UFC 98

UFC mixed martial arts event in 2009

UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

The poster for UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Information

Promotion

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Date

May 23, 2009

Venue

MGM Grand Garden Arena

City

Las Vegas, Nevada

Attendance

12,606

Total gate

$3,257,350^[1]

Buyrate

635,000^[2]

Total purse

$957,000

Event chronology

UFC 97: Redemption

UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

UFC 99: The Comeback

UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on May 23, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.^[3]

Background

A title unification match between the Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir and UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar was originally slated to be the main event, but was postponed until UFC 100 due to a knee injury to Mir.^[4]^[5]

By way of replacement, Quinton Jackson, former UFC Light Heavyweight champion, was to fight the undefeated current champion Rashad Evans but had to undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair ligament damage in his jaw that he received in a previous training camp. Instead, Evans headlined the card against fellow undefeated contender Lyoto Machida.^[6]^[7]

The card featured the long anticipated grudge match between The Ultimate Fighter 6 coaches Matt Hughes and Matt Serra.

Due to injury, Josh Koscheck was not able to participate on this card. Brock Larson stepped in as the new opponent for Chris Wilson.^[8]^[9] Chris Wilson was unable to complete the necessary medical paperwork in order to compete at the event and was replaced by Mike Pyle.^[10]

James Irvin was set to make his Middleweight debut against Drew McFedries, but was not able to fight due to a knee injury.^[11] Xavier Foupa-Pokam stepped in to fight McFedries.^[12]

Yushin Okami was set to fight Dan Miller on the main card but was taken off the card after Okami suffered a torn ligament. Early reports suggested Ed Herman would replace Okami,^[13] however Chael Sonnen stepped in to take the bout.^[14]

Houston Alexander was scheduled to fight Andre Gusmao, but was forced to pull out due to a broken hand. Krzysztof Soszynski stepped in to fight Gusmao.^[15]

Results

Main card (PPV)
Weight class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Light Heavyweight	Lyoto Machida	def.	Rashad Evans (c)	KO (punches)	2	3:57	^[a]
Welterweight	Matt Hughes	def.	Matt Serra	Decision (unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)	3	5:00
Middleweight	Drew McFedries	def.	Xavier Foupa-Pokam	TKO (punches)	1	0:37
Middleweight	Chael Sonnen	def.	Dan Miller	Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)	3	5:00
Lightweight	Frankie Edgar	def.	Sean Sherk	Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)	3	5:00
Preliminary card
Catchweight (172 lb)	Brock Larson	def.	Mike Pyle	Submission (arm-triangle choke)	1	3:06	^[b]
Heavyweight	Tim Hague	def.	Pat Barry	Submission (guillotine choke)	1	1:42
Lightweight	Kyle Bradley	def.	Phillipe Nover	TKO (punches)	1	1:03
Light Heavyweight	Krzysztof Soszynski	def.	André Gusmão	KO (punch)	1	3:17
Welterweight	Yoshiyuki Yoshida	def.	Brandon Wolff	Submission (guillotine choke)	1	2:24
Lightweight	George Roop	def.	Dave Kaplan	Decision (split) (28–29, 30–27, 30–27)	3	5:00

^ For the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
^ Pyle missed weight.

Bonus awards

Fighters were awarded $60,000 bonuses.^[16]

Fight of the Night: Matt Hughes vs. Matt Serra
Knockout of the Night: Lyoto Machida
Submission of the Night: Brock Larson

Reported payout

Lyoto Machida: $140,000 (includes $70,000 win bonus) def. Rashad Evans: $200,000
Matt Hughes: $200,000 ($100,000 win bonus) def. Matt Serra: $75,000
Drew McFedries: $34,000 ($17,000 win bonus) def. Xavier Foupa-Pokam: $6,000
Chael Sonnen: $50,000 ($25,000 win bonus) def. Dan Miller: $15,000
Frankie Edgar: $40,000 ($20,000 win bonus) def. Sean Sherk: $40,000
Brock Larson: $42,000 ($21,000 win bonus) def. Mike Pyle: $15,000
Tim Hague: $10,000 ($5,000 win bonus) def. Pat Barry: $7,000
Kyle Bradley: $8,000 ($4,000 win bonus) def. Phillipe Nover: $10,000
Krzysztof Soszynski: $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus) def. Andre Gusmao: $5,000
Yoshiyuki Yoshida: $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus) def. Brandon Wolff: $4,000
George Roop: $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus) def. David Kaplan: $8,000

References

^ "UFC 205 gate and attendance figures released from NSAC". Mmamania.com. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
^ Meltzer, Dave (2010-02-15). "UFC remains king of PPV hill". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2010-02-18.
^ "UFC 98 EVANS vs MACHIDA". Ufc.com. Archived from the original on May 8, 2009. Retrieved April 14, 2009.
^ Caplan, Sam (February 22, 1999). "Injury to Frank Mir forces cancellation of UFC 98 rematch vs. Brock Lesnar". Five Ounces of Pain. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
^ Pishna, Ken (March 7, 2009). "Frank Mir says May 23 date with Lesnar no go". Mma Weekly. Archived from the original on March 10, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
^ "Jackson hurt, Evans fight still in doubt". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved March 10, 2009.
^ Josh Gross, SI.com (March 11, 2009). "Rashad Evans to defend title against undefeated Lyoto Machida at UFC 98 – SI.com – Mixed Martial Arts". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
^ "MMA – Josh Koscheck Injured, Out of UFC 98 Bout With Chris Wilson". 411mania.com. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
^ "Brock Larson In For Koscheck at UFC 98". MMA Weekly. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
^ "Pyle Replaces Wilson at UFC 98". Sherdog. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
^ "James Irvin Off UFC 98 With Knee Injury". Mma Weekly. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
^ "Xavier Foupa-Pokam Steps In To Fight McFedries". Mma Weekly. Archived from the original on May 3, 2009. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
^ "Ed Herman Replaces Yushin Okami at UFC 98". Mma Weekly. Retrieved May 1, 2009.
^ "Herman Out, Sonnen In vs. Dan Miller at UFC 98". MMA Weekly. Retrieved May 1, 2009.
^ "Soszynski Steps In for Alexander at UFC 98". Mma Weekly. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
^ "UFC 98 bonuses: Hughes, Serra, Machida and Larson each earn $60K". MMAjunkie. 2009-05-24. Retrieved 2018-09-26.