UFC 15
| Company type | Event |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mixed martial arts |
| Founded | October 17, 1997 |
| Headquarters | Bay St. Louis , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Website | www |
UFC 15: Collision Course represented a mixed martial arts competition organized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on October 17, 1997, held in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The event was broadcast live via pay-per-view across the United States and subsequently distributed on home video formats.
History
The main event at UFC 15 featured a UFC Heavyweight Championship clash between titleholder Maurice Smith and Tank Abbott, who stepped in for the sidelined Dan Severn. Additionally, the card showcased a Superfight between Randy Couture and Vitor Belfort, which functioned as a Heavyweight Title Elimination match to determine the number one contender for the upcoming championship bout at UFC Japan.
The lineup also comprised a Heavyweight Tournament alongside two alternate fights. This occasion marked the last commentary appearance of veteran announcer Bruce Beck, with Mike Goldberg taking over the play-by-play role starting from UFC Japan.
Collision Course introduced pivotal modifications to regulations, prohibiting several striking techniques: headbutts, strikes aimed at the groin, attacks targeting the back of the neck and head, knee strikes to grounded fighters, head stomps, kicks to downed opponents, manipulation of small joints, and pulling hair were all declared illegal.
UFC 15 Heavyweight Tournament Bracket
1 Dwayne Cason substituted for Dave Beneteau, who withdrew due to exhaustion.
Encyclopedia awards
Recognitions listed in the October 2011 UFC Encyclopedia include:
- Fight of the Night: Randy Couture vs. Vitor Belfort
- Knockout of the Night: Mark Kerr def. Greg Stott
- Submission of the Night: Mark Kerr def. Dwayne Cason