History
UFC 40 contained one of the biggest, most important and most anticipated fights in UFC history, a UFC Light Heavyweight Championship fight between rivals Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock. Shamrock, a popular legendary fighter and former champion from the UFC's early years, was returning to the UFC for the first time since 1996. The fight was coined "the biggest fight in UFC history" by the UFC during the event.
UFC 40 also contained a Welterweight Title Bout between Matt Hughes and Gil Castillo. Tank Abbott provided an interview in the octagon after UFC president Dana White had announced Abbott would return to the octagon on a 3-fight deal.
Bruce Buffer has said many times that the fight between Ken Shamrock and Tito Ortiz was one of the greatest fights he has ever seen, and that the energy from the 13,700 fans that night was one of the greatest feelings he has ever experienced.
UFC 40 was also the first live UFC Pay Per View event to be aired on Australian cable television. It marked the first appearance of celebrity host and comedian Joe Rogan as the side-commentator to Mike Goldberg. Joe Rogan appeared in an earlier UFC, UFC 12 as the behind-the-scenes interviewer before hosting Fear Factor. Jeff Osborne continued as the behind-the-scenes interviewer for UFC 40.
UFC 40 continued to allow the fighters to enter the octagon with their own music playing.
Read more about this topic: UFC 40
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