UFC 22
| Company type | Mixed martial arts event |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mixed martial arts |
| Founded | September 24, 1999 |
| Headquarters | Lake Charles , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Mixed martial arts competition |
UFC 22: Only One Can be Champion was a mixed martial arts competition organized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 24, 1999, held at the Lake Charles Civic Center located in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
History
The headline matchup featured the Light Heavyweight Title clash between Frank Shamrock and Tito Ortiz, an encounter noted for demonstrating a well-rounded display of abilities from both athletes. Ortiz executed several takedowns throughout the bout, while Shamrock utilized accurate kickboxing techniques. Ultimately, Shamrock achieved victory through a submission involving punches, elbows, and hammerfists near the conclusion of the fourth round. After this triumph, Shamrock briefly stepped away from active competition, citing a scarcity of worthy opponents.
This event also marked the first appearance of future Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes in the UFC, who would later become a dominant force within his division. Additionally, future contender for the UFC Lightweight Championship title, Jens Pulver, participated in an untelevised preliminary match.
One of the most memorable knockouts in MMA history occurred when Brad Kohler defeated Steve Judson with a powerful right cross just 30 seconds into the opening round. Judson lost consciousness and experienced breathing complications, necessitating immediate medical intervention and removal from the arena via stretcher.
UFC 22 represented the second event to feature rounds following significant regulatory adjustments introduced at UFC 21.
Encyclopedia awards
The October 2011 publication UFC Encyclopedia honored the following competitors:
- Fight of the Night: Frank Shamrock vs. Tito Ortiz
- Knockout of the Night: Brad Kohler
- Submission of the Night: Jeremy Horn