UFC Japan: Ultimate Japan
| Company type | Mixed martial arts event |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mixed martial arts |
| Founded | December 21, 1997 |
| Headquarters | Yokohama , Japan |
| Products | Mixed martial arts event |
UFC Japan: Ultimate Japan—also referred to as UFC Ultimate Japan or UFC 15.5—was a mixed martial arts showcase organized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 21, 1997. The event took place at the Yokohama Arena located in Yokohama, Japan. It was broadcast via pay-per-view across the United States, aired on cable television within Japan, and subsequently distributed on home video formats.
History
This event included a four-competitor heavyweight tournament, the debut fight for the UFC Middleweight Championship, a bout for the Heavyweight Championship, a Superfight, and an alternate match. It marked the first appearance in the UFC for renowned MMA figures Kazushi Sakuraba and Frank Shamrock.
Significantly, this was the UFC’s inaugural event held outside the United States or its territories. It also introduced veteran UFC commentator Mike Goldberg, who succeeded Bruce Beck. Uniquely, this was the only UFC event until UFC 16 to feature individualized entrance music for each participant.
Sakuraba's Tale
To support Japanese promotion Kingdom Pro Wrestling, fighters Hiromitsu Kanehara and Yoji Anjo entered the Ultimate Japan tournament. Following Kanehara’s injury, Kazushi Sakuraba stepped in as a substitute despite weighing only 183 pounds, under the 200-pound threshold for heavyweights. Claiming a weight of 203 pounds, he competed against Marcus Silveira, a 243-pound Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.
During their initial encounter, referee John McCarthy prematurely halted the match, declaring a knockout victory for Silveira. After objections and video review, this verdict was reversed to a no-contest. When Tank Abbott withdrew due to injury, Sakuraba and Silveira faced off again in what was designated as the tournament final, where Sakuraba secured victory via armbar submission. Reflecting on his performance, he stated, "In fact, professional wrestling is strong."
Results
{{MMAevent bout |Heavyweight | Vitor Belfort | def. | Joe Charles | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 4:03 |}
{{MMAevent bout
| Heavyweight
| Tra Telligman
| def.
| Brad Kohler
| Submission (armbar)
| 1
| 10:05
|}
UFC Japan Heavyweight Tournament bracket
1 Due to the no-contest ruling and Abbott’s withdrawal, UFC officials designated the rematch between Sakuraba and Silveira as the tournament final.
Encyclopedia awards
Recognitions listed in the October 2011 UFC Encyclopedia include:
- Fight of the Night: Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Marcus Silveira
- Submission of the Night: Frank Shamrock (def. Kevin Jackson)