UFC® ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER 2019 EVENT DATES
ESPN+ and ESPN to Carry Seven UFC Fight Night Events from April through June 2019
LAS VEGAS – UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, today announced the dates and distribution plans for UFC events in the second quarter 2019. The schedule is a continuation of the historic multi-year agreement between UFC and The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-To-Consumer & International segment and ESPN beginning in 2019 that makes ESPN+ and ESPN the exclusive media homes of UFC in the United States. The exact locations of the Q2 events will be announced at a later date.
The first of five second-quarter “UFC Fight Night on ESPN+” takes place Saturday, April 20 on the premium multi-sport, direct-to-consumer video service. ESPN+ will also carry Saturday UFC events on May 4, May 18, June 1 and June 22, with ESPN+ exclusively streaming all bouts for each event.
ESPN linear networks will air two “UFC Fight Night on ESPN” in the second quarter, on Saturday, April 27 and Saturday, June 29. The main card for both events will be televised live to a national audience exclusively on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, while the prelims and early prelims will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Other confirmed events for the second quarter 2019 include three UFC Pay-Per-Views: UFC 236 on Saturday, April 13; UFC 237 on Saturday, May 11; and UFC 238 on Saturday, June 8. ESPN linear networks will televise the prelims for each of these events.
DATE
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EVENT
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Saturday, April 13
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UFC 236
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Saturday, April 20
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UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+
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Saturday, April 27
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UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN
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Saturday, May 4
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UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+
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Saturday, May 11
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UFC 237
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Saturday, May 18
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UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+
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Saturday, June 1
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UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+
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Saturday, June 8
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UFC 238
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Saturday, June 22
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UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+
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Saturday, June 29
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UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN
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Locations, fight cards and ticket on-sale information will be announced at a later date.
Starting in January 2019, ESPN+ and ESPN will be the exclusive digital and linear distributors of UFC in the U.S., showcasing 42 live events, 30 of which will feature a full card of 12 UFC bouts. Starting January 19, ESPN+, the recently-launched multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service, will offer 20 exclusive events and all preliminary fights for “UFC Fight Night on ESPN+” programs, and ESPN linear networks will broadcast 10 exclusive “UFC Fight Night on ESPN” events, as well as all UFC pay-per-view preliminary fights.
UFC FIGHT PASS® and Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions Reach Multi-Year Live Streaming Agreement
Exclusive Programming Includes up to 72 Boxing Events Through 2021
First Event will Stream Live on Jan. 31 at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
LAS VEGAS – UFC® and Roy Jones Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions have reached a new agreement to live stream up to 72 professional boxing events over the next three years on UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports.
The inaugural event in the RJJ Boxing series on UFC FIGHT PASS will stream January 31, starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, live from Viejas Casino & Resort in Alpine, California. WBO #2-rated world title challenger, “Mighty” Aston Palicte (24-2-1, 20 KOs), and unbeaten WBO #4 ranked Jose “Chiquiro” Martinez (20-0-2, 13 KOs) will headline in the 12-round World Boxing Organization Junior Bantamweight Title Eliminator.
Roy Jones Jr., a multi-time world champion and future boxing Hall of Famer, formed the Las Vegas-based promotional company RJJ Boxing Promotions three years ago with Las Vegas entrepreneur Keith Veltre and developed a growing stable of fighters in a short period of time.
“I’ve always been a big fan of Roy Jones Jr. and I’m excited to be in business with him,” said UFC President Dana White. “Everyone knows I’m looking to get into boxing, and I look forward to the future with Roy and using FIGHT PASS to live stream these exciting fights to our subscribers.”
“I was elated when my partner, Keith Veltre, told me he had started talking with UFC,” said Jones. “This is just the beginning of a long, lucrative partnership between these two brands.”
“I couldn’t be happier to bring together the biggest name in boxing, Roy Jones Jr., with UFC, the biggest name in combat sports,” said Veltre. “I love that UFC is allowing us to be creative, so expect to see prospects, tournaments, title fights, and more in this series.”
FIGHT PASS is a digital subscription service that is now available in more than 200 countries and territories. In 2019, FIGHT PASS will showcase more than 200 exclusive events featuring top promotions from around the world, providing fans with a front row seat to a broad spectrum of competitive fighting, including mixed martial arts, boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, individual and team submission grappling, and more.
Fight fans can access FIGHT PASS on personal computers, iOS and Android mobile devices, Apple TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, and Sony TVs with Android TV.
UFC FIGHT PASS® TO STREAM MORE THAN 200 LIVE COMBAT SPORTS EVENTS
IN 2019 – DOUBLE THE CURRENT SCHEDULE
IN 2019 – DOUBLE THE CURRENT SCHEDULE
Exclusive Programming Includes UFC Pay-Per-View Prelims and Live Bouts from Top Promotions Including
Glory Kickboxing, Cage Warriors, Invicta FC, Roy Jones Jr. Boxing, and More
Glory Kickboxing, Cage Warriors, Invicta FC, Roy Jones Jr. Boxing, and More
LAS VEGAS – UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports, today announced that it will double its live event schedule in 2019, showcasing more than 200 exclusive events featuring top promotions from around the world. In all, FIGHT PASS will offer more than1,000 hours of live and exclusive combat sports programming in 2019, providing fans with a front row seat to a broad spectrum of competitive fighting, including mixed martial arts, boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and more.
“If you’re a combat sports fan, FIGHT PASS is a must have for 2019,” said UFC President Dana White. “Fans will get exclusive UFC FIGHT PASS Prelimsbefore every Pay-Per-View, as well as a look at up-and-coming fighters competing live in top combat sports promotions around the world. This is just the beginning of how we’re going to tap into the power of FIGHT PASS to continue to grow MMA and all these other combat sports that fight fans love.”
The preliminary 2019 programming schedule calls for FIGHT PASS to live stream fights from a minimum of 20 combat sports promotions. The total number of live fights offered on FIGHT PASS is expected to rise throughout the year, as discussions take place with current and potential partners about booking additional events.
ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING
Complementing the live event schedule on FIGHT PASS will be a lineup of original programming featuring in-depth interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and award-winning documentaries. FIGHT PASS will also premiere ON THE LINE, a new betting show that will help educate fight fans about placing wagers on UFC bouts, featuring analysis from professional bettors and oddsmakers. In addition, the UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, a marquee annual event noted for immortalizing MMA’s pioneers, trailblazers, innovators, and visionaries, is streamed live and exclusively on FIGHT PASS. Additional details about FIGHT PASS original programming will be announced at a later date.
SELECTION OF FEATURED LIVE EVENTS ON FIGHT PASS IN 2019
MMA
UFC FIGHT PASS Prelims
Leading FIGHT PASS’ live programming schedule will be exclusive UFC FIGHT PASS Prelims, comprising the early bouts from every upcoming UFC Pay-Per-View event in 2019 and regularly featuring Octagon® veterans and the fastest-rising stars in UFC.
Invicta FC
The world’s elite all-female MMA promotion, Invicta has produced over thirty UFC champions and contenders, including UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas, UFC women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, and former UFC women’s strawweight champion Carla Esparza.
Cage Warriors
Known for its fast-paced live events, Europe’s premier MMA organization has seen some of the biggest names in MMA history pass through its ranks over the years, including former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor, former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping, former UFC welterweight Dan Hardy, and former UFC women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC)
Operating primarily in the Northeastern United States, CFFC has launched the careers of UFC stars like Aljamain Sterling, Paul Felder, Jim Miller, and the late street-fighting icon Kimbo Slice.
Pancrase
For much of the 1990s, Pancrase boasted the world’s greatest roster of MMA fighters, including UFC Hall of Famers Bas Rutten and Ken Shamrock, as well as Masakatsu Funaki. A quarter of a century later, this pioneering Japanese MMA promotion continues to build upon its legacy with monthly events on FIGHT PASS.
Island Fights
Owned and promoted by boxing legend Roy Jones Jr., the Florida-based Island Fights produces fast-paced events featuring both MMA and boxing bouts.
KICKBOXING
GLORY Kickboxing
Home to the most devastating strikers in all of combat sports and selling out arenas across the globe, GLORY is the world’s premier kickboxing promotion.
SUBMISSION GRAPPLING / BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU (BJJ)
Eddie Bravo Invitational (EBI)
Founded by jiu-jitsu icon Eddie Bravo, EBI is the progenitor of the submission-only grappling phenomenon. Each EBI event is a 16-competitor grappling tournament with the world’s best submission specialists competing for a winner-take-all cash prize.
Polaris Professional Jiu-Jitsu Invitational
A pro jiu-jitsu event based in the UK, Polaris Pro Grappling invites the world's best grapplers to compete in a series of superfights.
Combat Jiu-Jitsu
The brainchild of grappling icon Eddie Bravo, Combat Jiu-Jitsu sees the greatest grapplers in the world compete with the added nuance of legal palm strikes.
Quintet
Created by UFC Hall of Famer Kazushi Sakuraba, this unique five-on-five team survival match is contested under submission only rules. Some of the biggest names in BJJ and MMA have already competed in this entertaining grappling format that has the combat sports world buzzing.
BOXING
Roy Jones Jr. Boxing
After FIGHT PASS showcased the final fight of his legendary career in 2018, the great Roy Jones Jr. returns to UFC’s streaming service with a monthly live boxing event featuring the sport’s rising title contenders.
MUAY THAI
Friday Night Fights
The longest running Muay Thai promotion in North America, the New York-based Friday Night Fights brings high-quality Muay Thai fighting to FIGHT PASS.
Bangkok Fights
Every week, FIGHT PASS will live stream a major Muay Thai event from the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, showcasing the “art of the eight limbs” in its most authentic form.
Muay Thai Grand Prix
Europe’s elite Thai boxers compete in a series of elimination tournaments noted for their all-out action.
LETHWEI
World Lethwei Championship
The ancient Burmese sport of Lethwei is considered the most aggressive martial art in the world. Using slightly modified rules, theWorld Lethwei Championship brings world-class production values to the ancient Burmese art, featuring noted American combat sports broadcaster Sean Wheelock calling the action from ringside.
Lethwei Fighting Championship
Featuring the most aggressive fighters in the world’s most aggressive martial art, Lethwei Fighting Championship events will stream live on FIGHT PASS from Myanmar.
WORLD’S LARGEST FIGHT LIBRARY
FIGHT PASS subscribers will also have complete access to the world’s largest fight library, featuring more than 20,000 bouts from dozens of combat sports organizations as well as every fight in UFC history.
UFC® KICKS OFF 2019 ON ESPN+ WITH
FLYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP SUPERFIGHT BETWEEN
(C) HENRY CEJUDO AND (C - BW) TJ DILLASHAW
FEATURED BOUTS:
PAIGE VANZANT vs. RACHAEL OSTOVICH
(#11) GLOVER TEIXEIRA vs. ION CUTELABA
TICKETS FOR UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+®: CEJUDO vs. DILLASHAW
AT BARCLAYS CENTER GO ON SALE FRIDAY, DEC. 14
Las Vegas – UFC® debuts on ESPN+ in Brooklyn, NY with a championship superfight that will see newly crowned flyweight titleholder Henry Cejudo make his first title defense against current bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw. Also, fan favorite Paige VanZant returns to the Octagon to take on The Ultimate Fighter: A New World Champion veteran Rachael Ostovich. UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+®: CEJUDO vs. DILLASHAW takes place Saturday, Jan. 19 at Barclays Center and will stream live at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, with the prelims kicking off the evening at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on ESPN and ESPN Deportes and the early prelims on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT. All UFC live events on ESPN+ will be available in English and Spanish.
An Olympic wrestling gold medal winner, Cejudo (13-2, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) put on his most spectacular performance to date in August when he dethroned dominant flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson. During his UFC career, he has also earned impressive victories over Sergio Pettis, Wilson Reis, Jussier Formiga and Chris Cariaso. Cejudo now looks to make his first successful title defense in the biggest fight of his career.
Dillashaw (17-3, fighting out of Angels Camp, Calif.) aims to make history by joining Conor McGregor and Daniel Cormier as only the third fighter to simultaneously hold championships in two UFC divisions. Dillashaw most recently defended his bantamweight belt against heated rival Cody Garbrandt by sensational KO. He also holds incredible wins against Renan Barao, John Lineker and Raphael Assuncao. Dillashaw is now poised to etch his name among the all-time UFC greats.
Looking for her first win at flyweight, VanZant (7-4, fighting out of Portland, Ore.) finally returns to action after a year off due to injury. A fan favorite for her time on season 22 of Dancing with the Stars where she placed second, VanZant is still one of the youngest fighters on the roster. She intends to show off her constantly-evolving mixed martial arts skills by outdoing her highlight reel knockout of Bec Rawlings and earning the third post-fight bonus of her career.
Ostovich (4-4, fighting out of Waianae, Hawaii) looks to start 2019 off on a high note by earning her second UFC win in the biggest opportunity of her career. A quarterfinalist on her season of The Ultimate Fighter, Ostovich has won half of her fights by submission, most recently tapping out fellow TUF competitor Karine Gevorgyan in under two minutes. She is now positioned to break into the top-15 rankings with an impressive win.
Announced bouts on the card include:
- No.11-ranked light heavyweight contender and former title challenger Glover Teixeira (27-7, fighting out of Danbury, Conn. by way of Governador Valadares, Brazil) goes to war with power-punching Ion Cutelaba (14-3, fighting out of Chisinau, Moldova)
- Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series signee Allen Crowder (9-3, fighting out of Mebane, N.C.) looks to spoil the highly-anticipated debut of ex-NFL star Greg Hardy (3-0, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.)
- No. 11-ranked Joanne Calderwood (12-3, fighting out of Glasgow, Scotland) intends to defend her top-15 rank against the debuting Ariane Lipski (11-3, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil)
- New York’s Randy Brown (10-3, fighting out of Queens, N.Y.) looks to rebound against Chance Rencountre (12-3, fighting out of Pawhuska, Okla.)
- In a battle of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series contract winners, Alonzo Menifield (7-0, fighting out of Dallas, Tex.) takes on Vinicius Moreira (9-1, fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil)
- Belal Muhammad (14-2, fighting out of Chicago, Ill.) meets Geoff Neal (10-2, fighting out of Dallas, Tex.) in a welterweight thriller
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. Please click here to apply for the event.
Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+®: CEJUDO vs. DILLASHAW go on sale Friday, Dec 14 at 10 a.m. ET and are priced at $200, $150, $120, $100 and $90 (not including fees). Tickets are available for purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center beginning Saturday, Dec. 15 at noon. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.
UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Dec. 13 starting at 10 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, Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Dec. 13 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.
TSN and RDS Extend Broadcast Partnership with UFC®
– New multi-year agreement includes extensive broadcast and digital rights across TSN, RDS and Bell Media platforms –
TORONTO (December 11, 2018) – TSN, RDS, and UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, have agreed on a multi-year renewal in which the networks continue to serve as the broadcast partners of UFC in Canada. The agreement, which includes extensive broadcast and digital rights, was announced live from Toronto on SPORTSCENTRE in advance of one of UFC’s biggest events of the year, UFC® 231: HOLLOWAY vs. ORTEGA, hosted at Scotiabank Arena.
Under the terms of the agreement, TSN and RDS are the home in Canada for 22 UFC Fight Night main cards and late preliminaries, as well as preliminary fights ahead of UFC’s 12 pay-per-view events. TSN and RDS will also broadcast Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series, focused on finding the next generation of UFC talent.
TSN and RDS will also distribute UFC content beyond linear broadcasts, including across social channels and via other Bell Media platforms, such as the short-form video content hub SnackableTV. The all-new Crave will feature a UFC collection where fans can stream content on demand, and as a result of UFC’s exclusive agreement with ESPN and ESPN+ in the United States, TSN viewers will also have access to original UFC content from ESPN.
“We are incredibly excited to build on our strong relationship with UFC to extend our agreement as their Canadian home,” said Shawn Redmond, Vice-President, TSN and Discovery Networks. “This expanded partnership allows us to deliver even more UFC content across not only TSN and RDS but also Bell Media platforms, providing additional choice and coverage to our viewers.”
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with TSN and RDS, as they have been a key component of UFC’s growth in Canada,” said David Shaw, UFC Senior Vice-President, International and Content. “Canada is one of UFC’s most important markets, supported by a strong and loyal fan base. With this continued relationship, TSN and RDS will help us reach more UFC fans in Canada than ever before.”
The new agreement with TSN and RDS also allows UFC FIGHT PASS® to expand its offerings to customers in Canada with eight exclusive UFC Fight Night events and all Early Preliminary fights from each UFC live event. FIGHT PASS customers will also have access to the largest collection of combat sports programming in the world, featuring UFC’s full archive of historic events, classic bouts, and original content, as well as live events from leading independent promotions from around the globe.
UFC programming is also available to TSN and TSN Direct subscribers on TSN.ca and the TSN app. The complete UFC on TSN broadcast schedule can be found here.
