UFC® STARS PREDICT THE OUTCOME OF
COUTURE VS. TONEY
TRAINERS AND OTHER BOXERS WEIGH IN AS WELL
TONEY MAKES UFC DEBUT LIVE ON PPV ON AUG. 28th
AGAINST HALL OF FAMER RANDY COUTURE
Las Vegas, NV (USA) – With the sports world buzzing about the UFC debut of former world boxing champion James Toney, some of the biggest names in boxing and MMA have come together to offer their opinions on his epic fight with Hall of Famer Randy Couture on Aug. 28. Before the two legends lock horns inside the Octagon® at TD Garden in Boston live on Pay-Per-View, we take a look at the thoughts, opinions, and predictions of some of the world’s finest fighters and personalities.
UFC light heavyweight Phil Davis
Prediction: Couture by Decision
“It would be great for a guy like James Toney to build a name for himself in MMA but I’m going to have to go with Couture because of the cage experience that he has. It should be an entertaining fight. I feel like it could go the distance. I’m going to say it will go three rounds and Couture will win 29-28.”
Andre Berto – WBC welterweight champion His father Dieusel Berto fought in UFC 10
"I think it's going be a good fight. Everybody knows Randy is not gonna stand up with James. If he does, it will be a short night. Most likely Randy is going to try to take James down and try to submit him so UFC can be glorified that they're better than boxing. Hopefully James Toney has been working on his wrestling and ground skills. If so, it'll be very entertaining.”
"Terrible" Terry Norris - Former world junior middleweight champion "I just wish James luck and may the best man win. We know if it was just straight up boxing, James would knock Couture out, but James is fighting Couture's fight and he'll have his hands full."
Dan Hardy, UFC Welterweight
“I respect him greatly as a boxer, and I admire him for backing up his words by actually stepping into the Octagon. Floyd Mayweather talked a ton of crap about UFC fighters, but he ultimately didn’t have the balls to come and back his big mouth up. James Toney does have balls.”
WEC featherweight Chad Mendes
Prediction: Couture by TKO
“Randy Couture will win this fight. I think he’ll win by first-round TKO.”
Miguel Cotto – reigning WBA junior middleweight champion
Prediction: Couture
“Two great fighters, one trained in MMA and one in boxing. In a boxing match, I give it to Toney and in an MMA fight; I have to go with the MMA fighter (Couture).”
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans
“(Toney’s) inside fighting capabilities could serve him well given Randy Couture’s clinch game. Look at the Frank Mir and Shane Carwin fight – most of the damage was done to Frank Mir against the cage. But if you get a guy like James Toney who knows how to strike off the cage, and who makes a living with inside fighting … I think that could lend some promise to James Toney. It could be a short night if a guy like James Toney lands one of those shots on the inside. He’s definitely the best true boxer out there in the UFC.”
Greg Haugen – former world lightweight champion (Fought Vinny Pazienza, Ray Mancini, Julio Cesar Chavez, and Pernell Whitaker)
Prediction: Toney
“Unless Toney is fat and out of shape, he will destroy Randy. His standup game is way too strong for him. Remember, James is one of the most skilled guys out there if he is in good shape.”
Michael Bisping, UFC Middleweight
“I can’t wait to see it to be honest. Can Randy double-leg him inside 10 seconds and do a number on him? Of course he can. But what if Toney lands one shot? That’s what makes this so interesting. What if?”
Paulie Malignaggi – Former world junior welterweight boxing champion
Prediction: Couture
"The problem is, most boxers, even in their prime, would not last in MMA. These guys know how to grapple and kick, and the same could be said the opposite way – no MMA guy is gonna last in the ring with a boxer if they’re boxing. You’re going into somebody else’s domain. And not that Couture is a spring chicken, but if you look at James Toney, he’s always a guy who’s been a close-range fighter – shoulder rolls, dips, counterpunches. He never really had an outside game that was so special. He had slow feet and was plodding, but he had good upper body movement. You can’t do that in MMA, especially with Couture, who was a Greco-Roman wrestler. He’ll just wrestle him, take him down, choke him or ground and pound him. I don’t see how James Toney can win the fight, even if Couture is the older guy, but the best to both guys."
WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan
Prediction: Couture
“Toney has to make his punch count right away, but Couture will be watching for that. In any fight, you need a plan B and I don’t think Toney has one in a UFC fight.”
UFC welterweight Carlos Condit
Prediction: Couture
“Wrestling will be the dominant force in this fight, regardless of how well James Toney can punch or how hard he can hit. He won't be able to set up his shots like he would in boxing, and Randy Couture is the kind of fighter to capitalise on every little mistake he makes. Randy has made a whole career out of overcoming opponents with tactics and strategies, and Toney will probably be his easiest puzzle yet. We all know Toney has only his punching to fall back on, so Randy won't have to work too hard to grab a hold of him and get him in his domain. Couture's too experienced and too good at what he does.”
Sechew Powell – Number one IBF junior middleweight contender
“I think if James can keep the fight on his feet he has a decent chance, but the minute they take the fight to the ground it's over.”
WEC bantamweight contender Joseph Benavidez
Prediction: Couture by TKO
“James Toney is just a boxer and MMA is a whole different sport. Your skills go down in boxing when you’re worried about being taken down. I don’t think someone can come in with just one background and fight a world-class MMA fighter.”
WBA heavyweight champion David Haye
Prediction: Couture via submission
“I admire Toney’s courage, but six months of training isn’t going to be enough. As a UFC fan, I know two or three years wouldn’t be enough. He’s delusional here. Couture isn’t only going to end his UFC career inside a minute, he is most likely going to break James’s arm or leg and end his boxing career too.”
Christy “The Coal Miner’s Daughter” Martin – Women’s boxing pioneer
Prediction: Couture
“I have never watched a UFC Pay-Per-View event, but I will be watching JT. I want James to win, but he’s stepping into Couture's domain, therefore I think it will be Couture stopping James with his ground game.”
Steve “2 Pounds” Forbes – Former IBF super featherweight champion
“It’s an interesting matchup. I think the question for Toney is, is he insane or is he a genius? He’s not taking on a regular MMA fighter; he’s taking on a legend in every sense of the word, but not only that, he's doing it in Couture's discipline and that takes guts. If Toney is successful, then he has opened up a whole new avenue for himself and other boxers to go into MMA. Toney has always been a risk taker and he’s fearless, and for that I root for him to do well. But I also love Captain America (Couture) because he's from my birthplace of Oregon and has done great things in the sport. I hope it’s a good match.”
Steve Cunningham – IBF cruiserweight champion
Prediction: Couture
“Toney’s got a puncher’s chance, but this isn't boxing, and Couture’s not gonna stand and trade punches with him. This is Randy’s sport and I see him winning. Plus, he should be extra fueled to win this fight because of the disrespect from Toney, but I hope it’s an awesome fight either way.”
UFC welterweight Nick Ozipczak
Prediction: Couture
“I'm just going to say what everybody's thinking, and that's that Toney only has a puncher's chance here. That puncher's chance will only last in the opening thirty seconds of the fight, too. Unless Toney lands something significant on Couture early, he'll be taken down and it will be a definite first-round stoppage for 'The Natural'. I can see Couture winning either via ground-and-pound for by submission but, whatever it is, it will happen early. If a miracle happens and Toney gets back to his feet at any stage, he'll then find his punches won't have much sting on them, as he hasn't developed the muscles in his arms to cope with the grappling aspect and then the punching.”
UFC middleweight Patrick Cote
Prediction: Couture
“If Randy underestimates his boxing skills it would be a big mistake. But how is James Toney going to react to wearing 4-ounce gloves because he’s used to the bigger gloves in boxing? He has some skills and he has punching power, but in MMA you have to be well-rounded so I think Randy will be too much for him.”
Fres Oquendo – heavyweight boxing contender – lost 12 round split decision to Toney in 2008
"James’ only chance is if he connects clean on Randy’s chin like Ray Mercer did against former UFC heavyweight champ Tim Sylvia. If not, I see Randy taking James down and that will be the beginning of the end of James’ MMA debut. Number one, because James has no legs, as I showed the world when we fought, and two, he has no ground game experience, which gives Randy the edge."
UFC lightweight Terry Etim
Prediction: Couture
“James Toney was a fantastic boxer, and one of the best to ever do it, but he's a novice mixed martial artist. That's the key in this fight and the reason why Randy Couture will dominate him. Toney probably still has one danger shot which can switch Randy's lights out, but the likelihood is he won't be in any position to land it at any stage in the fight. As soon as Randy gets a hold of him, the fight's pretty much over. Randy won't be foolish enough to stand and box with a guy like Toney, so he'll be looking for his comfort zone from the off. Randy is the worst kind of opponent for Toney, because he's a veteran guy, very experienced and knows how to execute game plans.”
WEC bantamweight contender Scott Jorgensen
Prediction: Couture by TKO
“I’m a wrestler, man. Couture is going to double leg him, take him down and beat him until he taps to strikes. It’ll be Couture by first-round ground-and-pound. I’d like to see Randy drag it out for three rounds but I don’t think Toney has the heart for that.”
Former two-weight boxing champion Ricky Hatton
Prediction: Toney within a minute or Couture
“James has a very good sense of timing, so there’s a chance he will land the one shot he needs and score a win right away. But, having been ringside at Randy’s fight with the much bigger Brock Lesnar, I think it is almost certain Couture will be able to maul Toney to the fence, take him down, and finish him there.”
UFC lightweight Paul Kelly
Prediction: Couture
“It's Randy Couture all the way for me, as I'm a massive fan of Randy and the way he goes about his work. He's been an inspiration to me for many years, and I can't see how James Toney walks into mixed martial arts and beats one of its greatest fighters. There's no doubt Toney is a great fighter in his own right, as a boxer, but he's done nothing so far as a mixed martial artist. Couture, on the other hand, has done it all and has experienced every single situation you can possibly confront in the Octagon. This sport is all new to Toney. He may have had nearly 100 boxing matches, but he hasn't had one MMA match. I see Randy taking him down and finishing him quickly and in devastating fashion.”
Former WEC featherweight champion Mike Brown
Prediction: Couture by submission
“Randy by rear-naked choke in the first round”
UFC lightweight Andre Winner
Prediction: Couture
“I've been reading quotes from Toney on forums and websites, and he's saying he's going to come out in a normal boxing stance and won't change his game at all. If that's the case, unless he catches Randy very early on, he's just going to end up on his back. If he's not willing to learn or adapt, he'll get pummelled. I think he's a great boxer, but my money is on Randy, so long as he plays it smart and exposes Toney's weaknesses. If they get into a clinch, Toney will struggle with Randy's sheer strength and size. Toney's a big guy, but he never started out as a big guy, and has gradually put on a lot of weight, but it's fat weight. Randy's a decent-sized guy and has that natural grappling strength that all great wrestlers I have. I believe that will shock Toney on the night.”
Jeff Mayweather – Renowned trainer and former pro boxer
“I think it should be interesting. Toney has the advantage in a stand up match, but if he gets taken down Couture should win because he has way too much experience. I heard Toney was working with a top grappler and doing real well but I don't think you can take a crash course in something like that and perfect it. And vice versa, there’s no way Couture could become a great boxer overnight, so I think a lot will be determined after the very first blow. I will be watching it for sure and I'm pulling for James Toney because I know him personally, not because he's a boxer. These are two different sports and I think that they both have their own fanbase, but the two of them combined will make this a huge event.”
WEC bantamweight Brad Pickett
Prediction: Couture by TKO
“Obviously Randy Couture will win by first-round TKO. He’s a wise, old dog and he won’t try to prove any points on his feet. He’s going to close the distance, push him against the cage and take him down, mount him and win by ground-and-pound. Now, it’s a funny game and things can happen but if I was going to bet my house on it that’s what I think will happen.”
Australian boxing champion Danny Green
Prediction: Couture
“Toney is a slow starter and Randy will tear him apart.”
For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com.
Bill Ethan (Strictly Business Boxing) Prediction: If Toney truely trained he has apunchers chance going with my heart. Toney Ko early!
Press Contacts:
Jennifer Wenk, UFC Public Relations, 702.221.4790, 702.635.0995, jwenk@ufc.com
Ant Evans, UFC UK Division, Senior Communications Manager, 00 44 (0) 7792 802652, aevans@ufc.com
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The Ultimate Fighting Championships Confirms Remaining Bouts for UFC 118 Edgar vs Penn 2, Saturday August 28th
DEMIAN MAIA vs. MARIO MIRANDA
NATE DIAZ vs. MARCUS DAVIS
JOE LAUZON vs. GABE RUEDIGER
ANDRE WINNER vs. NIK LENTZ
DAN MILLER vs. JOHN SALTER
NICK OSIPCZAK vs. GREG SOTO
MIKE PIERCE vs. AMILCAR ALVES
Live from the TD Banknorth Garden – Boston, MA
Las Vegas, NV (USA) – The highly anticipated lightweight championship rematch between Frankie Edgar and BJ Penn will conclude an explosive fight card for the Ultimate Fighting Championship at UFC 118 in Boston, Massachusetts. The title fight will round out a card that features former three-division world boxing champion James “Lights Out” Toney making his MMA debut against UFC Hall of Famer Randy “The Natural” Couture. Also featured on the card is a lightweight matchup that has the makings to be Fight of the Night, as Massachusetts native Kenny Florian is pegged to battle undefeated Gray Maynard.
UFC 118 is available live on Pay-Per-View at 10pm ET/7pm PT on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$49.99 CAN for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available). UFC 118 will also be available on Pay-Per-View in Spanish in the United States.
The remaining unannounced undercard bouts feature the following matchups: Demian Maia vs. Mario Miranda, Nate Diaz vs. Marcus Davis, Joe Lauzon vs. Gabe Ruediger, Andre Winner vs. Nik Lentz, Dan Miller vs. John Salter, Nick Osipczak vs. Greg Soto, and Mike Pierce vs. Amilcar Alves.
Originally, Demian Maia (fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil/12-2) was scheduled to headline The Ultimate Fight Night® in Austin, Texas, before his opponent Alan Belcher withdrew due to an eye injury. Maia is now featured on the main card for UFC 118, his first fight since taking Anderson Silva all five rounds at UFC 112. The former No. 1 contender is now set to battle his way back to the top, starting with Mario Miranda (fighting out of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil/12-1). The relative newcomer to the UFC has two fights with the organization, most recently a TKO victory over the highly-respected veteran David Loiseau.
The Ultimate Fighter® season five winner Nate Diaz (fighting out of Stockton, Calif./12-5) has been victorious in two of his last three fights, defeating Melvin Guillard and Rory Markham. The young fighter has already compiled 14 fights in WEC and UFC, becoming a professional fighter directly out of high school. A similar path was taken by his opponent, Marcus “The Irish Hand Grenade” Davis (fighting out of Bangor, Maine/22-7) who became a professional boxer at the age of 18. The southpaw’s 14th appearance in the Octagon will be close to home, as Davis trains with Mark DellaGrotte in Somerville, Mass.
UFC 118 will have a special significance to Massachusetts native Joe Lauzon (fighting out of Bridgewater, Mass./17-5) who will be fighting near his hometown and against his former teammate on The Ultimate Fighter season five. The submission specialist has garnered five victories in the UFC, with his first dating back to 2006 when he knocked-out Jens Pulver. Originally scheduled to face Terry Etim, Lauzon will have to amend his strategy as he will now fight submission specialist Gabe “Godzilla” Ruediger (fighting out of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./17-5). The former WEC® lightweight champion had a short stay on the reality show, but makes his return to the UFC after securing a six fight win streak outside of the organization.
On the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter, Andre Winner (fighting out of Nottingham, England/12-3-1) fought his way to the finale and battled fellow England native Ross Pearson. Winner was unable to secure the six figure contract, but he has since been on the winning end of his last two fights, giving him a record of 2-1 in the UFC. Also with three fights in the organization, Nik Lentz (fighting out of Eden Prairie, Minn./20-3-2) is unbeaten in his short UFC career, obtaining two victories and one draw. His good takedown defense is a direct result of his collegiate wrestling background at the University of Minnesota and his endurance has yet to be questioned as all three of his victories within the UFC have gone the distance.
A victory for Dan Miller (fighting out of Whippany, N.J./11-4, 1 NC) would have significant importance because it will get him back on the right track in his UFC career. The black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu started off his UFC career with a string of three victories, but has run across some top level talent in Chael Sonnen, Demian Maia, and Michael Bisping and is looking to get back to his winning ways. Conversely, John Salter (fighting out of Tuscaloosa, Ala./5-1) lost his UFC debut against Gerald Harris, but made amends by defeating Jason MacDonald at UFC 113. This fight will be an interesting matchup as both fighters have a background in wrestling and jiu-jitsu.
Nick Osipczak (fighting out of Nottingham, England/5-2) will be making his fourth appearance in the Octagon® after establishing a record of 2-1 in the UFC. This welterweight matchup features two young fighters on the rise in one of the sport’s toughest divisions. Osipczak, 25, has only engaged in seven professional bouts, while his opponent Greg Soto (fighting out of Point Pleasant, NJ/7-1), has had eight professional fights at the age of 24. Soto will be making his second appearance for the UFC, after a debut disqualification loss to Matthew Riddle at UFC 111.
In March of 2009, Mike Pierce (fighting out of Vancouver, WA/10-3) made his successful debut for the WEC, beating Justin Haskins with a TKO. Pierce then joined the UFC and has a record of 3-1 between the two organizations. At UFC 118, he will be facing a newcomer to the UFC, Amilcar Alves (fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil/11-1). Alves has established a respectable professional record and will attempt to make a spectacular UFC debut.
For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com. All bouts live and subject to change.
Ultimate Fighting Championship® - www.ufc.com
Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® produces over twelve UFC live Pay-Per-View events annually and 30 live arena events around the world. UFC programming is distributed in the United States on Viacom, Inc.’s Spike TV and on Comcast, Inc.’s Versus network. UFC content is distributed commercially through Joe Hand Promotions in the U.S. and Canadastar in Canada. Globally, UFC programming is broadcast in over 147 countries and territories, reaching 430 million homes worldwide, in 19 different languages. Ancillary businesses now include UFC.com with over 5 million unique visitors per month, the best-selling UFC “Undisputed” videogame franchise distributed by THQ, UFC Gym™, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo™ festivals, branded apparel, trading cards, articulated action figures and other media including best-selling DVDs and a U.S. bimonthly magazine.
Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Ultimate Fighting®, UFC®, The Ultimate Fighter®, Submission®, As Real As It Gets®, Zuffa®, The Octagon™ and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks, registered service marks, trademarks, trade dress and/or service marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC and licensed to its affiliated entities and other licensees in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC, its affiliates or other respective owners.
Press Contact: Jennifer Wenk, UFC Public Relations, 702.221.4790, jwenk@ufc.com
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Two Members of Legendary Gracie Family to Compete
in Grappling Superfight at UFC EXPO
Rolles Gracie vs. Roberto Abreu
Gregor Gracie vs. Pablo Popovitch
Hermes Franca vs. Ryan Hall
Penny Thomas vs. Tracey Goodell
Las Vegas, NV (USA) – They are known for putting Brazilian Jiu Jitsu on the map. Using revolutionary techniques that changed the face of combat sports forever, the legendary Gracie family consists of some of the best grapplers in the world. Now, as the Ultimate Fighting Championship® prepares for its debut in the city of Boston, the Gracie family returns with its sights set on further solidifying its grappling domination.
UFC President Dana White announced today that the UFC® FAN EXPO™ in Boston will feature four grappling superfights, two of which will feature high-level black belts Rolles Gracie and Gregor Gracie of the Renzo Gracie Academy based out of New York City.
On Friday, Aug. 27 at 2PM ET, ADCC world champion Penny Thomas, fresh off her grappling superfight victory over MMA veteran Shayna Baszler at the UFC Fan Expo in May, takes on Team Lloyd Irvin product Tracey Goodell in an exciting women’s matchup. Plus, former UFC star Hermes Franca, a dangerous Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt who owns submission victories over the likes of Nate Diaz, Mike Brown, and Jamie Varner, takes on 23-time Grapplers Quest champion Ryan Hall.
Then, on Saturday, Aug. 28 at 12:30PM ET, the Gracie family invades the UFC Fan Expo with two explosive contests. First, UFC veteran and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt Rolles Gracie takes on undefeated Grapplers Quest champion Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu. If that wasn’t enough, Renzo Gracie black belt Gregor Gracie, a four-time Grapplers Quest champion, locks horns with reigning ADCC world grappling champion Pablo Popovitch.
“The superfights in Boston give fans the chance to see some of the best grapplers in the world,” UFC President Dana White said. “With the Gracies, as well as the other competitors, we’ve got eight of the best grapplers in the sport. These are can’t-miss superfights for fans.”
Please note that all rings of the UFC Fan Expo tournament will be stopped during these Superfights, and that while fans will get to see all the tournament and Superfight action, seating will be limited and handled on a first come, first served basis.
This year’s UFC Fan Expo leads into UFC® 118: EDGAR vs. PENN 2 Presented by TAPOUT®, featuring the lightweight title rematch between champion Frankie Edgar and former division kingpin BJ Penn. For more UFC Fan Expo information and to purchase tickets, visit UFCfanexpo.com. For companies interested in reserving space at this premier event, contact Ed Gallo, Event Director at 1-203-840-5546 or email egallo@ufcfanexpo.com.
Ultimate Fighting Championship® - www.ufc.com
Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® produces over twelve UFC live Pay-Per-View events annually and 30 live arena events around the world. UFC programming is distributed in the United States on Viacom, Inc.’s Spike TV and on Comcast, Inc.’s Versus network. UFC content is distributed commercially through Joe Hand Promotions in the U.S. and Canadastar in Canada. Globally, UFC programming is broadcast in over 130 countries, territories and jurisdictions, reaching 430 million homes worldwide, in 20 different languages. Ancillary businesses now include UFC.com with over 5 million unique visitors per month, the best-selling UFC “Undisputed” videogame franchise distributed by THQ, UFC Gym™, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo™ festivals, branded apparel, trading cards, articulated action figures and other media including best-selling DVDs and a U.S. bimonthly magazine.
Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Ultimate Fighting®, UFC®, The Ultimate Fighter®, Submission®, As Real As It Gets®, Zuffa®, The Octagon™ and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks, registered service marks, trademarks, trade dress and/or service marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC and licensed to its affiliated entities and other licensees in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC, its affiliates or other respective owners.
About Reed Exhibitions
The UFC Fan Expo is operated by Reed Exhibitions, the world’s leading events organizer, with over 470 events in 37 countries. In 2008, Reed brought together over seven million industry professionals from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today, Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and organized by 38 fully staffed offices.
Reed organizes a wide range of events, including exhibitions, conferences, congresses, and meetings. Its portfolio of over 470 events serves 44 industry sectors, including: Aerospace & aviation, automobiles, broadcasting, building & construction, electronics, energy, oil & gas, engineering, manufacturing, environment, food service & hospitality, gifts, healthcare, interior design, IT & telecoms, jewelry, life science & pharmaceuticals, machinery, medical education, printing & graphics, property & real estate, security & safety, sports & recreation, and travel. Working closely with professional bodies, trade associations, and government departments, Reed ensures that each and every event is targeted and relevant to industry needs. As a result, many Reed events are market leaders in their field.
Contacts:
Danielle Vastola, Media Relations, UFC Fan Expo, (203) 840-5979, dvastola@ufcfanexpo.com
Jennifer Wenk, UFC Public Relations, (702) 221-4790, jwenk@ufc.com
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For Three Boston Fighters, The Arrival of the
Ultimate Fighting Championship is a Dream Come
(LAS VEGAS, NV --- Aug. 13, 2010) – It’s almost every kid’s dream to score the game-winning goal for their hometown team. After spending most of their childhoods rooting for the players and teams of their beloved city, youngsters across the globe yearn for the opportunity to become a hometown hero.
For Bostonians Kenny Florian, Joe Lauzon, and Marcus Davis, the chance to realize their dream of competing on the biggest stage in their hometowns has finally arrived. All three will compete at UFC 118 from TD Garden in Boston on Aug. 28 live on Pay-Per-View. Knowing that the chance to perform in front of the die-hard Boston sports fans is upon them, the trio is doing their best to cherish the moment.
“Boston is where I started my career in MMA and it's where I’ve lived my whole life,” lightweight Kenny Florian, who will take on Gray Maynard on Aug. 28, said. “To be fighting in the UFC in my hometown is a dream come true for me. This city is one of the biggest & most passionate sports towns in the world. With the UFC® Fan Expo™ and 118 here in that same weekend, it is truly going to be a special weekend that myself and the whole city of Boston and its visitors will never forget.”
For Lauzon, having the UFC in his hometown is more than just an opportunity to fight. Since the UFC® Fan Expo™ will be held on Aug. 27 and 28 at the John B. Hynes Convention Center, Lauzon believes fans in the Northeast will have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience all that the UFC has to offer.
“It’s been a long time coming, but the UFC’s arrival in Boston is going to be epic,” Lauzon, who will fight Gabe Ruediger in lightweight action at UFC 118, said. “While UFC is amazing on TV, it’s a whole different level being there in person. With the fights, and the UFC Fan Expo, the fans are in for something special.”
A former professional boxer who made a name for himself in the Northeast, Davis is equally fired up about the UFC’s arrival in Boston. As he gears up for an exciting welterweight clash with Nate Diaz, Davis admits that the anticipation of fighting in his hometown has fueled his training camp.
“It’s great to be able to fight so close to home knowing I train 10 minutes away from the venue,” Davis said. “I was on the last boxing event ever held at The Garden before they knocked it down and now I get to return as an MMA fighter. It's an awesome feeling.
“The UFC Fan Expo will be a huge success too,” Davis added. “It’s a great thing to have to promote the sport and it gives all the businesses in the sport the opportunity to educate and gather more fans. We truly have surpassed boxing in popularity and this event will prove it.”
All the UFC Fan Expo activities will be planned in conjunction with UFC 118, which takes place at TD Garden on Saturday, Aug. 28. Headlined by a lightweight title rematch between champion Frankie Edgar and former division leader BJ Penn, UFC 118 also marks the mixed martial arts debut of three-time world champion boxer James Toney, who will take on UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture.
Press Contacts:
Danielle Vastola, Media Relations, UFC Fan Expo
(203)840-5979/ dvastola@ufcfanexpo.com Jennifer Wenk, UFC Public Relations (702) 221-4790/ jwenk@ufc.com
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UFC® FAN EXPO™ OFFERS FANS IN BOSTON
OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN WITH MMA’S TOP STARS
Training & Development Sessions to Feature Forrest Griffin, Tito Ortiz, Clay Guida, and Urijah Faber. Plus, renowned coach Shawn Tompkins to lead seminar
Las Vegas, NV – Fans in the Boston area would probably love the opportunity to learn how to throw a fastball like Red Sox star pitcher Josh Beckett. They’d be equally excited to shoot from beyond the arc with Celtics’ sniper Ray Allen too. Well, at this summer’s UFC® FAN EXPO™, the opportunity to learn strategy and techniques from the most influential figures in mixed martial arts presents itself. The Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that the UFC Fan Expo Boston will feature five Training & Development sessions sure to thrill UFC fans.
On Friday, Aug. 27, former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin heads to Boston to teach an intense session starting at 4pm. Former UFC light heavyweight champion, Tito Ortiz, will also lead a Training & Development session sure to reflect The Huntington Beach Bad Boy’s aggressive ground and pound style, as well as renowned coach Shawn Tompkins.
The action continues on Saturday, Aug. 28 with Training & Development sessions featuring UFC lightweight star Clay Guida and former World Extreme Cagefighting® featherweight champion Urijah Faber. With five of the sport’s most respected individuals offering Training & Development sessions, the UFC Fan Expo Boston continues to become the can’t miss fan event in the Northeast this summer.
“Fans have watched guys like Tito and Forrest coach on The Ultimate Fighter® and now this is their chance to train with them,” White said. “Whether you have been training for a long time or just beginning the sport, there is something for everyone at these Training and Development Sessions. Each one of these guys brings something unique to the table and it makes this a cool experience for fans.”
Tickets for UFC® FAN EXPO™ and Training & Development sessions are on sale now and can be bought exclusively at UFCFanExpo.com. Please note that tickets for each Training & Development Session are limited; the cost to participate in a session is $100 per person, per session.
Training & Development Session Schedule
(All Times Eastern)
Friday, Aug. 27
10am-12pm – Tito Ortiz
1pm-3pm – Shawn Tompkins
4pm-6pm – Forrest Griffin
Saturday, Aug. 28
10am-12pm – Clay Guida
2pm-4pm – Urijah Faber
This year’s UFC Fan Expo leads into UFC® 118: EDGAR vs. PENN 2 Presented by TAPOUT®, featuring the lightweight title rematch between champion Frankie Edgar and former division kingpin BJ Penn. For more UFC Fan Expo information and to purchase tickets, visit UFCfanexpo.com. For companies interested in reserving space at this premier event, contact Ed Gallo, Event Director at 1-203-840-5546 or email egallo@ufcfanexpo.com.
About Reed Exhibitions
The UFC Fan Expo is operated by Reed Exhibitions, the world’s leading events organizer, with over 470 events in 37 countries. In 2008, Reed brought together over seven million industry professionals from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today, Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and organized by 38 fully staffed offices.
Reed organizes a wide range of events, including exhibitions, conferences, congresses, and meetings. Its portfolio of over 470 events serves 44 industry sectors, including: Aerospace & aviation, automobiles, broadcasting, building & construction, electronics, energy, oil & gas, engineering, manufacturing, environment, food service & hospitality, gifts, healthcare, interior design, IT & telecoms, jewelry, life science & pharmaceuticals, machinery, medical education, printing & graphics, property & real estate, security & safety, sports & recreation, and travel. Working closely with professional bodies, trade associations, and government departments, Reed ensures that each and every event is targeted and relevant to industry needs. As a result, many Reed events are market leaders in their field.
Press Contacts: Danielle Vastola, Media Relations, UFC Fan Expo, (203) 840-5979, dvastola@ufcfanexpo.com Jennifer Wenk, UFC® Public Relations, (US) (702) 221-4790, jwenk@ufc.com
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UFC® FAN EXPO™ HITS LONDON
FIRST-EVER INTERNATIONAL FAN EXPO
TO BE HELD AT EARLS COURT
OCTOBER 15-16, 2010
(LONDON, ENGLAND --- July 30, 2010) – Ever since the first UFC® Fan ExpoTM took place last July, UFC President Dana White has been inundated with questions from European fans when they get their own action-packed weekend of UFC events.
The fans’ persistence paid off. The Ultimate Fighting Championship® organization, in partnership with Reed Exhibitions, announced that the first-ever international UFC Fan Expo will be held at Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London, England on Friday, October 15 and Saturday, October 16. The event will be part of a huge UFC weekend in the British capital, with UFC 120 taking place on the evening of October 16.
“I am excited to bring a UFC Fan Expo to our incredible fans in Europe,” said White. “People have been asking me about an International Expo ever since we held our first one at UFC 100, and now they have it – they’re getting two days of the best fan experience in all of sports, and on top of that an incredible fight card featuring Michael Bisping vs. Akiyama.”
The first-ever UFC® Fan ExpoTM London is expected to attract over 100 leading vendors covering roughly 20,000 gross square meters of space. In addition to training seminars and autograph and Q&A sessions with the world’s best fighters, the UFC® Fan ExpoTM London 2010 will feature a variety of offerings such as apparel, electronic gaming, food & beverages, fight gear, fitness equipment and supplies, nutritional supplements, lifestyle products and much more.
Building off the successes of the prior U.S. Expos and paired with the highly anticipated UFC 120 fight card scheduled to take place in London on October 16, UFC® Fan ExpoTM London 2010 will bring an exciting and unique experience that European fans have been waiting for.
For more information on UFC® Fan ExpoTM and to purchase tickets, visit www.ufcfanexpo.com. To subscribe to the official UFC® Fan ExpoTM newsletter visit www.ufcfanexpo.com/newsletter. For companies interested in reserving space at this premier event, contact Ed Gallo, Event Director at 1-203-840-5546 or email egallo@ufcfanexpo.com. Don’t wait, space is limited and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
About Reed Exhibitions
The UFC® Fan ExpoTM is operated by Reed Exhibitions, the world’s leading events organizer, with over 470 events in 37 countries. In 2008, Reed brought together over seven million industry professionals from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today, Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and organized by 38 fully staffed offices.
Reed organizes a wide range of events, including exhibitions, conferences, congresses and meetings. Its portfolio of over 470 events serves 44 industry sectors, including: Aerospace & aviation, automobiles, broadcasting, building & construction, electronics, energy, oil & gas, engineering, manufacturing, environment, food service & hospitality, gifts, healthcare, interior design, IT & telecoms, jewelry, life science & pharmaceuticals, machinery, medical education, printing & graphics, property & real estate, security & safety, sports & recreation, and travel. Working closely with professional bodies, trade associations and government departments Reed ensures that each and every event is targeted and relevant to industry needs. As a result, many Reed events are market leaders in their field.
Press Contacts:
Danielle Vastola, Media Relations, UFC® Fan ExpoTM, (203)840-5979, dvastola@ufcfanexpo.com
Ant Evans, UFC® Public Relations (UK), 07792802652, aevans@ufc.com Jennifer Wenk, UFC® Public Relations, (US) (702) 221-4790, jwenk@ufc.com
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UFC Debuts at ESPN’s X Games with
UFC 117 and UFC118 Rally Cars!
Las Vegas, NV (USA) – For the first-time ever, millions of action sports thrill-seekers will see the UFC® and its matching event numbers racing around the ESPN X Games this weekend live on ESPN, all as part of a cross-promotional partnership with PMR Motorsports.
ESPN viewers and X Games fans packed inside the LA Coliseum won’t miss the trademark UFC logo and numbers “117” and “118” on the 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Rally Cars driven by Patrick Moro and Timothy Rooney of PMR Motorsports. 117 and 118 symbolize the next two blockbuster UFC events coming up in August.
"The UFC and the XGames are the perfect combination, and it's an honor for UFC 117 and UFC 118 to be represented on the PMR Motorsports rally cars," said Dana White, UFC President.
“I am very excited to have UFC on board with us for X Games 16,” said Moro. “I think we are opening new doors to our sport everyday and I’m glad that PMR is the company that has a chance to prove these relationships can absolutely work both ways. The competition is going to be very fast as every year is at the X Games, but I have faith that our freshly built cars will be able to closely compete with them. I still didn’t really have a chance to celebrate our Super Production Championship and we are off to the next event. It is going to be a great one!”
“It is an honor to be invited to X Games for a driver that competed in his first rally event just two years ago,” said Rooney. “This experience alone will be one of a kind for me, not to mention having UFC there with us. I can’t wait to step into our new cars and hit the gas pedal.”
UFC 117 takes place next Saturday, August 7th, live from the Oracle Arena in Oakland, featuring UFC Middleweight Champion and the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Anderson “The Spider” Silva, vs. Chael Sonnen.
A pronounced fan of the X Games, Silva was in attendance last night for the Moto X Freestyle Final, Women’s Super X Final and Men’s Super X Final.
UFC 118, featuring reigning champion Frankie Edgar in a rematch with BJ Penn, and three-time boxing champion James Toney vs. five-time UFC champion Randy Couture, is taking place live from TD Garden in Boston on Saturday, August 28.
Fans can catch the live Rally Car Racing and SuperRally action LIVE on ESPN, Saturday, July 31st from 4:00pm – 7:00pm PT, and 7:15pm – 8:00pm PT.
Ultimate Fighting Championship® - www.ufc.com
Press Contact: Jennifer WenkDirector of Public Relations, 702.221.4790, 702.635.0995, jwenk@ufc.com
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UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva
to Attend ESPN’s X Games Today
Las Vegas, NV (USA) – The pound-for-pound greatest fighter in the world, UFC® Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, is taking time out from his intense training schedule for his upcoming fight at UFC 117 to attend ESPN’s X Games 16 Thursday, July 29, 2010. “The Spider” will be in attendance at the LA Coliseum for the Moto X Freestyle Final, Women’s Super X Final and Men’s Super X Final, among other competitions televised live nationally on ESPN.
Two more fans of the X Games, UFC’s Octagon Girl Arianny Celeste, who recently graced the cover of Maxim Magazine, and Spike TV’s Best of PRIDE® host Kenda Perez, who is featured in the August issue of UFC Magazine, will also be in attendance Thursday evening.
WHO: UFC® MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION ANDERSON SILVA
ARIANNY CELESTE – UFC OCTAGON™ GIRL
KENDA PEREZ – HOST OF SPIKE TV’s BEST OF PRIDE®
WHAT: UFC CHAMPION AND UFC PERSONALITIES ATTEND ESPN X GAMES
WHERE: LA COLISEUM, 3939 S. Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90037
WHEN: Thursday, July 29, 2010, 6:30 PM ARRIVAL
HOW: Please contact Jennifer Wenk, UFC Public Relations at jwenk@ufc.com
About VERSUS
VERSUS celebrates real competition across all platforms (VERSUS.com, VERSUS on Demand and VERSUS HD) and is the national cable home of the National Hockey League (NHL), the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the IZOD IndyCar® Series as well as best-in-class events such as The Tour de France, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR), World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and Professional Boxing. VERSUS also has partnerships with top sports leagues such as NASCAR, NBA and UFC and airs collegiate sports featuring nationally-ranked teams from top conferences such as the Pac-10, Big 12, Mountain West and Ivy League. VERSUS features the best field sports programming on television and is a destination for sports fans, athletes and sportsmen to find exclusive, competitive events and original programs, such as Sports Soup and Sports Jobs with Junior Seau that audiences can't find elsewhere. VERSUS, a wholly owned company of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA, CMCSK), is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.
Press Contacts:
Jennifer Wenk, UFC Public Relations, 702.221.4790, 702.635.0995 (cell), jwenk@ufc.com
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Ultimate Fighting Championships Confirms Fighters
for UFC Fan Expo in Boston, Aug 27th & 28th
(LAS VEGAS, NV --- July 28, 2010) – With the city of Boston buzzing about the arrival of the UFC® Fan Expo™ at the John B. Hynes Convention Center on August 27 and 28, the Ultimate Fighting Championship® turned up the heat today by announcing the list of fighters that will participate in the weekend of festivities.
The following fighters will participate in autograph sessions and a variety of other fan activities: UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell, UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, WEC® lightweight champion Ben Henderson, WEC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin, former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz, Carlos Condit, Clay Guida, Cole Miller, Efrain Escudero, Gabriel Gonzaga, Jon Jones, Josh Grispi, Kurt Pellegrino, Matt Hamill, Martin Kampmann, Pat Barry, Roy Nelson, Thiago Alves, Anthony Johnson, Ricardo Almeida, Renzo Gracie, and former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber. Additional fighters added to the UFC Fan Expo will be announced in the coming weeks.
All the UFC Fan Expo activities will be planned in conjunction with UFC 118, which takes place at TD Garden on Saturday, Aug. 28. Headlined by a lightweight title rematch between champion Frankie Edgar and former division leader BJ Penn, UFC 118 also marks the mixed martial arts debut of three-time world champion boxer James Toney, who will take on UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture.
For more information on UFC Fan Expo and to purchase tickets, visit www.ufcfanexpo.com. To subscribe to the official UFC Fan Expo newsletter visit www.ufcfanexpo.com/newsletter. For companies interested in reserving space at this premier event, contact Ed Gallo, Event Director at 1-203-840-5546 or email egallo@ufcfanexpo.com. Don’t wait, space is limited and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
About Reed Exhibitions
The UFC Fan Expo is operated by Reed Exhibitions, the world’s leading events organizer, with over 470 events in 37 countries. In 2008, Reed brought together over seven million industry professionals from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today, Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and organized by 38 fully staffed offices.
Reed organizes a wide range of events, including exhibitions, conferences, congresses and meetings. Its portfolio of over 470 events serves 44 industry sectors, including: Aerospace & aviation, automobiles, broadcasting, building & construction, electronics, energy, oil & gas, engineering, manufacturing, environment, food service & hospitality, gifts, healthcare, interior design, IT & telecoms, jewelry, life science & pharmaceuticals, machinery, medical education, printing & graphics, property & real estate, security & safety, sports & recreation, and travel. Working closely with professional bodies, trade associations and government departments Reed ensures that each and every event is targeted and relevant to industry needs. As a result, many Reed events are market leaders in their field.
Press Contacts: Jennifer Wenk, UFC Public Relations, (702) 221-4790/ jwenk@ufc.com
Danielle Vastola, Media Relations, UFC Fan Expo, (203)840-5979, dvastola@ufcfanexpo.com
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UFC® SERVES SUBPOENAS ON TWO STREAMING WEBSITES
Las Vegas, NV (USA) – Zuffa, LLC, (“Zuffa”), the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®), announced today that it has served subpoenas on two streaming video websites, commanding them to reveal the identities of users who have uploaded video of live Pay-Per-View UFC events.
The websites, Justin.tv and Ustream.tv, enable anyone with an Internet connection to broadcast live streaming video to an unlimited audience. Although originally developed to bring user-generated content to a large live audience, these sites have been exploited by some users to broadcast illegally uploaded content, including UFC events.
For example, on January 2, 2010, over 36,000 people watched a live streaming feed of the UFC 108 Pay-Per-View event that was uploaded from a single IP address. Less than two months later, on February 21, 2010, that same IP address was used to upload multiple live streaming feeds of the UFC 110 Pay-Per-View event, which was watched by over 78,000 non-paying users. This piracy represents a significant loss of revenue to UFC and their mobile, online, cable and satellite distribution partners each year.
“I can’t wait to go after the thieves that are stealing our content,” said UFC President Dana White. “This is a fight we will not lose.”
Under §512(h) of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, a copyright owner can obtain a subpoena from a federal court ordering a service provider to disclose the identity of a subscriber who is allegedly engaging in infringing activities. The subpoenas served by Zuffa require Justin.tv and Ustream.tv to disclose information in their possession that Zuffa can use to identify those who have been pirating and rebroadcasting recent UFC events online. With this information in hand, Zuffa will prosecute civil actions against the individuals who have infringed Zuffa’s copyrights.
Zuffa is the largest provider of Pay-Per-View content in the world, and delivers exciting matches to fans in over 430 million households across 147 countries and territories. Zuffa encourages the development of new technology to deliver UFC content to licensed online platforms, mobile devices, and gaming systems. However, Zuffa does not condone the use of streaming video or other new technologies to violate intellectual property laws, and it will vigorously protect its copyrighted content against piracy in any medium.
Those who upload live UFC events as free streaming video harm UFC athletes, arena owners, and hard-working Zuffa employees who have transformed the once-obscure sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) into a successful professional sports organization. The UFC brand has created American jobs in the entertainment, fitness, and clothing industries. Zuffa will continue to fight on the cutting edge of copyright law to defend the intellectual property rights that support American economic growth.
For more information, or current UFC event news, visit UFC.com.
Press Contacts: Makan Delrahim, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP MDelrahim@bhfs.com, Washington Office: 1350 I Street, NW, Suite 510 Washington, DC 20005-3344, 202.872.5288, Direct 202.296.7009 Facsimile 202.872.5282 Brett Barrus (Assistant)
Los Angeles Office: 2029 Century Park East, Suite 2100 Los Angeles, CA, 90067, 310.500.4607, Direct 310.500.4602, Facsimile 310.500.4610, Ivy Capili (Assistant)
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UFC® HEADS TO INDIANAPOLIS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER AS MIR AND NOGUEIRA HEADLINE UFC 119
Main Event – UFC Heavyweight Rematch
FRANK MIR vs. MINOTAURO NOGUEIRA
Co-Main Event
ANTONIO ROGERIO NOGUEIRA vs. RYAN BADER
Also featuring
MATT SERRA vs. INDIANAPOLIS’ CHRIS LYTLE
Live from Conseco Field House, Saturday September 25, 2010
Tickets on sale Saturday, July 24 at 10 a.m. ET
Las Vegas, NV (USA) – For the first-time ever, Indianapolis will get a taste of the Ultimate Fighting Championship®. Former UFC® heavyweight champion Frank Mir and former interim UFC heavyweight champion and mixed martial arts legend Minotauro Nogueira will mix it up for an encore performance on Saturday, September 25 at UFC 119: MIR VS. NOGUEIRA 2, which is presented by “Halo Reach” and live from the Conseco Field House in Indianapolis, Indiana. Also featured on this historic card, Nogueira’s twin brother and light heavyweight force Antonio Rogerio Nogueira will take on two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler turned undefeated fighter Ryan Bader. Then it’s a rematch of The Ultimate Fighter®: The Comeback finale as former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra takes on one of Indianapolis’ own in Chris “Lights Out” Lytle.
“Ever since Frank Mir beat Nogueira for the heavyweight title in 2008, Minotauro has asked me for this rematch because he wants to prove that the first fight was a fluke,” said UFC President Dana White. “On September 25th, he gets his wish, and I don’t think there’s any fighter more motivated than he is to even the score. As for Frank Mir, he wants to get back in the title picture, and if I know him, he was the first man to knock Nogueira out at UFC 92, and now he’ll want to be the first man to make him tap out.”
Tickets for UFC 119: MIR vs. NOGUEIRA 2 will go on sale Saturday, July 24 at 10am ET and will be priced at $300, $200, $125, $90, $70 and $40. Fans can purchase tickets at ConsecoFieldhouse.com, the Conseco Fieldhouse Box Office or all Ticketmaster outlets.
UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event on Thursday, July 22 at 10 a.m. ET via the website ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers on Friday, July 23 at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through ufc.com.
UFC 119 will be available live on Pay-Per-View at 10pm ET/7pm PT on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$49.99 CAN for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available).
Before his impressive knockout win over Nogueira at UFC 92 in December 2008, Frank Mir (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. / professional record - 13-5) won two straight fights via submission over UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and Antoni Hardonk. The former UFC heavyweight champion looked to be on track for another title shot after he put Cheick Kongo to sleep at UFC 107, but the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt fell short against Shane Carwin in March. Now the 31-year-old faces a familiar foe and he is hoping that lightning strikes twice as he gets back in the title race.
After a historic run in PRIDE®, Minotauro Nogueira (fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / 32-6-1, 1 NC) entered the Octagon® for the first time in 2007 and earned two straight victories, including a submission win over Tim Sylvia that made him the first and only man to ever hold both the PRIDE and UFC world heavyweight titles. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt most recently dropped a fight to No. 1 heavyweight contender Cain Velasquez, but with a classic unanimous decision win against UFC Hall-Of-Famer Randy Couture at UFC 102, the 34-year-old can never be counted out.
For the first-time ever, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / 19-3) will fight on the same UFC card as his twin brother. Known for having heavy hands as well as a deadly ground game, the Brazilian is dangerous wherever the fight goes. It took the light heavyweight only 1:56 to TKO the battle-tested Luiz Cane in his UFC debut last November before earning a split-decision victory against Jason Brilz in May. Now Nogueira faces his toughest UFC test to date in Ryan Bader.
Undefeated light heavyweight Ryan Bader (fighting out of Tempe, Ariz. / 12-0) has rattled off four consecutive victories since joining the UFC. The former two-time NCAA Division I All-American from Arizona State is coming off a breakthrough knockout at UFC 110 against MMA veteran Keith Jardine that catapulted him into serious contention for the 205-pound strap. Now the 27-year-old will go against an extremely talented opponent that is looking to get into the championship picture himself.
A true Rocky story come to life, Long Island’s Matt Serra (fighting out of East Meadow, N.Y. / 17-6) is most famous for his underdog knockout win against UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre at UFC 69 to earn the 170-pound championship. Serra, the first American-born black belt under the legendary Renzo Gracie, most recently earned a first-round win over Frank Trigg at UFC 109 and now looks to climb back up the ladder with a win against hometown fighter Chris Lytle.
Winner of his last three fights, the red-hot Chris Lytle (fighting out of Indianapolis, Indiana / 39-17-4) is coming off two impressive submission victories over Brian Foster and Matt Brown. A fighter that is known for exciting fights and who has the “Fight of the Night” bonus checks to prove it, Lytle will be fighting in a UFC event in front of his home crowd for the first time. A former pro boxer turned mixed martial artist, the 35-year-old family man is a firefighter in his spare time and now looks to avenge his loss to old friend Matt Serra.
For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com. All bouts live and subject to change.
Press Contact: Jennifer Wenk, UFC Public Relations, 702.221.4790, jwenk@ufc.com
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The Ultimate Fighting Championship® ConfirmsRemaining Bouts for UFC® 117 Silva vs Sonnen
SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2010
JON FITCH vs. THIAGO ALVES
MATT HUGHES vs. RICARDO ALMEIDA
CLAY GUIDA vs. RAFAEL DOS ANJOS
ROY NELSON vs. JUNIOR DOS SANTOS
THIAGO SILVA vs. TIM BOETSCH
DUSTIN HAZELETT vs. RICK STORY
STEFAN STRUVE vs. CHRISTIAN MORECRAFT
JOHNY HENDRICKS vs. CHARLIE BRENNEMAN
BEN SAUNDERS vs. DENNIS HALLMAN
RODNEY WALLACE vs. STANISLAV NEDKOV
Live from the Oracle Arena – Oakland, CA
Las Vegas, NV (USA) – The middleweight title fight at UFC 117 between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen will be accentuated by one of the most stacked cards in UFC history. The main card features the long-awaited rematch between welterweight contenders Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves, as well as such notable fighters such as recent UFC Hall of Fame inductee Matt Hughes, the electrifying Clay Guida, and a heavyweight matchup between two fast rising stars in the division Roy Nelson and Junior Dos Santos. With all of the intriguing fights lined up on the fight card, the championship ramifications in the main event will add the icing to the cake.
The undercard bouts feature the following matchups: Jon Fitch vs. Thiago Alves, Matt Hughes vs. Ricardo Almeida, Clay Guida vs. Rafael Dos Anjos, Roy Nelson vs. Junior Dos Santos, Thiago Silva vs. Tim Boetsch, Dustin Hazelett vs. Rick Story, Stefan Struve vs. Christian Morecraft, Johny Hendricks vs. Charlie Brenneman, Ben Saunders vs. Dennis Hallman, and Rodney Wallace vs. Stanislav Nedkov.
UFC 117 is available live on Pay-Per-View at 10pm ET/7pm PT on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$49.99 CAN for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available).
The co-main event of UFC 117 will be a showdown to elevate one fighter to the top of contention for the welterweight championship. UFC veteran Jon Fitch (fighting out of San Jose, Calif./ profesional record - 25-3, 1 NC) has had a remarkable career in the organization. One of the division’s most consistent fighters, Fitch has won four fights in a row and has an overall record of 12-1 in the UFC. His lone loss came at the hands of welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre via unanimous decision at UFC 87. The durable fighter from Indiana wrestled collegiately at Purdue University and has the endurance to battle until the end. This decisive battle will be a long awaited rematch as Thiago “The Pitbull” Alves (fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla./22-5) aims to seek revenge on Fitch. The 26-year old fighter has elevated himself to the top of the division by winning nine of his last eleven fights in the UFC. Alves believes he has improved as a fighter more than Fitch has since their last fight in 2006, which he hopes will lead him to victory. The ramifications of this fight extend beyond a statistic on their career record.
The “swing” bout of the evening is an early favorite to garner Fight of the Night honors. The always-exciting Clay “The Carpenter” Guida (fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M. by way of Johnsburg, Ill./26-8) is renowned for his memorable battles in the Octagon. Coming off a submission victory over Shannon Gugerty, Guida has won four of his last six fights. The former collegiate wrestler is set to lock up with the winner of three fights in a row, Rafael Dos Anjos (fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil/14-4). The Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion has entered the Octagon twice already in 2010, most recently for UFC 112 when he was able to submit Terry Etim with an armbar at the end of the second round. The young fighter has only had five fights in the UFC, but is steadily climbing the ladder in the lightweight division.
The context of the first welterweight matchup on the main card extends beyond a typical fight, as honor and history are on the line. Recent UFC Hall of Fame inductee Matt Hughes (fighting out of Hillsboro, Ill./45-7) is a legend of the UFC, with 22 fights and a UFC record 17 victories. The two-time UFC welterweight champion has defeated future champions in Georges St-Pierre and BJ Penn, but in the context of this fight, Hughes has defeated Royce Gracie, Matt Serra and Renzo Gracie. Both Serra and Ricardo “Big Dog” Almeida (fighting out of Hamilton, N.J./12-3) are coached by the legendary Renzo Gracie, which sets up the opportunity for Almeida to defend the honor of the Gracie clan. Almeida is on a three fight win streak and a winner of five of his last seven. The four-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu National Champion not only has his own reputation to defend, but the reputation of an entire legendary MMA family.
The Ultimate Fighter® Heavyweights Finale winner Roy Nelson (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev./16-4) has only two UFC fights under his belt, but has scored a first-round knockout in both of them. A grappler with world-class experience and a black belt under Renzo Gracie, he has quickly elevated himself as a worthy heavyweight contender. His matchup with Junior Dos Santos (fighting out of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil/11-1) provides a glimpse into the exciting future of the heavyweight division. Dos Santos has been victorious in his five fights within the organization by way of four knockouts, and a submission victory over Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 103. The Brazilian native’s boxing and jiu-jitsu background have helped establish Dos Santos as a legitimate contender for the heavyweight title.
Thiago Silva (fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil/14-2) started his UFC career with a bang, winning his first four fights (three by TKO), dating back to UFC 71 in 2007. He has since battled the elite fighters in the light heavyweight division, including former champions Lyoto Machida and Rashad Evans. His latest opponent, Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch (fighting out of Lincolnville, Maine/11-3), makes a return to the UFC after a short hiatus. Previously, Boetsch had four fights in the UFC, establishing a record of 2-2.
Of the five victories that Dustin Hazelett (fighting out of Cincinnati, Ohio/14-5) has obtained in the UFC, four have come via submission. The submission specialist has a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and hopes to secure a win over Rick Story (fighting out of Vancouver, Wash./10-3).The young fighter out of Washington has been on a roll lately, winning his last three fights. Story’s supreme conditioning is exemplified by the fact three of his four fights have gone all three rounds.
In one of the tallest matchups in recent UFC history, the 6’11” Stefan Struve (fighting out of Beverwijk, Netherlands/23-4) is set to face the 6’5 ½ Christian Morecraft (fighting out of Plymouth, Mass./6-0). Known for his height and length, the 22-year-old Struve has utilized his skills in kickboxing and submissions to secure three wins in his five fights in the UFC. Morecraft is making his UFC debut after establishing a solid professional record.
Two-time NCAA Division I national wrestling champion Johny Hendricks (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev./8-0) has split time between the UFC and World Extreme Cagefighting®(WEC®). After winning his first two fights in the WEC, Hendricks made a smooth transition to the UFC and continued his winning ways through his first three fights. His opponent, Charlie Brenneman (fighting out of Whippany, N.J. by way of Hollidaysburg, Pa./12-1), improved his already solid professional record after winning his UFC debut against Jason High last March at UFC Fight Night Live®. Also a former Division I wrestler, this matchup could very well be decided on the ground.
Welterweight striker Ben Saunders (fighting out of Orlando, Fla./8-2-2) has been successful in his UFC career thus far. The aggressive fighter has won four of his six fights, and is the only man to knock out veteran contender Marcus Davis. Although Saunders has had a relatively short fighting career, his opponent Dennis Hallman (fighting out of Yelm, Wash./64-13-2, 1 NC) has had 80 professional fights. Hallman made a return to the UFC at The Ultimate Fighter Heavyweights Finale in December of 2009 after a four year hiatus. The gritty fighter has the experience and knowledge required to secure a longer stay in the UFC.
The opening fight for UFC 117 features two up-and-coming light heavyweights. Rodney Wallace (fighting out of Charlotte, N.C./9-2) made his debut against Brian Stann at The Ultimate Fighter Heavyweights Finale and has since fought Jared Hamman at UFC 111. On August 7th, Wallace is seeking his first victory in the UFC against Stanislav Nedkov (fighting out of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria/11-0). Nedkov is an impressive light heavyweight fighter with a background in wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, who is making his UFC debut at UFC 117.
For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com. All bouts live and subject to change.
Contact: Jennifer WenkUFC Public Relations(702) 221-4790 or jwenk@ufc.com
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THE ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP® CONFIRMS REMAINING BOUTS FOR UFC® LIVE on VERSUS MAIN EVENT
JON “BONES” JONES vs. VLADIMIR “THE JANITOR” MATYUSHENKO
MARK MUNOZ vs. YUSHIN OKAMI
JOHN HOWARD vs. JAKE ELLENBERGER
TAKANORI GOMI vs. TYSON GRIFFIN
PAUL KELLY vs. JACOB VOLKMANN
DAMARQUES JOHNSON vs. MATTHEW RIDDLE
JAMES IRVIN vs. IGOR POKRAJAC
BRAIN STANN vs. MIKE MASSENZIO
THIAGO TAVARES vs. WILLAMY FREIRE
DARREN ELKINS vs. CHARLES OLIVEIRA
ROB KIMMONS vs. STEVE STEINBEISS
SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2010
Live from the San Diego Sports Arena– Tickets on Sale Now
Las Vegas, NV (USA) –Jon “Bones” Jones will attempt to continue his meteoric rise within the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s light heavyweight division when he steps into the Octagon® to face veteran fighter Vladimir “The Janitor” Matyushenko at UFC LIVE on VERSUS, live from the San Diego Sports Arena. “Bones” Jones defeated Brandon Vera in March to improve his record to 10-1, while Matyushenko has been victorious in his last two fights since his return to the UFC. The main event will be supplemented by riveting matchups featuring various stars such as Mark Munoz, Yushin Okami, John Howard, Jake Ellenberger, Takanori Gomi and Tyson Griffin. The fights will air live on VERSUS at 9 p.m. ET, marking the second time a UFC event will be televised on a national sports cable network.
UFC LIVE on VERSUS will feature the following matchups: Mark Munoz vs. Yushin Okami, John Howard vs. Jake Ellenberger, Takanori Gomi vs. Tyson Griffin, Paul Kelly vs. Jacob Volkmann, DaMarques Johnson vs. Matthew Riddle, James Irvin vs. Igor Pokrajac, Brian Stann vs. Mike Massenzio, Thiago Tavares vs. Willamy Freire, Darren Elkins vs. Charles Oliveira, Rob Kimmons vs. Steve Steinbeiss. Tickets for UFC LIVE on VERSUS are on sale and are available for purchase at www.tickethorse.com and the Pepsi Center Box Office.
The prelude to the main event features Mark Munoz (fighting out of Vallejo, Calif./8-1), winner of five of his last six fights, including three in a row over the likes of Ryan Jensen and Kendall Grove. With a background in wrestling, the heavy-handed fighter also has knockout power to coincide with a well-versed ground game which could prove dangerous for his opponent Yushin “Thunder” Okami (fighting out of Kanagawa, Japan/25-5). The veteran fighter out of Japan has been victorious in eight of his ten fights within the UFC. One of the most physically imposing fighters at 185-pounds, Okami will be a true test for his latest opponent.
A boxing background has been beneficial for Boston native John Howard (fighting out of Boston, Mass./14-4) while in the UFC. His last two victories have come via knockout, most recently against Daniel Roberts at the first UFC on Versus. Overall, this welterweight fighter is undefeated in his UFC career, but Jake Ellenberger (fighting out of Omaha, Neb./22-5) will try to tarnish that record. A recent addition to the UFC, the native from the Cornhusker State scored a TKO over Mike Pyle at UFC 108, just 22 seconds into the second round. Ellenberger’s granite chin and heavy hands will guide him in this welterweight matchup.
Former PRIDE lightweight champion Takanori Gomi (fighting out of Tokyo, Japan/31-6) will make his second appearance in the UFC after his slugfest with Kenny Florian at UFC Fight Night in March of 2010. The accomplished wrestler has a terrific ground game, complemented by tremendous knockout power. Standing across the Octagon from Gomi will be Tyson Griffin (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev./14-3). The native of Sacramento, California employs an aggressive ground and pound attack, which should match up well with Gomi’s wrestling background. The winner of six of his last eight fights, Griffin looks to get back in the title race with a win over “The Fireball Kid”.
The toughness and conditioning of Paul Kelly (fighting out of Liverpool, England/11-2) has never been questioned, as half of his six fights within the UFC have gone the distance and each time, Kelly has been the unanimous victor. Kelly has excelled at the ground and pound, which will be tested against Jacob Volkmann (fighting out of White Bear Lake, Minn./10-2), who has a stellar wrestling background. The former Big Ten wrestling champion most recently won a split decision over Ronys Torres at UFC Fight Night in March, after consecutive battles with Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann.
The versatile DaMarques Johnson (fighting out of Salt Lake City, Utah/16-7) is on a two fight win streak within the UFC, defeating Edgar Garcia and Brad Blackburn via submission and TKO, respectively. The Utah native faces a tough matchup with Matthew Riddle (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev./4-1), who has had all of his professional fights within the UFC. A wrestling background, with a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, has helped this young fighter excel inside the Octagon.
A veteran fighter who has fought in both the UFC and WEC, James “The Sandman” Irvin (fighting out of Sacramento, Calif./14-6, 1 NC) doesn’t often spend much time in the Octagon during his fights. Of his 13 fights between the two organizations, nine have ended in the first round. His matchup against Igor Pokrajac (fighting out of Zagreb, Croatia/21-7) is important for both fighters, as they are both in need of a victory. A top-10 fighter on the European scene, Pokrajac is coming off hard-fought scraps against Vladimir Matyushenko and James Te Huna.
Former WEC light heavyweight champion Brian Stann (fighting out of Scranton, Pa./8-3) began developing his combative mindset as an Infantry Officer in the Marine Corps. Stann has won two of his last three fights within the UFC and plans to make it three out of four against former National junior college wrestling champion Mike Massenzio (fighting out of Paterson, N.J./11-3). The well-rounded New Jersey native has not fought in the UFC since 2008, but Massenzio will utilize his brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu to prolong his stay within the organization.
Brazil native Thiago Tavares (fighting out of Florianopolis, Brazil/18-3-1) has four wins in the UFC and has battled some of the elite names in lightweight division such as Tyson Griffin, Matt Wiman, and Kurt Pellegrino. On August 1st, he battles Willamy “Chiquerim” Freire (fighting out of Fortaleza, Brazil/17-3). Making his UFC debut, the fighter out of Brazil has won eleven consecutive fights, five by submission. The young fighter has had twenty professional fights and he has finished 13 of them.
The first lightweight matchup for UFC on VERSUS features two rising stars as Darren Elkins (fighting out of Hobart, Ind./12-1) will face Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira (fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil/12-0). Elkins made his debut in March for the premiere of UFC on VERSUS and was victorious over Duane Ludwig via TKO stoppage. Oliveira will make his debut for the UFC after amassing a tremendous unbeaten professional record.
The first fight of the evening features Rob Kimmons (fighting out of Liberty, Mo./22-5) who is a 3rd degree black belt in American jiu-jitsu. The Kansas City native has won two of his last four fights in the UFC and will be tested when he faces Steve Steinbeiss (fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz./4-3) on August 1st. Steinbeiss is a durable fighter with speed and power who is seeking his first victory in the UFC.
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Ultimate Fighting Championship® Signs Imagery Distribution
Partnership with Heavyweight Getty Images
LAS VEGAS, NV & SEATTLE, WA – Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®), the world’s fastest-growing sports organization, today announced that Getty Images, a leading creator and distributor of visual content and other digital media, will be the authorized worldwide commercial distribution partner of imagery captured by UFC’s photographers and licensor of the entire UFC image archive. This is the first time the UFC has awarded full access to its photography collection of more than 10,000 images.
“We are pleased to announce this partnership with Getty Images,” said Dana White, UFC President. “The popularity of UFC continues to grow, and this partnership with Getty Images is going to help us reach a bigger audience, both in the U.S. and internationally.”
Through this partnership with UFC, Getty Images will manage the distribution and licensing of UFC’s rich archive of pivotal moments in mixed martial arts to service media customers, marketing partners and other third-party outlets. Additionally, Getty Images will curate one of the most significant collections of UFC imagery as its team of award-winning photographers capture the sport’s defining moments throughout the year. This collection includes premier events such as the most recent UFC 116 heavyweight title fight between Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin, plus the upcoming Aug. 7th UFC 117 event featuring the return of the world’s greatest pound- for-pound fighter Anderson Silva, UFC middleweight champion vs. Chael Sonnen, number one middleweight contender.
“Given the growing popularity of mixed martial arts in the U.S. and its international following, Getty Images is excited to offer the exceptional imagery of the UFC to both media and fans around the globe,” said Adrian Murrell, senior vice president, global editorial for Getty Images. “This partnership further demonstrates Getty Images’ unique experience to conserve, market, license and manage sports photography rights and collections.”
Getty Images is a recognized leader in photographic excellence, consistently gaining industry prominence by earning top awards and demonstrating a solid commitment to the highest photojournalism standards. This leadership has led Getty Images to become the accredited photo supplier to more than 50 international sports leagues and governing bodies, housing the most prolific sports collection.
About Getty Images
Getty Images is a leading creator and distributor of still imagery, footage and multimed products, as well as a recognized provider of other forms of premium digital content, including music. Getty Images serves business customers in more than 100 countries and is the first place creative and media professionals turn to discover, purchase and manage images and other digital content. Its award-winning photographers and imagery help customers produce inspiring work which appears every day in the world’s most influential newspapers, magazines, advertising campaigns, films, television programs, books and Web sites. Visit Getty Images at www.gettyimages.com to learn more about how the company is advancing the unique role of digital media in communications and business, and enabling creative ideas to come to life.
Media Contacts: Jodi Einhorn, Manager, Public Relations, Getty Images, (646) 613-4121 or jodi.einhorn@gettyimages.com Jennifer WenkUFC Public Relations(702) 221-4790 or jwenk@ufc.com
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Demain Maia and Alan Belcher Headline First Ever UFC Fight Night Live in Austin
Main Event
Demain Maia and Alan Belcher
Featured Bout
Matt Wiman vs. Mac Danzig
Live from the Frank Erwin Center on Sept. 15 – Tickets on Sale Saturday, July 17 at 10AM CT
Las Vegas – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® will feature two of the most dominant middleweight fighters in the world at UFC Fight Night Live®, live from the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas on September 15. Submission specialist Demian Maia will step into the Octagon® to face red-hot Alan Belcher in the evening’s main event. The records of these two fighters exemplify their elite caliber; however, both will try to prove their supremacy to each other as they attempt to improve their standing in the stacked 185-pound class.
UFC Fight Night Live also features a highly anticipated rematch in the lightweight division, as Mac Danzig seeks revenge against Matt Wiman. In the first fight between The Ultimate Fighter alumni at UFC® 115, Wiman was declared the winner after an erroneous call by the referee as Danzig was caught in a submission hold near the end of the first round.
“The Frank Erwin Center is excited and honored to welcome UFC to Austin for the very first time, and only the third time in Texas! Austin has a sizeable UFC fan base and I’m sure they will come out in droves to support their favorite UFC fighters,” said Jimmy Earl, Associate Director of the Frank Erwin Center.
Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT LIVE at the Frank Erwin Center Wednesday, September 15 are $30, $50, $75, $125 and $185 and GO ON SALE Saturday, July 17 at 10AM CT. Tickets available at all Texas Box Office outlets including select H-E-B stores, Ft. Hood ITR and Renaissance Records in Killeen, by phone at 512-477-6060 or 1-800-982-2386 or online at TexasBoxOffice.com. Convenience charges may apply. All information is subject to change. Suites at the Frank Erwin Center provide a unique environment to entertain your clients, family and friends. For more information, call 512-471-4713 or email suites@erwin.utexas.edu.
UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Thursday, July 15 starting at 10 a.m. CT via UFCFightClub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers on Friday, July 16 starting at 10am CT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.
In his last fight, Demian Maia (fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil/professional record 12-2) proved himself worthy of the number one contender’s slot, as he battled the reigning middleweight champion, Anderson “The Spider” Silva, for 25 minutes in their title bout. In eight fights with the UFC, Maia has also defeated some of the most recognizable names in the middleweight division, including Chael Sonnen, Dan Miller and Ryan Jensen. Maia’s greatest attribute is his ground game, as the Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion was able to submit his first five UFC opponents, but in the Miller and Silva fights, he has shown the ability and willingness to stand with anyone.
“Alan Belcher has a very exciting style and I think together we will put on a fight to remember for the fans,” said Maia. “I’m looking to get back to a title shot, and the first step for me is beating Alan impressively.”
With wins in four of his last five fights, Alan Belcher (fighting out of Biloxi, Miss./15-5) is quickly rising up the UFC ranks. Most recently, Belcher defeated Patrick Cote via submission at UFC 113, a Submission of the Night victory that set up his showdown with Maia. Add in his dynamic striking and exciting style, and Belcher is moving ever closer to a shot at Anderson Silva should he turn back the challenge of Maia.
“I am very appreciative of this opportunity to fight as the main event in the UFC,” Belcher said. “I have a ton of respect for Demian Maia and am excited to be fighting one of the top guys in the middleweight division. I will definitely bring it September 15th as I always do and I hope to gain more fans. I have my eye on the belt and can't wait to get back in the Octagon. I feel like I will be fighting in my home town with Austin being so close to where I live in Biloxi, Mississippi.”
Before the controversial victory over Danzig at UFC 115, Matt Wiman (fighting out of San Francisco, Calif./12-5) had won five of his last seven fights, dating back to 2007. The native of Denver, Colorado has a background in jiu-jitsu and has an impressive standup game as well.
The highly experienced Mac Danzig (fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif./20-8-1) has endured battles with the best of the lightweight division in Jim Miller, Clay Guida and Kurt Pellegrino. After defeating Justin Buchholz at UFC 109, the matchup with Wiman at UFC 115 was important for him to gain momentum, and because of the controversial way the fight ended, the rematch has an increased value attached to it for Danzig’s career.
Press Contacts: Jennifer Wenk, UFC Public Relations, 702.221.4790, 702.635.0995, (cell), jwenk@ufc.com
Kelly VonDrehle, Frank Erwin Center, 512.471.3678, 512.971.1044, (cell)kelly.vondrehle@athletics.utexas.edu
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Sylvia vs. Buentello Headlines
‘War on the Mainland’ PPV Event
Three PWP Title Fights Aug. 14 in Irvine, CA
SAN DIEGO (July 8, 2010) – Two-time UFC heavyweight champion Tim “Maine-iac” Sylvia takes on former UFC and Strikeforce heavyweight title challenger, Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello, in the main event for the vacant Powerhouse World Promotions (PWP), LLC Heavyweight Championship, August 14 on Pay Per View live from Bren Events Center in Irvine, California.
“War on the Mainland,” presented by Powerhouse World Promotions, is being distributed by Integrated Sports Media at 10:00PM ET/6:00PM PT in North America on cable and satellite Pay-Per-View via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network, as well as Viewer’s Choice, Bell TV and Shaw PPV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95. It will also be available in the United Kingdom via Primetime Live. The PPV card will also be streamed live on Internet PPV outside of the United States, Canada and United Kingdom by going to www.WarontheMainland.com and registering.
“This event started as a training clinic that we’re still holding August 8 in San Diego,” PWP CEO Brian Manna explained. “It’s a full day, training clinic – MMA, Jiu-Jitsu, striking, boxing kicking, etc. – at Manna’s Martial Arts in San Diego. Tony Martinez (President of Powerhouse) suggested we do a show. We discussed it with members of our team – Joe Moreira, Carlos Palomino, Rodolfo Gonzalez and Burdett Streeter – as well as Doug Jacobs (Integrated Sports Media) and (associate) Benny Ricardo. Pay per view made it an easier sell and we were able to raise capital for the show. Now, people from all over the world will be able to watch our show.
“The depth of our field is unmatched. We not only wanted to make sure that we had three really good fights like we do, but to insure that all of the fights on this show would feature high quality fighters, as well as competitive, entertaining matches. These fights are all very well matched from top to bottom. All of us (Team PWP) are old-school martial artists. We stepped into the ring against anybody that was put in there; the type of show we’re putting on August 14th and few like it exist today in MMA for the public.”
Sylvia (26-6-0), fighting out of Bettendorf, Iowa, is coming off of an impressive second-round submission of 5-time World’s Strongest Man, Mariusz “Dominator” Pudzianowski. During his sensational career, Sylvia (6-8, 300 lbs.) has defeated many of the world’s top MMA heavyweights and super heavyweights – Andrei Arlovski (2) Brandon Vera, Jeff Monson, Wes Sims, Ricco Rodriguez, Mike Whitehead (2), Ben Rothwell and Jason Lambert.
Buentello (6-2, 250 lbs.), fighting out of Amarillo, Texas, has notable victories against “Tank” Abbott, Gary Goodridge, Justin Eilers, Mike Kyle and Kirill “Baby Fedor” Sidelnikov.
Sylvia-Buentello is one of three PWP title fights (5 X 5, all other fights are 3 X 5). Former WEC titlist Jason “The Punisher” Lambert (24-11-0) faces 8-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion Allan Goes (17-3-0) for the vacant PWP Light Heavyweight title belt, while former UFC title challenger Thales Leite (17-3-1) fights Strikeforce veteran Falinko “Niko” Vitale (27-9-0) for the PWP Middleweight crown.
In a Special Lightweight Attraction, former UFC lightweight champion Jens “Little Evil” Pulver (22-13-1), one of the most popular MMA fighters in the world, meets Diego “El Nino” Garijo (4-1-0).
Also fighting on “War on the Mainland” are Brazilian middleweight Gustavo “Ximu” Machado (18-8-1) vs. Rick Reeves (10-3-0), Mexican welterweight Jorge “The Naked Man” Ortiz (16-5-1) vs. veteran Terry Martin (19-8-0), and California lightweights Joao Silva (3-0) vs. Erin Beach (1-0). All fights and fighters are subject to change.
“We’re hitting the ground running,” Manna added. “People all over the world want to fight with us. We’re not interested in signing fighters to long-term contracts. We’re interested in the fighters being self-sufficient and stable. Burdett is a financial advisor and one of our goals is to aid fighters to become more aware of how to make their financial future more stable.”
Tickets, ranging from $35.00 to $110.00 reserved and $110.00 to $295.00 on the floor, are on sale at the Bren Event Center Box Office (10 AM/PT-6 PM/PT, Mon-Fri), going on line to www.bren.uci.edu or www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 1.949.824.5000.
Doors open at 5:00 PM/PT, first bout 6:15 PM/PT, first PPV bout 7 PM/PT - 10 PM/ET. Go to www.WarontheMainland.com or www.bren.uci.edu for additional information.
Vendor opportunities and sponsorships are available by calling 1.858.798.1541.
Contacts: Brian Manna, CEO, PWP, 1.858.798.1541, bdm@pwpromo.com Tony Martinez, President, PWP, 1.858.798.1541, tm@pwpromo.com Joe Moreira, MMA Executive, PWP, 1.858.798.1541, jm@pwpromo.com Burdett Streeter, Secretary, PWP, 1858.798.1541, bdm@pwpromo.com Bob Trieger, Full Court Press, 1.978.664.4482, bobtfcp@hotmail.com Benny Ricardo, bennyricardo@sbcglobal.net Doug Jacobs, Integrated Sports Media, 1.201.610.1500, doug@integratedsportsnet.com
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UFC 118: Edgar VS. Penn 2 Presented by TAPOUT
Saturday, August 28th in Boston
Don't miss UFC's Boston debut at TD Garden, when Frankie Edgar will square off against BJ Penn for the UFC lightweight title.
Also on this card, Randy Couture takes on boxing legend James Toney as Toney makes his mixed martial arts debut. Plus Rousimar Palhares takes on Nate Marquardt, and Gray Maynard and Massachusetts' own, Kenny Florian battle for the next top lightweight contender spot.
Join the TD Garden Insiders Club, your free all-access pass to exclusive ticket packages, breaking news alerts, and presale access to select shows, including UFC 118.
Once you join, you'll automatically receive your presale link, so that you can be in the house when UFC makes its Boston debut at TD Garden.
Ticket prices: $77.50, $102.50, $202.50, $302.50, $402.50, $602.50, For tickets: (click here) For more info: (click here)
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The Draw of UFC 115 Too Much for Liddell
June 13th, General Motor Place in Vancouver, Canada: It happens to most and now it has grabbed 40 year old UFC legend Chuck “Iceman” Liddell. It’s only a little over a year since “The Iceman” was destroyed by Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in round one of Montreal’s UFC 97 and most MMA fans and experts expecting it to be “The Iceman’s” last hurrah now Ko’ed in two straight bouts having been stopped in two by Rasheed Evans in UFC 88 September 2008.
Whether it be in boxing or mixed martial arts there is always that draw that pull back to the ring or in this case the cage. Just one more fight. Whether it be for the spotlight, the roar of the crowd or another paycheck it usually ends miserably. It happened to Ali returning against Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick. Holmes himself returned to the ring after a very illustrious career winning his bout but was dropped by Eric Esch, that’s right “Butterbean” “the king of four rounders.” Now add former UFC Light Heavyweight Chuck Liddell to the list of those who could not stay away.
Originally scheduled to meet Tito Ortiz who pulled out due to an injury in training Liddell was taking on former UFC middleweight champ Rich “Ace” Franklin as the main event of UFC 115.
“The Iceman” appeared to be doing well in the opening minutes of the first round. Looking momentarily like the “Iceman” of old applying the pressure, on the attack, using his legs, scoring with kicks, even a take down and then just seconds before the close of the round Franklin a southpaw fighting in desperation as the result of a broken left forearm from blocking a Liddell kick earlier in the round had an "Ace" in the hole when he scored with a big looping counter right dropping the former champion cold with just five seconds remaining in round one.
Some say the legs go first but here the ex-champion was in shape it was the granite chin that had softened. The rise of mixed martial arts owes much of its success to the great career of “The Iceman” we can only hope it ends here with Liddell now having lost five of his last six matches being stopped in the “final” three.
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Welterweight Legend Matt Hughes Joins UFC Hall of Fame
Two Time UFC Champion Enshrined Friday, May 28th
Las Vegas, NV (USA) – “A country boy can survive.” For two-time UFC® welterweight champion Matt Hughes, those words echoed by singer Hank Williams Jr. don’t just serve as his inspiration before big fights. For the 36-year-old native of Hillsboro, Ill., those are words to live by.
Whether it was locking horns with the best of an era in the UFC or plowing acres upon acres of farmland growing up, Hughes’ unreal work ethic and drive have allowed him to not only survive, but excel.
You see, in the world of Matt Hughes, nothing is impossible. The self-proclaimed “farm boy” has proven that mantra time and time again inside the UFC’s hallowed Octagon™. Over a span of 12 years, Hughes has become one of the fiercest competitors to ever compete. What’s more, Hughes – considered by many to be the greatest 170-pounder to ever put on four-ounce gloves – has earned dominant victories over the sport’s most elite challengers.
From Royce Gracie to Georges St-Pierre to BJ Penn to Matt Serra, the four-time All-American collegiate wrestler has dominated the best-of-the-best while also defending the welterweight title seven times over two championship reigns. For these accomplishments, the UFC announced Hughes’ selection into the UFC Hall of Fame.
“When we look back at the history books, Matt Hughes will go down as one of the best 170-pounders of all time,” UFC President Dana White said. “This is one of the guys who helped build this organization. Matt’s credentials as a mixed martial artist speak for themselves and we’re proud that he now has a well-deserved spot in the UFC Hall of Fame.”
The official UFC Hall of Fame ceremony took place Friday, May 28 at 6:00pm PT at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center as a part of the UFC® FAN EXPO™. Hughes joined Chuck Liddell, Charles “Mask” Lewis, Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, Randy Couture, and Mark Coleman as members of the UFC Hall of Fame. Upon learning of his enshrinement, Hughes was truly honored.
“I never thought about this, to be honest,” said Hughes, who owns wins over six current or former UFC champions. “I’m just a Midwest guy kinda living the dream. But I’m very privileged and I thank the UFC. Shaking hands, signing autographs, being a world title holder and being inducted into the Hall of Fame, this is beyond what I ever would have pictured my life being.”
Tickets for the UFC® FAN EXPO™ are on sale now and can be bought exclusively at www.ufcfanexpo.com. This year’s event leads into UFC 114: RAMPAGE vs. EVANS, taking place live at MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA, featuring the long-awaited grudge match between former light heavyweight champions Rampage Jackson and Rashad Evans.
Contact: Jennifer Wenk, UFC Public Relations, (702) 221-4790, jwenk@ufc.com
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Chuck Liddell Honored at Madame Tussauds
First MMA Sports Personality Immortalized in Wax
UFC® Pioneer on Hand for Figure Unveiling
(Las Vegas, NV, April 8 2010)---Celebrity athlete and UFC sports legend Chuck Liddell will be immortalized in wax May 29 at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas (www.madametussauds.com/lasvegas).
The 40 year-old athlete will be the first mixed martial arts athlete to be inducted into the famed collection, located in front of the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino.
The Liddell figure will be officially unveiled Friday, May 28 at 10:30am PT in front of thousands of fans gathered at the UFC Fan Expo (ufcfanexpo.com) taking place May 28-29 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The Liddell figure will then be moved to Madame Tussauds Las Vegas and placed on display inside a UFC Octagon, along with Liddell’s trunks and UFC championship belt.
Since taking up martial arts at the age of 12, Liddell has transformed himself into a superstar athlete.
He’s famous for his seven fight win streak in which he was pitted against Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz, among other popular UFC stars.
Liddell has been a part of UFC for over a decade and his star power has helped make it the world’s fastest growing sports organization.
Along the way, Liddell has appeared on numerous magazine covers including ESPN Magazine and has also made guest appearances on HBO’s “Entourage.”
In 2009, he was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in recognition of his status as MMA’s biggest star and the 6-foot plus athlete is said to have the most feared right hand in the sport.
Since it opened a decade ago, as one of the first locations outside of London, Madame Tussauds Las Vegas has entertained nearly five million visitors and in recent years has scored record attendance, including number of visitors to date in 2009.
Over 100 world-famous figures, each costing an average of $300,000 to create, are featured at the attraction at one time, in various themed areas, and to keep the offerings “fresh” the attraction’s designers regularly spotlight new and exciting exhibits, such as the latest additions of Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears wax figures, which made their debuts at other Madame Tussauds worldwide locations but are brand new to the Las Vegas attraction.
Among its recent debut figures in Las Vegas were Snoop Dogg, Kathy Griffin and Pres. Barack Obama and the “Oval Office Experience.”
Press contact: Jerry Brown, Jerry Digney, DIGNEY & CO., 323 993 3000.
About Madame Tussauds Las Vegas:
Madame Tussauds Las Vegas offers guests the unique opportunity to “interact” with incredibly life-like iconic figures from the celebrity worlds of film, TV, music, sports and politics. Only at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas can you “grab hold” of your favorite stars, with our many interactive experiences. With over 100 wax figures, Madame Tussauds Las Vegas allows you to take pictures, touch and get up close and personal in a themed setting. Madame Tussauds Las Vegas is located on the Las Vegas Strip in front oft the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino. The attraction is open 365 days a year from 10AM. For attraction hours and pricing, please call (702) 862-7800 or visit online at www.MTvegas.com.
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UFC® Awarded Attorney Fees and Costs in Shamrock Case!
Las Vegas, NV (USA) – Zuffa, LLC (“Zuffa”), dba the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (“UFC®”), was awarded yet another legal victory today when the Honorable Susan H. Johnson, of the Eighth Judicial District Court for Nevada, granted Zuffa’s Motion for Attorney’s Fees and Costs against former UFC fighter Ken Shamrock.
Earlier in the year, Shamrock had unsuccessfully brought suit against Zuffa challenging various provisions of his UFC contract during a two day trial before Judge Johnson. As a result of today’s decision, Shamrock was ordered to pay Zuffa nearly $175,000 in related attorney fees, costs and expenses.
Zuffa was once again represented by Las Vegas lawyers Donald J. Campbell and J. Colby Williams whose legal efforts during the trial were characterized by Judge Johnson as “stellar.” When asked to comment on today’s ruling by Judge Johnson, Messrs. Campbell & Williams remarked as follows:
“This latest legal victory on behalf of Zuffa demonstrates, once again, that the UFC is fully committed to vigorously enforcing all of its contractual rights. Judge Johnson has determined Mr. Shamrock’s hard lesson learned in this case will cost him approximately $175,000.”
Contact: Jennifer Wenk, UFC PR; 702.221.4790, 702.635.0995 (cell) wenk@ufc.com