UFC® RETURNS TO NASHVILLE WITH A MARCH 23rd BATTLE BETWEEN ELITE STRIKERS, EXCLUSIVELY ON ESPN+
FEATURED BOUTS:
(#4) STEPHEN THOMPSON vs. (#8 - LW) ANTHONY PETTIS
(#4) CURTIS BLAYDES vs. (#10) JUSTIN WILLIS
TICKETS FOR MARCH 23rd UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+®: THOMPSON vs. PETTIS
AT BRIDGESTONE ARENA GO ON SALE FRIDAY, FEB. 8
Las Vegas – UFC® returns to Nashville, Tenn. for the first time in almost two years with a battle between two of the most elite strikers in UFC history as two-time welterweight title challenger and current No.4-ranked contender Stephen Thompson looks to spoil the 170-pound debut of former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis. Also, No.4-ranked heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes intends to bounce back into the win column by handing Justin Willis his first loss in the UFC. UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+®: THOMPSON vs. PETTIS will stream live from Bridgestone Arena exclusively on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 23, with the ESPN+ prelims kicking off the evening at 4 p.m. CT/5 p.m. ET. Doors open at 3 p.m. CT/4 p.m. ET. All UFC live events on ESPN+ will be available in English and Spanish.
A five-time world champion in kickboxing with an incredible record of 58-0 with over 40 KOs, Thompson (14-3-1, fighting out of Simpsonville, S.C.) is one of the most highly-decorated strikers to ever compete in the UFC. Since joining the UFC in 2012, Thompson compiled a record of 9-3-1, including first-round KOs over former welterweight champion Johny Hendricks and current middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. Now set to compete for this first time in almost a year, Thompson aims to re-enter the championship conversation by securing the sixth post-fight bonus of his career with another highlight-reel KO.
Former lightweight champion and featherweight title challenger Pettis (21-8, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wis.) competes in his third weight class under the UFC banner as he moves up to welterweight in the Octagon for the first time. A third-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, Pettis has landed some of the most spectacular KOs in UFC history, including back-to-back first-round KOs over Joe Lauzon and Donald Cerrone. Coming off one of the best fights of 2018 against Tony Ferguson in the co-main event of UFC 229, Pettis is eager to return to the Octagon and put on another bonus-winning performance for his fans.
Hoping to kick off 2019 with another long winning streak, Blaydes (10-2, fighting out of Chicago, Ill.) will look to secure his ninth victory by way of KO. A 2012 NJCAA national champion in wrestling, Blaydes smoothly transitioned to MMA and has already defeated legends such as Mark Hunt and Alistair Overeem in his young career. Now, Blaydes aims to insert himself back into the title picture with his sixth win in the Octagon.
Willis (8-1, fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) intends to stay undefeated in the UFC as he prepares to take on the highest-ranked opponent of his career. After losing his first professional fight, Willis has won eight bouts in a row, with four of those victories coming by way of KO. Coming off the biggest win of his career against Hunt, Willis now looks to continue his momentum and work towards his first UFC title shot.
Announced bouts on the card include:
- No.1-ranked flyweight contender Jussier Formiga (22-5, fighting out of Natal, Brazil) looks to secure his first UFC title shot by being the only man to defeat No.4-ranked Deiveson Figueiredo (15-0, fighting out of Soure, Brazil)
- No.5-ranked women’s flyweight contender Alexis Davis (19-8, fighting out of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada) intends to defend her spot in line for the title when she battles former Invicta flyweight champion Jennifer Maia (15-5-1, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil)
- No.14-ranked women’s strawweight contender Randa Markos (8-7-1, fighting out of Windsor, Ontario, Canada) aims to break into the top-10 with an impressive performance over veteran Angela Hill (8-5, fighting out of San Diego, Calif.)
- In a flyweight bout, Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series standout Maycee Barber (6-0, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) looks to stay undefeated in her career when she takes on JJ Aldrich (7-2, fighting out of Westminster, Colo.)
- Both hungry for their first UFC win, Martin Day (8-3, fighting out of Kailua, Hawaii) battles Chris Gutierrez (12-3-1, fighting out of Littleton, Colo.)
- The Ultimate Fighter semi-finalist Bryce Mitchell (10-0, fighting out of Searcy, Ark.) looks to stay undefeated as he takes on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series signee Bobby Moffett (14-3, fighting out of Homewood, Ill.)
- John Makdessi (16-6, fighting out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada) aims to make it three wins in a row when he takes on German prospect Nasrat Haqparast (10-2, fighting out of Hamburg, Germany)
For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.UFC.com. All bouts live and subject to change.
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Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+®: THOMPSON vs. PETTIS go on sale Friday, Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. CT/11 a.m. ET and are priced at $144.50, $119.50, $94.50 and $79.50 (not including fees). Tickets are available for purchase online at ticketmaster.com or in person at the Bridgestone Arena box office. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.
UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 10 a.m. CT/11 a.m. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Feb. 7 starting at 10 a.m. CT/11 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.
UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 10 a.m. CT/11 a.m. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Feb. 7 starting at 10 a.m. CT/11 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.
UFC® AND CANADIAN ICON
GEORGES ST-PIERRE RETIRES
FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION EXITS SPORT WITH MOST WELTERWEIGHT TITLE DEFENCES
Montreal, Canada – UFC® legend and former two-division champion Georges St-Pierre announced his retirement from mixed martial arts (MMA) today at a press conference in Montreal. Widely considered the greatest welterweight champion of all time, he holds the record for the most 170-pound title defences at nine.
“It takes a lot of discipline to become and stay champion. It also takes a lot of discipline to stop while still feeling that you’re in the best physical and mental shape of your life but I’ve always planned to leave the sport when I’m at the top and in good health,” said St-Pierre (26-2, fighting out of Montreal, Canada). “I want to thank my family, my fans, my coaches, trainers and training partners, my sponsors and my agents for their indefectible support during all these years. I will forever be grateful for the work of Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, as well as Dana White and all UFC employees for giving me the opportunity to showcase my skills before the world, from UFC 46 to UFC 217. I also want to thank each of my opponents. All of them are incredible athletes who brought out the best in me. I retire from competition with great pride at having had a positive impact on my sport. I intend to keep training and practicing martial arts for as long as I live and I look forward to watching the new generation of champions carry our sport into the future.”
During his time at the top of the weight class, St-Pierre earned spectacular victories over Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit, Jake Shields, B.J. Penn (twice) and Josh Koscheck (twice). He also avenged his sole losses to both Matt Hughes and Matt Serra. In November 2017, St-Pierre captured the middleweight championship with a thrilling third-round submission win against Michael Bisping.
“Georges has cemented his legacy as one of the pound-for-pound greatest fighters ever,” UFC President Dana White said. “He beat all the top guys during his welterweight title reign and even went up a weight class to win the middleweight championship. He spent years as one of the biggest names in MMA and remains one of the best ambassadors for the sport. He put Canada on the MMA map.”
Born in the small municipality of Saint-Isidore, Quebec, St-Pierre was frequently bullied by older and stronger students throughout his childhood. However, he used this conflict as fuel to dedicate himself to martial arts. After working his way up the ranks through Quebec regional promotion TKO MMA, he debuted on the big stage with a unanimous decision win over Karo Parisyan at UFC 46 in 2004. He won his first welterweight championship via knockout over Matt Hughes at UFC 65 in 2006. After losing the title to Matt Serra, he later recaptured the belt via TKO in their rematch at UFC 83 in Montreal. He then went on to secure nine consecutive defences before stepping away from competition indefinitely. Following a four-year hiatus, St-Pierre returned in November 2017 to defeat Michael Bisping at UFC 217 to become a two-division champion.
In 2011 St-Pierre set the largest UFC gate outside the U.S. at $12,075,000 when he headlined UFC 129 at Rogers Centre in Toronto. The event currently holds the second largest attendance in UFC history with 55,724 fans. St-Pierre won Sports Illustrated Fighter of the Year in 2009. He was named Rogers Sportsnet Canadian Athlete of the Year in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He was nominated for best fighter at the ESPY Awards in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2018. Outside the Octagon®, St-Pierre was featured in films Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Kickboxer: Vengeance.
UFC®, OSCAR MAYER P3, AND DEVOUR ANNOUNCE MULTI-YEAR MARKETING PARTNERSHIP
DEVOUR Joins Oscar Mayer P3 as Official UFC Sponsor
LAS VEGAS and CHICAGO – UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, and two Kraft Heinz Company brands, Oscar Mayer P3 and DEVOUR, today announced a comprehensive multi-year partnership that expands on the innovative marketing relationship the companies began last year. The DEVOUR™ frozen food brand has been named "Official Frozen Meal of UFC," joining Oscar Mayer P3Portable Protein Pack, which was named “Official Protein Snack” of UFC in 2018. Both designations are new and mark exclusive sponsorship categories for UFC.
DEVOUR™ launched in 2016 with the mission to shake up the frozen aisle by taking an unapologetic stand for mouthwatering, craveable frozen foods. Over the past 3 years, DEVOUR™ has successfully built awareness with its bold and disruptive approach to communications, which has fueled its rapid growth in popularity with consumers. The brand offers frozen meals, frozen sandwiches, and instant bowls, which are widely distributed in retail grocery and convenience stores across the country. Similar to Oscar Mayer P3’s strategic partnership with UFC, DEVOUR’s™ collaboration with UFC will focus on reaching the loyal MMA fan base that comprises key demographics, including millennials, early adopters, and trendsetters.
Under the terms of the expanded partnership, both Oscar Mayer P3 and DEVOUR™ will be integrated extensively into select UFC live events, highlighted by a branded presence inside the world-famous Octagon®; custom integrations throughout UFC’s telecasts; in-venue activations; unique social media campaigns; custom content pieces, and Fight Week and Fight Night integrations.
In 2019, both Oscar Mayer P3 and DEVOUR™ will launch dedicated UFC products at select participating retail locations across the country. An exclusive Oscar Mayer P3 product line will feature co-developed product nutritionals focused on workout performance, certified by the UFC Performance Institute®, along with the integration of UFC-themed packaging. DEVOUR™ will also leverage UFC marks on various product offerings.
In addition, the Oscar Mayer P3 and DEVOUR™ brands will be further integrated with UFC through dedicated custom content pieces.Oscar Mayer P3 will leverage UFC fighter talent within an original series produced at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas, highlighting the importance of protein in an athlete’s preparation and daily routine. DEVOUR™ will integrate into Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight program, featuring unique DEVOUR™ marketing placements and mentions.
“Oscar Mayer P3 has been a tremendous partner for UFC, and during the short time we have been working together, we have discovered opportunities for natural collaboration that make sense for both our brands," said Paul Asencio, UFC Senior Vice President, Global Partnerships. “With the introduction of DEVOUR™ as an official partner in 2019, we look forward to the continued growth of our relationship with the Kraft Heinz family that will enhance our brands and reach consumers in authentic ways."
“We couldn’t be more excited about our P3/UFC partnership,” said Don Fussner, General Manager of Oscar Mayer. “Our relationship kicked off in September of last year, where we developed key learnings from those first fights, particularly in how to best connect with the UFC fan and bring our P3 proposition to life. With many early successes, we are now entering into an expanded, multi-year agreement that comprises holistic marketing communications, co-developed customized products and original content series.”
“UFC is both a collaborative and innovative partner, and I couldn’t be happier with the early results and the path ahead,” added Fussner. “The timing of this newly expanded partnership aligns perfectly with the launch of UFC on ESPN, an exciting chapter as UFC continues to expand their young, growing, and extremely loyal fan base. Being the Official Protein Snack of UFC is a powerful platform for P3, and our team is looking forward to embedding our brand into UFC culture, helping both athletes and fans alike find a more interesting way to get their protein.”
The expanded partnership will begin on Saturday, March 2, with UFC® 235: JONES vs. SMITH, featuring two highly anticipated world championship fights. Light heavyweight champion Jon Jones wastes no time getting back in the Octagon as he takes on dangerous finisher and No. 3-ranked contender Anthony Smith. Also, welterweight champion Tyron Woodley goes for his fifth consecutive title defense against No. 2-ranked contender Kamaru Usman.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT DEBUTA EN ESPN+ CON LA SÚPER PELEA DE CEJUDO VS. DILLASHAW
COBERTURA PRELIMINAR A TODA HORA Y EN TODAS LAS PLATAFORMAS DE ESPN CON PROGRAMAS Y CONTENIDO ORIGINAL INCLUYENDO EL NUEVO Y EXCLUSIVO DOCUMENTAL UFC: DESTINED, EN ESPN+ AHORA
MÁS DE 150 HORAS DE PROGRAMACIÓN HISTÓRICA DE UFC POR DEMANDA EN ESPN+
UFC se prepara para hacer su debut de UFC Fight Night on ESPN+, con el enfrentamiento entre el campeón de peso mosca del UFC, Henry Cejudo, y el campeón de peso gallo del UFC, TJ Dillashaw, por el cinturón de las 125 libras (56,7 kg) de Cejudo, EN VIVO desde el Barclay’s Center en Brooklyn este sábado 19 de enero. En la pelea estelar de la Cartelera Preliminar se enfrentan Donald ”Cowboy” Cerrone en una pelea de peso ligero contra Alex Hernández.
El evento comenzará y concluirá en ESPN+, con los enfrentamientos de la cartelera principal (10 p.m. ET) y los preliminares iniciales (6 p.m. ET, previo a la transmisión televisiva de ESPN y ESPN Deportes) transmitidos por streaming en inglés y en español. La cobertura preliminar se transmitirá a nivel nacional en ESPN y en ESPN Deportes (8 p.m. ET). Esta es la primera pelea de la cartelera del acuerdo de cinco años entre UFC y el segmento Direct-To-Consumer & International de The Walt Disney Company, anunciado el año pasado.
La cobertura previa de ESPN a lo largo de la semana incluirá contenido transmitido por streaming, al aire y online con programas de MMA, información y noticias, reportajes y entrevistas especiales y eventos de UFC de archivo, además de el pesaje el viernes, así como la cuenta regresiva en vivo a partir del inicio del evento.
El contenido de UFC está siempre disponible en ESPN+ —los 365 días del año, las 24 horas— incluyendo la nueva e innovadora serie documental UFC: Destined, exclusiva de ESPN+. UFC: Destined relata los sucesos en la vida de las superestrellas del UFC en los momentos previos, durante y después de una pelea importante. Cada uno de los dos episodios de UFC: Destinedsigue a los dos atletas que se preparan para su combate en el Octágono, previo a su enfrentamiento en eventos Pay-Per-View del UFC en ESPN+ o en UFC Fight Night on ESPN. La primera parte está disponible ahora en ESPN+, y la segunda parte se transmite en ESPN+ la semana entrante. En la primera parte se narran las historias de los atletas, y además se siguen sus historias personales y profesionales en los días y semanas que preceden a la pelea. En la segunda parte se recogen las historias de los atletas en los momentos inmediatamente previos a la pelea, así como durante y después de esta. Se presenta material nunca antes visto —acceso al vestidor, las supersticiones antes de una pelea, las comidas, los entrenamientos y más— así como reacciones y emociones posteriores a la pelea, incluidas la emoción de la victoria y la agonía de la derrota.
También en ESPN+, los aficionados de las peleas tienen acceso en todo momento a más de 150 horas de contenido por demanda de alta calidad de UFC, incluyendo las mejores peleas de UFC, las mayores estrellas, repeticiones completas de eventos especiales y más (incluyendo un éxito reciente: el evento principal de UFC 229: Khabib vs. McGregor).
La producción de todos los eventos de UFC en ESPN+, ESPN y ESPN Deportes está a cargo del UFC. La acción en vivo será liderada por Jon Anik (jugada-a-jugada), junto al actual campeón de peso completo de UFC, Daniel Cormier, como comentarista. El equipo de estudio, también desde Brooklyn, incluirá a Rashad Evans, excampeón de peso semicompleto de UFC, y el excampeón de peso mediano de UFC, Michael Bisping en el análisis y Karyn Bryant como presentadora y Megan Olivi como reportera.
Además, hace su debut en la aplicación de ESPN y ESPN.com, la nueva experiencia digital en vivo, MMA Fightcenter, impulsada por datos con estadísticas de peleas en vivo (se incluyen golpes claves y por parte del cuerpo, tiempo en control, derribos y más), de cada pelea de los eventos del UFC, perfiles de peleadores y mucho más. Cada Fight Night, MMA Fightcenterofrecerá la visualización de los golpes y daños que reciban los peleadores mediante animaciones dinámicas con representación de colores, para llevar a los aficionados una innovadora experiencia y acompañar el evento en vivo. Para los suscriptores de ESPN+, MMA Fightcenter también incluye transmisiones por streaming de video integrado durante los eventos en vivo (y cuando ESPN presenta la acción del UFC, los televidentes con “TV Everywhere” tienen acceso a las transmisiones por streaming de video integrado).
Además de noticias y análisis desde Brooklyn durante toda la semana, ESPN, ESPN.com y la aplicación de ESPN tendrán contenido editorial exclusivo sobre TJ Dillashaw, Donald Cerrone y Henry Cejudo y un reportaje de SportsCenter sobre Greg Hardy de Jeremy Schaap. Contenido adicional de ESPN.com incluye análisis estadístico en profundidad, consejos para apuestas y la guía completa de la pelea de Brett Okamoto. Los aficionados también pueden chequear los movimientos imperdibles del UFC en un formato interactivo lleno de fotos y videos.
Como parte del debut de UFC Fight Night on ESPN+, los aficionados tendrán la oportunidad de tener su propia Ruta del UFC a ESPN+ a través de experiencias para los aficionados de Brooklyn en toda la ciudad. Síganos en Twitter por @ESPN y @UFC para los detalles de los lugares.
El equipo de plataformas sociales de ESPN también producirá reportajes desde Brooklyn con acceso completo en Instagram, en el que capturarán lo más cautivante del espectáculo para los aficionados. Los fans pueden unirse a la conversación en Twitter, Facebook e Instagr
ESPN Deportes ofrecerá amplia cobertura en español a lo largo de la semana, incluyendo informes especiales y entrevistas a peleadores en SportsCenter, Raza Deportiva y Jorge Ramos y su Banda. En Fight Night, la cadena transmitirá UFC Orígenes: Henry Cejudo, un especial de 30 minutos sobre la vida de Cejudo, su familia y su trayectoria hacia el UFC. También se ofrecerá amplia cobertura en ESPN Deportes Radio y las plataformas sociales y digitales, incluyendo ESPNDeportes.com, y en Twitter, Facebook e Instagr
Los comentarios en español de la UFC Fight Night on ESPN+ serán encabezado por el actual peleador en UFC Víctor Dávila (jugada a jugada), junto a Santiago Ponzinibbio y Brandon Moreno en el análisis.
UFC Fight Night on ESPN+
| Fecha | Hora (hora del este) | Contenido | Plataforma |
| Mié. 16 de enero | 12 a.m. | Programa de MMA de Ariel Helwani | ESPNEWS |
| 8 p.m. | Ariel & the Bad Guy | ESPN+ | |
| Vie. 18 de enero | 9 a.m. | Ariel & The Bad Guy en vivo | ESPN+ (en vivo) |
| 6 p.m. | UFC Pre-Fight Show | ESPN+ (en vivo) | |
| Sáb. 19 de enero | 3 p.m. | UFC Main Event: Khabib vs. McGregor | ESPNEWS |
| 4 p.m. | UFC Main Event: Johnson vs. Cejudo 2 | ESPNEWS | |
| 4 p.m. | UFC Orígenes: Henry Cejudo | ESPN Deportes | |
| 5 p.m. | UFC Main Event: Dillashaw vs. Garbrandt 1 & 2 | ESPNEWS | |
| 5 p.m. | Ariel & The Bad Guy en vivo | YouTube, Twitter (en vivo) | |
| 6 p.m. | UFC Fight Night (preliminares iniciales) | ESPN+ (en vivo)* | |
| 8 p.m. | UFC Fight Night (preliminares) | ESPN, ESPN Deportes (en vivo) | |
| 10 p.m. | UFC Fight Night (cartelera principal) | ESPN+ (en vivo)* | |
| Dom. 20 de enero | 1 a.m. | UFC Post-Fight Show | ESPN+ (en vivo) |
* UFC Fight Night disponible en inglés y español en ESPN+
Vea las peleas en vivo en ESPN+ en la aplicación de ESPN. Para suscribirse a ESPN+, visite www.espnplus.com
Después de la pelea de Cejudo vs. Dillashaw, el octágono se trasladará a la Arena CFO en Fortaleza, Brasil, para el combate entre Assunçao vs. Morães, la próxima UFC Fight Night on ESPN+, el sábado 2 de febrero a las 5 p.m. ET.
FIGHT OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE BETWEEN
(#6) EDSON BARBOZA AND (#7) JUSTIN GAETHJE
FEATURED BOUT:
(#6) KAROLINA KOWALKIEWICZ vs. (#8) MICHELLE WATERSON
TICKETS FOR UFC FIGHT NIGHT® ON ESPN: BARBOZA vs. GAETHJE
AT WELLS FARGO CENTER GO ON SALE FRIDAY, FEB. 8
Las Vegas – UFC® will return to Philadelphia with a bout guaranteed to deliver fireworks, as No. 6 ranked lightweight contenderEdson Barboza takes on No. 7 Justin Gaethje. In a pivotal strawweight bout, No. 6 ranked contender Karolina Kowalkiewiczfaces No. 8 Michelle Waterson. UFC FIGHT NIGHT® ON ESPN: BARBOZA vs. GAETHJE takes place at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday, March 30 with ESPN airing the Main Event and Prelims live at 5 p.m. ET and ESPN+ kicking off the event with a live stream of the Early Prelims at 3:30 p.m. ET. ESPN Deportes will air the Prelims live at 5 p.m. ET and stream the Main Event in Spanish at 7 p.m. ET on the ESPN App. All UFC live events on ESPN+ will also be available in English and Spanish.
A devastating Muay Thai specialist, Barboza (20-6, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) has delivered some of the most spectacular knockouts in UFC history. During his run, he has earned thrilling wins against Beneil Dariush, Gilbert Melendez, Anthony Pettis and Paul Felder. He now looks to continue building on the momentum of his recent victory over Dan Hooker with another show-stealing performance against one of the division’s most aggressive finishers.
Known as the “The Highlight,” Gaethje (19-2. Fighting out of Arvada, Colo.) has proven to be must-watch television since joining the UFC in 2017. He has earned five performance bonuses in only four appearances, including legendary wars with Dustin Poirier and Eddie Alvarez, as well as incredible knockouts against James Vick and Michael Johnson. Gaethje is now poised to once again steal the show against one of the most dangerous strikers on the UFC roster.
A former title challenger, Kowalkiewicz (13-3, fighting out of Lodz, Poland) aims to reassert herself as one of the top competitors in the strawweight division. During her UFC run, she has netted impressive victories over current champion Rose Namajunas, Felice Herrig, Randa Markos and Heather Jo Clark. Kowalkiewicz now hopes to make a statement against a tough and surging veteran contender.
Currently riding a two-fight win streak, Waterson (16-6, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) looks to continue her ascent up through the rankings. A former Invicta champion, she has secured thrilling victories against Paige VanZant, Felice Herrig, Cortney Casey and Jessica Penne. She is now gunning to establish herself as a title threat in the talent-rich strawweight division.
Announced bouts on the card include:
- No. 13 ranked strawweight contender Alexa Grasso (10-2, fighting out of Guadalajara, Mexico) looks to get back in the win column against unbeaten Marina Rodriguez (10-0-1, fighting out of Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil)
- Ross Pearson (22-14 1NC, fighting out of Sunderland, England) makes his 26th UFC appearance against tough Desmond Green (21-8, fighting out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
- Kennedy Nzechukwu (6-0, fighting out of Dallas, Tex.) looks to remain undefeated against battle-tested Paul Craig (9-3, fighting out of Coatbridge, Scotland)
- Featherweight prospects collide when Sodiq Yusuff (7-1, fighting out of Bladensburg, Md.) faces Sheymon Moraes (11-1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif.)
- Sabina Mazo (6-0, fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif. by way of Medellín, Colombia) takes on Maryna Moroz (8-3, fighting out of Volnogorsk, Ukraine) in a strawweight bout
DOMINANT CHAMPIONS FACE SURGING CONTENDERS AT UFC® 235 IN LAS VEGAS
FEATURED BOUTS:
(C) JON JONES vs. (#3) ANTHONY SMITH
(C) TYRON WOODLEY vs. (#2) KAMARU USMAN
TICKETS FOR UFC® 235: JONES vs. SMITH AT T-MOBILE ARENA
GO ON SALE FRIDAY, FEB. 1
PRELIMINARY FIGHTS LIVE ON ESPN, ESPN DEPORTES
Las Vegas – UFC® hits Las Vegas for the first time in 2019 with two highly anticipated world championship fights. Light heavyweight champion Jon Jones wastes no time getting back in the Octagon® as he takes on dangerous finisher and No. 3-ranked contender Anthony Smith. Also, welterweight champion Tyron Woodley goes for his fifth consecutive title defense against No. 2-ranked contender Kamaru Usman. UFC® 235: JONES vs. SMITH takes place Saturday, March 2 at T-Mobile Arena and will air live on Pay-Per-View.
Preliminary fights will air nationally in English and Spanish on ESPN and ESPN Deportes starting at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. In addition to linear coverage of the preliminaries, fans will be able to purchase and watch UFC 235 on ESPN.com/UFC235, beginning February 18 (once purchased, fans will be able to watch the event on the web or on the ESPN App on mobile or TV-connected devices). They also can purchase and watch UFC 235 on UFC.com or the UFC App.
Jones (23-1 1NC, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) reclaimed the light heavyweight championship in December with a spectacular TKO win over long-time rival Alexander Gustafsson. He now looks to further extend his record for most light heavyweight championship title defenses with another show-stealing performance. Throughout his career, Jones has defeated the who’s who of MMA, including Daniel Cormier, Rashad Evans, Lyoto Machida, Rampage Jackson and Shogun Rua.
A former middleweight mainstay, Smith (31-13, fighting out of Omaha, Neb.) looks to shock the world by dethroning the most dominant 205-pound champion in UFC history. A hard-hitting KO artist, Smith burst onto the light heavyweight scene less than a year ago. During this time, he has delivered highlight-reel finishes against Rashad Evans, Shogun Rua and Volkan Oezdemir. With momentum on his side, Smith has his sights on taking out Jones and capturing UFC gold.
A decorated grappler with KO power, Woodley (19-3-1, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) looks to continue his winning ways by stopping one of the welterweight division’s biggest threats. During his UFC run, he has beaten Darren Till, Demian Maia, Stephen Thompson, Robbie Lawler and Kelvin Gastelum. In March, Woodley aims to further build his legacy as one of the greatest 170-pound champions in UFC history.
Currently riding a 13-fight win streak that extends more than five years, Usman (14-1, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla. by way of Auchi, Nigeria) is poised to shake up the 170-pound division. A dominating grappler, he has earned impressive victories against Rafael Dos Anjos, Demian Maia, Sergio Moraes and Sean Strickland. Usman is now gunning to dethrone Woodley and take his spot at the top of the division.
Additional bouts on the card include:
- Former welterweight champion and No. 6-ranked contender Robbie Lawler (28-12 1NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) looks to spoil the highly anticipated debut of unbeaten Ben Askren (18-0 1NC, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.)
- Former bantamweight champ and No. 1-ranked contender Cody Garbrandt (11-2, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) looks to get back in the win column against surging No. 9 Pedro Munhoz (17-3 1NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Sao Paulo, Brazil)
- In a featherweight bout guaranteed to deliver fireworks, No. 6-ranked contender Jeremy Stephens (28-15, fighting out of San Diego, Calif.) battles No. 14 Zabit Magomedsharipov (16-1, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia)
- No. 7-ranked strawweight contender Tecia Torres (10-3, fighting out of Colorado Springs, Colo.) aims to snap the winning streak of the rising Weili Zhang (18-1, fighting out of Beijing, China)
- Light heavyweight contenders collide when No. 11-ranked Ovince Saint Preux (23-12, fighting out of Knoxville, Tenn.) faces No. 14 Misha Cirkunov (14-4, fighting out of Toronto, Canada)
- No. 13-ranked bantamweight contender Thomas Almeida (22-3, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) looks to re-assert himself as a title threat against Marlon Vera (12-5-1, fighting out of Chone, Ecuador)
- The Ultimate Fighter season one winner Diego Sanchez (30-11, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) makes his 29th UFC appearance against hot prospect Mickey Gall (5-1, fighting out of Green Brook Township, N.J.)
- Gina Mazany (5-2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) battles The Ultimate Fighter season 28 winner Macy Chiasson (3-0, fighting out of New Orleans, La.) in a bantamweight bout
UFC® 229: KHABIB vs. MCGREGOR GENERATES RECORD $86.4 MILLION FOR LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas – UFC® today announced that UFC® 229: KHABIB vs. MCGREGOR generated $86.4 million in economic impact for the Las Vegas metropolitan area, according to a study conducted by research firm Applied Analysis. This marks the largest economic impact for a single UFC event measured globally to date.
UFC® 229: KHABIB vs. MCGREGOR, which took place on Saturday, October 6, at T-Mobile Arena, set new records for attendance (20,034) and ticket revenue ($17,188,894) for UFC in Las Vegas. In addition to the $86.4 million in total economic output, the study concluded that the landmark event also contributed $17.2 million in salaries and wages and supported an estimated 414 jobs in the Southern Nevada market. Visitors attending events related to UFC® 229: KHABIB vs. MCGREGOR were responsible for an estimated $3.7 million in public revenues in Nevada.
"During the build up to UFC 229, I said it was going to be the biggest event in UFC’s history, and now we have all the numbers to prove it,” said UFC President Dana White. “Khabib vs. McGregor smashed our records for Pay-Per-Views, social media impressions, and global viewership, and now we know it set records for economic impact here Las Vegas. None of this would have been possible without the support from the Las Vegas community and UFC’s loyal fans, the best in sports.”
Added Steve Hill, Chief Executive Officer, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority: “Las Vegas has long been the fight capital of the world, and UFC 229 once again showed that combining UFC’s tremendous brand with the brand of Las Vegas is a win-win for everyone. We’re proud to be the home of UFC and to partner with them to put on some of the greatest events in the MMA world.”
UFC has been headquartered in Las Vegas since 2001 and hosts a minimum of four events annually in T-Mobile Arena, where UFC was named an Anchor Tenant in 2017.
Key Highlights of the UFC® 229: KHABIB vs. MCGREGOR economic impact study:
- $86.4 million total economic output
- $17.2 million total salaries and wages paid
- 414 jobs supported in Southern Nevada
- $3.7 million total taxes paid by visitors
- 40% of UFC 229 visitors traveled from international locations
- 50% of attendees were between the ages of 21 to 34
- 50% of attendees reported an annual household income of $100,000 or more
- One in five attendees stayed in Las Vegas for at least five days
- Nearly two in five attendees reported spending more than $2,000 on non-gaming activities
Debut UFC Fight Night on ESPN+ is a Record-Setting Night
https://espnmediazone.com/us/
https://espnmediazone.com/us/
ESPN+ Service signs up over 568,000 subscribers on Friday and Saturday
ESPN logs 1.4 rating, largest for a UFC Prelims Fight Card On Cable Since 2013
ESPN+ Main Event Superfight – Cejudo vs. Dillashaw – Sees Stunning Finish
Last night’s UFC Fight Night on ESPN+ debut, featuring 13 fights live from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, saw Henry Cejudo successfully defend his flyweight championship against bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw in a stunning 32-second finish, and led to a record-setting night with 568,000 new subscribers for ESPN+ on Friday and Saturday combined – over 525,000 Saturday alone. It marks the largest event and subscription catalyst for ESPN+ thus far.
The UFC Fight Night on ESPN+ Prelims card aired on ESPN (English) and ESPN Deportes (Spanish) from 8:15 -10 p.m. ET. The telecast averaged a 1.4 metered market rating, making it the highest-rated UFC Fight Night Prelims on cable since at least 2013.
ESPN+, the premium multi-sport, direct-to-consumer video service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN, launched in April and surpassed one million paying subscribers in just five months. It offers fans thousands of live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, along with premium editorial content.
“Our first UFC Fight Night on ESPN+ was a thrilling evening of action and a great success, with a record-setting night that continued the momentum for ESPN+, delivered strong ratings on ESPN and marks a great start to our new agreement with the UFC,” said Kevin Mayer, Chairman, Direct-To-Consumer and International, The Walt Disney Company. “It was a milestone evening, with the success driven by outstanding joint efforts from the teams at DTCI and ESPN.”
On Saturday, there were also more than 1.8 million unique visitors to MMA-related digital content across ESPN digital platforms (ESPN App, ESPN.com, etc.), which was the most-trafficked Saturday for MMA content on record.
ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro said, “All day, and across all ESPN platforms, we collectively demonstrated the promise of what we can do to fulfill our mission of serving a wider array of sports fans.”
On the Prelims portion of the card broadcast on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone thrilled the crowd with a second-round TKO of Alex Hernandez. After his win, Cerrone immediately challenged Conor McGregor. “I want Conor, if he’ll agree to it. I’m coming for a belt. Cowboy is back.” McGregor, the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, quickly responded on Twitter, accepting the challenge: “For a fight like that Donald, I’ll fight you. Congratulations.”
This was the first fight card of the five-year media deal between UFC, The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-To-Consumer & International segment and ESPN, announced last year. ESPN+ will offer 20 exclusive UFC Fight Night on ESPN+ events per year and all preliminary fights for UFC on ESPN Fight Night programs. ESPN linear networks will broadcast 10 exclusive UFC on ESPN Fight Night events per year as well as Prelim fights for UFC pay-per-view events.
ESPN logs 1.4 rating, largest for a UFC Prelims Fight Card On Cable Since 2013
ESPN+ Main Event Superfight – Cejudo vs. Dillashaw – Sees Stunning Finish
Last night’s UFC Fight Night on ESPN+ debut, featuring 13 fights live from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, saw Henry Cejudo successfully defend his flyweight championship against bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw in a stunning 32-second finish, and led to a record-setting night with 568,000 new subscribers for ESPN+ on Friday and Saturday combined – over 525,000 Saturday alone. It marks the largest event and subscription catalyst for ESPN+ thus far.
The UFC Fight Night on ESPN+ Prelims card aired on ESPN (English) and ESPN Deportes (Spanish) from 8:15 -10 p.m. ET. The telecast averaged a 1.4 metered market rating, making it the highest-rated UFC Fight Night Prelims on cable since at least 2013.
ESPN+, the premium multi-sport, direct-to-consumer video service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN, launched in April and surpassed one million paying subscribers in just five months. It offers fans thousands of live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, along with premium editorial content.
“Our first UFC Fight Night on ESPN+ was a thrilling evening of action and a great success, with a record-setting night that continued the momentum for ESPN+, delivered strong ratings on ESPN and marks a great start to our new agreement with the UFC,” said Kevin Mayer, Chairman, Direct-To-Consumer and International, The Walt Disney Company. “It was a milestone evening, with the success driven by outstanding joint efforts from the teams at DTCI and ESPN.”
On Saturday, there were also more than 1.8 million unique visitors to MMA-related digital content across ESPN digital platforms (ESPN App, ESPN.com, etc.), which was the most-trafficked Saturday for MMA content on record.
ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro said, “All day, and across all ESPN platforms, we collectively demonstrated the promise of what we can do to fulfill our mission of serving a wider array of sports fans.”
On the Prelims portion of the card broadcast on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone thrilled the crowd with a second-round TKO of Alex Hernandez. After his win, Cerrone immediately challenged Conor McGregor. “I want Conor, if he’ll agree to it. I’m coming for a belt. Cowboy is back.” McGregor, the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, quickly responded on Twitter, accepting the challenge: “For a fight like that Donald, I’ll fight you. Congratulations.”
This was the first fight card of the five-year media deal between UFC, The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-To-Consumer & International segment and ESPN, announced last year. ESPN+ will offer 20 exclusive UFC Fight Night on ESPN+ events per year and all preliminary fights for UFC on ESPN Fight Night programs. ESPN linear networks will broadcast 10 exclusive UFC on ESPN Fight Night events per year as well as Prelim fights for UFC pay-per-view events.
UFC® DEBUTS IN WICHITA WITH A MARCH 9TH SHOWDOWN BETWEEN TOP-RANKED HEAVYWEIGHT KNOCKOUT ARTISTS, EXCLUSIVELY ON ESPN+
FEATURED BOUTS:
(#2) DERRICK LEWIS vs. (#7) JUNIOR DOS SANTOS
TICKETS FOR MARCH 9TH UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+®: LEWIS vs. DOS SANTOS
AT INTRUST BANK ARENA GO ON SALE FRIDAY, JAN. 18
Las Vegas – UFC® heads to Wichita, Kan. for the first time in the promotion’s history and brings with it a showcase matchup in the heavyweight division. Recent title challenger and No.2-ranked Derrick Lewis looks to re-insert himself into the championship conversation by landing another signature KO against a former UFC heavyweight champion and fellow knockout artist No.7-ranked Junior Dos Santos. UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+®: LEWIS vs. DOS SANTOS will stream live from INTRUST Bank Arena exclusively on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 9, with the ESPN+ prelims kicking off the evening at 4 p.m. CT/5 p.m. ET. Doors open at 3 p.m. CT/4 p.m. ET. All UFC live events on ESPN+ will be available in English and Spanish.
Coming off the first title shot of his UFC career against current No.1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world Daniel Cormier,Lewis (21-6, fighting out of Houston, Texas) aims to get back to his winning ways with another spectacular knockout. Tied for having the most KOs in UFC heavyweight history, Lewis won nine of his last 10 bouts leading up to his title shot, including victories over Alexander Volkov, Francis Ngannou and Travis Browne. Lewis now intends to add the first ex-UFC champion to his KO list and earn the fifth post-fight award bonus in his last seven fights.
Former UFC heavyweight champion and multiple-time title challenger Dos Santos (20-5, fighting out of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil) looks for his third win in a row to break back into the top-5. In the headlining spot for the fifth time in a row, and 11th overall, Dos Santos has faced a who’s who of UFC heavyweights, such as Stipe Miocic, Alistair Overeem and Cain Velasquez. Dos Santos is now poised to earn his fourth shot at the title with another impressive win.
Announced bouts on the card include:
- No.6-ranked women’s bantamweight contender Marion Reneau (9-4-1, fighting out of Visalia, Calif.) looks to get back into the championship picture by taking out former women’s featherweight title challenger and No.9-ranked bantamweight Yana Kunitskaya (11-4, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M. by way of Murmansk, Russia)
- No.14-ranked welterweight Elizeu dos Santos (20-5, fighting out of Francisco Beltrao, Brazil) looks to keep his impressive six-fight winning streak alive as he attempts to hand Curtis Millender (17-3, fighting out of Fullerton, Calif.) his first loss in the Octagon
- Longtime UFC veteran Tim Boetsch (21-12, fighting out of Sunbury, Pa.) makes his 20th walk to the Octagon when he meets battle-tested Russian Omari Akhmedov (17-4-1, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia)
- Hopeful heavyweight contenders clash as Daniel Spitz (6-2, fighting out of Spokane, Wash.) aims to spoil the UFC debut of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series signee Jeff Hughes (10-1, fighting out of Independence, Ohio)
- Blagoy Ivanov (16-2, fighting out of Sofia, Bulgaria) hunts for his first UFC win when he welcomes back perennial top UFC heavyweight contender Ben Rothwell (36-10, fighting out of Kenosha, Wisc.)
- Looking to continue his tear through the welterweight division, Anthony Rocco Martin (14-4, fighting out of Boston, Mass.) takes on surging submission specialist Sergio Moraes (13-4-1, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil)
- Veteran lightweight Beneil Dariush (15-4-1, fighting out of Yorba Linda, Calif.) looks to break back into the UFC rankings with an impressive performance against Drew Dober (20-8, fighting out of Denver, Colo.)
UFC FIGHT PASS® TO STREAM BIGGEST COMBAT JIU-JITSU EVENT OF THE YEAR
Hugely anticipated four-man single elimination tournament headlined by
Fabricio Werdum, Josh Barnett, Rustam Chsiev and Gordon Ryan
Fabricio Werdum, Josh Barnett, Rustam Chsiev and Gordon Ryan
LAS VEGAS — UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s premier combat sport’s streaming service, announced today it will stream Combat Jiu-Jitsu Fight Night, the biggest combat jiu-jitsu event of the year, live and exclusively on Friday, February 22 at 7 p.m. PT (10 p.m. ET). The four-man single elimination tournament will feature former UFC heavyweight champion and multiple-time BJJ world champion Fabricio Werdum;former UFC heavyweight champion and catch wrestling expert Josh Barnett; world-class wrestler-turned BJJ star-killer Rustam Chsiev;and Gordon Ryan, the four-time EBI champion widely considered the greatest pound-for-pound submission specialist in the world.
Under Combat Jui-Jitsu rules, openhanded palm strikes to the head and body become legal when the grapplers are on the ground.
“This is the biggest event I’ve ever promoted,” said Eddie Bravo, grappling legend and creator of Combat Jiu-Jitsu. “The response and anticipation have been crazy, and I’m so pumped we are able to put this on FIGHT PASS. Combat Jiu-Jitsu rules are the most exciting thing to happen to grappling in years, and I can’t wait for this epic four-man tournament to happen.”
The tournament will begin with Werdum taking on Ryan and with Barnett facing Chsiev. The winners of the semi-finals will face-off minutes later to decide the Combat Jiu-Jitsu Absolute Champion.
Ryan holds grappling victories over both Chsiev (on points in the finale of the EBI 6 tournament two years ago) and Barnett, whom he submitted when they crossed paths in the team vs team Quintet format in October.
Added Bravo: “Werdum is maybe the most decorated submission guy to ever hold a UFC title and we know he has sick ground strikes. Then you have Chsiev, an experienced MMA fighter, who’s maybe the physically strongest of the four, the hardest to submit, and who has beaten some of the best grapplers in the world. And finally, we have Josh Barnett, who has that catch wrestling style and can generate some serious power into strikes on the ground.”
The event was previously scheduled as a Pay-Per-View event, but Bravo worked with UFC® to ensure this super-card would be available to FIGHT PASS subscribers at no extra cost.
FIGHT PASS coverage of the event will also include a world-class undercard featuring several alternate bouts. The venue and ticket information will be announced at a later date.
Under Combat Jui-Jitsu rules, openhanded palm strikes to the head and body become legal when the grapplers are on the ground.
“This is the biggest event I’ve ever promoted,” said Eddie Bravo, grappling legend and creator of Combat Jiu-Jitsu. “The response and anticipation have been crazy, and I’m so pumped we are able to put this on FIGHT PASS. Combat Jiu-Jitsu rules are the most exciting thing to happen to grappling in years, and I can’t wait for this epic four-man tournament to happen.”
The tournament will begin with Werdum taking on Ryan and with Barnett facing Chsiev. The winners of the semi-finals will face-off minutes later to decide the Combat Jiu-Jitsu Absolute Champion.
Ryan holds grappling victories over both Chsiev (on points in the finale of the EBI 6 tournament two years ago) and Barnett, whom he submitted when they crossed paths in the team vs team Quintet format in October.
Added Bravo: “Werdum is maybe the most decorated submission guy to ever hold a UFC title and we know he has sick ground strikes. Then you have Chsiev, an experienced MMA fighter, who’s maybe the physically strongest of the four, the hardest to submit, and who has beaten some of the best grapplers in the world. And finally, we have Josh Barnett, who has that catch wrestling style and can generate some serious power into strikes on the ground.”
The event was previously scheduled as a Pay-Per-View event, but Bravo worked with UFC® to ensure this super-card would be available to FIGHT PASS subscribers at no extra cost.
FIGHT PASS coverage of the event will also include a world-class undercard featuring several alternate bouts. The venue and ticket information will be announced at a later date.
UFC® NAMES MOTEL 6 FIRST “OFFICIAL ECONOMY LODGING PARTNER”
Las Vegas and Dallas – UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, today announced a new integrated marketing partnership with Motel 6, the leading economy lodging provider with more than 1,430 owned and franchised hotels across the United States and Canada.
Under the terms of the agreement, Motel 6 becomes UFC’s first-ever “Official Economy Lodging Partner,” creating a new sponsorship category for the MMA promotion. In return, Motel 6 will have a branded presence inside UFC’s world-famous Octagon® for select UFC events, including several Pay-Per-Views and a variety of ESPN and ESPN+ telecasts.
“We’re excited to join with Motel 6 to create a new partnership category for UFC,” said Paul Asencio, UFC Senior Vice President, Global Partnerships. “This new agreement strengthens our relationship with Motel 6 and allows our respective brands to work together to grow our customers in key markets.”
UFC and Motel 6 have partnered on several UFC events since November 2017.
UFC and Motel 6 have partnered on several UFC events since November 2017.
“Elevating our partnership with the UFC will enhance the visibility of the Motel 6 brand across a diverse, multi-channel sports platform,” said Lance Miceli, Chief Revenue Officer at G6 Hospitality, owner and franchisor of the Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands. “We’re excited for the activation opportunities to increase engagement among our guest population and UFC’s substantial fan base.”
Additional partnership activations will include in-venue commercials, branded integrations in select UFC Pay-Per-Views and collaborations on digital and social media campaigns. Motel 6 will also have a branded presence at several UFC Fan Experience activations in the U.S.
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