UFC 75 – Champion vs Champion DVD Review
By Gary Graham 

For the first time since UFC 38 (2002), London welcomes the Ultimate Fighting Championship to town and is set to play a part in MMA history. The recently opened O2 Arena hosts the first ever unification bout between the UFC Light Heavyweight champion and the PRIDE FC Light Heavyweight Champion. With years of debate in MMA circles finally set to be resolved, UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion is an absolute must-see! In the lead up to the main event, French Heavyweight Cheick Kongo goes head-to-head with Mirko “Cro Cop”, who is eager to put his recent poor performance at UFC 70 behind him. With “Cro Cop’s” confidence low due to his surprise knockout loss, will Kongo be able to take advantage and beat the Croatian at his own game? 

Also keenly anticipated is the second home-soil showing for The Ultimate Fighter 3 winner Michael Bisping in a grudge match with fellow TUF 3 contestant Matt Hamill. The pair have made no secret of their rivalry – Hamill is out to prove he would have won TUF 3 - had he not been forced out of the competition through injury - and Bisping is out to prove Hamill wrong. Both are undefeated but will it be Hamill or Bisping whose immaculate record remains intact? 

Finally, the main event sees UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson take on PRIDE FC Light Heavyweight and Middleweight Champion Dan Henderson. Although two champions will be stepping into the world famous Octagon, only one champion will step out. Who will make history? 

UFC 75: Champion VS. Champion features the following bouts:

Quinton Jackson vs. Dan Henderson

Michael Bisping vs. Matt HamillCheick Kongo vs. Mirko “Cro Cop”

Marcus Davis vs. Paul Taylor

Houston Alexander vs. Alessio Sakara

Gleison Tibau vs. Terry Etim

Thiago Silva vs. Tomasz Drwal

Dennis Siver vs. Naoyuki Kotani

Jess Liaudin vs. Anthony Torres 

DVD Special Features include exclusive behind the scenes footage from the event, as well as a bonus disc with the one-hour documentary “Britain’s Ultimate Fighter”, following the rise of Michael Bisping in the UFC and his appearance on The Ultimate Fighter. UFC 75: Champion VS. Champion is available on DVD at all good stores at £17.99 or online from www.fightdvd.co.uk, the premier UK site for mixed martial arts DVDs. 

Review:The UFC comes back to the London, UK this time they are in the massive O2 arena with an action packed card.  A mixed card of fighters from all over the world and with a huge main event this event was hoping to show UFC fans that not only in the USA are you going to the biggest fights, tonight here in London two light heavyweight champions would collide and only one would be victorious.  The hype for this fight amongst UFC and PRIDE fans had been building for some time and UFC 75 was the Pay Per View that would finally put to rest the debate of which champion is the true champion. 

The DVD as expected from Clearvison and UFC is top quality with a great clear widescreen picture and awesome sound quality.   The show itself was excellent and one that I think cage fans will enjoy as it has some great technical and ground and pound fighting from a great mix of fighters. Michael Bisping  ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ series three winner had been scheduled to fight Matt Hamill in the final, but due to injury it never happened, so this was almost a second main event for UFC 75. A nice little pre fight interview section helps build the fight up and really got me fired up for the match I was personally most looking forward to. 

These guys really do dislike each other and this was going to be a war! Holy **** how Hamill has changed since the The Ultimate Fighter, he seems to have gained a ruthless aggression in his fighting style, not wanting to as predicted in taking the fight to the mat, instead he came out in the first standing up and landing some explosive fists to the head and face of Bisping, opening up under his eyes, within the first half of the round.  Bisping looked shaken and confused during the first round, while Hamill gave everything looking for the knockout win! 

The second round was a lot more controlled and Hamill had slowed it right down, neither fighter really gaining an upper hand.  Bisping still looking a little shaky and a lot less confident than we had seen in previous fights. The third and final round sees a more confident and assured Bisping coming out and taking more chances, firing in some mighty fists, not many connecting though.  Hamill takes down Bisping mid way though the round and both fighters grapple for supremacy, as the round comes to an end I found myself getting closer to the edge of my seat in excitement. 

Bisping trying some late round kicks and punches trying what ever he could to win this fight by a knockout. The end of the third and no out right winner, I would have said the fight should have gone to Hamill, but with a  slit decision Bisping took the win. This fight was one of the most exciting and surprising fights I have seen in the UFC for years.  

The main event between Quinten Jackson (UFC Light Heavyweight Champion) vs Dan Henderson (Pride Light Heavyweight Champion) started off very slow, with both fighters pretty much going into a clinch and kept it on their feet for most of the round.  Henderson slipped in some great inside knee shots to Jackson. 

A pretty quiet first round as to be expected. The second round was not much better in the excitement stakes and the fans were pretty quiet and the raised levels of boo’s could be heard over the commentary team. 

This round was pretty even with both fighters wanting to gain an advantage on the mat, with Henderson taking the side mount for the first half of the round doing little damage, it was not long before Jackson turned it round and gained side mount pounding elbows and fists into the ribs of Henderson. 

The third round started off in Jacksons favour rocking Henderson with some swift effective jabs.  They soon went to the mat with Henderson mainly fighting to gain a submission.  With two evenly matched fighters this was always going to close. In the forth round neither fighter really seemed like they wanted to let go and give it all for the win.  Jackson early in the round rocked Henderson with a mighty right and both fighters went to the mat.  They never really got up for the rest of the round, both fighters still being very cautious. 

The fifth and final round was the most exciting round of this fight and both fighters again so evenly matched gave it all and for the most part of the round kept the fight on their feet exchanging kicks and punches, neither could get the upper hand though and it was a pretty much a 50/50 fight.  Henderson took Jackson to the mat but again neither fighter could gain the upper hand. This fight was always on paper going to go down to the judges decision and it went in favour of the UFC fighter Quinten ‘Rampage’ Jackson. 

On summing up this fight was a perfect match, something that we don’t see enough of in today’s UFC. Overall, UFC 75 was one hell of Pay Per View and the DVD is a must for any UFC or MMA fan. 

On a side note, I did not get the bonus disc to review.

 UFCDVD075 – from www.fightdvd.co.uk

Price: £10.99 

Languages: English, German, French, Dutch

Approx running time: 3 hrs 2 mins