UFC 31’s Championship Drama: Newton Submits Miletich
UFC 31: Locked and Loaded took place on May 4, 2001, at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The eight-fight card featured two championship bouts: Randy Couture retained the heavyweight title against Pedro Rizzo, while Carlos Newton submitted Pat Miletich to claim the welterweight championship. The event also introduced a new generation of talent to the Octagon, including a young B.J. Penn, who stopped Joey Gilbert in his UFC debut.
Couture and Rizzo trade momentum
The main event asked Couture to defend against one of the division’s most dangerous strikers. Couture used clinch work and top control to put Rizzo under pressure early, but Rizzo survived the opening storm and changed the fight with hard kicks to Couture’s lead leg. Couture’s nose was broken, and the champion had to adjust while dealing with visible damage.
Rizzo’s rally made the championship fight a true five-round test. Couture found takedowns and ground control again in the middle rounds, then stayed disciplined in a tense final round as Rizzo looked for the right hand. The judges awarded Couture a unanimous decision, allowing him to keep the heavyweight belt after a demanding defense. The UFC’s event record lists the bout as a five-round title fight ending by unanimous decision.
Newton takes the welterweight title
Pat Miletich entered as the established champion, having defended his title four times. Carlos Newton brought an awkward, fast-paced challenge and kept pressing even when Miletich’s combinations and kicks appeared to be controlling the exchanges. Their title bout remained competitive into the third round, when Newton used a takedown and scramble to get behind Miletich.
Newton secured a tight bulldog choke, forcing Miletich to submit at 2:50 of round three. The finish made Newton the new UFC welterweight champion and ended Miletich’s run with the belt. UFC’s championship history records Newton’s win at UFC 31 as the change of titleholder.
A card with more than two title stories
Several other bouts supplied the event’s lasting highlights. Chuck Liddell stopped former heavyweight champion Kevin Randleman with punches at 1:18 of the first round. Shonie Carter finished Matt Serra by TKO late in round three, and Semmy Schilt stopped Pete Williams in the second. Each result added a different kind of turning point to a card already shaped by two title fights.
Penn’s UFC debut was another early marker. He controlled Joey Gilbert with takedowns and ground strikes before the referee stopped the fight at 4:57 of round one. The official record classifies it as a KO/TKO; Penn’s performance began a career that would later bring him UFC championships in multiple divisions. Matt Lindland’s bout with Ricardo Almeida ended by disqualification at 4:21 of round three, while Tony DeSouza earned a unanimous decision over Steve Berger.
Official results
- Randy Couture def. Pedro Rizzo — heavyweight title, unanimous decision, round 5.
- Carlos Newton def. Pat Miletich — welterweight title, submission (bulldog choke), round 3, 2:50.
- Semmy Schilt def. Pete Williams — KO/TKO, round 2, 1:28.
- Matt Lindland def. Ricardo Almeida — disqualification, round 3, 4:21.
- Chuck Liddell def. Kevin Randleman — KO/TKO, round 1, 1:18.
- Shonie Carter def. Matt Serra — KO/TKO, round 3, 4:51.
- B.J. Penn def. Joey Gilbert — KO/TKO, round 1, 4:57.
- Tony DeSouza def. Steve Berger — unanimous decision, round 3.
Sources
Article Tags
Carlos Newton, Pat Miletich, Randy Couture, Pedro Rizzo, UFC 31, MMA History, Fight Results
