UFC 123

UFC 123: Rampage vs. Machida was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on November 20, 2010 at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan.^[3] It was the first UFC event in the Metro Detroit area since UFC 9.

UFC 123: Rampage vs. Machida
The poster for UFC 123: Rampage vs. Machida
Promotion	Ultimate Fighting Championship
Date	November 20, 2010
Venue	The Palace of Auburn Hills
City	Auburn Hills, Michigan
Attendance	16,404[1]
Total gate	$2,100,000
Buyrate	500,000[2]
Event chronology
UFC 122: Marquardt vs. Okami UFC 123: Rampage vs. Machida The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck Finale

Background

A private ceremony was hosted an hour before the start of the card, where José Aldo was awarded the inaugural UFC Featherweight Championship belt by Dana White. Fans in the building were not permitted to view the ceremony.^[4]

UFC 123 featured preliminary fights live on Spike TV.

On October 13, Rory MacDonald had to withdraw from his fight against Matt Brown. He was replaced by Brian Foster.^[5]

Gabe Ruediger was scheduled to face Paul Kelly, but was forced off the card with a groin injury on October 25.^[6] T.J. O'Brien replaced Ruediger.^[7]

Darren Elkins withdrew from his matchup with promotional newcomer Edson Barboza and was replaced by Mike Lullo.^[8]

Results

Main Card
Weight class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Light Heavyweight	Quinton Jackson	def.	Lyoto Machida	Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28)	3	5:00
Welterweight	B.J. Penn	def.	Matt Hughes	KO (punches)	1	0:21
Middleweight	Maiquel Falcão	def.	Gerald Harris	Decision (unanimous) (29–27, 29–28, 29–28)	3	5:00
Light Heavyweight	Phil Davis	def.	Tim Boetsch	Submission (modified kimura)	2	2:55
Lightweight	George Sotiropoulos	def.	Joe Lauzon	Submission (kimura)	2	2:43
Preliminary card (Spike TV)
Welterweight	Brian Foster	def.	Matt Brown	Submission (guillotine choke)	2	2:11
Middleweight	Mark Muñoz	def.	Aaron Simpson	Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)	3	5:00
Preliminary card
Welterweight	Dennis Hallman	def.	Karo Parisyan	TKO (punches)	1	1:47
Lightweight	Edson Barboza	def.	Mike Lullo	TKO (leg kicks)	3	0:26
Lightweight	Paul Kelly	def.	T.J. O'Brien	TKO (elbows)	2	3:16
Lightweight	Nik Lentz	def.	Tyson Griffin	Decision (split) (29–28, 27–30, 29–28)	3	5:00

Bonus awards

The following fighters received $80,000 bonuses.^[9]

• Fight of the Night: George Sotiropoulos vs. Joe Lauzon
• Knockout of the Night: B.J. Penn
• Submission of the Night: Phil Davis

Controversy

A formal complaint was filed with Michigan's Unarmed Combat Commission regarding the timekeeping of the Harris-Falcão match. Near the end of the first round, Falcão was choking Harris. The allegation is that the timekeeper ended the round six seconds early and in turn had the round not ended early, Falcão may have successfully choked out Harris. Despite Falcão ultimately winning the fight by decision, the formal complaint was filed on January 13, 2011.^[10]