UFC 90

Lore & Background

The main event featured UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva vs. number #1 contender Patrick Côté. Silva's original opponent was rumored to be Yushin Okami, but the fight was cancelled after Okami suffered a hand injury. A scheduled bout between Thales Leites and Goran Reljic was scratched due to an injury suffered by Reljic; Drew McFedries replaced him. Diego Sanchez suffered an injury preparing for his bout against Thiago Alves and was forced to pull out; Josh Koscheck stepped in. Melvin Guillard was replaced by Shannon Gugerty. Ricardo Almeida was replaced by Dan Miller. Marcus Aurélio replaced injured Gleison Tibau. Future UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos made his UFC debut at this event.

In Their Own Story

The Mandalay Bay Events Center hummed with a low, electric tension. Two thousand fans packed the floor, their breath visible in the cool February air leaking in from the loading dock. Sonnen stood in his corner, jaw set, eyes locked on the octagon like a man staring down a debt he'd owed for a decade. Franklin, across the cage, bounced on the balls of his feet, hands up, the younger lion still believing the roar would be enough. The bell rang. And for twenty-five minutes, the cage became a chessboard of takedowns, scrambles, and desperate strikes. When the final horn sounded and the referee raised Sonnen's hand, the arena split in two—half erupting, half groaning. Sonnen raised his arms, not in triumph, but in relief. The wait was over. The payback was complete.

Reader's Guide

The event took place on October 25, 2008, at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. The main event was Anderson Silva vs. Patrick Côté for the UFC Middleweight Championship. Bonus awards: Fight of the Night – Sean Sherk vs. Tyson Griffin ($65,000 each); Knockout of the Night – Junior dos Santos ($65,000); Submission of the Night – Spencer Fisher ($65,000).

Did You Know?

• Junior dos Santos, who made his UFC debut at this event, later became UFC Heavyweight Champion.
• The original main event was rumored to be Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami, but Okami withdrew due to a hand injury.
• Four fights on the card were changed due to injuries: Reljic, Sanchez, Guillard, Almeida, and Tibau were all replaced.