TWO WORLD TITLES, ONE EPIC REMATCH SLATED FOR FIRST VEGAS EVENT OF 2017 WHEN CHAMPION WOODLEY MEETS “WONDERBOY” AND NURMAGOMEDOV CLASHES WITH FERGUSON
Plus:
(#3) ALISTAIR OVEREEM vs. (#6) MARK HUNT
(#12) DARREN ELKINS vs. (#13) MIRSAD BEKTIC
TICKETS FOR UFC® 209: WOODLEY vs. THOMPSON 2
AT T-MOBILE ARENA IN LAS VEGAS ON SALE FRIDAY, JAN. 20
Las Vegas – UFC® kicks off their 2017 home schedule with two championship bouts and no shortage of bad blood on Saturday, March 4 at T-Mobile Arena with UFC® 209: WOODLEY vs. THOMPSON 2. Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley looks to prove once and for all that he is the best 170-pound fighter in the world when he meets Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson for the second time and top-ranked Khabib Nurmagomedov clashes with No. 2 Tony Ferguson for the interim lightweight world title.
When Woodley (16-3-1, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) and Thompson (13-1-1, fighting out of Simpsonville, S.C) met the first time at UFC® 205 in November 2016, the Fight of the Night winner became an instant classic resulting in a draw. The champion used his All-American wrestling pedigree on the ground while Wonderboy countered with his unorthodox, yet highly effective, kickboxing attack to battle on even terms with the champion. In a classic grappler vs. striker matchup, only one of them will leave the Octagon® as the undisputed welterweight champion of the world.
In the co-main event, two athletes who have long been at the top of the division collide for the interim lightweight world title and the chance to unify their title with Irish superstar Conor McGregor. Nurmagomedov (24-0, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia), is a Russian Sambo master with a perfect record that has been compiled thanks to a ferocious ground game. In addition to what may be the best grappling arsenal in the division, the 28-year-old also has eight knockouts to his credit and is a legitimate threat wherever the fight goes. No. 2 ranked Ferguson (23-3, fighting out of Orange County, Calif.) brings the longest UFC winning streak in the lightweight division to the Octagon, having won his last nine bouts and earning a Post-Fight bonus in his last five straight. “El Cucuy” possesses lethal finishing skills, recording 11 knockouts, seven submissions and nine first round finishes. With a title shot both feel is overdue, these men will be sure to bring the heat in this championship showdown.
Plus, a rematch nine years in the making pits No. 3 heavyweight Alistair Overeem (41-15, 1 NC, fighting out of Amsterdam, The Netherlands) against No. 6 Mark Hunt (12-11-1, fighting out of Sydney, Australia). As two of the most popular and longest tenured heavyweights on the planet, the list of accolades for this duo is long. They combine for 46 finishes, including 29 knockouts, both have been world champion kickboxers and Overeem is the former PRIDE, Dream and STRIKEFORCE®heavyweight champion. Overeem won their first match back in 2008 via first round submission, but Hunt will be looking for revenge and to stay atop the wide open division.
Additional Bouts:
- A battle between two of the featherweight division’s top ranked athletes, No. 12 Darren Elkins (22-5, fighting out of Portage, Ind.) and undefeated No. 13 Mirsad Bektic (11-0, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.)
- Fresh off a Knockout of the Year contender, Lando Vannata (9-1, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) meets fellow striking sensation David Teymur (5-1, fighting out of Stockholm Sweden) in a 155-pound duel.
- Heavyweight knockout artists Todd Duffee (9-3, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla.) and Mark Godbeer (11-3, fighting out of Bridgewater England) collide.
- Electrifying finishers Igor Pokrajac (25-13, 1 NC, fighting out of Zagreb Croatia) and Ed Herman (24-12, 1 NC, fighting out of Portland, Ore.) clash at light heavyweight.
For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.
Tickets for UFC® 209: WOODLEY vs. THOMPSON 2 go on sale Friday, Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $600, $300, $250, $150, $90 and $75 (prices do not include applicable service charges, facility fees and handling fees). Tickets are available for purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com and by phone at (800) 745-3000. Ticket sales are limited to six (6) per person.
UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. PT via the websitewww.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Jan. 19 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.
UFC® 209: WOODLEY vs. THOMPSON 2 will be available live on Pay-Per-View on Saturday, March 4 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Vubiquity, and in Canada on BellTV, Rogers, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Canal Indigo for a suggested retail price of $49.99 US/CAN for Standard Definition and $59.99 US/CAN for High-Definition.
UFC® CHAMPION CODY GARBRANDT AND BITTER RIVAL TJ DILLASHAW TO COACH NEXT SEASON OF THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER®
New season debuts Wednesday, April 19 on FS1
Las Vegas – The landmark 25th season of The Ultimate Fighter® will feature two of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world as coaches with newly minted bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt coaching opposite former teammate and arch nemesis TJ Dillashaw, the former titleholder and current No. 2-ranked contender seeking a return to the top.
Garbrandt and Dillashaw will lead a cast of welterweights who all have redemption on their mind. Every member of the cast, including one athlete on the current UFC® roster and previous Ultimate Fighter winners, have competed on a previous season of the show, which remains the highest rated and most watched original program on FS1, and look to prove they belong in the upper echelon of one of UFC’s most stacked divisions. The Ultimate Fighter®: Redemption will premiere with a two-hour episode on Wednesday, April 19 at 10 p.m. ET.
With a perfect 11-0 record, Garbrandt (11-0, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) is proof that the future is now for the next wave of UFC superstars. The Team Alpha Male product defeated arguably the most dominant champion in Zuffa history, Dominick Cruz, at UFC 207 last month in dominating fashion. At just 25 years old, “No Love” is quickly becoming a fan favorite and has already made each of his fights a must-see event. With nine wins by knockout, seven in the first round, Garbrandt has the one-punch knockout power that has made him one of the most feared athletes in mixed martial arts.
A member of season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter®, Dillashaw (15-3, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) is no stranger to the power and platform the competition provides; he’s one of six athletes who have competed on the show and gone on to become a UFC champion (Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Michael Bisping, Matt Serra, Carla Esparza). Additionally, the former champ has an axe to grind with both Garbrandt and his training camp. His split from powerhouse Team Alpha Male has been widely publicized, creating one of the most intense rivalries in MMA. When he meets Garbrandt in the Octagon® after the season concludes, Dillashaw will also be looking for redemption as he attempts to regain the world title he feels is rightfully his.
TWO WORLD TITLES, ONE EPIC REMATCH SLATED FOR FIRST VEGAS EVENT OF 2017 WHEN CHAMPION WOODLEY MEETS “WONDERBOY” AND NURMAGOMEDOV CLASHES WITH FERGUSON
Plus:
(#3) ALISTAIR OVEREEM vs. (#6) MARK HUNT
(#12) DARREN ELKINS vs. (#13) MIRSAD BEKTIC
TICKETS FOR UFC® 209: WOODLEY vs. THOMPSON 2
AT T-MOBILE ARENA IN LAS VEGAS ON SALE FRIDAY, JAN. 20
Las Vegas – UFC® kicks off their 2017 home schedule with two championship bouts and no shortage of bad blood on Saturday, March 4 at T-Mobile Arena with UFC® 209: WOODLEY vs. THOMPSON 2. Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley looks to prove once and for all that he is the best 170-pound fighter in the world when he meets Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson for the second time and top-ranked Khabib Nurmagomedov clashes with No. 2Tony Ferguson for the interim lightweight world title.
When Woodley (16-3-1, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) and Thompson (13-1-1, fighting out of Simpsonville, S.C) met the first time at UFC® 205 in November 2016, the Fight of the Night winner became an instant classic resulting in a draw. The champion used his All-American wrestling pedigree on the ground while Wonderboy countered with his unorthodox, yet highly effective, kickboxing attack to battle on even terms with the champion. In a classic grappler vs. striker matchup, only one of them will leave the Octagon® as the undisputed welterweight champion of the world.
In the co-main event, two athletes who have long been at the top of the division collide for the interim lightweight world title and the chance to unify their title with Irish superstar Conor McGregor. Nurmagomedov (24-0, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia), is a Russian Sambo master with a perfect record that has been compiled thanks to a ferocious ground game. In addition to what may be the best grappling arsenal in the division, the 28-year-old also has eight knockouts to his credit and is a legitimate threat wherever the fight goes. No. 2 ranked Ferguson (23-3, fighting out of Orange County, Calif.) brings the longest UFC winning streak in the lightweight division to the Octagon, having won his last nine bouts and earning a Post-Fight bonus in his last five straight. “El Cucuy” possesses lethal finishing skills, recording 11 knockouts, seven submissions and nine first round finishes. With a title shot both feel is overdue, these men will be sure to bring the heat in this championship showdown.
Plus, a rematch nine years in the making pits No. 3 heavyweight Alistair Overeem (41-15, 1 NC, fighting out of Amsterdam, The Netherlands) against No. 6Mark Hunt (12-11-1, fighting out of Sydney, Australia). As two of the most popular and longest tenured heavyweights on the planet, the list of accolades for this duo is long. They combine for 46 finishes, including 29 knockouts, both have been world champion kickboxers and Overeem is the former PRIDE, Dream and STRIKEFORCE® heavyweight champion. Overeem won their first match back in 2008 via first round submission, but Hunt will be looking for revenge and to stay atop the wide open division.
Additional Bouts:
- A battle between two of the featherweight division’s top ranked athletes, No. 12 Darren Elkins (22-5, fighting out of Portage, Ind.) and undefeated No. 13 Mirsad Bektic (11-0, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.)
- Fresh off a Knockout of the Year contender, Lando Vannata (9-1, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) meets fellow striking sensation David Teymur (5-1, fighting out of Stockholm Sweden) in a 155-pound duel.
- Heavyweight knockout artists Todd Duffee (9-3, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla.) and Mark Godbeer (11-3, fighting out of Bridgewater England) collide.
- Electrifying finishers Igor Pokrajac (25-13, 1 NC, fighting out of Zagreb Croatia) and Ed Herman (24-12, 1 NC, fighting out of Portland, Ore.) clash at light heavyweight.
For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.
Visit the UFC® Press Portal for information and content to support your UFC coverage.
Tickets for UFC® 209: WOODLEY vs. THOMPSON 2 go on sale Friday, Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $600, $300, $250, $150, $90 and $75 (prices do not include applicable service charges, facility fees and handling fees). Tickets are available for purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com and by phone at (800) 745-3000. Ticket sales are limited to six (6) per person.
UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Jan. 19 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.
UFC® 209: WOODLEY vs. THOMPSON 2 will be available live on Pay-Per-View on Saturday, March 4 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Vubiquity, and in Canada on BellTV, Rogers, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Canal Indigo for a suggested retail price of $49.99 US/CAN for Standard Definition and $59.99 US/CAN for High-Definition.
WHO DO YOU HAVE IN THE BIG GAME?
UFC® STARS GIVE US THEIR ANSWER
Houston – As the sporting world descends upon Houston for the big game and UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: BERMUDEZ vs. KOREAN ZOMBIE, we caught up with some of our athletes to get their predictions. Check out some of our favorite responses below and watch the video to see who everyone is picking; you may be surprised by the favorite.
Dennis Bermudez: “I got the Patriots for the Super Bowl. I don’t think the Falcons defense is going to be able to put enough pressure to stop him (Brady) from doing what he does.”
Felice Herrig: “I’m going for the Patriots to win the Super Bowl. Get that ring!”
Abel Trujillo: “I’m picking Atlanta. A-Town down, baby.”
James Vick: “My prediction for the Super Bowl? I can’t even lie, I kind of just stopped watching after the Cowboys lost. I’m a Texan and I was heartbroken. I guess I’ll go for the Patriots. I think they’re probably going to win by anywhere from three to 10 points. That’s my prediction.”
Ovince Saint Preux: “My best friend works for the Falcons, so I have to go with the dirty birds.”
Anthony Hamilton: “I pick the Atlanta Falcons because they beat my Seattle Seahawks, so I have to go with those guys and show some support.”
Adam Milstead: “I believe that the Patriots are going to win because they beat the Steelers, plain and simple.”
Chris Gruetzmacher: “I’m going to pick the Falcons because they’re the underdog and they’re hungry, they want it. The Patriots have already been there so it’s like we’ve done this, been here. People who are hungry want it more and I’m sorry if I picked against your team.”
Tecia Torres: “My pick originally for the Super Bowl was the Cowboys, longtime fan, my parents are fans, but unfortunately they didn’t make it so I’m going for the Patriots because I’m from Massachusetts and I’m a New England girl, so let’s go Patriots.
Daniel Jolly: “I’m from Texas so my team is the Cowboys, but my mom lives in Atlanta so I have to go with the Falcons. Let’s go dirty birds.”
Sam Alvey: “I’m a Green Bay Packers fan. I bleed green and gold, I really do. I have to go with the Falcons, they beat us and if we’re going to beat, we might as well get beat by the best.”
Derrick Lewis: “My Super Bowl prediction is the dirty birds.”
Demetrious Johnson: “My prediction for the Super Bowl is that the New England Patriots are going to take it down. Tom Brady is unstoppable. The Atlanta Falcons, they beat us (Seahawks) so they’re no slouch. Matt Ryan is killing it, so good luck.”
For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.
Visit the UFC® Press Portal for information and content to support your UFC coverage.
MICHELLE WATERSON AND KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV
HOST SPECIAL EVENTS DURING UFC 208 FIGHT WEEK
Las Vegas – Fast rising strawweight contender Michelle “The Karate Hottie” Waterson has established herself as a force in the 115-pound division. Unbeaten in the UFC® and fresh off a first round submission victory over Paige VanZant, the No. 7 ranked strawweight in the world and former Invicta FC atomweight champion is coming to Brooklyn for UFC 208: HOLM vs. DE RANDAMIE in support of teammate Holly Holm who is vying to become the first female multi-division champion in UFC history. Waterson will workout for media at the UFC Gym in Park Slope, Brooklyn on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. ET. She will demo moves and be available to media for interview opportunities.
Additionally, the top-ranked lightweight contender in the world, Khabib Nurmagomedov, puts his undefeated 24-0 record on the line when he meets No. 2 ranked Tony Ferguson in the co-main event of UFC 209: WOODLEY vs. THOMPSON 2 on Saturday, March 4 in Las Vegas. Prior to his world championship bout, Russia’s Nurmagomedov will host a Q&A session on Friday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. ET at National Restaurant & Night Club in Brooklyn, N.Y. This event is free and open to the public. Video and interview opportunities are available.
RSVP is required for these events. Please respond to Josh Eldridge at jeldridge@ufc.com or Nobie Manivanh at nmanivanh@ufc.comto reserve your spot.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8
WHO: MICHELLE WATERSON, No. 7 Women Strawweight Contender
WHAT: Open Workout, Interview and b-roll opportunities
WHEN: Wednesday, February 8 at 2:00pm ET
WHERE: UFC Gym, 340 4th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10
WHO: KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV, No. 1 Lightweight Contender
WHAT: Question & Answer Session
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 10 at 2:00 p.m. ET
WHERE: National Restaurant & Night Club, 273 Brighton Beach Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11235
For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.
WHAT’S ON THE MINDS OF THE STARS OF
UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: BERMUDEZ vs. THE KOREAN ZOMBIE?
Houston – As fight night approaches, here is what the stars of UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: BERMUDEZ vs. THE KOREAN ZOMBIE had to say leading up to their Saturday night matchups:
Dennis Bermudez: “I’m just trying to enjoy it (the experience) and not worry about what’s actually at stake here. It’s a super big opportunity and super big scene here; I’m trying to have fun with the whole experience. All the hard work is done; I’m going to go out there and do what I do and I’ll be fine. After I win here, realistically I would like to fight Max Holloway. I have a win over him, he has the interim belt. That’s the reason I signed up to be in the UFC, it’s to be a world champion.”
“The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung: “It’s really good to be back and it’s really nice to see all these people come out to support us. I don’t know exactly what is going to happen once we get in the Octagon, but I think we can always expect an exciting fight. There are no easy fights in the UFC, everyone is tough. So, if I’m going to come back I might as well fight the toughest guy I can so I can make my road back to championship contention as quick as possible.”
Alexa Grasso: “I know she is very well-rounded, she’s very dangerous for me, but I’ve been training very hard for this fight. This is a great opportunity, not just for the weekend because there are so many people here, but it’s great for both of us.”
Felice Herrig: “I was really excited for this fight, this matchup. I think I’m at a good place mentally and physically. I think styles make fights and I’m at a point in my career where I want to put on fun and exciting fights for the fans and I want to put on fights that people are excited for and pumped up about. I’m really pumped up; I think it will be Fight of the Night and I think it’ll be fun to watch.”
Abel Trujillo: “This fight is like every fight, you’re only as good as your last fight. This fight I want to put on a great performance and make sure people remember my name. I’m prepared and I’m ready to take on whoever. After this victory, I definitely want another top-10 opponent.”
James Vick: “This is my state! I was born and raised here in Texas. I love fighting in Texas. If I could pick, I’d always fight here in Texas, every fight. This is a big fight for me.”
VETERAN UFC EMPLOYEE JAMES KIMBALL TO LEAD NEW PERFORMANCE INSTITUTE OPERATIONS TEAM
Las Vegas – UFC® today announced the appointment of James Kimball as Vice President, Operations of its new 30,000 square foot Performance Institute currently being built in Las Vegas. Kimball, a six-year veteran of the world’s premier professional mixed martial arts (MMA) organization, will lead a team of experts in the planning, strategy and day-to-day operation of the athlete facility.
“James has been instrumental in the development of the Performance Institute from the very early stages, and we are proud to acknowledge his hard work and dedication and promote from within our team,” UFC Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Epstein said. “From working with MMA athletes to understand their needs, to canvasing world-renowned performance facilities, to driving layout and expertise requirements, James has aptly shepherded the development of what will be the world’s leading MMA performance, research and innovation facility.”
Following WME | IMG’s acquisition of UFC in July, Kimball played an integral role in collaborating with IMG Academy, one of the world’s largest and most advanced multi-sport training and education institutions, drawing on its decades of experience in the sports performance space.
"The IMG Academy team has worked with James over the last several months to apply our methodology and science-based approach to performance training to create world-class offerings for MMA athletes within UFC’s new Performance Institute,” remarked Sam Zussman, IMG’s President of Events, who also oversees IMG Academy. “Our team will work closely with James in this new capacity to continue driving innovation and offering athletes the best in training methodologies and resources."
Most recently, Kimball served as Director of Athlete Development, focused on performance and education resources available to athletes competing in UFC. Previously, he held positions with Lagardere Unlimited and the Washington Wizards organization.
A native of Herndon, VA, Kimball received a BS in Health, Fitness, Recreation, and Sports Management from George Mason University followed by a graduate degree in Sports Industry Management from Georgetown University.
Slated to open in May 2017, the UFC Performance Institute will provide athletes competing in UFC access to state-of-the-art facilities, technology, and experts across areas like sports science, nutrition and hydration to aid their training and rehabilitation.
A team of performance staff will be announced within the coming months.
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