The UFC’s first trip to Vancouver looked to have been a success as the sold out show drew in approximately 17,000 spectators, for a gate of $4.2 million according to UFC president Dana White. White made that announcement, as well as the “Fight Night” bonuses for Saturday’s UFC 115 Liddell vs. Franklin event, which took place at GM Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Earning $85,000 for their efforts were Carlos Condit, Rory MacDonald, Rich Franklin and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic. The “Fight Night” bonus was $20,000 higher than the $65,000 bonuses handed out at the promotions last event, UFC 114 which took place in Las Vegas.
Carlos Condit and Rory MacDonald each received the $85,000 bonus for earning the “Fight of the Night” honor. MacDonald had been winning the first two rounds but slowed in the third and was caught in the dying moments of the third by Condit as he unleashed a vicious ground-and-pound attack on the Canadian. Referee Kevin Doman stepped in with only 7 seconds remaining to award Condit the TKO victory at 4:53 of the third.
Rich Franklin was given the “Knockout of the Night” award after he put the “Iceman” Chuck Liddell, on ice at 4:55 of the first round. The round was exciting to watch with both men trading hard shots, but Franklin managed to land a short straight right hand dropping Liddell to the mat out cold. It was revealed after the bout that one of the “Iceman’s” high kicks had broken Franklin’s left arm.
The “Submission of the Night” honor was awarded to former PRIDE champ Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic who earned a rare submission victory over Pat Barry. Both men walked away pretty banged up in a fight most critics thought would end with a knockout. Filipovic, who suffered some early knockdowns, was able to press the attack in the third on a tired Barry and dropped him to the mat. The Croatian quickly followed his opponent to the mat, dropping several short punches but quickly sunk in the rear-naked-choke on Barry when he exposed his neck, and forced the submission at 4:30 of the third.