UFC 15.5: Ultimate Japan 1

UFC 15.5: Ultimate Japan 1

137 mins | Dec. 21, 1997

UFC Japan: Ultimate Japan (aka UFC 15.5) was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 21, 1997, in Yokohama, Japan. The event was seen on pay per view in the United States, on cable TV in Japan, and was later released on home video. It featured a four-man heavyweight tournament, the first ever UFC Middleweight Championship bout, a Heavyweight Championship bout, a Superfight and was the first UFC appearance of MMA legends Kazushi Sakuraba and Frank Shamrock. It was the first event to be located in a country other than the United States or its territories. The undercard produced the inaugural UFC Lightweight Champion (under 185 pounds) from a four man tournament, Conor "The Mighty" Quinn. However, this division was disestablished after one successful title defence and the Champion's reign lasted a mere 94 days.

UFC 15.5: Ultimate Japan 1

137 mins | Dec. 21, 1997

UFC 15.5: Ultimate Japan 1
UFC Japan: Ultimate Japan (aka UFC 15.5) was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 21, 1997, in Yokohama, Japan. The event was seen on pay per view in the United States, on cable TV in Japan, and was later released on home video. It featured a four-man heavyweight tournament, the first ever UFC Middleweight Championship bout, a Heavyweight Championship bout, a Superfight and was the first UFC appearance of MMA legends Kazushi Sakuraba and Frank Shamrock. It was the first event to be located in a country other than the United States or its territories. The undercard produced the inaugural UFC Lightweight Champion (under 185 pounds) from a four man tournament, Conor "The Mighty" Quinn. However, this division was disestablished after one successful title defence and the Champion's reign lasted a mere 94 days.
Producers
Original title UFC 15.5: Ultimate Japan 1
Directors
Writers

Cast

Randy Couture

as Himself

Maurice Smith

as Himself

Kazushi Sakuraba

as Himself

Marcus Silveira

as Himself

Vitor Belfort

as Himself

Joe Charles

as Himself

Frank Shamrock

as Himself

Kevin Jackson

as Himself

Tank Abbott

as Himself

Yoji Anjo

as Himself

Tra Telligman

as Himself

Brad Kohler

as Himself