UFC 39: The Warriors Return
The poster for UFC 39: The Warriors Return
Information
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateSeptember 27, 2002
VenueMohegan Sun Arena
CityUncasville, Connecticut
Attendance7,800
Buyrate45,000
Event chronology
UFC 38: Brawl at the Hall UFC 39: The Warriors Return UFC 40: Vendetta

UFC 39: The Warriors Return was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 27, 2002, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The event was broadcast live on pay per view in the United States, and was the first UFC event to be released on DVD.

History

Headlining the event was a Heavyweight Title bout between Randy Couture and Ricco Rodriguez for the vacant title. Originally Ricco Rodriguez was scheduled to fight Josh Barnett for the UFC title but Barnett was stripped following a positive test for steroids.

The event marked the octagon debut of future UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia. This fight saw Sylvia's opponent, Wesley Correira, take several straight punches, knees, and kicks to the head without ever falling before his corner eventually threw in the towel.

Results

Main Card
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Heavyweight Ricco Rodriguez def. Randy Couture TKO (Submission due to elbows) 5 3:04 [lower-alpha 1]
Heavyweight Tim Sylvia def. Wesley Correira TKO (corner stoppage) 2 1:43
Lightweight B.J. Penn def. Matt Serra Decision (unanimous) 3 5:00 [lower-alpha 2]
Lightweight Caol Uno def. Din Thomas Decision (unanimous) 3 5:00 [lower-alpha 3]
Heavyweight Gan McGee def. Pedro Rizzo TKO (corner stoppage) 1 5:00 [lower-alpha 4]
Middleweight Phil Baroni def. Dave Menne KO (punches) 1 0:18
Preliminary card
Middleweight Matt Lindland def. Ivan Salaverry Decision (unanimous) 3 5:00
Welterweight Sean Sherk def. Benji Radach TKO (doctor stoppage) 1 4:16
  1. ↑ For the vacant UFC Heavyweight Championship.
  2. ↑ Lightweight Tournament Semifinal bout.
  3. ↑ Lightweight Tournament Semifinal bout.
  4. ↑ Rizzo took a straight right hand to the nose with twelve seconds left in the first round. After examining Rizzo's nose between rounds, his corner decided to throw in the towel.

Lightweight tournament bracket

Semifinals Finals (UFC 41)
      
United States B.J. Penn UD
United States Matt Serra 3
United States B.J. Penn D1
Japan Caol Uno 15:00
Japan Caol Uno UD
United States Din Thomas 3

1 At UFC 41, B.J. Penn vs. Caol Uno ended in a split draw. (48-46, 47-48, 48-48). The title remained vacant.

See also

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