UFC 21

UFC 21: Return of the Champions
A poster or logo for UFC 21: Return of the Champions.
Information
Promotion	Ultimate Fighting Championship
Date	July 16, 1999
Venue	Five Seasons Events Center
City	Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Event chronology
UFC 20: Battle for the Gold UFC 21: Return of the Champions UFC 22: Only One Can Be Champion

UFC 21: Return of the Champions was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on July 16, 1999 at the Five Seasons Events Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The event was seen live on pay per view in the United States, and later released on home video.

UFC 21 marked significant rule changes due to the Council of the Mixed Martial Arts Commission: preliminary bouts now consisted of two five minute-rounds, main card bouts were three five-minute rounds and championship bouts were five five-minute rounds (similar to the Unified Rules of Combat used today in the USA). UFC 21 was the first UFC event to adopt the 10-point must system, commonly used in boxing, to judge fights instead of each judge merely stating their choice of fighter. 10 points are awarded for fighters who win the round, 6-9 points for the fighter that loses the round. Points awarded for Octagon control, effective striking, grappling/near submissions, and aggressiveness.

During the event, it was announced that UFC Middleweight Champion Frank Shamrock would defend his title at UFC 22 against rising star Tito Ortiz.