NY sports history: April 6, 1974

THIS DAY IN NY SPORTS HISTORY

Saturday, April 7, 2007

Long Island's Serra wins UFC belt

East Meadow's Matt Serra won the UFC welterweight championship in shocking fashion with a first-round knockout of Georges St-Pierre in UFC 69 in Houston. Serra, a huge underdog, earned the title shot after winning Season 4 of "The Ultimate Fighter." At the time, Serra was known more for his ground game -- he's a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under legendary instructor Renzo Gracie -- yet his fists did all the damage. Serra outstruck St-Pierre, 20-6, en route to becoming the only professional fighter in the world to knock out GSP, which came at 3:25 of the first round. Serra would lose the belt in the rematch one year later.