| Promotion | Ultimate Fighting Championship |
|---|---|
| Date | January 19, 2008 |
| Venue | Metro Radio Arena |
| City | Newcastle, United Kingdom |
| Attendance | 8,412 |
| Gate | $1,250,000 |
| Buyrate | 225,000 |
| Previousevent | UFC 79: Nemesis |
| Followingevent | UFC Fight Night: Swick vs. Burkman |
UFC 80: Rapid Fire was a mixed martial arts (MMA) event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), that took place on January 19, 2008 at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle, United Kingdom.[1]
Background
The main event was originally scheduled as an interim lightweight championship fight; however, then-lightweight champion Sean Sherk was stripped of his title after the California State Athletic Commission upheld his suspension for testing positive for the anabolic steroid Nandrolone. With the lightweight championship vacated, the Penn vs. Stevenson bout was altered to be for the undisputed lightweight championship.[2]
Bonus awards
The following fighters received $35,000 bonuses.[3]
- Fight of the Night: Paul Taylor vs. Paul Kelly
- Knockout of the Night: Wilson Gouveia
- Submission of the Night: B.J. Penn
See also
References
- ^ "UFC 80: Rapid Fire". UFC.com. Archived from the original on 2007-12-19. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (2007-12-08). "UFC ruling on Sherk". Wrestling Observer. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
- ^ "– DANA WHITE CONFIRMS PENN VS. SHERK AND MORE". mmaweekly.com. January 23, 2008. Archived from the original on January 22, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-23.