The UFC Encyclopedia Awards refer to three unofficial performance-based award categories compiled by the late Thomas Gerbasi, former editorial director of UFC/Zuffa LLC and senior editor of UFC.com. These awards were featured in Gerbasi's officially licensed 400-page publication, "UFC Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Ultimate Fighting Championship", released in October 2011. The awards recognize standout performances from UFC events held prior to the implementation of the official UFC Bonus Awards system in January 2006.
The first documented instance of the UFC Bonus Awards, where fighters received formal cash bonuses, occurred on January 16, 2006, at Ultimate Fight Night 3. Gerbasi's encyclopedia reviewed 63 events preceding this date, as well as select subsequent events that did not include bonus awards. Within this context, the book highlights both the unofficial performance recognitions and the early iterations of the official UFC Bonus Awards.
The following categories were documented:
Fight of the Night: Presented to the two fighters who delivered the most compelling and entertaining bout on the event card. Knockout of the Night: Awarded to the fighter who achieved the most impressive knockout or technical knockout. Submission of the Night: Given to the fighter who executed the most notable submission victory.
Award recipients #EventDateFight of the NightKnockout of the NightSubmission of the NightRef.70UFC Fight Night 7Karo Parisyan vs. Drew Fickett (unofficial)Alan Belcher (unofficial)69The Ultimate Fighter 3 FinaleKendall Grove vs. Ed HermanMichael Bisping (unofficial)Rory Singer68UFC 60: Hughes vs. GracieSpencer Fisher (unofficial) vs. Matt Wiman (unofficial)Melvin Guillard (unofficial)Mike Swick (unofficial)67UFC 59: Reality CheckTito Ortiz vs. Forrest GriffinTim Sylvia (unofficial)Evan Tanner (unofficial)66Ultimate Fight Night 4Josh Neer (unofficial) vs. Joe Stevenson (unofficial)Josh Koscheck (unofficial)65UFC 58: USA vs. CanadaRich Franklin (unofficial) vs. David Loiseau (unofficial)Tom Murphy (unofficial)Mark Hominick (unofficial)Georges St-Pierre (unofficial) vs. B.J. Penn (unofficial)64UFC 57: Liddell vs. Couture 3Chuck Liddell (unofficial) vs. Randy Couture (unofficial)Chuck Liddell (unofficial)Jeff Monson (unofficial)64Ultimate Fight Night 3Josh Neer vs. Melvin GuillardChris Leben (unofficial)Jason Von Flue (unofficial)63UFC 56: Full ForceRich Franklin vs. Nate QuarryRich FranklinMatt Hughes62The Ultimate Fighter 2 FinaleRashad Evans vs. Brad ImesJosh BurkmanKenny Florian61UFC 55: FuryForrest Griffin vs. Elvis SinosicAndrei ArlovskiRenato Sobral60Ultimate Fight Night 2David Loiseau vs. Evan TannerBrandon VeraDrew Fickett59UFC 54: Boiling PointChuck Liddell vs. Jeremy HornJames IrvinRandy Couture58UFC Fight Night 1Chris Leben vs. Patrick CôtéMike SwickJosh Koscheck57UFC 53: Heavy HittersRich Franklin vs. Evan TannerDavid LoiseauPaul Buentello56UFC 52: Couture vs. Liddell 2Matt Hughes vs. Frank TriggChuck LiddellMatt Hughes55The Ultimate Fighter 1 FinaleForrest Griffin vs. Stephan BonnarJosh Koscheck54UFC 51: Super SaturdayTito Ortiz vs. Vitor BelfortEvan TannerAndrei Arlovski53UFC 50: The War of '04Frank Trigg vs. Renato VerissimoTravis LutterMatt Hughes53UFC 49: Unfinished BusinessChuck Liddell vs. Vernon WhiteDavid TerrellChris Lytle53UFC 48: PaybackEvan Tanner vs. Phil BaroniGeorges St-PierreFrank Mir52UFC 47: It's On!Chuck Liddell vs. Tito OrtizNick DiazGenki Sudo51UFC 46: SupernaturalGeorges St-Pierre vs. Karo ParisyanFrank MirB.J. Penn50UFC 45: RevolutionEvan Tanner vs. Phil BaroniEvan TannerMatt Hughes49UFC 44: UndisputedRandy Couture vs. Tito OrtizAndrei ArlovskiNick Diaz48UFC 43: MeltdownRandy Couture vs. Chuck LiddellVitor BelfortKimo Leopoldo47UFC 42: Sudden ImpactMatt Hughes vs. Sean SherkDavid Loiseau46UFC 41: OnslaughtMatt Lindland vs. Phil BaroniTim SylviaFrank Mir45UFC 40: VendettaTito Ortiz vs. Ken ShamrockChuck LiddellCarlos Newton44UFC 39: The Warriors ReturnRicco Rodriguez vs. Randy CouturePhil Baroni43UFC 38: Brawl at the HallIan Freeman vs. Frank MirMark WeirGenki Sudo42UFC 37.5: As Real As It GetsChuck Liddell vs. Vitor BelfortRobbie LawlerPete Spratt41UFC 37: High ImpactRobbie Lawler vs. Aaron RileyRicco RodriguezMurilo Bustamante40UFC 36: Worlds CollideJosh Barnett vs. Randy CouturePedro RizzoFrank Mir39UFC 35: ThrowdownJens Pulver vs. B.J. PennMurilo BustamanteEugene Jackson38UFC 34: High VoltageMatt Lindland vs. Phil BaroniMatt Hughes & B.J. PennFrank Mir37UFC 33: Victory in VegasMatt Serra vs. Yves EdwardsJutaro NakaoRicardo Almeida36UFC 32: Showdown in the MeadowlandsRicco Rodriguez vs. Andrei ArlovskiPat MiletichJosh Barnett35UFC 31: Locked and LoadedRandy Couture vs. Pedro RizzoShonie CarterCarlos Newton34UFC 30: Battle on the BoardwalkPedro Rizzo vs. Josh BarnettTito OrtizElvis Sinosic33UFC 29: Defense of the BeltsTito Ortiz vs. Yuki KondoFabiano IhaDennis Hallman32UFC 28: High StakesRandy Couture vs. Kevin RandlemanJens PulverAndrei Arlovski31UFC 27: Ultimate Bad Boyzcolspan="3" Yuki KondoFabiano Iha30UFC 26: Ultimate Field of Dreamscolspan="3" Pat Miletich29UFC 25: Ultimate Japan 3Tito Ortiz vs. Wanderlei SilvaIkuhisa MinowaMurilo Bustamante28UFC 24: First DefenseBob Cook vs. Tiki GhosnLance GibsonScott Adams27UFC 23: Ultimate Japan 2Eugene Jackson vs. Keiichiro YamamiyaPedro Rizzo def. Tsuyoshi Kosaka26UFC 22: Only One Can be ChampionFrank Shamrock vs. Tito OrtizBrad KohlerJeremy Horn25UFC 21: Return of the ChampionsAndre Roberts vs. Ron WatermanEugene JacksonPaul Jones24UFC 20: Battle for the GoldPedro Rizzo vs. Tra TelligmanWanderlei SilvaPete Williams23UFC 19: Ultimate Young GunsJeremy Horn vs. Chuck LiddellTito OrtizJeremy Horn22UFC 18: The Road to the Heavyweight TitleBas Rutten vs. Tsuyoshi KosakaEvan Tanner21UFC Ultimate BrazilFrank Shamrock vs. John LoberVitor BelfortEbenezer Fontes Braga20UFC 17: RedemptionDan Henderson vs. Carlos NewtonPete Williams def. Mark ColemanCarlos Newton def. Bob Gilstrap19UFC 16: Battle in the BayouTsuyoshi Kohsaka vs. Kimo LeopoldoFrank Shamrock def. Igor ZinovievJerry Bohlander def. Kevin Jackson18UFC: Ultimate JapanKazushi Sakuraba vs. Marcus SilveiraFrank Shamrock def. Kevin Jackson17UFC 15: Collision CourseRandy Couture vs. Vitor BelfortMark Kerr def. Greg StottMark Kerr def. Dwayne Cason16UFC 14: ShowdownMaurice Smith vs. Mark ColemanMark Kerr def. Moti HorensteinKevin Jackson def. Tony Fryklund15UFC 13: The Ultimate ForceGuy Mezger vs. Tito OrtizVitor Belfort def. Tank AbbottGuy Mezger def. Tito Ortiz14UFC 12: Judgement DayMark Coleman vs. Dan SevernVitor Belfort def. Scott FerrozzoMark Coleman def. Dan Severn13Ultimate Ultimate 1996Don Frye vs. Tank AbbottKimo Leopoldo def. Paul VarelansDon Frye def. Mark Hall12UFC 11: The Proving GroundScott Ferrozzo vs. Tank AbbottBrian Johnston def. Reza NasriMark Coleman def. Julian Sanchez11UFC 10: The TournamentMark Coleman vs. Don FryeMark Coleman def. Moti Horenstein10UFC 9: Motor City MadnessDon Frye vs. Amaury BitettiMark Hall9UFC 8: David vs. GoliathGary Goodridge vs. Jerry BohlanderGary Goodridge def. Paul HerreraJerry Bohlander def. Scott Ferrozzo8Ultimate Ultimate 1995Dan Severn vs. Paul VarelansOleg Taktarov def. Dave Beneteau7UFC 7: The Brawl in BuffaloMarco Ruas vs. Paul VarelansMarco Ruas def. Larry Cureton6UFC 6: Clash of the TitansOleg Taktarov vs. Tank AbbottTank Abbott def. John MatuaKen Shamrock def. Dan Severn5UFC 5: The Return of the BeastOleg Taktarov vs. Ernie VerdiciaJon Hess def. Andy AndersonOleg Taktarov def. Ernie Verdicia4UFC 4: Revenge of the WarriorsRoyce Gracie vs. Dan SevernMarcus Bossett def. Eldo Dias XavierRoyce Gracie def. Dan Severn3UFC 3: The American DreamRoyce Gracie vs. Kimo LeopoldoKeith Hackney def. Emmanuel YarbroughRoyce Gracie def. Kimo Leopoldo2UFC 2: No Way OutRoyce Gracie vs. Minoki IchiharaPatrick Smith def. Scott MorrisRoyce Gracie def. Remco Pardoel1UFC 1: The BeginningRoyce Gracie vs. Ken ShamrockGerard Gordeau def. Teila TuliRoyce Gracie def. Gerard Gordeau
Fighters with the most awards This list includes recipients with six or more awards. Fighter Fightof the Night Knockoutof the Night Submissionof the Night TotalTito Ortiz 82010Chuck Liddell 73010Randy Couture 8019Royce Gracie 4048Evan Tanner 4228Vitor Belfort 3407Matt Hughes 2147Frank Mir 1146
See also List of UFC bonus award recipients List of WEC bonus award recipients List of UFC events List of male mixed martial artists
References
External links FightMetric - Official UFC statistics