Mixed martial arts made a strong impression on fight fans in Tampa on Saturday night.
Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight Night 17 attracted an announced crowd of7,596 at the University of South Florida Sun Dome.
It was the UFC’s first show on the west coast of Florida.
“We are very happy with the turnout,” UFC President Dana White said in a statement.
In the main event, Joe Lauzon submitted Hollywood’s Jeremy Stephens by arm bar, forcing him to tap out at 4:43 into the second round. Stephens took the fight on late notice after Jupiter’s Hermes Franca sustained a knee injury in training.
American Top Team Coconut Creek fighters were 1-2 on the card. Gleison Tibau was the only winner with a first-round tap out on Rich Clementi. Anthony Jackson stopped Luigi Fioravanti 4:39 into the first round, and Steve Bruno lost a unanimous three-round decision to Matt Riddle.
Another ATT fighter, Ben Askren, made a successful MMA debut in Missouri with a first-round TKO. ATT’s Din Thomas won on the same card.
Sharon Robb can be reached at
