''UFC: Fight for the Troops 3'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 31'') was a
mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, inc ...
event held on November 6, 2013, at
Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell is a United States Army installation located astride the Kentucky–Tennessee border between Hopkinsville, Kentucky and Clarksville, Tennessee (post address is located in Kentucky). Fort Campbell is home to the 101st Airborne Divi ...
in
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Fort Campbell is a United States Army installation located astride the Kentucky–Tennessee border between Hopkinsville, Kentucky and Clarksville, Tennessee (post address is located in Kentucky). Fort Campbell is home to the 101st Airborne Divi ...
.
The event was broadcast live on
Fox Sports 1
Fox Sports 1 (FS1) is an American pay television channel owned by the Fox Sports Media Group, a unit of Fox Corporation. FS1 replaced the motorsports network Speed on August 17, 2013, at the same time that its companion channel Fox Sports 2 ...
.
Background
The event was the fourth that
UFC
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...
hosted in cooperation with a US military base, following
UFC Fight Night: Sanchez vs. Riggs in 2006,
UFC: Fight for the Troops in 2008 and
UFC: Fight for the Troops 2 in 2011. Featured on the card were several
United States Armed Forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is the ...
military veterans including
Tim Kennedy,
Liz Carmouche
Liz Carmouche (born February 19, 1984) is an American mixed martial arts fighter currently signed to Bellator MMA, where she is the current Bellator Women's Flyweight World Champion. Carmouche competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC ...
,
Colton Smith
Colton Thomas Smith (born August 14, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist who formerly competed in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Smith is best known for competing on, and winning The Ultimate Fighter: Team ...
and
Neil Magny
Aoutneil "Neil" Jacques Magny (born August 3, 1987) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Welterweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional MMA competitor since 2010, Magny ...
.
A bout between
George Roop
George H. Roop (born November 10, 1981) is a retired mixed martial artist. He was a cast member of Spike TV's '' The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir'', winning his preliminary and first round fights. He fought as a bantamweight in th ...
and
Francisco Rivera, previously linked to
UFC 166
''UFC 166: Velasquez vs. dos Santos III'' was a mixed martial arts event held on October 19, 2013, at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Background
The main event was a UFC Heavyweight Championship bout between the current champion Cain Velas ...
was moved to this event to bolster the card.
Nik Lentz
Nik Lentz (born August 13, 1984) is an American retired mixed martial artist. He most notably fought for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, fighting in the lightweight division.
Background
Lentz was born in El Paso, Texas but grew up in Twin ...
was briefly scheduled to face
Dennis Bermudez
Dennis Ross Bermudez (born December 13, 1986) is a retired American mixed martial artist who competed in the Featherweight division of the UFC. Bermudez has been a professional MMA competitor since 2009. He has made a name for himself mainly fig ...
at the event. However, Lentz was pulled from the pairing with Bermudez in favor of a bout with
on December 14, 2013 at
UFC on Fox 9
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...
. Bermudez then faced
Steven Siler
Steven Scott Siler (born February 15, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Featherweight division of the Professional Fighters League. A professional competitor since 2005, he has competed for the UFC, Titan FC, ...
.
Derek Brunson
Derek Brunson (born January 4, 1984) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Middleweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of September 5, 2022, he is #5 in the UFC middleweight ran ...
was originally scheduled to face
Antônio Braga Neto
Antônio Braga Neto (born October 29, 1987) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and grappler. He competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is a gold medalist in both the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship and Pan American Champi ...
on this card. However, Neto withdrew due to an injury and was replaced by UFC newcomer Brian Houston.
Tim Kennedy was expected to face
Lyoto Machida
(born 30 May 1978), is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and karateka, who currently competes in the Light heavyweight division. He formerly competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he was a former UFC Light ...
in the event headliner. However, Machida was pulled from the bout in favor of a matchup with
Mark Muñoz
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Mark Kenery Muñoz (born February 9, 1978) is a Filipino-American former professional mixed martial artist who last competed in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competito ...
on October 26, 2013 at
UFC Fight Night 30
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MM ...
, after Muñoz's original opponent,
Michael Bisping
Michael Gavin Joseph Bisping (; born 28 February 1979) is an English actor, sports analyst, commentator and retired mixed martial artist, who competed in the Middleweight and Light Heavyweight division of the UFC. A professional competitor ...
was forced out of their bout with an injury. Kennedy instead faced
Rafael Natal
Rafael Natal Diniz Franca () is a retired Brazilian mixed martial artist. A professional from 2005 until 2017, he is best known for his 17-fight stint competing for the UFC.
Mixed martial arts career Background
Natal started Brazilian Jiu-Jits ...
in the event headliner.
Results
Bonus awards
The following fighters were awarded $50,000 bonuses.
* Fight of the Night: Rustam Khabilov vs. Jorge Masvidal
* Knockout of the Night: Tim Kennedy
* Submission of the Night: Michael Chiesa
See also
*
List of UFC events
*
2013 in UFC
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ufc Fight Night 31
UFC Fight Night
2013 in mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts in Kentucky
2013 in sports in Kentucky