UFC 112: Frankie Edgar Upsets Penn
UFC 112 brought two title fights to Yas Island in Abu Dhabi on April 10, 2010, and left the divisions with very different stories. Frankie Edgar defeated BJ Penn to become lightweight champion, while Anderson Silva retained the middleweight title against Demian Maia in a performance that drew widespread frustration. Matt Hughes stopped Renzo Gracie, and ten completed bouts filled the outdoor Concert Arena card in the United Arab Emirates.
Video: UFC’s contemporary extended preview of the Silva–Maia and Penn–Edgar title fights.
Edgar upsets Penn to win the lightweight title
Penn arrived after two impressive defenses, submitting Kenny Florian at UFC 101 and stopping Diego Sanchez at UFC 107. Edgar was the challenger trying to interrupt that run. The fight asked whether movement and sustained activity could create opportunities against a champion whose balance, boxing and takedown defense had frustrated so many opponents.
Edgar kept changing angles and working from the outside, while Penn held more central space. Quick entries and exits made the exchanges competitive. Edgar also mixed in takedowns, forcing Penn to account for more than a straightforward boxing match. Over five rounds, the challenger’s pace and willingness to keep initiating became central to the contest.
The judges awarded Edgar a unanimous decision and the championship. The fight was close enough to provoke debate over the scoring, but the official outcome was clear: Penn’s reign ended, and Edgar left Abu Dhabi with the lightweight belt. A finish was not required to create one of the card’s most consequential results.
The upset also changed what the division’s top level looked like. Edgar did not need Penn’s physical presence or reputation to compete effectively. He built his case through repeated exchanges, movement and conditioning. Those advantages were less theatrical than a knockout, but they were sufficient to produce a title change across twenty-five minutes.
Silva retains amid frustration with his performance
The middleweight headliner paired Silva’s striking with Maia’s dangerous submission game. Silva controlled distance and landed effective attacks early, keeping the fight away from the extended ground exchanges Maia wanted. Yet the champion’s gestures and reduced engagement later in the contest became as prominent as his technical advantage.
Maia continued trying to make the fight competitive, but struggled to impose his grappling. After five rounds, Silva retained by unanimous decision. The criticism concerned how the champion fought and how little urgency he showed to finish, rather than any uncertainty about who won the official result.
That distinction gives the headliner its historical context. A successful defense can still leave spectators disappointed. Silva kept his belt, but the evening did not enhance his standing in the same uncomplicated way as a commanding finish. Edgar’s achievement beneath him therefore supplied the card’s more straightforward championship celebration.
Hughes finishes Gracie late, dos Anjos and Munoz win
Hughes defeated Renzo Gracie at 4:40 of round three. The veteran welterweight contest ended through punches after Hughes’ striking and leg attacks wore on Gracie. Its appeal rested partly on two established names meeting, but the eventual stoppage supplied an unambiguous conclusion.
Rafael dos Anjos submitted Terry Etim with a second-round armbar. Mark Munoz stopped Kendall Grove with punches in round two. Their finishes made the main card more varied than its two five-round decisions: experience settled one veteran matchup, grappling decided a lightweight contest, and ground offense gave Munoz a middleweight win.
Davis submits Gustafsson in the preliminaries
Phil Davis followed his successful UFC debut at UFC 109 by submitting Alexander Gustafsson with an anaconda choke just before round one ended. The meeting of unbeaten light heavyweight prospects highlighted Davis’ ability to turn wrestling positions into a submission. Gustafsson’s quick debut knockout at UFC 105 did not protect him from a very different kind of opponent.
Rick Story edged Nick Osipczak by split decision. DaMarques Johnson stopped Brad Blackburn with a body kick in round three, Paul Kelly submitted Matt Veach with a guillotine, and Jon Madsen defeated Mostapha Al-Turk by unanimous decision. Those five preliminaries complete the final card and preserve performances that would otherwise be overshadowed by the two championship narratives.
Complete UFC 112 results
Main card
- Anderson Silva def. Demian Maia — unanimous decision, round 5, 5:00; retained the middleweight title.
- Frankie Edgar def. BJ Penn — unanimous decision, round 5, 5:00; won the lightweight title.
- Matt Hughes def. Renzo Gracie — TKO (punches), round 3, 4:40.
- Rafael dos Anjos def. Terry Etim — submission (armbar), round 2, 4:30.
- Mark Munoz def. Kendall Grove — TKO (punches), round 2, 2:50.
Preliminary card
- Phil Davis def. Alexander Gustafsson — submission (anaconda choke), round 1, 4:55.
- Rick Story def. Nick Osipczak — split decision, round 3, 5:00.
- DaMarques Johnson def. Brad Blackburn — TKO (body kick), round 3, 2:08.
- Paul Kelly def. Matt Veach — submission (guillotine choke), round 2, 3:41.
- Jon Madsen def. Mostapha Al-Turk — unanimous decision, round 3, 5:00.
Sources
Article Tags
UFC 112, Frankie Edgar, B.J. Penn, Anderson Silva, Demian Maia, UFC Results
