UFC 180
| Company type | Mixed martial arts event |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports entertainment |
| Founded | November 15, 2014 |
| Headquarters | Mexico City , Mexico |
Area served | Mexico |
UFC 180: Werdum vs. Hunt was held on November 15, 2014, at the Arena Ciudad de México in Mexico City, marking the UFC's inaugural event on Mexican soil.
Background
All 21,000 tickets for the event were sold out within just eight hours, reflecting significant enthusiasm from the local market.
The original main event was scheduled to be a UFC Heavyweight Championship clash between reigning champion Cain Velasquez and challenger Fabrício Werdum. However, Velasquez had to withdraw because of a knee injury, leading to Mark Hunt stepping in and transforming the bout into an interim heavyweight title contest.
The fight card also showcased the featherweight and bantamweight finals of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America, which helped boost regional interest.
Several alterations affected the lineup: a matchup between Norman Parke and Diego Sanchez was ultimately canceled due to injuries impacting both fighters and their replacements. Additionally, Érik Pérez pulled out from his scheduled fight against Marcus Brimage after sustaining a shoulder injury; as a result, Brimage was reassigned to compete at an earlier UFC event.
Moreover, two fights involving participants from The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America—Masio Fullen versus Alexander Torres and Fredy Serrano versus Bentley Syler—were postponed and planned for future cards.
Results
Bonus awards
Monetary bonuses of $50,000 were awarded as follows:
- Fight of the Night: Henry Briones vs. Guido Cannetti
- Performance of the Night: Fabrício Werdum and Kelvin Gastelum