I did want Liddell to pull this out, but I do like Franklin a lot. It was funny because when he blocked that kick I saw him look down at his arm, like damn that hurts. Little did we all know the dude finished it off with a broken arm. Now that is legit!

Prelims:

• Pyle def. Lennox by submission (triangle choke) Rd. 3 (4:44)
• Patrick def. Funch by submission (guillotine choke) Rd. 2 (1:48)
• Wilks def. Sobotta by unanimous decision (30–27, 30–28, 30–27)
• Miranda def. Loiseau by TKO (punches) Rd. 2 (4:07)
• Wiman def. Danzig by submission (guillotine choke) Rd. 1 (1:45)
• Dunham def. Griffin by split decision (30–27, 28–29, 29–28)

Main Card:

• Condit def. MacDonald by TKO (strikes) Rd. 3 (4:53)
• Rothwell def. Yvel by unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 29–28)
• Kampmann def. Thiago by unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
• Filipović def. Barry by submission (rear naked choke) Rd. 3 (4:30)
• Franklin def. Liddell by KO (punches) Rd. 1 (4:53)

Bonuses:

• $85,000 “Submission of the Night”–Mirko Filipović
• $85,.000 “Knockout of the Night”—Rich Franklin

$85,000 “Fight of the Night”– Carlos Condit vs. Rory MacDonald

• Anderson Silva (champion) defeated Thales Leites via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 50-46)      UFC Middleweight Championship.    This was a boring fight, they’re going to come up with somebody to give Silva a challenge. Lietes had nothing to concern Silva
• Sam Stout defeated Matt Wiman via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Mauricio “Shogun” Rua defeated Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 4:28.  After this loss I think it’s clear to everyone that its time for the Iceman to retire.
• Krzysztof Soszynski defeated Brian Stann via submission (kimura) – Round 1, 3:53
• Cheick Kongo defeated Antoni Hardonk via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 2:29
• Luis Cane defeated Steve Cantwell via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
• Luis Cane comments on his win
• Denis Kang defeated Xavier Foupa-Pokam via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Nate Quarry defeated Jason MacDonald via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 2:27
• Ed Herman defeated David Loiseau via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
• Mark Bocek defeated David Bielkheden via submission (rear naked choke) – Round 1, 4:57
• TJ Grant defeated Ryo Chonan via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
• Eliot Marshall defeated Vinicius Magalhaes via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Dana Edwards gives his reaction to the UFC 97 fight results.

MAIN CARD – televised

- Middleweight champ Anderson Silva vs. Thales Leites
- Chuck Liddell vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
- Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Brian Stann
- Cheick Kongo vs. Antoni Hardonk
- Luis Cane vs. Steve Cantwell

PRELIMINARY CARD – untelevised

- Mike Ciesnolevicz vs. Eliot Marshall
- Xavier Foupa-Pokam vs. Denis Kang
- Jason MacDonald vs. Nate Quarry
- Ed Herman vs. David Loiseau
- David Bielkheden vs. Mark Bocek
- Ryo Chonan vs. T.J. Grant
- Sam Stout vs. Matt Wiman