MIR'S ADVICE TO LESNAR AT UFC 100,
"COME AFTER ME - TAKE A CHANCE"

(click pic to watch)

Las Vegas, NV (USA) -- Following a grueling workout at Striking Unlimited last week Friday, UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir sat down with the sports media in Las Vegas to talk UFC 100. 
 
Mir gave advice to UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar, stating the strategy he used against him the first time around might just work the second. 
 
"If Brock really comes out and tries to abandon the running at me, heads over heels and just trying to knock, bull rush me over, I honestly think that's his best approach," said Mir, with a black shine circling his eye. "I would just come after me - take a chance, 'cause to sit there and play the cat and mouse game with me, and jab and slip and move around, I think that's a slow death for him that he can't possibly win." 
 
To view the full video containing Frank Mir's interview and open workouts in Las Vegas, or to download it for online editorial use, visit UFC.com/pressroom. 
 
Install a UFC Embeddable Video Player to LIVE stream UFC (and WEC®) press conferences, weigh-in events, post-fight press conferences. Also broadcast exclusive video such as fighter interviews and other behind-the-scenes moments leading right up to fight night. For technical assistance email Edward Muncey at emuncey@ufc.com 
 
UFC 100 takes place Saturday, July 11 live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The sold out event is available live on Pay-Per-View starting at 10pm ET/7pm PT.

Contact: Jennifer Wenk, UFC PR, 702.221.4790, 702.635.0995, jwenk@ufc.com  Ant Evans, Senior Communications Manager, UFC UK Division, 00 44 (0) 7792 802652

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

WORLD EXTREME CAGEFIGHTING®
ANNOUNCES HUGE SEPT. 2 CARD IN YOUNGSTOWN

WEC® PRESENTS: CERRONE VS. HENDERSON

From The Covelli Centre in Youngstown, Ohio - Wednesday, Sept. 2;
First Bout at 6 p.m. ET
Fight to Air Live on VERSUS at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT

Tickets Go On Sale Thursday, July 9 at 10 a.m. ET

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – On Wednesday, Sept. 2, World Extreme Cagefighting® brings its hard-hitting, explosive brand of mixed martial arts to one of the finest fight towns in the country. The best light weight fighters in the world will be on display when WEC invades the Covelli Centre in Youngstown, OH. In the main event, fan favorite Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone battles feared striker Ben Henderson in a bout that will crown the interim WEC lightweight champion.

“The fight fans in Youngstown have a history of being some of the best in the country,” WEC General Manager Reed Harris said. “We’re happy to bring a championship fight and loaded card to our first trip to Ohio. We know the fans in Youngstown, and in surrounding areas like Cleveland and Pittsburgh, are anxious to see the WEC live.”

Tickets for Cerrone vs. Henderson go on sale Thursday, July 9 at 10 a.m. ET and will be priced at $25, $45, $75, and $125. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to WEC newsletter subscribers on Wednesday, July 8 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the WEC newsletter through wec.tv. Tickets may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster Charge-By-Phone at 1-800-745-3000 or by visiting the Covelli Centre Box Office. Purchases can also be made at Covelli Centre retail locations, including Giant Eagle and Macy’s stores in the Youngstown area. Tickets also are available online through www.wec.tv or www.ticketmaster.com.

Cerrone vs. Henderson will be televised nationally live on VERSUS beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. All of the network’s live WEC events are presented in HD and Spanish language SAP where available. For more information and how to find VERSUS in your local viewing area, visit http://www.versus.com/findversus.

With lightweight champion Jamie Varner unable to defend the title due to injury, top contenders Donald Cerrone and Ben Henderson are set to collide in what could be of the most intense championship bouts of the year.

A former professional bull rider, Cerrone (10-1, 1 NC) hopes to lasso his first world title when he meets Henderson in Youngstown. A phenomenal Muay Thai striker, the 26-year-old Albuquerque, NM resident also boasts a potent ground game. With nine of his 10 wins coming by way of submission – including his last victory via rear naked choke over James Krause on June 7 - the Greg Jackson-trained Cerrone is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous fighters in the lightweight division. With a unique blend of striking and submissions, “Cowboy” firmly believes that his versatility will guide him toward the WEC championship.

“He’s got an awesome ground game and he’s a superior wrestler,” Cerrone said of Henderson. “The only thing he lacks is his standup. I believe that I have what it takes to become champion. I know Ben well and like him, but when the cage door closes, I want to win that belt.”

A technically-sound grappler, Henderson (9-1) has lived up to his nickname “Smooth” since debuting in the WEC in January. Fighting out of Glendale, AZ, the former two-time NAIA collegiate wrestling All-American has scored WEC wins over Shane Roller and Anthony Njokuani and is unbeaten since 2006. Thanks to his wrestling prowess and black belt in Taekwondo, Henderson has the ability to finish fights both on the feet and the ground. With a complete arsenal at his disposal, the 25-year-old believes he will out-duel “Cowboy” in their September showdown.

“There are guys who get in the cage and you can see in their eyes that they’re a little bit overwhelmed by the whole thing,” Henderson said. “I don’t think I’ll be overwhelmed. I love Cerrone’s game and his ‘Terminator’ style. He just keeps coming forward. As far as standing up with him and trading some blows, I’d love to. Let’s go out there and have fun.”

Remaining bouts for WEC: Cerrone vs. Henderson will be announced at a later date. For more information about current WEC fight news, visit wec.tv.

About World Extreme Cagefighting®
The WEC brand is recognized as one of the premier mixed martial arts organizations in the United States. WEC, founded in 2001, is the sister organization of the Ultimate Fighting Championship® and today features the most prominent light weight fighters in the world. Owned and operated by WEC Holdings LLC., and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., the WEC produces live and taped events annually that are distributed through the Versus network.WEC programming is also available on Fox Sports en Espanol. In addition to its U.S distribution, WEC programming is shown on the TSN network in Canada and Cadena Tres in Mexico. For more information and current WEC fight news, visit wec.tv. World Extreme Cagefighting® and WEC® are registered trademarks, trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned exclusively by WEC Holdings, LLC in the United States and other jurisdictions and are licensed to WEC Productions, LLC.

About VERSUS
VERSUS celebrates real competition across all platforms (VERSUS.com, VERSUS on Demand and VERSUS HD). Now in more than 75 million homes, the network is the national cable home of the National Hockey League (NHL), the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the 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. The network also offers 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 The Contender 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.

About The Covelli Centre
Youngstown’s Covelli Centre has hosted a string of sold out events this year including the recent Top Rank championship title boxing match between reigning WBO/WBC Middleweight Champion Kelly Pavlik and Marco Antonio Rubio; as well as Celtic Woman, Globetrotters, and Disney Live. The Covelli Centre is a 5,000 seat arena owned by the City of Youngstown and is managed by privately-operated JAC Management Group LLC of Struthers, Ohio and SMG, a Philadelphia based company that provides facility services to more than 215 public assembly facilities.

Contacts: Dave Sholler, WEC Public Relations, 702-588-5541, dsholler@wec.tv Katie Bradshaw, VERSUS Public, 917-934-1997, katiebradshaw@versus.com

Mizugaki Returns on Aug. 9th to Face Veteran Curran
Japanese Star "Planning on a KO Finish"

WEC® Presents: Torres vs Bowles
From The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada - Sunday, August 9; First Bout at 3 p.m. PT
Fight to Air Live on VERSUS at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT
Tickets on Sale NOW!

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – In April, Japanese sensation Takeya Mizugaki did what many thought was impossible. The 25-year-old, filling in as a late replacement for an injured Brian Bowles, pushed WEC® bantamweight champion Miguel Angel Torres to the limit. For five grueling rounds, Mizugaki landed knees in the clinch and traded leather with one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighters. Although he couldn’t wrestle the title away from Torres, Mizugaki returned to Japan following the bout knowing that he had earned the respect of the U.S. fans.
Having reviewed the Torres bout, Mizugaki (11-3-2) returns to World Extreme Cagefighting® on Aug. 9 as motivated as ever. Facing grizzled veteran Jeff Curran (31-11-1) at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, the former Shooto star hopes to build off his first WEC performance and prove that he is among the bantamweight elite.

“I love the American fans and I want to come up with a good result this time,” Mizugaki said via translator Shu Hirata. “I want to show the fans here and in Japan that I belong in the WEC, where the world’s best competition in MMA is being held.”

Tickets for the fight, which is headlined by a 135-pound title clash between champion Miguel Angel Torres and Brian Bowles, are on sale now and priced at $40, $55, $85, $100, $125, $175, and $225. Tickets may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster Charge-By-Phone at 1-800-745-3000 or by visiting the Hard Rock Box Office. Tickets also are available online through www.wec.tv or www.ticketmaster.com.

WEC: Torres vs. Bowles will be televised nationally live on VERSUS beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. All of the network’s live WEC events are presented in HD and Spanish language SAP where available. For more information and how to find VERSUS in your local viewing area, visit http://www.versus.com/findversus.
Mizugaki’s second bout in the WEC may be as difficult as his first. Curran, a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt with professional boxing experience, has fought some of the stiffest competition in the world. From Mike Brown to Urijah Faber to Wagnney Fabiano, “Big Frog” has battled a who’s who of mixed martial artists. Mizugaki is aware of Curran’s prominence in the sport, but thinks that he can become the first person since 2001 to knock out the Illinois native.
“Jeff is a fantastic fighter and he’s famous here in Japan because he’s been fighting on the world’s top level for a long time,” Mizugaki said of Curran, who fought in Japan in 2006 at a PRIDE event. “But I’m planning on an aggressive fight with a KO finish. This will be an exciting fight for fans.”

Competing in what he calls a “crossroads fight,” Curran was encouraged to hear that Mizugaki is looking for a knockout. Needing a win to push himself up the bantamweight ladder, the 31-year-old wants to show that he, and not Mizugaki, is the best striker not named Torres in the division.

“I was impressed by Takeya Mizugaki and his striking in April,” Curran admitted. “But I would say that most people just don't know how good my hands really are because I never get into a boxing match during my fights. I know if I were to simply box Mizugaki, he would have his hands full.”

With the August slugfest looming, both fighters have engaged in some of the hardest training camps of their respective careers. While Curran has his sights set on moving up the bantamweight rankings, Mizugaki is slightly more single-minded. The clinch fighter, who owns a master’s degree in electric engineering, hopes a win over Curran powers him toward another shot at Torres.
“I’m not looking past Curran, but I’d fight Torres again immediately after our fights on Aug. 9,” Mizugaki said with a laugh. “I will fight him any day, anywhere. If I beat Curran, I will prove that I am one of the top 135 pound fighters. If the WEC gives me another shot at Torres after that, I would take the offer in a second.”

About World Extreme Cagefighting®
The WEC brand is recognized as one of the premier mixed martial arts organizations in the United States. WEC, founded in 2001, is the sister organization of the Ultimate Fighting Championship® and today features the most prominent light weight fighters in the world. Owned and operated by WEC Holdings LLC., and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., the WEC produces live and taped events annually that are distributed through the Versus network.WEC programming is also available on Fox Sports en Espanol. In addition to its U.S distribution, WEC programming is shown on the TSN network in Canada and Cadena Tres in Mexico. For more information and current WEC fight news, visit wec.tv. World Extreme Cagefighting® and WEC® are registered trademarks, trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned exclusively by WEC Holdings, LLC in the United States and other jurisdictions and are licensed to WEC Productions, LLC.

About VERSUS
VERSUS celebrates real competition across all platforms (VERSUS.com, VERSUS on Demand and VERSUS HD). Now in more than 75 million homes, the network is the national cable home of the National Hockey League (NHL), the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the 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. The network also offers 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 The Contender 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.

About The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino                     Designed by the renowned Montreal-based architectural design firm Scéno Plus, the new Joint at Hard Rock has a capacity of 4,000, offers seven premiere VIP hospitality suites, and features an innovative sound and lighting system. To maximize fan’s enjoyment with a genuine experience, the new Joint is double its previous size, yet maintains the same atmosphere of the original venue. Introduced to concert-goers in April, the new Joint has opened to rave reviews thanks to its focus on creating the ultimate viewing experience.

Contacts: Dave Sholler, WEC Public Relations, 702-588-5541, dsholler@wec.tv Katie Bradshaw, VERSUS Public, 917-934-1997, katiebradshaw@versus.com

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Two Rising Stars Set to Collide at Hard Rock Aug 9th
Benavidez and Cruz Meet in Pivotal Bantamweight Bout

WEC® Presents Torres vs Bowles
From The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino,
Las Vegas, Nevada - Sunday, August 9th

First Bout at 3 p.m. PT Fight to Air Live on VERSUS at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT Tickets On Sale NOW 
 
Las Vegas, NV (USA) – Two of the sport’s most well-rounded athletes have officially agreed to meet on August 9 in a bout that could very well determine the next bantamweight title challenger. Undefeated Joseph Benavidez of Sacramento, Calif. takes on once-beaten Dominick Cruz of San Diego, Calif. at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in a fight that already has fans buzzing.
“When we discussed making this bout, we knew that it had the potential to produce fireworks,” WEC General Manager Reed Harris said. “Both Joseph and Dominick boast speed and power and both guys like to finish fights. That’s a recipe for a really exciting bout.” 
 
Tickets for the fight, which is headlined by a 135-pound title clash between champion Miguel Angel Torres and Brian Bowles, are on sale now and priced at $40, $55, $85, $100, $125, $175, and $225. Tickets may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster Charge-By-Phone at 1-800-745-3000 or by visiting the Hard Rock Box Office. Tickets also are available online through www.wec.tv or www.ticketmaster.com. 
 
WEC: Torres vs. Bowles will be televised nationally live on VERSUS beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. All of the network’s live WEC events are presented in HD and Spanish language SAP where available. For more information and how to find VERSUS in your local viewing area, visit http://www.versus.com/findversus.

A fast-paced, crisp striker with good grappling skill, the 24-year-old Benavidez  (10-0) burst onto the WEC bantamweight scene last December with a unanimous decision win over Danny Martinez. The New Mexico native, who now trains out of Urijah Faber’s camp in Sacramento, followed up the win over Martinez by dominating tested veteran Jeff Curran in April en route to a second consecutive decision victory. With two WEC wins under his belt, Benavidez hopes to catapult himself into title contention with a win over Cruz. 
 
“Cruz is someone I’ve looked at for a while,” Benavidez said. “I felt like a clash with him would happen in the future. Once he dropped to 135, I thought he would pose problems for anyone. He’s as dangerous as anyone in the division. This is a fight between the top two contenders. I’m pretty sure whoever wins this will be going for the title.”

With victories over Charlie Valencia, Ian McCall, and Ivan Lopez in his WEC career, Cruz, also 24 years old, has earned the right to fight the bantamweight’s best. Training with UFC veteran Brandon Vera at the Alliance Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., Cruz (13-1) has refined his standup game and become one of the better strikers in the WEC. Given that his only career loss came at the hands of Benavidez’s training partner Urijah Faber in 2007, Cruz is hoping to get revenge by defeating Benavidez on August 9. 
 
“I think he’s a very good athlete with a lot of natural talent and that’s what has gotten him as far as he has,” Cruz said. “I’m going to beat Joseph Benavidez because I am a more complete MMA fighter and I’m just as athletic and in better condition than he is. I have nothing but respect for him. I’ve seen all of his fights and he looked real impressive against Curran. But MMA comes down to style matchups. It’s all about how you fight somebody that leads to the win. I think a lot of people haven’t gone at him with the right game plan. I will.” Remaining bouts for WEC: Torres vs. Bowles will be announced at a later date. For more information about current WEC fight news, visit wec.tv. 

Contacts: Dave Sholler, WEC Public Relations, 702-588-5541, dsholler@wec.tv Katie Bradshaw, VERSUS Public, 917-934-1997, katiebradshaw@versus.com

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Ultimate Fighting Championship
Confirms Remaining Fights for UFC 100

JON FITCH vs. PAULO THIAGO
YOSHIHIRO AKIYAMA vs. ALAN BELCHER
MARK COLEMAN vs. STEPHAN BONNAR
MAC DANZIG vs. JIM MILLER
JON JONES vs. JAKE O’BRIEN
DONG HYUN KIM vs. JONATHAN GOULET
CB DOLLAWAY vs. TOM LAWLOR
MATT GRICE vs. SHANNON GUGERTY

SATURDAY, JULY 11 - LIVE FROM MANDALAY BAY EVENTS CENTER

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – Title contenders, a former UFC® champion and a handful of rising stars and that’s just on the undercard. With the undisputed heavyweight title on the line, one of the UFC’s greatest welterweights ever facing his greatest challenge ever and a mixed martial arts legend facing the United Kingdom’s biggest star, the UFC has already secured three main-event-caliber matches for UFC 100. The fight card has the exciting names – now it’s time to watch the exciting fights.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship® today confirmed the remaining fights for the historic UFC® 100 event on Saturday, July 11th at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. With an already stacked fight card, including two championship fights, the UFC has added Jon Fitch vs. Paulo Thiago, Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Alan Belcher, Mark Coleman vs. Stephan Bonnar, Mac Danzig vs. Jim Miller, Jon Jones vs. Jake O’Brien, Dong Hyun Kim vs. Jonathan Goulet, CB Dollaway vs. Tom Lawlor and Matt Grice vs. Shannon Gugerty. 
 
UFC 100 is sold out and will be available live and only on Pay-Per-View on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, BellTV, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.95 for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available). 
 
With an outstanding 9-1 record in the UFC (22-3, 1 NC overall) and coming off an impressive win against Akihiro Gono in his last fight, Jon Fitch (fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) is one of the toughest fighters the welterweight division has to offer. With wins over Thiago Alves, Diego Sanchez, Brock Larson and Luigi Fioravanti, the Ft. Wayne, Indiana native has dominated the competition and looks to one day hold that UFC welterweight strap. Standing in his way is the undefeated Paulo Thiago (fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil). The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt improved his professional mixed martial arts record to 11-0 when he defeated Josh Koscheck by TKO in the first round of their February match. He gets another true test when he faces Koscheck’s teammate at UFC 100.

A middleweight superstar who made his name overseas, Yoshihiro Akiyama (fighting out of Osaka, Japan) is a decorated judo black belt with dangerous knockout power and a 12-1, 2 NC mixed martial arts record. He’ll make his long-awaited UFC debut against MMA veteran Alan Belcher (fighting out of Biloxi, Mississippi). A Jonesboro, Arkansas native, “The Talent” is riding a two-fight win streak with a submission victory against Denis Kang in his last fight at UFC 93.

A UFC Hall of Famer, former UFC heavyweight champion and 1988 NCAA national wrestling champion for Ohio State, Mark Coleman (fighting out of Columbus, Ohio) has the credentials and the talent to make a great fight every time out. With seven career UFC wins, the 44-year-old looks to stir things up in the light heavyweight division, and if there’s another fighter that knows how to put on a great show it’s Stephan Bonnar (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.). A fighter that will be remembered forever for his epic battle with Forrest Griffin in the original The Ultimate Fighter® finale, The Munster, Indiana born fighter has notable wins over Keith Jardine, Eric Schafer and James Irvin.

Season six winner of The Ultimate Fighter, Mac Danzig (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) has two submission victories as a UFC fighter and the Cleveland, Ohio native will have his greatest test to date when he faces Sparta, New Jersey native Jim Miller (fighting out of Whippany, N.J.). The Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt has two UFC wins, including a submission victory over David Baron in his lightweight debut.

If one wanted to watch a rising star in the UFC’s light heavyweight division, look no further than Rochester, New York born Jon Jones (fighting out of Endicott, N.Y.). The undefeated 21-year-old earned an exciting unanimous decision victory against UFC veteran Stephan Bonnar in his last fight, winning his second UFC match and keeping his professional record perfect at 8-0. Now Jones turns his attention to former heavyweight Jake O’Brien (fighting out of Indianapolis, Ind.). The former Purdue wrestler and three-time high school state champion earned a split decision victory against Christian Wellisch in his last fight.

With two UFC wins already on his resume, Dong Hyun Kim (fighting out of Busan, Korea) brings plenty of excitement to the UFC welterweight division. With a memorable match against Karo Parisyan and wins over Matt Brown and Jason Tan, the 27-year-old judo black belt will be an interesting matchup for Canadian striker Jonathan Goulet (Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada). The 29-year-old has four wins in the UFC, including two TKOs and one submission.

Currently on a two-fight win streak, former The Ultimate Fighter Season 7 finalist CB Dollaway (fighting out of Tempe, Ariz.) has finished his last two fights within one round. Now the Mt. Gilead, Ohio native and former NCAA All-American wrestler from Arizona State University faces Fall River, Massachusetts product Tom Lawlor (fighting out of Orlando, Fla.). The 26-year-old with the 5-1, 1 NC record earned a unanimous decision victory against Kyle Kingsbury in his UFC debut. 
 
A former wrestler from Oklahoma University, Matt Grice (fighting out of Harrah, Okla.) holds a 10-2 professional MMA record and an impressive split decision victory over Jason Black. Grice will have to be on his game when he faces the well-rounded Shannon Gugerty (fighting out of San Diego, Calif.). The 27-year-old brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu also has a background in Muay Thai and already holds a UFC win over Dale Hartt. 
 
For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com, UK.UFC.com, GERMANY.UFC.com or UFCEspanol.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

About The Ultimate Fighting Championship®                                The Ultimate Fighting Championship® is the world’s leading professional mixed martial arts organization and offers the premier series of MMA sports events. Owned and operated by Zuffa™, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® produces over twelve live pay-per-view events annually that are distributed residentially through North American cable and satellite providers including iNDEMAND Networks, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN Entertainment, BellTV, SaskTel Max™, Shaw Pay-Per-View, Viewers Choice, and WOWOW in Japan, and Premiere Combate and SporTV in Brazil, and via the Internet worldwide on Yahoo! Sports, and commercially through Joe Hand Promotions in the U.S. and Canadastar in Canada. In addition to its North American distribution, UFC programming is distributed in over 100 countries and territories throughout the world. For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit ufc.com or uk.ufc.com or ufcespanol.com.

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, trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC and affiliated entities in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC or other respective owners.

Contact: Jennifer Wenk, UFC PR, 702.221.4790, 702.635.0995, jwenk@ufc.com 

________________________________________________________________________________________

UFC® Launches UFCJAPAN.JP
The First Official PC and Mobile site for Japanese Fans

Las Vegas, NV (USA) and SMJ Co. Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) –- In a move to bring the UFC® experience one step closer for mixed martial arts fans in Japan, The Ultimate Fighting Championship® officially launched the first Japanese-language UFC web and mobile sites.

Japanese fight fans can now access UFC via the new and only UFC branded Japanese PC and mobile sites across all three major carriers’ 3G networks in Japan.

The UFC Official Mobile sites will offer the latest news and enhanced content of the UFC to 3G network users of all three major mobile carriers – NTT Docomo, KDDI and Softbank in Japan. Content such as breaking news, fight previews, video interviews, photos and editorial columns will be offered on a daily basis.
Japanese fighter Yoshihiro Akiyama is the latest addition to the UFC, with his debut fight taking place at the historic UFC 100 event Saturday, July 11 in Las Vegas. In addition to Akiyama, UFC has a steady stream of talent coming out of Japan including Yushin Okami, Yoshiyuki Yoshida and Caol Uno.

The largest mixed martial arts organization (MMA) in the world, UFC delivers the premier series of MMA sporting events. UFC is the largest pay-per-view content provider in the world and is the fastest growing sports organization in history. UFC television programming can be seen in over 100 countries and territories worldwide in 17 different languages, including locally on WOWOW in Japan.
World Extreme Cagefighting® (WEC®), home of the best lighter weight fighters in the world, including the popular bantamweight Takeya Mizugaki, will also be featured in the mobile site with news, photos and other content.

To access UFC Japanese site on your web mobile device, please visit http://mufcjapan.jp
To access UFC Japanese site on your desktop PC computer, please visit UFCJapan.jp

About Sports Marketing Japan:
Sports Marketing Japan operates and manages new media businesses in Japan, including mobile and PC sites for the NBA, NFL, WWE, Wimbledon, Australian Open Tennis, US Open Tennis, US LPGA, PGA Tour and Serie A Soccer.

Contact: Jennifer Wenk, UFC PR, 702.221.4790, 702.635.0995, jwenk@ufc.com 

____________________________________________________________________________________

UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira
Heavyweight Legends to Headline
First Ever UFC® Event in Portland

Live from The Rose Garden-Saturday, Aug. 29th

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) is headed to Portland for the first time ever and it’s bringing a couple of true heavyweight heroes. Mixed martial arts legends and former UFC champions Randy “The Natural” Couture and Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira will face off for the first time in their storied careers at UFC 102: COUTURE vs. NOGUEIRA, live from Portland, Oregon’s Rose Garden on Saturday, August 29, 2009.

“We’re extremely excited to be heading to Portland,” UFC President Dana White said. “When you get two mixed martial arts legends that are all heart and have wanted to fight each other for years, plus the fact that Randy has roots in Oregon, that tells me that not only will the crowd be electric but it’s also a night where the fighters will be looking to cement their legacies.”

Tickets for UFC 102 will go on sale Saturday, June 20 at 10 a.m. PT and will be priced at $600, $400, $300, $200, $100 and $50. Tickets can be purchased at the Rose Quarter Box Office (M-F 10 a.m.-5 p.m.), all participating Safeway/ TicketsWest outlets, by calling 877.789.ROSE (7673), or at ComcastTIX.com. For more information please visit RoseQuarter.com. Prices do not include service charges.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Thursday, June 18 starting at 10 a.m. PT via UFC.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers on Friday, June 19 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

A UFC Hall-of-Famer and five-time UFC champion, Randy “The Natural” Couture (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) has a mixed martial arts resume that truly stands out from the rest. The Everett, Washington native has registered a series of wins over big names that include Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz, Tim Sylvia, Pedro Rizzo, Vitor Belfort and Gabriel Gonzaga. On August 29th, Couture returns to Oregon after coaching wrestling at Oregon State University, and the 45-year-old former three-time UFC heavyweight champion and two-time UFC light heavyweight champion will be looking to give his legion of fans yet another reason to cheer when he takes on Nogueira.

“Nogueira is the type of fighter that is dangerous everywhere,” Couture said. “He’s difficult to knock out and he’s a world class jiu-jitsu player. I will have to train very diligently and very specifically for him. Also, the fact that I’m fighting in Oregon makes me want to put on a great show and win for these fans.”
A Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo black belt and the only man to hold the PRIDE and UFC heavyweight championship belts, “Minotauro” Nogueira (fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) has the experience and the world-class talent to take out anyone who opposes him in the Octagon. With UFC wins over Heath Herring and Tim Sylvia in his first two UFC bouts, the revered Nogueira quickly made his presence felt in the ultra-competitive heavyweight division. Now the 6-foot-3, 240-pound former interim UFC heavyweight champion looks to get the gold back around his waist.

“I’m honored to face such a great fighter as Randy Couture,” Nogueira said. “I wanted to fight him for some time now and I know to become a legend you have to beat a legend.”

For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com, UK.UFC.com, GERMANY.UFC.com or UFCEspanol.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

Contact: Jennifer Wenk, UFC PR, 702.221.4790, 702.635.0995, jwenk@ufc.com  Ant Evans, Senior Communications Manager, UFC UK Division, 00 44 (0) 7792 802652

__________________________________________________________________________________________

                  Faber Delivers at Oakland Athletics Game!

WEC featherweight Urijah Faber throws out the ceremonial first pitch at the Oakland-Seattle baseball game on Tuesday, May 26. The Sacramento native, preparing for his June 7 rematch with Mike Brown, took in the game with several of his training partners and watched as Oakland rallied late to beat Seattle 4-3.

                                 

WEC featherweight Urijah Faber (right) signs a baseball for Oakland A’s outfielder Travis Buck before Tuesday’s game against the Mariners. Faber, in town promoting his June 7 fight with Mike Brown, threw out the ceremonial first pitch and watched as Oakland defeated Seattle 4-3.

About Brown vs. Faber II:
Arguably the biggest fight in WEC® history, Mike Brown (21-4) defends the featherweight crown against “The California Kid” Urijah Faber (22-2) on June 7 at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, CA. The bout, deemed by many within the MMA community as one of the most important rematches to ever take place in MMA, comes after Brown took the title from Faber seven months ago.

Then considered to be a mega upset, Florida resident Brown stunned Faber with a first round knockout victory in November 2008. Since capturing the belt from Faber last year, Brown has made quite a name for himself in the sport, submitting Leonard Garcia in his first title defense in March.

Determined to get his title back, Sacramento’s Faber scored a convincing submission victory over Jens Pulver in January, his first fight since dropping the belt to Brown. Now gearing up for the return bout with the champion, the 30-year-old Faber is poised to prove that he is still the top 145-pound fighter in the world.

Press Contacts: Dave Sholler, WEC Public Relations, 702-588-5541, dsholler@wec.tv

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Limp Bizkit to Perform as Part of UFC 100 Event Weekend!

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – The most historic event in UFC just got bigger with the announcement that rap-metal pioneers Limp Bizkit are bringing the only performance in the US of their "Unicorns N' Rainbows" tour to Mandalay Bay Beach on Friday, July 10th to perform in their first North American concert in eight years as a part of the UFC 100 weekend. The multi-platinum-selling group has picked the perfect time to return to North American stages, and you can be sure that once their hits “Break Stuff”, “Rollin’” and “My Way” start blasting through the speakers, you’ll have all the adrenaline you need for UFC 100 the next night on Saturday, July 11th.

“Music is one of the things that make the UFC experience so exciting, and I’ve always been a big fan of Limp Bizkit, so we are excited to have the group perform at UFC 100 event weekend,” said Dana White, UFC President.

"We are proud that our first show in the USA with the original line-up in eight years will be in Las Vegas at UFC 100. The ultimate fighting music has finally found its home with the Ultimate Fighting Championship,” said Fred Durst.

Tickets for Limp Bizkit, not including applicable service charges, go on sale Friday, May 29 at 10 a.m. for $35 at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com, or www.ticketmaster.com.
Doors will open at 7pm, BoneyB will perform at 8 p.m. and Limp Bizkit will go live at 9 p.m. The concert also will be streamed live on UFC.com.

As part of UFC Fan Expo, Limp Bizkit will appear and sign autographs on the UFC Fan Expo main stage Friday July 10th from 2pm – 3pm, just hours before their U.S. concert premiere. Fred Durst, Wes Borland, Sam Rivers, John Otto, and DJ Lethal are gearing up to record their first new studio album with the original line-up since 2000's Worldwide 12x-platinum Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water. Flip/Interscope Records will announce more details and a release date in the coming months. The band's first three albums have sold more than 20 million copies in the U.S. alone, and another 13 million in the rest of the world.

About UFC Fan Expo
UFC Fan Expo, spanning more than 200,000 gross square feet of space, will exhibit apparel, electronic gaming, food & beverages, fight gear and fitness equipment, MMA training and development, nutritional supplements, lifestyle products, and other sports and entertainment related organizations. Tickets are available at the Mandalay Bay Box Office, all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, Charge-By-Phone at (702) 474-4000 or online at ticketmaster.com.

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.

Contact: Jennifer Wenk, UFC PR, 702.221.4790, 702.635.0995, jwenk@ufc.com  Ant Evans, Senior Communications Manager, UFC UK Division, 00 44 (0) 7792 802652

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

THE ULTIMATE DONATION FOX 5 LAS VEGAS FEATURE
STORY ON UFC® RECEIVING PATRIOT AWARD
FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO U.S. ARMED FORCES

                                                            (click on photo to view news)

Claudine Grant from Fox 5 Las Vegas reports UFC's commitment to the U.S. Armed Forces in a moving, six-minute news feature that chronicles the service and incredible sacrifice of American soldiers. Click image to watch, or visit Fox5vegas.com.

Jennifer Wenk, Dir. of PR, Zuffa, LLC, Ultimate Fighting Championship, World Extreme Cagefighting, 702.221.4790 office, 702.635.0995 cell, jwenk@ufc.com, www.ufc.com.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

PENN vs. FLORIAN and SILVA vs. GRIFFIN to HEADLINE UFC 101 IN PHILLY 

 

Tickets Go On Sale Saturday, May 23 at 10am ET

Las Vegas, NV (USA) –UFC® is coming to Philadelphia for the first time on Saturday, August 8th, and its bringing the big guns to the Wachovia Center for UFC 101, as BJ Penn defends his UFC lightweight crown for the second time against number one contender Kenny Florian, and UFC middleweight boss Anderson Silva jumps back to the 205-pound weight class to take on former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin. 
 
“BJ Penn is called the Prodigy for a reason. He has proven to be dangerous in multiple weight classes but he is definitely at his best at 155,” said Dana White, UFC President. “Now the lightweight champ defends his title against top contender Kenny Florian, who has improved by leaps and bounds since his UFC debut on the Ultimate Fighter. Originally known for his outstanding jiu-jitsu skills, Florian is now as well known for his devastating Muay Thai. Both of these guys excel standing and on the ground so I am expecting non-stop action in this world title fight.” 
 
"We are excited to finally be able to host a UFC event in Philadelphia," said Comcast-Spectacor President Peter Luukko. "With a world-wide audience watching on pay-per-view, the Wachovia Center will once again be in the national spotlight. This is a terrific opportunity for the facility, our company and most importantly UFC fans in the Greater Philadelphia Region." 
 
Tickets for UFC 101 will go on sale Saturday, May 23 at 10am ET and will be priced at $600, $400, $300, $200, $100 and $50. Tickets are available via www.ComcastTIX.com, UFC.com, by phone at 1-800-298-4200, the Wachovia Center Box Office, or select ACME markets. 
 
UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Thursday, May 21 starting at 10 a.m. ET via UFC.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers and the Wachovia Center Cyber Club on Friday, May 22 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com or the Wachovia Center Cyber Club at WachoviaCenter.com. 
 
The pride of Hilo, Hawaii, UFC Lightweight Champion BJ Penn (13-5-1) is on practically everyone’s short list of best fighters in the world pound for pound, and on August 8th, he will be returning to the division he is the undisputed king of. Unbeaten at 155 pounds since 2002, Penn has taken out Jens Pulver, Joe Stevenson, and Sean Sherk in successive lightweight fights, and after suffering a setback in his challenge for Georges St-Pierre’s welterweight crown in January, Penn is eager to get back to his optimum weight to continue his reign of terror. 
 
In just six years as a pro, Kenny “KenFlo” Florian (13-3) has done nearly everything in the sport of mixed martial arts, as he’s fought in the middleweight, welterweight, and lightweight divisions, earned a spot in the finals on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter®, and beat some of the best fighters in the world in the process. The only thing missing for the 32-year old from Boston is a world championship, and after winning six in a row (including victories over Joe Lauzon, Joe Stevenson, and Roger Huerta), Florian is peaking at the right time for his second shot at the belt. 
 
Currently sporting the longest consecutive win streak in UFC history at nine, UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva (24-4) has also tied the organization record for most consecutive successful title defenses at five, beating the likes of Dan Henderson, Rich Franklin, Patrick Cote, and Thales Leites along the way. But the 34-year old native of Curitiba, Brazil is not satisfied yet, so he is tackling the light heavyweight division once again on August 8th, and if his first 205-pound bout – a 61 second knockout of James Irvin last July – is any indication, the big boys had better watch out for this lethal “Spider”.

The winner of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter and a man credited by many as one of the reasons for the explosion of MMA in the United States following that TUF finale bout in 2005, Forrest Griffin (16-5) isn’t a fighter who will take credit for such achievements – he just wants to fight, and with UFC wins over Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua under his belt, the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion has more than proved himself in the Octagon. On August 8th, the 30-year old Griffin looks to fight his way back into the title picture after his loss to Rashad Evans last December, and there’s no better way for him to do that than by handing Anderson Silva his first UFC loss. 
 
“Anderson Silva is the pound for pound best fighter in the world. He’s so good that he demands a serious challenge, someone who can push the pace and make him fight,” said White. “To me, nobody fits the bill more than former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin. Anderson is tremendously skilled but he’s going up a weight class and Forrest is a huge light heavyweight - this is going to be a war.”

For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com, UK.UFC.com, GERMANY.UFC.com or UFCEspanol.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

Contact: Jennifer Wenk, UFC PR, 702.221.4790, 702.635.0995, jwenk@ufc.com

________________________________________________________________________________________________
   
UFC TO HOST FIRST GRAPPLING TOURNAMENT
WITH GRAPPLERS QUEST AT UFC FAN EXPO

Tournament Takes place during UFC 100 Event Weekend, July 10-11th, at Mandalay Bay Convention Center

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – Adding to the anticipation and excitement of the UFC 100 event weekend, UFC® today announced that it will host its first ever grappling tournament in conjunction with the prestigious Grapplers Quest organization on Friday and Saturday, July 10th and 11th, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center as part of the UFC® Fan Expo™.

Among the current UFC standouts who have competed in Grapplers Quest over the years are Matt Hughes, Kenny Florian, Denis Kang, Mark Bocek, Eliot Marshall, Brandon Vera, Kurt Pellegrino, Mike Massenzio, and Matthew Riddle, and it is expected that this competition at the UFC Fan Expo will be the largest submission, grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament in history.

The tournament will award thousands of dollars in prizes across a variety of divisions and weight brackets, giving men, women and children from all skill levels the chance to compete in front of thousands of spectators during the historic UFC 100 weekend.

In addition to the UFC and Grapplers Quest competition, UFC Fan Expo’s two-day roster of activities will also include meet and greets with legendary UFC, PRIDE® and WEC® fighters, MMA demonstrations, fan-inspired special events, training and development sessions, and other exciting opportunities and entertainment. All UFC Fan Expo activities will be planned in conjunction with UFC 100, including the free-to-the-public weigh-in event on Friday, July 10th.

To pre-register, go to: http://www.grapplers.com/store/midscreen.cfm. Due to time restrictions, the tournament is limited to 1,500 competitors, so it is suggested that you register early to save money and guarantee your spot in grappling history.

For further details about UFC Fan Expo, please visit UFCfanexpo.com. For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com, UK.UFC.com, GERMANY.UFC.com or UFCEspanol.com.

Contact: Jennifer Wenk, UFC PR, 702.221.4790, 702.635.0995, jwenk@ufc.com

_______________________________________________________________________________________

FORMER ULTIMATE FIGHTER FINALIST
MANNY GAMBURYAN HAPPY TO CALL WEC ‘HOME’
YEARS OF COMPETING AT HIGHER WEIGHT CLASSES,
ARMENIAN STAR FINALLY HAS HIS OWN DIVISION! 

Gamburyan’s first bout at featherweight comes on June 7 on the undercard of Brown-Faber II at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. Facing undefeated New York native John Franchi (5-0) in his 145-pound debut, the 27-year-old Hollywood resident hopes to make an emphatic statement. With a win over Franchi, Gamburyan wants to put the Browns, Fabers, Aldos, and Grispys of the division on notice.

"It's a very talented group, a lot of talented guys out there," Gamburyan said of the WEC's stacked featherweight division. "But every time you fight you want to challenge yourself. I won't choose my opponents. Whoever they choose for me to fight, I'm there. This time it’s John Franchi – and hopefully I can get past this guy and then whatever comes up. John’s going to have his hands full because I’m bringing my ‘A’ game. I’m going for the finish, that’s my game plan.”

Tickets for Brown vs. Faber II are on sale now and priced at $40, $75, $135, and $200. Tickets may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster Charge-By-Phone at 1-800-745-3000 or by visiting the ARCO Arena Box Office. Tickets also are available online through www.wec.tv or www.ticketmaster.com.

Presented by Bud Light®, Brown vs. Faber II will be televised nationally live on VERSUS beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. All of the network’s live WEC events are presented in HD and Spanish language SAP where available. For more information and how to find VERSUS in your local viewing area, visit http://www.versus.com/findversus.

About VERSUS
VERSUS celebrates real competition across all platforms (VERSUS.com, VERSUS on Demand and VERSUS HD). Now in more than 75 million homes, the network is the national cable home of the National Hockey League (NHL), the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the 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. The network also offers 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 The Contender 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. 

Contact:                                                                                                           Dave Sholler, WEC PR ,702-588-5541, 609-992-1315, mailto:dsholler@wec.tv                 Alex Sigua, Arco Arena 916-928-5186 mailto:sigua@arcoarena.com                           Katie Bradshaw, VERSUS PR, 917-934-1997, katie_bradshaw@versus.com _____________________________________________________________________________________________

ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP® TO HOLD
UFC 100 VIEWING PARTY AT MANDALAY BAY
SATURDAY, JULY 11 –MANDALAY BAY BEACH
Tickets Go On Sale at Noon PT Friday, May 1

                       

In the UFC 100 main event, the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Championship will be decided when reigning titleholder Brock Lesnar faces interim champion Frank Mir in one of the most highly anticipated rematches in heavyweight history. 
 
The co-featured bout of the evening will see UFC Welterweight Champion Georges “Rush” St-Pierre put his title on the line against feared striker Thiago “Pitbull” Alves, a man many believe has the style and size to dethrone the seemingly unbeatable champion.

And rounding out the trio of superfights is a pivotal middleweight matchup pitting the coaches of the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter®, Dan Henderson and Michael “The Count” Bisping, against each other in a bout that will push the winner even closer to a 185-pound title shot.

Mandalay Bay Beach, an 11-acre tropical pool environment, features real California sand, a wave pool and the only climate-controlled, poolside gaming in the city. Mandalay Bay will be the hottest place on the Strip for UFC action when it hosts UFC 100, the closed-circuit viewing party and the two-day UFC Fan Expo..

For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com, UK.UFC.com, GERMANY.UFC.com or UFCEspanol.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

Contact: Jennifer Wenk, UFC PR, 702.221.4790, 702.635.0995, jwenk@ufc.com _________________________________________________________________________________________________

UFC Lightweight Prospect Joe Lauzon
Successfully Rehabbing after ACL Surgery!

E. BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (April 13, 2009) – More than five weeks after knee surgery, UFC lightweight prospect Joe “J-Lau” Lauzon (18-4, 5 KOs, 13 submissions is rehabilitating his leg, and recovery is ahead of schedule.

Lauzon had ACL surgery and his meniscus repaired on his right knee March 6. “Everything went as scheduled,” he reported. “My meniscus was repaired and the ACL cadaver grafting was successful. My doctor was very happy and optimistic that my knee will be strong. Right now, I’m walking around like a normal person; no training but I’m doing some light jogging, leg presses and squats. I’m going to lose muscle in the leg. Range of motion is the key right now. I can completely straighten my leg. I can bend it 135 degrees and 150 is normal.”

“J-Lau” goes for a follow-up exam next Thursday, which will change his rehabilitation process, but he can’t fight until the grafting is fully healed, which probably won’t be until the spring of 2010. The 24-year-old Lauzon is not about to rush his recovery, despite his competitive drive, and desire to be fighting again.

“All that was protecting my knee was muscle and now that’s gone,” he noted. “It‘s going to take time to build-up. I’ll probably be back on the mat in six months, but just doing light stuff, no live action. ACL surgery rehab is notorious for having people rush back too soon, resulting in more ACL surgery, and I’m not risking that.”

Lauzon, star of The Ultimate Fighter 5 television reality show, feels great and has been completely overwhelmed by the responses he’s received from his fans. “It’s been awesome,” Joe described all of the well wishers. “A bunch of people have emailed me and some have had ACL surgery, too. We correspond, week to week, and I’ve received a lot of good advice and pointers about a lot of things like different ways to ice my knee or stretch out. One kid had ACL surgery the same day as me and we compare notes all the time. I’m coming back better than ever.”

For more information about Joe “J-Lau” Lauzon, or to send him get well wishes, go online and visit www.joelauzon.com.

Contact: Bob Trieger, Full Court Press, 978.664.4482, mailto:bobfcp@hotmail.com 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ultimate Fighting Championship Launches
UFC Text Alerts for Mobile Devices!

Las Vegas NV (USA) – The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) organization today officially launched a new text alert service for mobile devices, giving fans the opportunity to receive UFC news as it happens, as well as event updates and other information about UFC.

Using the UFC web site, fans can indicate the specific kind of information they would like to receive via text messages, such as breaking news, event announcements, UFC programming reminders, UFC ticket presale opportunities as well notices of new UFC.com content, including unaired UFC bouts and other exclusive videos. The text message service is powered by 4INFO, the leading text message alert service company in the U.S.

To begin receiving UFC text messages, fans can visit the UFC web site, and click the Mobile link at the top of the page, or they can simply text the word “UFCNEWS” to 44636 (4INFO) from their mobile device to receive breaking UFC news alerts.

Users can choose to stop receiving text alerts at anytime by replying “STOP” to any message.

For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com, UK.UFC.com, GERMANY.UFC.com or UFCEspanol.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

Contact: Jennifer Wenk, UFC Public Relations, 702.635.0995 (cell), jwenk@ufc.com
________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Premiere of the Ninth Season of “The Ultimate Fighter”
Delivers Best Ratings in Years for Spike TV’s Signature Series!

New York, NY, April 3, 2009 - Unlike most television series which suffer ratings decline as they get older, the ratings for “The Ultimate Fighter” are like fine wine, getting better with age. The season nine premiere of “The Ultimate Fighter: U.S. vs. U.K.” on Wednesday, April 1 drew its highest rating in Men 18-49 since  Season 4 (August, 2006) and its most watched season premiere since Season 5 (April, 2007). The episode also drew more Men 18-34 and 18-49 than anything else on cable in its timeslot (10:15-11:15pm ET/PT), besting all sports competition including the NBA on ESPN.

Overall, the series drew a 1.8 in M18-49, a 2.1 in M18-34, a 2.7 in M25-34, and an average audience of 1.8 million viewers.

This season, the two “Ultimate Fighter” teams are divided based on nationality, with eight mixed martial artists from Great Britain and eight from the United States. “The Ultimate Fighter 3” champion and top middleweight contender Michael Bisping coaches the Brits, and former concurrent PRIDE champion of the 185 lbs and 205 lbs divisions and U.S. Olympian Dan Henderson, coaches the U.S. squad.

Prior to the season premiere of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Spike TV aired the first-ever live UFC fight from Nashville, TN headlined by welterweights Carlos Condit and Martin Kampmann. The “UFC Fight Night” delivered 1.9 million viewers and, like “The Ultimate Fighter,” drew more Men 18-34 and 18-49 than anything in its timeslot (8:00-10:15pm ET/PT).

Overall, the “UFC Fight Night” delivered a 1.7 among M18-49, a 2.1 for M18-34, a 2.7 in M25-34, and attracted an average audience of 1.9 million viewers

Spike TV is available in 97.7 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV's press site at www.spike.com/press.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Diego Sanchez and Clay Guida to Headline
The Ultimate Fighter® Season 9 Finale
LIVE Saturday, June 20 from The Palms In Las Vegas! 
  

March 30th: Las Vegas, NV (USA) – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) organization is proud to announce a stellar headlining match for The Ultimate Fighter® Season 9 finale, which will take place Saturday, June 20       from The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas’ Palms Hotel, live on     Spike TV. Both winners of their last three matches, ascending lightweights Diego “The Nightmare” Sanchez and Clay “The Carpenter” Guida are on a collision course that will end in the Octagon™ for what could be three of the    most furiously-paced rounds of the year.

“Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida has the potential to be one of the most action packed fights of the year,” UFC President Dana White said. “Both men have won multiple “Fight of the Night “awards and are two of the most aggressive grapplers in the division. Guida is coming off a big win over The Ultimate Fighter Season 5 winner Nate Diaz and Sanchez just defeated The Ultimate Fighter Season 2 winner Joe Stevenson. The winner of this fight will move into the upper portion of the lightweight rankings and get that much closer to a title shot.”

Tickets for this event will go on sale Saturday, April 4 at noon PT and will be priced at $354, $254 and $154. Please visit or call the Palms box office at (702) 944-3200, call any Ticketmaster location at 702-474-4000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com to purchase tickets. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Thursday, April 2 at noon PT via the website UFC.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Friday, April 3 starting at noon PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Coming off three impressive wins against David Bielkheden, Luigi Fioravanti and Joe Stevenson, Diego Sanchez (fighting out of San Diego, Calif.) looks to be peaking at the perfect time in his career. In his first ever UFC fight at lightweight, the Albuquerque, New Mexico native looked lean and hungry against Stevenson as he pounded out an impressive decision victory. A winner on the debut season of The Ultimate Fighter, the 27-year-old Sanchez has fond memories of fighting at The Ultimate Fighter season finales.

“Clay likes to push the pace and test a fighter’s conditioning, but so do I,” Sanchez said. “Right now, I’m at the perfect weight and it’s the perfect time in my career to make a run at the title. I’ve already won a couple matches at the finales, so I’m feeling confident heading into this fight.”

A fighter that doesn’t have an “off” switch, Clay Guida (fighting out of Johnsburg, Ill.) is known for his aggressive style and perpetual high energy level. Coming off a three round decision win against fellow rising star Nate Diaz, “The Carpenter” seems to be immune to boring fights, and he guarantees a memorable night against Sanchez, who is also known for his conditioning.

“I couldn’t feel more confident about this fight right now in my career,” Guida said. “We’re both coming off three consecutive wins and we’re two of the most explosive lightweights in the division. This has the potential to be fight of the year. My hands are going to be the best they’ve been…Vegas is where I do my best work.”

For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit ufc.com or uk.ufc.com or ufcespanol.com or GERMANY.UFC.com . All bouts live and subject to change.

About Spike TV 
Spike TV is available in 97.7 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV's press site at www.spike.com/press.

For media information regarding The Ultimate Fighting Championship, please contact: Jennifer Wenk, Ultimate Fighting Championship,702-221-4790, jwenk@ufc.com

For media information regarding The Pearl, please contact:                                   Alissa Kelly, PR Plus, 702-696-1999, alissa@prpluslv.com

For media information regarding The Palms, please contact:                                   Larry Fink, Palms Casino Resort, 702-942-7777, mailto:larry.fink@palms.com

For media information regarding Spike TV, please contact:                             David Schwarz, Spike TV, 212-767-8639, mailto:DavidSwartz@mtvstaff.com

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

      UFC lightweight Joe Lauzon in Submission until 2010! 
E. BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (March 4, 2009) – UFC lightweight prospect Joe “J-Lau” Lauzon (18-4, 5 KOs, 13 submissions) will undergo knee surgery this Friday, sidelining the 24-year-old Brazilian Jui-Jitsu specialist until next year, at Sullivan Orthopedic Care.

Lauzon has had problems in the past including arthroscopic surgery on the meniscectomies of both knees. This time, however, Lauzon needs ACL surgery on his right knee, in addition to having his meniscus repaired.

The ACL caused Joe’s knee to slightly shift, effectively destroying his meniscus. “The doctor could stop operating after repairing the meniscus,” Lauzon explained, “but it would just happen again. ACL surgery should fix it, but I’m in for a very long rehab, and my knee may never be the same again.”

Lauzon, star of The Ultimate Fighter 5 television reality show, will be off of his feet for a month to a month-and-a-half. He will not be allowed to do even the simplest training for 4-5 months, more intense in nine months, and projected back fighting between 12-14 months.

“Every time you fight,” Joe added, “you are taking a gamble with your body. During my fight with Jeremy Stephens, I didn’t notice it so much during my fight, but afterwards I was limping pretty good. I chalked it up to normal soreness and took a week off training because of the stitches in my head. When I tried to go back to training, just warming-up, my knee locked-up and I couldn’t move it at all. An x-ray and MRI later revealed I had a badly torn meniscus and a likely torn ACL. I go this Friday for very serious surgery and then I face a long rehab. I am super confident, though, that I will return better than ever. I’m only 24 and have a lot more to accomplish in this sport. This is just a bump in the road.”

For more information about Joe “J-Lau” Lauzon, who has a Bachelor’s degree in computer networking from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, go online and visit www.joelauzon.com or myspace.com/lauzonrsd.

CONTACT: Bob Trieger, Full Court Press, 978.664.4482, bobtfcp@hotmail.com

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 Hot UFC Lightweight Joe Lauzon Positioned for Title Run!

E. BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (February 16, 2009) – Tattoo-less Joe “J-Lau” Lauzon, coming off his impressive win against Jeremy Stephens, headlining the February 7th “UFC Fight Night 17” in Tampa, has positioned himself for a future UFC title run in the highly competitive lightweight division.

Lauzon (18-4, 5 KOs, 13 submissions), star of The Ultimate Fighter 5 television reality show, put on a classic Brazilian Jui-jitsu demonstration against Jeremy “Lil’ Heathen” Stephens (14-4, 10 KOs, 2 submissions), who was a late replacement for injured Hermes Franca (20-7).

After suffering a 7-inch cut on his hairline from an elbow, Lauzon used a “fireman’s carry” to take power striker Stephens to the mat, where Joe mounted Jeremy and locked in a submission by arm-bar at 4:43 into the second round. Lauzon earned “Submission of the Night” honors.

“The flying heel hook is a move MMA people don’t see a lot,” Lauzon described his somewhat unconventional leg-lock. “I did it 4-5 months ago and decided to do it again. This was a good fight for me to showcase what I like to do in a UFC main event on Spike. I knew he (Stephens) was dangerous on his feet but not on the ground. My corner was upset with me at one point for getting caught with a few punches, but it wasn’t as bad as it looked, and I wasn’t hurt at all. Some thought I rushed for a submission after I got cut, but I stayed calm and I heard somebody in my corner yelling 45-seconds. I knew I had time for a submission, if I picked up the pace, and I did. He’s a tough, stocky kid.”

Lauzon is one of the few, if not the only MMA fighter without a single tattoo. In fact, he stands out from other fighters because he doesn’t have the customary “tats” all over his body. “Yeah,” Joe laughed, “I just can’t commit to anything. Some tattoos look good but most are terrible. Fighters either have 1 or 2, or all up and down their body. Maybe down the road, on a certain place, but right now I don’t have a desire to have something permanent on my body like a tattoo.”

The UFC lightweight division, from top to bottom, is loaded. Lauzon finds himself on the verge of cracking into a spot among the UFC’s elite 155-pound, chasing champion (and his former coach) B. J. Penn, former title-holder Sean Sherk and a rematch with Kenny Florian among the more notables. “I think the lightweight division, by far, is the toughest and deepest, talent- wise,” Lauzon commented. “A lot of those top guys are a solid 170-180 pounds, walking around, and lose weight to fight at 155. Someday I’d like a rematch with Kenny Florian, of course, and I want to fight Hermes, especially after all the trash he talked after pulling out of our fight. But he’s going to be out of action for a while with a torn ACL (knee injury). Next, I’d like somebody like Clay Guida (26-6), who just won a big fight against Nate Diaz (decision).”

For more information about Joe “J-Lau” Lauzon, who has a Bachelor’s degree in computer networking from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, go online and visit www.joelauzon.com or myspace.com/lauzonrsd.

Contact: Bob Trieger, Full Court Press, 978.664.4482, mailto:bobfcp@hotmail.com