Worthy of the main event

Monday, Dec. 31, 2007 | 1:34 a.m.

Dana White, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, called it one of the best fights he has ever witnessed, a bloody, back-and-forth struggle that left him "exhausted and emotionally drained."

And he was only watching.

The roaring from the crowd came in waves as Chuck Liddell, once and perhaps future face of the UFC, pounded out a unanimous-decision victory against Wanderlei Silva in a light heavyweight thriller that served as the highlight of Saturday night's UFC 79 card at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

White was moved to put his imprimatur on the fight by rushing from his seat into the octagon as the bout ended to congratulate both men.

"I don't do that every time, but I have to when I see a fight like that," White said later in the evening. "They had everyone jumping out of their seats. I just had to tell them: awesome, incredible."

The New Year's weekend card, a modern-day Las Vegas tradition, drew a crowd of 11,075 to the Events Center for a $4.9 million gate, the second largest in the UFC's history, White said. UFC 66 generated a gate of just under $5.4 million last Dec. 30 at the MGM Grand with Liddell and Tito Ortiz headlining.

Despite the impressive numbers that reflect the UFC's growth, White continues to cringe at any suggestion the mixed martial arts organization has "arrived" as a force on the sports landscape.

"We're so far from mainstream it's not even funny," White said. "It's not even close. There's more money to be spent, there's so much more work to do. I think this sport has the potential to be the biggest sport in the world.

"There are so many people who don't know what the UFC is, and if they do, they're like, 'I would never watch that.' Everybody's like, you've arrived and you're there and the money is flowing in. It doesn't work that way."

Saturday night's pay-per-view show certainly left longtime UFC fans satisfied, though it would also do well as an introduction to the game for newcomers, as it offered a little something for everybody.

The sensational brawl between Liddell and Silva had the fans on their feet throughout the co-feature. It reinvigorated the career of Liddell, who had lost his previous two fights. Silva, the Brazilian champ who made his name in the Pride fighting organization, acquitted himself well but couldn't contend with Liddell's driving, well-balanced attack.

"He's a tough man," Liddell said. "I hit him with a lot of shots real hard, and he kept coming." Liddell then plugged his "after party" at Studio 54. Silva was bound for Valley Hospital, however, to receive medical attention.

"If (a rematch between) Chuck and Wanderlei makes sense for the fans, we'll do it again," White said. "I don't think there's anybody who doesn't want to see that fight again."

In the main event, a more technical but nearly as compelling match for the interim welterweight title, Georges St. Pierre overpowered former champ Matt Hughes, potentially setting himself up as the sport's next megastar.

St. Pierre, of Montreal, said he won't consider himself the champ until he beats title-holder Matt Serra, who withdrew from UFC 79 after injuring his back in training.

The night also featured some shenanigans that were either tawdry or entertaining, depending on how you look at it.

Just before their lightweight fight, Melvin Guillard flashed Rich Clementi with an obscene gesture through his fingerless gloves, letting loose with a stream of profanity.

After stopping Guillard in the first round by a rear naked choke, Clementi taunted his opponent and an enraged Guillard had to be restrained.

"You have to have more respect for the guys you're fighting," Clementi said. "I was glad to exploit that and show everyone what an idiot he is."

White chalked it up to a simmering personal animosity.

"When guys hate each other that much, emotions run high and they start freaking out," White said. "It happens."