| UFC 173: Barão vs. Dillashaw | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 The poster for UFC 173: Barão vs. Dillashaw | ||||
| Promotion | Ultimate Fighting Championship | |||
| Date | May 24, 2014 (2014-05-24) | |||
| Venue | MGM Grand Garden Arena | |||
| City | Las Vegas, Nevada | |||
| Attendance | 13,936[1] | |||
| Total gate | $1.7 million[1] | |||
| Buyrate | 215,000[2] | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
UFC 173: Barão vs. Dillashaw was amixed martial arts event held at theMGM Grand Garden Arena inLas Vegas, Nevada on May 24, 2014.
AMiddleweight Championship bout between then championChris Weidman and number one contenderVitor Belfort was scheduled to headline this event.[3] However, on February 27, theNevada State Athletic Commission officially bannedtestosterone replacement therapy (TRT) from combat sports. Belfort, who was using such therapy, was forced to withdraw from the bout and stated, "Given the time constraints involved between now and my proposed next bout in May, I have determined not to apply for a license to fight in Nevada at this time."
The main event was quickly changed as former UFC Light Heavyweight ChampionLyoto Machida agreed to step in to face Weidman for the title. However, on March 24, the UFC announced that Weidman had suffered a knee injury and that a new headline bout would be found. The Weidman title defense against Machida was moved toUFC 175 in July.[4][5]
After the announcement that Weidman/Machida bout had been moved, aBantamweight Championship bout betweenRenan Barão andRaphael Assunção was targeted as the event headliner. However, Assunção opted to decline the bout as a rib injury sustained in his last bout atUFC 170 had not healed enough to resume the proper training in advance of the event.[6] Barão instead foughtT.J. Dillashaw in the main event.[7] As a result, Dillashaw's original opponent at the event,Takeya Mizugaki, facedFrancisco Rivera.[8]
The originally scheduled co-main event wasJunior dos Santos againstStipe Miocic.[9] However, that bout was moved toThe Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 Finale.[10] Subsequently, the bout betweenDan Henderson andDaniel Cormier, briefly linked toUFC 175[11] was moved up to this event to bolster the card.[12]
The coaches bout betweenThe Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3 participantsChael Sonnen andWanderlei Silva was briefly linked to this event. However, the fight was moved twice – first being on May 31, 2014, atThe Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3 Finale,[13] then it was to be contested on July 5, 2014, atUFC 175 but the fight eventually was called off for various reasons.[14]
A lightweight bout betweenYves Edwards andPiotr Hallmann was expected to take place at this event. However, the fight was moved toUFC Fight Night 42.[15]
Kyung Ho Kang was expected to faceChris Holdsworth at the event. However, Kang pulled out of the bout and was replaced byChico Camus.[16]
Doo Ho Choi was expected to make his promotional debut at the event againstSam Sicilia. However, Choi was forced out of the bout with an injury,[17] and was replaced by UFC newcomer Aaron Phillips.[18]
Danny Mitchell was expected to face promotional newcomerLi Jingliang. However, Mitchell pulled out of the bout with an injury.[19] Replacing Mitchell wasThe Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson cast memberDavid Michaud.[20]
| Main Card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Bantamweight | T.J. Dillashaw | def. | Renan Barão (c) | TKO (head kick and punches) | 5 | 2:26 | [a] |
| Light Heavyweight | Daniel Cormier | def. | Dan Henderson | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | 3 | 3:53 | |
| Welterweight | Robbie Lawler | def. | Jake Ellenberger | TKO (knee and punches) | 3 | 3:06 | |
| Bantamweight | Takeya Mizugaki | def. | Francisco Rivera | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Lightweight | James Krause | def. | Jamie Varner | TKO (ankle injury) | 1 | 5:00 | |
| Preliminary card (Fox Sports 1) | |||||||
| Lightweight | Michael Chiesa | def. | Francisco Trinaldo | Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–26, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Lightweight | Tony Ferguson | def. | Katsunori Kikuno | KO (punch) | 1 | 4:06 | |
| Bantamweight | Chris Holdsworth | def. | Chico Camus | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Lightweight | Mitch Clarke | def. | Al Iaquinta | Technical Submission (D'Arce choke) | 2 | 0:57 | |
| Preliminary card (UFC Fight Pass) | |||||||
| Lightweight | Vinc Pichel | def. | Anthony Njokuani | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Featherweight | Sam Sicilia | def. | Aaron Phillips | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Welterweight | Li Jingliang | def. | David Michaud | Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
The following fighters were awarded $50,000 bonuses:[22]
The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to theNevada State Athletic Commission. It does not include sponsor money and also does not include the UFC's traditional "fight night" bonuses.[23]
