UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. Vera Full Fight Card, Date & Details
UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. Vera
United States
Main Card • Final
R4, 4:09
R2, 1:32
R3, 2:44
R2, 1:20
Prelims • Final
R3, 5:00
R1, 1:28
R1, 3:15
R2, 4:16
R3, 5:00
R1, 3:46
Official Event Results
Official Post-Fight Bonus Awards
$50,000 Post-Fight Bonus Recipients
Fight of the Night: Joe Lauzon and Jamie Varner each earned $50,000 for their breathtaking, back-and-forth lightweight war that culminated in a third-round submission finish.
Knockout of the Night: Mike Swick collected $50,000 for his dramatic second-round counter knockout victory over DaMarques Johnson in his return to the Octagon after 910 days away.
Submission of the Night: Joe Lauzon pocketed an additional $50,000 for locking in a slick triangle choke on Jamie Varner, making Lauzon a double-bonus recipient taking home $100,000 in extra prize money.
Reported Payouts & Disclosed Purses
Fighter Purses & Total Payout Estimates
| Fighter | Result | Base Purse | Win / Finish Bonus | Performance Bonus | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WIN | $170,000 | $70,000 | — | $240,000 | |
| WIN | $200,000 | — | — | $200,000 | |
| WIN | $43,000 | $43,000 | $50,000 | $136,000 | |
| WIN | $24,000 | $24,000 | $100,000 | $148,000 | |
| LOSS | $70,000 | — | — | $70,000 | |
| LOSS | $12,000 | — | $50,000 | $62,000 | |
| LOSS | $47,000 | — | — | $47,000 | |
| WIN | $18,000 | $18,000 | — | $36,000 | |
| WIN | $16,000 | $16,000 | — | $32,000 | |
| NC | $30,000 | — | — | $30,000 | |
| WIN | $12,000 | $12,000 | — | $24,000 | |
| LOSS | $21,000 | — | — | $21,000 | |
| WIN | $10,000 | $10,000 | — | $20,000 | |
| LOSS | $18,000 | — | — | $18,000 | |
| WIN | $9,000 | $9,000 | — | $18,000 | |
| NC | $16,000 | — | — | $16,000 | |
| LOSS | $15,000 | — | — | $15,000 | |
| LOSS | $11,000 | — | — | $11,000 | |
| LOSS | $11,000 | — | — | $11,000 | |
| LOSS | $8,000 | — | — | $8,000 |
*Disclosed fighter purses reported by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC). Figures reflect official commission filings and include contractual base salaries plus verified win bonuses ($963,000 total commission payroll). Estimated totals include official post-fight performance bonuses ($50,000 each; Joe Lauzon earned two bonuses totaling $100,000).
Historic UFC Records Set
Promotional Records Established at UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. Vera
With his dual Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night honors, Joe Lauzon earned his 10th and 11th post-fight bonus awards, tying Anderson Silva for the most post-fight bonuses in UFC history at the time.
Joe Lauzon became one of only a select few fighters in UFC history to capture two performance bonus awards ($100,000 total) in a single bout under the traditional four-bonus system.
Joe Lauzon and Jamie Varner delivered a consensus Fight of the Year candidate, earning a World MMA Awards nomination for their all-out, three-round offensive showcase.
All four televised main card bouts concluded inside the distance (3 KO/TKOs, 1 Submission), making UFC on Fox 4 the first UFC on Fox telecast to produce a 100% stoppage rate on the main broadcast.
Welterweight contender Mike Swick made a triumphant return to the Octagon after 910 days battling a chronic esophageal disorder, scoring a thunderous counter right-hand KO to claim Knockout of the Night.
Following UFC President Dana White’s pre-fight announcement that the most impressive winner among the four 205-pound contenders would earn a title shot, Lyoto Machida secured the top spot with a second-round counter-KO of Ryan Bader.
Mauricio Rua (68) and Brandon Vera (67) traded 135 combined significant strikes across nearly four rounds of nonstop heavyweight-caliber offense before Rua sealed the TKO finish at 4:09 of Round 4.
Cole Miller (143) and Nam Phan (129) combined for 272 significant strikes landed over 15 minutes, ranking among the highest three-round strike outputs recorded in featherweight divisional history at the time.
Future flyweight title challenger John Moraga made a statement in his UFC debut, delivering a 3:46 first-round knockout of TPF champion Ulysses Gomez via elbows and standing punches.
ADCC champion Rani Yahya secured just the third North-South choke submission finish in modern UFC history, forcing Josh Grispi to tap at 3:15 of the opening frame.
UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. Vera drew 16,080 spectators for a $1,100,000 live gate in Los Angeles, solidifying downtown LA as a prime destination for major network UFC broadcasts.
Phil De Fries logged 6:04 of ground control time before submitting former Britain’s Strongest Man Oli Thompson via rear-naked choke at 4:16 of Round 2.
When and where did UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. Vera take place?
UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. Vera (also known as UFC on Fox 4) took place on Saturday, August 4, 2012, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
Who won the main event between Mauricio Rua and Brandon Vera?
Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua defeated Brandon Vera via TKO (punches) at 4:09 of Round 4 in an exhausting four-round battle.
Who won the co-main event between Lyoto Machida and Ryan Bader?
Lyoto Machida delivered a highlight-reel knockout of Ryan Bader via a perfectly timed counter right hand at 1:32 of Round 2, earning the next light heavyweight title opportunity.
Why were title shot implications tied to the light heavyweight bouts?
UFC President Dana White declared before the event that the most impressive winner between Rua, Vera, Machida, and Bader would earn the next crack at UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. Following Machida’s emphatic second-round KO, White confirmed Machida had secured the #1 contender spot.
Who won the official post-fight bonuses at UFC on Fox 4?
Four $50,000 bonus checks were distributed: Joe Lauzon vs. Jamie Varner (Fight of the Night), Mike Swick (Knockout of the Night), and Joe Lauzon (Submission of the Night). Lauzon collected a total of $100,000 in bonuses.
What historical UFC record did Joe Lauzon tie at this event?
By capturing both Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night honors, Joe Lauzon earned his 10th and 11th post-fight bonus awards, tying middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva for the all-time UFC post-fight bonus lead.
What was significant about Mike Swick’s win over DaMarques Johnson?
Mike Swick returned to competition after a grueling 910-day layoff caused by a misdiagnosed esophageal medical condition. Swick scored a stunning second-round counter knockout to earn Knockout of the Night honors.
Why was Phil Davis vs. Wagner Prado ruled a No Contest?
At 1:28 of the first round, an accidental eye poke from Phil Davis rendered undefeated Brazilian newcomer Wagner Prado unable to see and continue fighting, leading referee Kevin Mulhall to declare an immediate No Contest.
Did every fight on the main card finish inside the distance?
Yes. All four main card bouts on network Fox concluded in finishes: three knockouts (Rua, Machida, Swick) and one submission (Lauzon), making it the first UFC on Fox event with a 100% main card finish rate.
What were the official attendance and live gate figures?
The event drew an official crowd of 16,080 fans at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, generating a live gate of $1,100,000.
How did John Moraga perform in his UFC promotional debut?
John Moraga made a thunderous promotional debut, defeating former TPF champion Ulysses Gomez via KO (standing elbows and punches) at 3:46 of Round 1 in a featured flyweight bout.
How did Rani Yahya finish Josh Grispi?
Brazilian jiu-jitsu wizard Rani Yahya submitted former featherweight title challenger Josh Grispi with a rare North-South choke at 3:15 of Round 1.
Who won the all-English heavyweight clash between Phil De Fries and Oli Thompson?
Phil De Fries defeated Oli Thompson via rear-naked choke submission at 4:16 of Round 2 after amassing more than six minutes of ground control.
Who were the commentators and cage announcer for UFC on Fox 4?
The broadcast was anchored cageside by play-by-play voice Mike Goldberg and color analyst Joe Rogan, with Bruce Buffer announcing fighter introductions inside the Octagon.
What was the total disclosed fighter payroll for UFC on Fox 4?
The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) disclosed an official payroll of $963,000 across the 20 competitors, led by top earners Mauricio Rua ($240,000) and Lyoto Machida ($200,000).
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