UFC 82: Pride of a Champion | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Ariel Helwhiney
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Introduction
UFC 82: Pride of a Champion. March 1, 2008. Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio. The second UFC in Columbus. Anderson Silva retained the UFC Middleweight Championship and unified it with the PRIDE FC Welterweight Championship by submitting Dan Henderson with a rear-naked choke at 4:52 of round two.
Henderson controlled round one with takedowns and ground and pound, earning a 10-9 round on most scorecards. In round two, Anderson Silva reversed momentum with strikes and clinch work, locked in a rear-naked choke, and Henderson was unable to escape. Mark Coleman was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame at the event. Attendance: 16,431.
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: March 1, 2008
Venue: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio, USA
Attendance: 16,431; Gate: $2.2M; PPV: ~325,000 buys
Main Event: Anderson Silva (c) vs. Dan Henderson — UFC MW + PRIDE Welterweight Championship Unification (5 rounds)
Result: Anderson Silva def. Dan Henderson — Submission (RNC) — R2, 4:52 — Silva retains and unifies; FOTN + SOTN
Notable: Mark Coleman UFC Hall of Fame induction; Chris Leben KO of Sakara; PRIDE title unified with UFC belt
The Build-Up
Dan Henderson had been the final PRIDE Welterweight Champion and held both the PRIDE middleweight-range titles simultaneously — the first dual champion in PRIDE history. His Greco-Roman wrestling and H-Bomb right hand gave him the most credible grappling-based threat Silva had faced as champion.
Anderson Silva had won the MW title at UFC 64 (October 2006) and defended it three times by stoppage (Franklin at 64, Lutter non-title at 67, Marquardt at 73, Franklin at 77). This was his most technically challenging title defence.
Main Event
Anderson Silva (c) vs. Dan Henderson — UFC MW + PRIDE Welterweight Championship Unification
Henderson opened with a leg kick and secured a body lock takedown, moving to half-guard and landing hammerfists to the temple. He controlled the majority of round one on the ground. Round two: Anderson Silva opened with front kicks and body kicks, stuffed Henderson’s takedown attempts, and shifted into his offensive gears. In the clinch, he secured the rear-naked choke. Henderson could not defend at 4:52.
Anderson Silva unified the UFC Middleweight and PRIDE Welterweight titles. He became the undisputed middleweight champion across both promotions — and earned both the Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night bonuses.
Co-Main Event
Heath Herring vs. Cheick Kongo — Heavyweight
Heath Herring defeated Cheick Kongo by split decision over three rounds in the heavyweight co-main. Herring used his experience to outwork Kongo, who had defeated Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 75.
Full Results
Preliminary Card
Jorge Gurgel def. John Halverson — Decision — R3, 5:00
Diego Sanchez def. David Bielkheden — Decision — R3, 5:00 — LW
Josh Koscheck def. Dustin Hazelett — Decision — R3, 5:00 — WW
Luigi Fioravanti def. Luke Cummo — Decision — R3, 5:00
Main Card
Jon Fitch def. Chris Wilson — Decision — R3, 5:00 — WW
Andrei Arlovski def. Jake O'Brien — TKO — R2 — HW
Yushin Okami def. Evan Tanner — Decision — R3, 5:00 — MW
Chris Leben def. Alessio Sakara — KO — R1 — LHW; KO of the Night ($60k)
Heath Herring def. Cheick Kongo — Decision (Split) — R3, 5:00 — HW; Co-Main
UFC MW + PRIDE Welterweight Championship Unification (5 rounds) — Main Event
Anderson Silva def. Dan Henderson — Submission (RNC) — R2, 4:52 — Silva retains and unifies; FOTN + SOTN ($60k each)
Bonuses & Awards
Fight of the Night: Anderson Silva vs. Dan Henderson — $60,000 to each fighter.
Sub of the Night: Anderson Silva (RNC vs. Henderson) — $60,000 (Silva earned both bonuses on the same fight).
KO of the Night: Chris Leben vs. Alessio Sakara — $60,000 to Leben.
Mark Coleman was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame at the event.
Records & Milestones
Anderson Silva unifies UFC MW and PRIDE Welterweight titles — becomes undisputed middleweight champion across both major promotions; earned both FOTN and SOTN in the same fight.
Mark Coleman UFC Hall of Fame induction — the Ohio-born wrestler and first TUF Season 10 coach was one of MMA’s foundational heavyweights.
Second UFC in Columbus — after UFC 68 (March 2007); Nationwide Arena drew 16,431.
Legacy & Impact
Anderson Silva's submission of Dan Henderson was the most technically difficult challenge of his title reign to that point. Henderson was an Olympic-level wrestler who controlled round one. Silva’s composure and submission ability in round two — submitting someone of Henderson’s grappling calibre — elevated the assessment of his complete game.
The UFC/PRIDE MW title unification at UFC 82 was one of the cleaner resolutions of the two-promotion era. With PRIDE defunct and its champion now submitted by the UFC champion, the division’s hierarchy was settled.
FAQ
What title was on the line at UFC 82?
Two titles were unified at UFC 82: the UFC Middleweight Championship (held by Anderson Silva) and the PRIDE FC Welterweight Championship (held by Dan Henderson). Silva won by RNC in round two.
How did Anderson Silva submit Dan Henderson at UFC 82?
Henderson controlled round one with a takedown and ground and pound. In round two, Silva stuffed takedown attempts, worked striking, and secured a rear-naked choke in the clinch at 4:52.
What bonuses did Anderson Silva win at UFC 82?
Silva earned both the Fight of the Night ($60,000) and the Submission of the Night ($60,000) for the same fight — an unusual double bonus for a single performance.
Who was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame at UFC 82?
Mark Coleman, the Ohio-born wrestler and former UFC Heavyweight Champion, was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame at UFC 82.
Was UFC 82 the first UFC in Columbus?
No, the second. UFC 68 (The Uprising) was held at Nationwide Arena in Columbus in March 2007. UFC 82 returned to the same venue a year later.
References
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