounds of sustained striking exchanges. Liddell landed the bigger shots and bloodied Silva. Both men fought aggressively throughout. Liddell won by unanimous decision: 29-28 and 30-27 on two scorecards.
What happened to Matt Hughes after UFC 79?
Hughes hinted post-fight that UFC 79 might be his final fight. He did not retire immediately but his run as an elite WW contender was over.
Did Lyoto Machida lose at UFC 79?
No. Machida defeated Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou by arm triangle choke in round two. He remained undefeated through UFC 79.
References
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