The new multi-year agreement designates StubHub as the “Official Fan to Fan Ticket Marketplace” of the UFC, while PrimeSport will become the “Official Ticket Package Partner” of the UFC. The deal promises to offer UFC fans the most user-friendly experience to buy and sell secondary tickets as well as exclusive package and hospitality opportunities that have never been available before for UFC events.

With these new partners, UFC fans will enjoy two best-of-class services for secondary ticket purchase or resale, as well as special packages to UFC events. With a majority of UFC events selling out quickly, fans are regularly seeking alternative ways to attend live events.

“The UFC has the most passionate, loyal sports fans who are always seeking opportunities to experience UFC fights live and in person,” said Dana White, UFC President. “The partnership we’ve struck with StubHub and PrimeSport ensures our fans will work with two of the best services in the industry to get to our live events.”

As the world’s largest ticket marketplace, StubHub offers the widest selection of UFC tickets. The company is renowned for its attention to customer service and manages each buyer transaction directly, ensuring complete consumer protection while offering the finest ticket shopping experience in the market today. StubHub is the Official Fan to Fan Ticket Marketplace for 29 Major League Baseball teams and dozens of professional and collegiate sports teams.

“Partnering with the UFC is an opportunity we have long welcomed, as we’ve witnessed an explosion of interest from UFC fans in our marketplace,” said Chris Tsakalakis, President of StubHub.

As the global leader in Hard-to-Get event packages and hospitality services for sold-out sports and concerts worldwide, PrimeSport continues to set and surpass standards in the sports travel industry. Always delivering a first class experience, PrimeSport will offer fans a wide selection of competitively-priced UFC packages and the assistance of experienced event management specialists. Packages can include tickets, hotel accommodations, transportation and exclusive parties.

“This strong collaboration of forces will allow UFC fans to customize their own ultimate experience. We are excited to partner with the UFC with the same intensity that both this sport and its fans possess”, states Jeff Lapin, CEO of PrimeSport and RazorGator.

UFC will promote the new relationships through online and offline marketing elements, including signage at select events, emails, website presence and other high-visibility branding exposures, all aimed at driving fans to StubHub and PrimeSport. Similarly, StubHub and PrimeSport will market UFC tickets and packages in online and offline campaigns through website presence, emails, direct mail and TV and radio advertising.

StubHub and PrimeSport also announced today that they have signed exclusive secondary ticket agreements with the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) organization. Much like the relationship with the UFC, StubHub and PrimeSport will provide an opportunity for WEC fans to purchase and resell WEC event tickets.

Today “Babalu” issued the following statement through Sherdog regarding the situation:

Since UFC 74, I have wanted to speak publicly about my fight with David Heath. I waited to do so, however, out of respect for the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Zuffa, Inc. and Dana White. After all, it is their efforts that have legitimized Mixed Martial Arts in the sports world and I realize that my conduct has unintentionally hindered those efforts. For that, among other things, I am deeply sorry.

I have been fighting professionally since 1998. Prior to my fight with David Heath, my professional record was twenty-seven wins with seven losses. Fourteen of my victories came by way of submission. Not once was I ever accused of holding a choke or submission too long. If anything, there has always been and continues to be a great camaraderie between my opponents and I after the fight.

Being a professional mixed martial artist is more than a career to me. It is my livelihood and my way of life. Consequently, I am deeply sorry for any embarrassment that has been brought upon the sport, other mixed martial artists (especially David Heath), my Academy and most importantly, my family.

As if the embarrassment were not enough, my actions during the fight with David and my comments afterwards, have already resulted in severe financial loss to my family because as you know, in addition to my win bonus still being withheld, yesterday I was released from my contract with the UFC.

There has been much talk about things that may have been said to me by David Heath at the weigh-in. What David said to me at the weigh-in didn’t matter then and doesn’t matter now. What matters are my comments after the fight. And, regardless of what you may read by so called MMA experts on the internet, I never said that I purposefully choked-out David Heath. In short, my post-fight comments, while inappropriate, were not intended to be comments about the choke. Rather, they were intended to be comments about the aggressive performance that I put in.

I did not intentionally choke out David Heath. The first that I realized that David had tapped was when people told me that he did after the fight. When I finally had the chance to view the tape, I see that he did. When David tapped, I did not feel it. I wish I did for I would have let it go. Instead, I continued to hold it. Not because I was upset or wanted him to lose consciousness. I held it because I didn’t know he tapped and I was intent on winning the fight. Holding on to a choke a little long is not an uncommon mistake made in training, and never in my career have I witnessed or heard of an injury resulting from it.

When I had the choke, I was not looking the referee in the eyes as one commentator erroneously observed. Nor did I hear the referee issue any verbal command to release the hold. Instead, my head was down to strengthen the move and my eyes closed with focus. As a result, I did not feel the referee tap me the first time either. It was not until he put his hands on my right shoulder that I felt him trying to separate us. When I felt this, I immediately released the choke.

After this morning’s hearing I traveled to the UFC’s office to meet with Dana White. Contrary to recent reports in the media, this meeting was not to discuss my being released from the UFC. In fact, this meeting was arranged prior to my even being released from the contract. The purpose of the meeting was for me to personally apologize to Dana while at the same time thank him for all the opportunities that the UFC has given to my family and I. Unfortunately, I was unable to meet with Dana due to a calendaring error Nevertheless, thanks Dana and my apologies.

I am a professional fighter. This is what I do for a living. I do not hold a day job and then train at night to fight. I know nothing else but how to fight. This is how I support my family.

On behalf of my family and friends, I appreciate the support that you have given me over the years, not to mention in the recent week, and I am hopeful that I will have the opportunity to fight again in the State of Nevada. Thank you.

RENATO “BABALU” SOBRAL

Sobral was victorious this past weekend defeating David Heath by submission after a bloodbath of a second round but held onto the choke for several additional seconds after Heath tapped. The incident sparked boos from the crowd and harsh words from the Nevada State Athletic Commission, MMA journalists, and UFC President Dana White. Since then the NSAC has withheld half of his purse in the winning effort ($25,000) and is still considering additional penalties on top of a potential fine.

Today the ultimate blow was delivered to the fighter just 2 fights removed from facing Chuck Liddell for the light heavyweight title. Dana White announced during a pre-UFC 75 media call that the UFC had been released from his UFC contract. Though his return to the UFC in the future is not out of the question fans will not be seeing Sobral in the Octagon for some time.

The exact details of the release are not known as numerous reports had stated that Sobral’s UFC contract was completed with his fight against David Heath and that the organization was not going to resign him. Whether the UFC decided not to resign him or actually terminated his contract is up in the air but the fact remains that he was effectively fired for his actions and will be looking for work elsewhere.

You can find the update (as well as all of the other suspension information) here.

Here is the list of medical suspensions from UFC 74:

Gabriel Gonzaga (defeated by Randy Couture)

• Must have broken nose clearend by ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) doctor or no contest until 02/22/08.
• Minimum suspension (no contest) until 10/25/07
• No contact until 10/10/07

Alberto Crane (defeated by Roger Huerta)

• Must have right medial orbital blowout fracture cleared by an ophthalmologist or no contest until 02/22/08
• Minimum suspension (no contest) until 10/25/07
• No contact until 10/10/07

Joe Stevenson (defeated Kurt Pellegrino)

• Suspended until 09/25/07 (broken nose)
• No contact until 09/16/07

Kendall Grove (defeated by Patrick Cote)

• Suspended until 10/10/07
• No contact until 09/25/07

David Heath (Defeated by Renato Sobral)

• Suspend Heath until 10/10/07
• No contact until 09/25/07

Antoni Hardonk (defeated by Frank Mir)

• Must have an MRI of right shoulder and be cleared by a doctor to fight again or no contest until 02/22/08
• Minimum no contest until 10/10/07
• No contact until 09/25/07

Randy Couture (defeated Gabriel Gonzaga)

• $250,000 ($250,000 to show, no win bonus)

Gabriel Gonzaga (defeated by Randy Couture)

• $45,000 ($45,000 to show)

Roger Huerta (defeated Alberto Crane)

• $34,000 ($17,000 to show, $17,000 win bonus)

Alberto Crane (defeated by Roger Huerta)

• $4,000 ($4,000 to show)

Georges St. Pierre (defeated Josh Koscheck)

• $140,000 ($70,000 to show, $70,000 win bonus)

Josh Koscheck (defeated by Georges St. Pierre)

• $10,000 ($10,000 to show)

Joe Stevenson (defeated Kurt Pellegrino)

• $32,000 ($16,000 to show, $16,000 win bonus)

Kurt Pellegrino (defeated by Joe Stevenson)

• $8,000 ($8,000 to show)

Patrick Cote (defeated Kendall Grove)

• $24,000 ($12,000 to show, $12,000 win bonus)

Kendall Grove (defeated by Patrick Cote)

• $12,000 ($12,000 to show)

Renato “Babalu” Sobral (defeated David Heath)

• $50,000 ($25,000 to show, $25,000 win bonus withheld by NSAC)

David Heath (defeated by Renato Sobral)

• $6,000 ($6,000 to show)

Frank Mir (defeated Antoni Hardonk)

• $72,000 ($36,000 to show, $30,000 win bonus)

Antoni Hardonk (defeated by Frank Mir)

• $8,000 ($8,000 to show)

Thales Leites (defeated Ryan Jensen)

• $18,000 ($9,000 to show, $9,000 win bonus)

Ryan Jensen (defeated by Thales Leites)

• $4,000 ($4,000 to show)

Clay Guida (defeated Marcus Aurelio)

• $14,000 ($7,000 to show, $7,000 win bonus)

Marcus Aurelio (defeated by Clay Guida)

• $30,000 ($30,000 to show)

Total disclosed payroll: $755,000

Renato “Babalu” Sobral, who defeated David Heath last night at UFC 74 with a second round anaconda choke, has had half of his $50,000 paycheck withheld after he refused to release the choke despite a tap out from Heath and pleas from referee Steve Mazzagatti:

Sobral ended up in trouble with the Nevada State Athletic Commission over not releasing the choke for several seconds after Heath tapped out. The Nevada State Athletic Commission withheld $25,000 from Sobral’s purse after the match. The grudge started the day before at the weigh-ins when Sobral said Heath used profanity at him as they had just finished squaring off for the cameras.

No fine has been sanctioned against the fighter yet but the Nevada State Athletic Commission will review video of the incident and will then decide whether to fine Sobral and, if fined, how much of his pay he will be docked.

Quick Results

• Randy Couture def. Gabriel Gonzaga via TKO – Round 3, 1:37
• Georges St. Pierre def. Josh Koscheck via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Roger Huerta def. Alberto Crane via TKO – Round 3, 1:50
• Joe Stevenson def. Kurt Pellegrino via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Patrick Cote def. Kendall Grove via TKO – Round 1, 4:45
• Renato Sobral def. David Heath via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 3:30
• Frank Mir def. Antoni Hardonk via submission (kimura) – Round 1, 1:17
• Thales Leites def. Ryan Jensen via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 3:47
• Clay Guida def. Marcus Aurelio via split decision (30-27, 30-27, 28-29)

Live round-by-round coverage

Clay Guida def. Marcus Aurelio via split decision

Round 1: The first round is like many expected as both fighters land several hard shots. After several solid Aurelio jabs Guida lands a hard left hook late in the first round to put Aurelio to the mat but nothing comes of it. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 for Clay Guida.

Round 2: The second round has Guida as the aggressor with Aurelio attempting to pull guard several times. Aurelio scored a takedown later in the round but Guida reversed the attempt to take the top position. The round finished with Guida throwing punches and elbows as Aurelio maintained guard until the end of the round. MMAFrenzy.com scores round 2 10-9 for Guida.

Round 3: Guida comes out swinging and trying to tee off on Aurelio but he keeps backing off from the attempts. Guida has several solid shots scattered throughout the round but nothing major connects. MMAFrenzy.com scores the final round 10-9 for Guida. The judges award the win to Guida via (a surprising) split decision with two judges seeing it 30-27 for Guida and one judge scoring it 29-28 for Aurelio.

Thales Leites def. Ryan Jensen via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 3:47

Round 1: Jensen opens with a high kick and some solid punches. Leites counters with some combinations of his own but Jensen counters with a strong flurry to take Leites down. Jensen has a guillotine but Leites escapes the attempt. Jensen puts Leites down again and utilizes some ground and pound but ends up in Leites’ guard. Thales works on several different submissions finally locking in an armbar to force Jensen to tap at 3:47 of the first round.

Frank Mir def. Antoni Hardonk via submission (kimura) – Round 1, 1:17

Round 1: Mir sends Hardonk to the mat after a brief exchange. Hardonk looks to take a hold of Mir’s arm but the former UFC champion gets out. After escaping Mir gets a hold of Hardonk and gets a Kimura that finishes the fight at 1:17 of round number one.

Renato Sobral def. David Heath via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 3:30

Round 1: Sobral scores an early takedown and unleashes on Heath with very aggressive ground striking. Heath escapes the barrage from Sobral and reverses to score a take down of “Babalu”. Heath works with ground and pound on Sobral but its neutralized as he maintains guard for the remainder of the round. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 for Sobral.

Round 2: After a brief clinch to start the round Sobral takes Heath down again and goes for the ground and pound again opening a cut on Heath. “Babalu” cinches in a modified guillotine choke on Heath midway through the second round to bring an end to the fight. Sobral refuses to give up the choke on Heath forcing the ref to pull him off and the crowd to boo. The impressive effort by Sobral is tarnished due to his refusal to remove the submission.

Patrick Cote def. Kendall Grove via TKO – Round 1, 4:45

Round 1: Cote is the aggressor early on throwing a few punches before the clinch against the cage. Grove is landing some inside knees on Cote ad is getting the better of the clinch but neither fighter is doing much as Grove is pinned against the cage. After is remains stalled Herb Dean separates them and restarts the fight in the middle of the octagon. Grove lands a big body kick and Cote smiles before countering with a kick of his own. They lock up again but its Cote against the cage until he reverses. They remain clinched with Grove seeming to be getting the best of the exchanges. Cote picks him up for a takedown but is unable to complete it as Grove escapes and they remain standing. Kendall lands a solid right followed by a head kick that Cote defends well. After Kendall shoots in Cote defends and shoots for his own takedown and throws a right that connects to the side of Grove’s head. Cote pounces and lands several more shots, attempts a rear naked choke, then throws more punches. Grove fails to defend himself resulting in a TKO victory for Cote with 15-seconds remaining in round number one.

Joe Stevenson def. Kurt Pellegrino via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Round 1: They trade light combinations early as they test the water. Pellegrino shoots in on Stevenson and gets caught in a poor guillotine and pulls out rather quickly. Pellegrino remains in full guard until Stevenson reverses and takes Pellegrino’s back. They stand but Steveneson quickly controls his back yet again before transitioning to a guillotine but Pellegrino escapes again. Pellegrino gets momentary side control against the cage but Stevenson regains guard quickly. Pellegrino has little options as he remains in full guard near the edge of the octagon. Pellegrino turns up the heat with some elbows and strikes on the ground. A late shot by Pellegrino dazes Stevenson as the first round ends. MMAFrenzy.com scores round one 10-9 for Kurt Pellegrino.

Round 2: Round 2 starts with a similar pace to the first round as they remain standing for the first 2 minutes. Stevenson connects with a solid punch that sends Pellegrino down but he quickly stands up before he is taken to the ground. Pellegrino maintains guard as Stevenson works with strikes one of which opens a small cut. Stevenson works on several more submission attempts after Pellegrino reverses to the top position. Pellegrino lands a few solid shots before the round ends. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 for Stevenson.

Round 3: They trade sloppy strikes early in the round before they clinch. Pellegrino eventually scores a takedown but the fight stalls as Pellegrino is stopped in Stevenson’s guard. The fight gets stood up and Stevenson gets a takedown. Pellegrino quickly changes the pace getting a guillotine in while on the ground but Stevenson comes on strong late in the round with several near stoppages but Pellegrino weathers it strongly to survive the round and force the fight to a decision. MMAFrenzy.com scores the final round 10-9 for Joe Stevenson. The judges score the bout 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28 for Joe Stevenson to earn him a unanimous decision.

Roger Huerta def. Alberto Crane via TKO – Round 3, 1:50

Round 1: Both fighters trade early kicks and strikes. The fight goes to the ground, a definite advantage for Crane, but its Huerta who looks for several submissions including a guillotine but the jiu jitsu expert escapes and goes to work on the ground against Huerta. Huerta escapes the attempt and drops some punches from the top as Crane continues to look for limbs to work submissions on. Huerta is nearly caught in an armbar but gives up his dominant position to escape the hold. Huerta regains half guard a Crane pressures from the dominant position. He moves to side control and then looks to take Huerta’s back successfully completing the move. Huerta escapes and unleashes a combo on Crane but he recovers and looks for a guillotine but it’s not under the chin as Huerta pulls away. The very close round comes to an end.MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 for Roger Huerta.

Round 2: The fight quickly goes to the ground again and Crane looks for a leg but Huerta just reigns down punches in attempt. Crane continues to look for submissions working on an omoplata and an ankle lock but neither works. Alberto takes side control and then transitions to Huerta’s back. Huerta escapes and walks away so Crane shoots for a takedown but Huerta counters with several hard kicks that send Crane to the mat and give Huera the dominant position. Crane continues to weather the punches that Huerta is throwing and gets control of Huerta’s arm but it isn’t quite enough to stop it and they scramble away. Huerta regains a top position and works to pass guard mounting Crane eventually taking his back. Crane escapes but he’s gassed and the round ends with Crane looking as though he will pass out. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 for Roger Huerta.

Round 3: A quick body kick by Huerta sends the tired Crane to the ground. He struggles to get up as the energized Huerta continues to push the fight. Crane gets a leg on Huerta and takes his back and Huerta is in a bad position. In an interesting move Huerta uses the big screen to find Crane and throw elbows. Huerta reverses and mounts an exhausted Crane. He throws a few punches but the gassed Crane is unable to defend and the fight is stopped.

Georges St. Pierre def. Josh Koscheck via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Round 1: St. Pierre takes Koscheck down early in the first and Kos maintains guard momentarily before he passes to half-guard. He remains in half guard throwing some shots to the head but Koscheck does a good job of preventing him from passing into side control. Full guard is regained as they continue to work on the ground with GSP attempting to pass but Koscheck escapes against the cage. St. Pierre regains control on the ground and lands some solid body shots. Very little landing so far as GSP keeps Koscheck on the ground. Koscheck gets up and takes St. Pierre to the ground. St. Pierre has full guard as they work near the cage.Koscheck momentarily passes guard but it is quickly regained. Very little going on in the first round save a minor punch by Koscheck late just before the round ends. MMAFrenzy.com scores round 1 10-9 for Georges St. Pierre.

Round 2: GSP starts the round with a left and kick before he takes Koscheck to the ground. Georges works on a series of kimuras throughout the round as he controls nearly the entire round on the ground with several big takedowns and near submissions. Koscheck successfully defends all of his attempts but GSP wins another round 10-9.

Round 3: Koscheck is desperate throwing wild punches in attempts of connecting. St. Pierre continues the domination with solid leg kicks and eventually takes to the mat again in Koschecks guard. His surprising domination on the ground continues in the final round as St. Pierre lands several additional elbows and goes for a leg lock late in the round. St. Pierre. MMAFrenzy.com scores the final round 30-27 for St. Pierre. The judges award the unanimous decision win to GSP.

Randy Couture def. Gabriel Gonzaga via TKO – Round 3, 1:37

Round 1: They start to test the waters with Couture getting the best of early exchanges. Couture goes for a takedown and nearly gets it but Gonzaga sprawls. Couture backs off and lands a left to take Gonzaga to the ground. He takes his back but they go back to their feet and clinch against the cage. They have another strong exchange of blogs with Gonzga landing several solid shots before Couture clinches again. They go down very briefly before clinching again. Gonzaga seems to be in the swing on things now with his striking. Gonzaga keeps the fight standing as Couture pins him against the cage. Gonzaga is pouring blood from his nose making this fight even more difficult. Gonzaga’s entire face is bloodied as we enter the final minute of the first round. Couture keeps the fight locked against the cage as he throws shoulders to the face of Gonzaga. Randy throws an elbow and a hard left. Gonzaga looks to be short of breath before the first round even ends due to the blood he has in his his mouth. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 for Couture.

Round 2: Randy starts strong again as Gonzaga is forced to breathe from his mouth. Gonzaga is unable to see and requests a break from the referee but after a quick eye cleaning the fight continues. They resume the position but Herb Dean immediately deducts a point from Gonzaga for grabbing the fence. Couture hammers away as the bout resumes teeing off on Gonzaga as blood pours from his face. Couture unleashes more uppercuts and Gonzaga forces him off momentarily but “The Natural” rushes back in to pin him on the fence. The remainder of the round is spent on the fence with Gonzaga looking for a late takedown that Couture defends. MMAFrenzy.com scores the second round 10-8 for Couture.

Round 3: Gonzaga opens this round much stronger landing a hard kick to Couture but Couture is relentless. The champion pins Gonzaga against the fence then takes the Brazilian to the ground. Couture mounts Gonzaga and reigns down punches. Herb Dean issues warnings to Gonzaga to defend himself but Couture is relentless and the fight is stopped. Randy Couture defeats Gabriel Gonzaga via TKO to retain the UFC Heavyweight Championship.