UFC 78
| Industry | Mixed martial arts promotion |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1993 |
| Headquarters | Las Vegas , United States |
| Products | Mixed martial arts events |
| Website | www |
UFC 78: Validation was a mixed martial arts spectacle organized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on November 17, 2007, at the Prudential Center located in Newark, New Jersey. This event marked the UFC's first appearance in New Jersey since the 2005 UFC 53: Heavy Hitters held in Atlantic City.
Background
Celebrating the UFC's milestone 100th event, the main card showcased a light heavyweight clash between TUF 2 Heavyweight champion Rashad Evans and TUF 3 Light Heavyweight champion Michael Bisping. This bout represented Bisping’s last contest before his transition to the Middleweight division. Initially, Evans and Bisping were slated to face off against Tito Ortiz and Matt Hamill, respectively; however, Ortiz’s filming schedule and Hamill’s injury resulted in those matchups being canceled.
Veteran judoka and former PRIDE competitor Hector Lombard was scheduled to make his UFC debut but had to withdraw due to visa complications. Lombard eventually signed with the promotion following UFC 145. Consequently, his original opponent, Karo Parisyan, was matched against Ryo Chonan, while Chonan’s initial adversary, Thiago Alves, competed against Chris Lytle.
Moreover, former PRIDE fighters Ryo Chonan and Akihiro Gono made their UFC debuts in the welterweight division. Both fighters moved down from their previous competition weight of 183 pounds in Japan after the UFC incorporated the 170-pound weight class.
Results
{{MMAevent bout |Lightweight |Joe Lauzon |def. |Jason Reinhardt |Submission (rear-naked choke) |1 |1:14 |}
Bonus awards
A bonus of $55,000 was awarded to fighters in the following categories:
- Fight of the Night: Thiago Alves vs. Chris Lytle
- Knockout of the Night: Ed Herman
- Submission of the Night: Akihiro Gono