#Knockeando Notas sobre Boxeo y MMA

 

Después de superar la depresión, José Torres predice nocaut técnico en el primer asalto en su regreso a BRAVE CF

Una vez que fue el prospecto amateur más grande en las artes marciales mixtas, José "Shorty" Torres se convirtiera en un atleta de clase mundial en peso mosca, ahora solamente ocupa su mente tener un comienzo ganador en el camino hacia el título mundial de BRAVE CF en el evento principal de BRAVE CF 42, que tiene lugar este jueves 24 de septiembre en Bahrein. 

Para ello se enfrentará a su compatriota estadounidense Sean Santella, un luchador con mucha más experiencia profesional que él, en la primera ronda del torneo BRAVE CF Flyweight.

Después de debutar en el BRAVE CF a principios del año pasado con una victoria sobre Amir Albazi, estaba previsto que el "Shorty" se enfrente a Marcel Adur por el título inaugural mosca en noviembre del año pasado.  

Unas semanas antes de la pelea, sin embargo, su padre falleció. Torres admite que no lidió con el dolor de la manera correcta y terminó cancelando la pelea por el título, después de experimentar ataques de pánico en la preparación.

Mientras se excusaba para lidiar con sus problemas de salud mental, José se convirtió en un defensor de los atletas para explorar este lado importante de las MMA: lidiar con los nervios, el miedo y la tristeza. 

Torres dice que le tomó un tiempo, pero finalmente está en el lugar correcto mentalmente y espera volver después de más de un año fuera de la acción.

"Todas las cosas mentales por las que he tenido que pasar han sido un viaje. Para que podamos avanzar, quiero decir, no importa que tengamos una marca de verificación azul en nuestras redes sociales o lo que sea, todos pasamos por las mismas luchas. Quiero demostrar que la salud mental es importante. Entonces, para mí, impulsar este campamento no es solo para mí, sino también para muchas personas. Para demostrar que si este 'Shorty' puede hacerlo, ellos también", dijo Torres, quien confía en conseguir una finalización en la primera ronda de Sean Santella el jueves.

"Esta pelea sería la típica pelea de un striker y luchador, pero puedo hacerlo todo. Estoy emocionado de noquearlo en el primer asalto. Estoy aquí para hacer una promesa. Especialmente porque han pasado como 16 ó 17 meses desde mi última pelea, también es una declaración para mí. Voy a acelerar el ritmo, voy a ser implacable en los tres asaltos, pero creo que será un nocaut técnico en el primer asalto", agregó

Zach Makovsky avanza en el torneo mosca de BRAVE CF luego del retiro de Hussein por enfermedad

BRAVE CF 42 seguirá adelante con seis combates, ya que Zach Makovsky ha avanzado automáticamente a las semifinales del torneo de peso mosca, que coronará al primer campeón mundial de peso mosca de BRAVE CF. 

Su oponente en cuartos de final, Abdul Hussein, se enfermó durante su corte de peso y no participará en el gran premio.

Con eso, Zach es ahora el primer semifinalista del torneo mosca de BRAVE CF y queda a la espera de su próximo oponente. El ganador de Velimurad Alkhasov contra Flavio Queiroz avanzará para enfrentarse a "Fun Size" en las semifinales.

Alkhasov, quien es campeón del mundo de sambo, ya ha ha peleado con Makovsky antes en el debut de este último en BRAVE CF. "Fun Size" salió victorioso en esa oportunidad. 

Fue la primera derrota de Velimurad en su carrera y estará ansioso por vengar eso y pasar a la gran final del torneo en el proceso.

Sin embargo, antes de que pueda hacer eso, tendrá que pasar a Flavio Queiroz. El striker brasileño es conocido por sus manos pesadas, ya que más de la mitad de sus doce victorias profesionales fueron por nocaut o nocaut técnico. El caballo negro del torneo, Queiroz está listo para sorprender al mundo el 24 de septiembre.

El "Sniper" Pedraza Dominó a "El Intocable" Molina El dos-veces campeón boricua José "Sniper" Pedraza logró otra dominante victoria en "La Burbuja" del MGM Grand al vencer a Javier Molina.

• CLIC AQUÍ para FOTOS (Credito de Fotos: Mikey Williams / Top Rank)   LAS VEGAS (19 de septiembre de 2020) - La segunda demostración del boricua José "Sniper" Pedraza en "La Burbuja" del MGM Grand resultó en otra dominante victoria, ya que el ex dos-veces campeón mundial derrotó a su compañero ex olímpico del 2008, Javier Molina, por decisión unánime (99-91 y 98-92 2x) en un evento estelar de peso junior welter. Pedraza (28-3, 13 KOs), quien logró una victoria por decisión sobre Mikkel LesPierre el 2 de julio, regresó a Las Vegas y fue el autor de su victoria más significativa en el peso junior welter. Molina (22-3, 9 KOs) ingresó a la noche con una racha ganadora de cinco combates. Racha que revivió su carrera y que incluyó una sorpresiva victoria ante Amir Imam en febrero. Pedraza cambió de ortodoxo a zurdo durante gran parte del combate y lastimó a Molina en el séptimo asalto. El boricua tenía amplia ventaja cuando la pelea llegó a su fin. Ahora, Pedraza ha ganado dos peleas desde que perdió por decisión ante José Zepeda en septiembre pasado en su debut en peso junior welter. Pedraza dijo: “Me dicen el 'Sniper', y eso significa que tengo que ser paciente, y cuando llega mi momento, tengo que aprovecharlo. Eso es lo que hice esta noche porque pude desgastarlo, lastimarlo y hacer que peleara mi pelea. Fue la experiencia que tuve en el nivel superior lo que finalmente me ayudó a dominarlo. Tengo la experiencia. Tengo el talento".   “Creo que estoy listo para una oportunidad de título mundial. Sea quien sea entre Josh Taylor y José Ramírez, quiero al ganador de esa pelea. Si por alguna razón no puedo tener una oportunidad por el título mundial contra ellos, quiero pedirle respetuosamente a José Zepeda la revancha". En el combate co-estelar, el nocaut no llegó como se esperaba, pero el debut con Top Rank de Efe Ajagba terminó con su mano levantada. Ajagba (14-0, 11 KOs) logró una decisión unánime en 10 asaltos sobre Jonnie Rice (13-6-1, 9 KOs), controlando la distancia con su jab mientras navegaba hacia la victoria con tarjetas de 99-91 (x2) y 98-92. Ajagba se lastimó su mano derecha en la pelea. Esta ha sido tan solo la segunda vez que ha llegado a la distancia en su carrera. Además, en los combates preliminares de la función, el dos-veces medallista de oro olímpico Robeisy Ramírez (5-1, 3 KOs) consiguió su quinto triunfo consecutivo al derrotar a  Félix Caraballo por decisión unánime. El prospecto cubano de peso pluma tiró una blanqueada sobre Caraballo, quien perdió por nocaut en el sexto asalto ante el ex campeón mundial de peso pluma Shakur Stevenson en junio pasado.    OTROS RESULTADOS: • PESO SÚPERWELTER: Leo Ruiz (8-0, 5 KOs) derrotó a Rodrigo Solis por decisión unánime. Solís, oriundo de Cancún, México, aceptó la pelea con cuatro días de anticipación.  • PESO SÚPERMEDIANO: Christian Montano (10-0, 7 KOs) venció a Ryan Adams por decisión unánime.  • PESO LIGERO: Bryan Lua (6-0, 3 KOs) fulminó a Luis Norambuena en el segundo asalto. Lua no había peleado en más de dos años y recuperó el tiempo perdido, noqueando a Norambuena con un gancho de izquierda al final del segundo asalto. • PESO WELTER: Jahi Tucker (1-0, 1 KO) despachó a Deandre Anderson en el primer asalto. Tucker necesitó solo 2:56 para prevalecer en su debut profesional, deteniendo a Anderson luego de una serie de golpes.  • PESO WELTER: Kasir Goldston (1-0) consiguió su primera victoria profesional al derrotar a Isaiah Varnell por decisión unánime. Goldston, de 17 años, de Albany, Nueva York, tuvo que llegar hasta el final en su primera salida profesional y barrió el cuarto asalto en las tarjetas de los tres jueces para asegurar la victoria. Se anuncia la cartelera completa de BRAVE CF 42 con 12 naciones representadas y los cuartos de final del Torneo de Peso Mosca BRAVE Combat Federation regresa al Reino de Bahrein por segunda semana consecutiva con BRAVE CF 42, el 24 de septiembre.  La promoción lanzó la cartelera completa del evento y trajo a 12 naciones diferentes representadas dentro de la jaula, además de la primera ronda del prestigioso Torneo por el Título Mundial de Peso Mosca. Los 12 países, de cuatro continentes diferentes, que envían combatientes a BRAVE CF 42 son: Estados Unidos, Finlandia, Rusia, Brasil, Bahrein, Gales, Kirguistán, Suecia, Francia, Filipinas, Polonia e India. Unir a varios países es una marca registrada de BRAVE Combat Federation, la única promoción de MMA verdaderamente global en el mundo. La organización con sede en Bahrein ha elaborado constantemente carteleras con decenas de atletas internacionales. Otro gran punto culminante de BRAVE CF 42, la segunda parada de la serie "Kombat Kingdom", es el Torneo por el título mundial de peso mosca, el grupo de ocho hombres que decidirá el campeón inaugural de peso mosca de la Federación de combate BRAVE. Tres de los cuatro primeros cuartos de final están programados para el BRAVE CF 42, con el choque entre sus compatriotas José “Shorty” Torres y Sean “Shorty Rock” Santella encabezando la cartelera. Los otros dos combates del torneo programados son Zach Makovsky vs Abdul Hussein y Flavio Queiroz vs Velimurad Alkhasov.  El cuarto y último combate de la primera ronda se pospuso debido a la cirugía de Marcel Adur de Brasil. La fecha de su pelea contra Dustin Ortiz aún está por confirmar. Para el país anfitrión Bahrein, la pelea más importante de la noche es, sin duda Hamza “The Pride of Bahrain” Kooheji vs Aidan James, de Gales.  Hamza es el peleador de Bahrein más popular y se enfrentará a James, posiblemente, la prueba más dura de su carrera hasta ahora.  Una victoria sobre el prodigio galés puede ponerlo en la posición de una oportunidad por el título de peso gallo. Pesaje Oficial: José Pedraza vs. Javier Molina Ambos contendientes de peso junior welter se enfrentarán mañana en el evento estelar del cartel que se transmitirá a las 7:30 por ESPN+  • CLIC AQUÍ para FOTOS (Credito de Fotos: Mikey Williams / Top Rank)  • CLIC AQUÍ para VÍDEO (Para Uso de TV Solamente | Cortesía: Top Rank (ESPN+ 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT)     •     José Pedraza 141.5 lbs vs. Javier Molina 141.7 lbs  (Peso Jr. Welter — 10 Rounds)   •    Efe Ajagba 242.3 lbs vs. Jonnie Rice 265.4 lbs  (Peso Pesado — 10 Rounds) •        Robeisy Ramírez 125.9 lbs vs. Félix Caraballo 125.7 lbs  (Peso Pluma — 8 Rounds) •      Leo Ruiz 151.4 lbs vs. Rodrigo Solis 151.4 lbs  (Peso Jr. Mediano — 6 Rounds) •     Christian Montano167.3 lbs vs. Ryan Adams 165.5 lbs  (Peso Súpermediano— 6 Rounds) •    Bryan Lua 134.5 lbs vs. Luis Norambuena 134 lbs  (Peso Ligero — 4 Rounds) •    Jahi Tucker 143.6 lbs vs. Deandre Anderson 147.1 lbs  (Peso Welter— 4 Rounds) •   Kasir Goldston 142.8 lbs vs. Isaiah Varnell 142.8 lbs  (Peso Welter— 4 Rounds) •   Frevian Gonzalez 131.8 lbs vs. Carlos Marrero 131.1 lbs  (Peso Jr. Ligero — 4 Rounds) Fakhreddine destrona a Gaucho, cumple su destino y se convierte en el campeón del mundo de peso medio en BRAVE CF Si le preguntas a Mohammad Fakhreddine sobre 2020 hasta hoy, probablemente diría que este fue el peor año de su vida.  Un incendio quemó su casa, sufrió lesiones y canceló las peleas, todo esto en medio de la pandemia Covid-19 y una trágica explosión en su ciudad natal Beirut, Líbano.  Pero nada pudo detener a Fakhreddine para manifestar su destino en BRAVE CF 41 en Bahrein y finalmente, a los 36 años, convertirse en el campeón mundial de BRAVE CF de peso medio. Fakhreddine se enfrentó al duro campeón Daniel "Gaucho" Pereira, quien luchó con su corazón y defendió su posición como pudo, pero finalmente fue la compostura y la potencia de fuego de Fakhreddine lo que le dio la ventaja, y el cinturón BRAVE CF. Durante los tres primeros rounds la pelea fue muy pareja. Con Fakhreddine tomando la iniciativa, avanzando y trabajando de medio a largo alcance. Gaucho, por su lado, intentó contraatacar y conectó algunos buenos golpes, pero “The Latest” los absorbió y siguió avanzando. Cuando regresaron al cuarto asalto, ambos hombres parecían muy cansados pero uno de ellos demostró que todavía le quedaba algo de gasolina en el tanque. Mohammad Fakhreddine se adelantó, convencido de que podía terminar la pelea y finalmente hizo lo que no había podido hasta ahora, derribando a Gaucho. Un par de golpes más con el oponente abajo, y el árbitro Dec Larkin detuvo el combate. Mohammad Fakhreddine, una super estrella de Oriente Medio, dos veces campeón regional y el primer luchador firmado por BRAVE Combat Federation es finalmente el campeón mundial. En el evento co-principal de la noche, Ikram Aliskerov consiguió otra victoria por sumisión para su récord con un kimura en el tercer round después de una actuación enorme y dominante.  Aliskerov de KHK MMA Dagestan ahora cuenta con un récord profesional de 10 victorias y solo una derrota. Con mucha experiencia dentro de BRAVE Combat Federation y una colección de grandes victorias en su haber, lo más probable es que Aliskerov sea ahora el próximo en la línea por el título mundial de BRAVE CF de peso medio. Resultados del BRAVE CF 41:   Peso medio: Mohammad Fakhreddine derrota a  Daniel Gaucho por TKO (Round 4)   Peso medio: Ikram Aliskerov derrota a Denis Tiuliulin por sumisión (kimura) (Round 3)   Superligero: Ahmed Amir derrota a Cian Cowley por decisión unánime   Ligero: Sam Patterson derrota a Felipe Silva por nocaut (Round 1)   Peso mosca: Magomed Idrisov derrota a John Cris Corton por decisión unánime   Peso gallo: Rahmatullah Yousufzai derrota a Abdulmanap Magomedov por nocaut (Round 1)   Peso gallo amateur: Abdulla Alyaqoob derrota a Umed Urfonov por decisión unánime FIGHT OF THE YEAR CONTENDER BETWEEN (C) ISRAEL ADESANYA AND (#2) PAULO COSTA HEADLINES RETURN TO UFC® FIGHT ISLAND     FEATURED BOUTS: (#1) DOMINICK REYES vs. (#3) JAN BLACHOWICZ (#7) KAI KARA FRANCE vs. (#10) BRANDON ROYVAL   Las Vegas – UFC® kicks off its second run on UFC FIGHT ISLAND with one of the biggest events of the year, as middleweight champion Israel Adesanya looks to defend his title against fellow undefeated knockout artist and No. 2 ranked contender Paulo Costa. In the co-main event, the vacant UFC light heavyweight title is on the line as No. 1 ranked Dominick Reyes takes on No. 3 Jan Blachowicz.   UFC® 253: ADESANYA vs. COSTA will take place Saturday, September 26 on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island and will stream live on Pay-Per-View, exclusively through ESPN+ in the U.S. at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT in both English and Spanish. The prelims will be simulcast on ESPN2 and ESPN+ (English and Spanish) beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT with the early prelims kicking off at 6:30 p.m. ET /3:30 p.m. PT simulcast on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ and on UFC Fight Pass. The event will be closed to the public and will be produced with only essential personnel in attendance.   Adesanya (19-0, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand) has quickly become one of the top superstars in the UFC since joining the promotion in 2018. After securing impressive wins over Derek Brunson and Anderson Silva, Adesanya defeated Kelvin Gastelum in one of the best fights of the year for the interim UFC middleweight championship. He followed up this performance by finishing Robert Whittaker for the undisputed title in front of a record-breaking crowd of over 57,000 fans. Now, Adesanya looks to put on another vintage performance and become the first person to defeat Costa.   Brazilian powerhouse Costa (13-0, fighting out of Contagem, Minas Gerais, Brazil) intends to make the most of his first UFC title shot by landing another signature knockout. Costa developed his reputation as one of the most devastating finishers in the middleweight division by stopping all but one of his wins before the final bell, including victories over Uriah Hall, Johny Hendricks and Garreth McLellan. Now, he plans to dethrone Adesanya and begin his reign as undisputed champion.   Reyes (12-1, fighting out of Victorville, Calif.) aims to make good on his second shot at UFC gold and prove that he is the best light heavyweight on the planet. A devastating finisher with nine first-round stoppages, Reyes quickly rose through the ranks with wins over Jared Cannonier, Ovince Saint Preux and former middleweight champion Chris Weidman. Now, he seeks to leave no doubt about his claim to the 205-pound throne by securing another vintage victory against Blachowicz.   Blachowicz (26-8, fighting out of Warsaw, Poland) is among the most successful UFC athletes to hail from Poland and has his sights set on becoming the first male Polish champion. Blachowicz believes his momentum is at an all-time high following three of the biggest wins of his career that include stoppages over former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, as well as perennial top contender Corey Anderson. He now looks to finally attain a UFC championship by becoming the only person to ever finish Reyes.    Additional bouts on the card include: Top 10 flyweights collide as No. 7 Kai Kara France (21-8 1 NC, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand) and No. 10 Brandon Royval (11-4, fighting out of Lakewood, Colo.) look to steal the show No. 7 ranked women’s bantamweight contender Kelten Vieira (10-1, fighting out of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil) intends to get back to her winning ways when she takes on No. 13 Sijara Eubanks (7-4, fighting out of Toms River, N.J.) Top featherweight prospects lock horns as Hakeem Dawodu (11-1-1, fighting out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada) battles Zubaira Tukhugov (19-4-1, fighting out of Grozny, Chechen Republic, Russia) Brad Riddell (8-1, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand) and Alex da Silva (21-2, fighting out of Balneario, Santa Catarina, Brazil) intend to make a statement in a clash of lightweight finishers UFC Hall of Famer Diego Sanchez (32-12, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) intends to secure another historic win when he meets tough Jake Matthews (15-4, fighting out of Epping, Victoria, Australia) Dana White’s Contender Series light heavyweight signees William Knight (8-1, fighting out of Vernon, Conn.) and Aleksa Camur (6-0, fighting out of Broadview Heights, Ohio) seek to establish themselves as the next top prospect in the division The Ultimate Fighter season 28 winner Juan Espino (10-1, fighting out of Gran Canaria, Spain) returns to the Octagon to take on Jeff Hughes (10-3, fighting out of Norton, Ohio) Hard-hitting light heavyweight Khadis Ibragimov (8-2, fighting out of Ratlub, Republic of Dagestan, Russia) welcomes UFC newcomer Danilo Marques (9-2, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) to the Octagon   Visit the UFC.com for information and content to support your UFC coverage. Los careos de BRAVE CF 41 intensifican las expectativas para el primer evento de Kombat Kingdom BRAVE Combat Federation celebrará su evento 41 este jueves en Bahrein para dar inicio a la serie Kombat Kingdom.  Un día antes del evento, los 14 peleadores que están involucrados en los siete combates reservados para el show subieron a la balanza y cumplieron con el peso pactado para los combates. Y en las intensas miradas que se cruzaron los protagonistas de la velada se pudo notar que la velada traerá grandes combates.  El careo más fuerte llegó entre Cian Cowley y Ahmed Amir, quienes están peleando en el peso superligero. Ambos hombres intercambiaron palabras durante su mirada, después de superar la báscula. "El Guerrero" Cowley subió a la balanza a 74,8 kg mientras que "El Carnicero" pesaba 75,1 kg. En el evento principal, el campeón Daniel Gaucho y el retador Mohammad Fakhreddine hicieron oficial su pelea por el título al entrar en la escala por debajo del límite de 83,9 kg, con Gaucho pesando 83,6 y Fakhreddine con 83,8 kg.  Con la mirada fija, "The Latest", vestido con los colores del Líbano, gritó "And New" delante del campeón que no se movió ni un centímetro y mantuvo la compostura. BRAVE CF 41 se llevará a cabo en el Estadio Nacional de Bahréin, a puerta cerrada. Los fanáticos de todo el mundo pueden ver el programa en vivo y gratis registrándose en BRAVE CF TV (bravecftv.com).  En la región MENA, los fanáticos pueden ver el primer programa de Kombat Kingdom en Abu Dhabi Sports, y Fite TV tendrá BRAVE CF 41 disponible para los fanáticos en los EE. UU. O2TV Network tendrá las peleas disponibles para la República Checa y Eslovaquia, mientras que Fight Network transmitirá el programa al Reino Unido, Serbia, Grecia, Eslovenia, Montenegro, Angola, Mozambique, Israel, Nigeria, el Caribe, Estados Unidos y Canadá. BRAVE CF: La única organización que organiza eventos en 20 países en menos de cuatro años de operaciones El 23 de septiembre, BRAVE Combat Federation, la principal promoción de artes marciales mixtas fundada por el jeque Khaled bin Hamad Al Khalifa y con sede en el Reino de Bahrein, completará cuatro años de operaciones.  Fue el mismo día, en 2016, que BRAVE CF 1 inició una revolución en las artes marciales que se extendió desde Medio Oriente a todo el mundo. Desde el primer evento, BRAVE CF se destacó por su visión y misión únicas. La tendencia continuó a lo largo de los años y a través de los numerosos logros de BRAVE CF. Uno de los más destacados, sin duda, es el hecho de que la organización, etiquetada como la “promoción verdaderamente global de MMA”, hizo honor a su nombre y viajó por el mundo como ningún otro, ofreciendo una plataforma para luchadores internacionales y llevando la bandera del Reino de Bahrein. En cuatro años, BRAVE CF ha visitado 20 países, en cinco continentes diferentes, un hito que ninguna otra promoción de Artes Marciales Mixtas ha podido lograr, demostrando que no solo la visión, sino la ejecución y el crecimiento de BRAVE CF son invisibles e incomparables. BRAVE CF se enorgullece de empoderar regiones del mundo que de otro modo se pasarían por alto, como Pakistán e India, al tiempo que mantiene y promueve la inversión realizada en países de artes marciales tradicionales como Brasil, Inglaterra y México. La marca nacida en Bahrein también ha tenido como misión hacer crecer la escena de las MMA en Europa, organizando eventos y asociándose con promociones locales y dando a los luchadores locales la plataforma global que realmente se merecen. En África, BRAVE Combat Federation hizo historia al convertirse en la primera compañía internacional de MMA en organizar un evento en el continente, y ha renovado su compromiso con la escena africana de MMA al albergar eventos allí en 2018 y 2019.

#Knockeando Notas recientes de MMA

                                 

EPIC ABU DHABI SHOWDOWN WEEK SCHEDULE TO UNDERLINE UAE CAPITAL’S HEAVYWEIGHT LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION STATUS

From mega concerts including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, bumper hotel promotions and city-wide retail and F&B deals, to free car give-aways and super parties hosted by the world’s leading nightlife and entertainment brands, Abu Dhabi Showdown Week has it all

Abu Dhabi Showdown Week will also feature star-studded events with UFC athletes leading up to the UFC^â  242: KHABIB vs. POIRIER on September 7

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Tuesday 6^th August, 2019: The hugely-anticipated entertainment schedule for Abu Dhabi Showdown Week has been revealed, with the seven-day series of city-wide events - which take place September 1 - 7 ahead of UFC^â  242: KHABIB VS. POIRIER - shaping up to be the hottest week-long party in the Middle East.

With only a handful of VIP and hotel package tickets left available for UFC^â 242, Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), has upped its own ante with an expansive series of lifestyle, retail and culinary promotions and an eye-catching schedule of parties and after-parties hosted by major international nightlife brands.

Cementing Abu Dhabi’s growing status as an entertainment hotspot, the UAE capital will come alive during Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, with dedicated beach and pool parties by day, and headline concerts and high-energy after-parties by night.

Superstar rock group Red Hot Chili Peppers are already confirmed to make their UAE debut with a spectacular concert on September 4, which will be followed by another world-class concert by a ‘mystery’ act on September 5. While both concerts will take place at The Arena, a new indoor venue being constructed on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island that will also stage UFC^â 242 on September 7, the party vibe extends right across Yas Island and beyond all through the week.

With even more events due to be added in coming weeks, the current line-up of parties and nightlife events includes pool parties at Saadiyat Beach Club on September 2 and 3, a fight night viewing party at the same venue on September 7 and a week-long Abu Dhabi Showdown Week poolside brunch offering at The Edition. Things go up a gear with the official Red Hot Chili Peppers After Party, Bizarre by Mad on September 4, and a second official post-concert After Party, Drais Las Vegas at the same venue following the September 5 concert.

On September 6, Drais Las Vegas will also host a pool party at the Fairmont and in the evening, following the UFC^â 242 weigh-in, domestic and international partygoers can enjoy the after party in The Edition Club, The Annex. Partygoers are also spoiled for choice on September 7, as the inaugural Abu Dhabi Showdown Week gets not one but two options for a fitting finale, with The White Experience and Socialista at Cipriani both set to round off the week with a bang.

“We have assembled some of the world’s biggest leisure and nightlife brands to create Abu Dhabi Showdown Week’s wide-ranging schedule of beach, pool and after parties across a number of Abu Dhabi’s leading hotels, resorts and clubs. This holistic entertainment schedule will ensure that international visitors - and local residents alike - experience a dynamic Abu Dhabi Showdown Week programme that lets all fans experience the emirate’s diverse entertainment and nightlife proposition,” said Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Acting Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi.

“This diverse bill of concerts, lifestyle and nightlife events will elevate Abu Dhabi’s growing status as an entertainment capital, and significantly strengthen the emirate’s standing as an international, globally renowned leisure hub,” added Al Shaiba.

On the culinary front, residents and international visitors will be kept well-fed throughout Abu Dhabi Showdown Week with 25-plus restaurants, bars and cafes across the UAE capital participating in a city-wide ‘Knockout Burgers’ campaign running from August 25 – September 7.

Elsewhere, hotels and dining destinations on Yas Island and Saadiyat Island will be preparing their own culinary offerings as part of a value-add culinary promotion exclusively for Abu Dhabi Showdown Week.

Shoppers can also weigh-in on Abu Dhabi Showdown Week courtesy of three major promotions in selected malls, including Abu Dhabi Mall, Bawabat Al Sharq Mall, Dalma Mall, Deerfields Mall, Madinat Zayed, Mazyad Mall, WTC Abu Dhabi and Yas Mall, as well as Al Ain Mall, Bawadi Mall and Hili Mall in Al Ain.        

Running from August 15 to September 7, ‘Knockout Deals’ will align with the traditional back-to-school period and offer shoppers discounts ranging from 25% upwards on health products, fitness apparel and active wear, while the mega ‘Shop & Win’ promotion will see any shopper spending AED200 or more entered into a unified city-wide raffle for a chance to win a brand-new Mercedes-Benz A Class or C Class.

In addition, a series of in-mall activations running during the seven-day Abu Dhabi Showdown Week period will hand members of the public, money-can’t-buy chances for photo opportunities and meet-and-greets with UFC athletes, and pose for social media-friendly snaps with replica UFC belts.

“With many of Abu Dhabi’s leading malls and retail destinations supporting Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, local and international fans - including more than 4,000 foreign visitors descending on Abu Dhabi for UFC^â 242 - can take advantage of special discounts, promotions and bumper deals at unbeatable prices all across the emirate,” said Al Shaiba.

“These eclectic offerings will accentuate Abu Dhabi’s credentials as a world-class shopping destination and stimulate increased revenue across participating outlets, while our food and beverage partners have united to create a compelling menu of themed promotions that will ensure the spirit ofAbu Dhabi Showdown Week extends well beyond its core concert and MMA components to stimulate business for restaurants, cafes and bars.”

With UFC^â 242 serving as the mega Abu Dhabi Showdown Week headliner, fans and the general public will be able to experience the world’s fastest-growing sport franchise in various athlete-led activities across the UAE capital.

Across the week, there will be open workouts, autograph signings and meet-and-greet sessions at various locations. With the UFC^â 242 weigh-in at The Arena on Yas Island taking place on September 6, further information on how to claim a free ticket to the weigh-in will be released in coming weeks.

“The UFC^â 242 weigh-in will give fans the opportunity to see their favourite athletes square off face-to-face during an amazing afternoon of drama,” added Al Shaiba.

Fans descending on Yas Island for the weigh-in can also soak up the activity-packed UFC Fan Experience, which allows fans of UFC to fully immerse themselves in the organisation and its stars.

The Abu Dhabi Sports and Fitness Expo, managed by UAE-based Universal Music Fitness and Fashion (UMFF), will feature leading international exhibitors, competitions, fitness programmes, activations, and international conferences during a three-day run at du Forum on Yas Island from September 5-7. This expo is a premier event in the Middle East Region pertaining to wellness, fitness and healthy life style.

Designed to complement the city-wide Abu Dhabi Showdown Week programme and promote health and fitness, the dedicated industry platform will welcome fitness celebrities such as four times Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler and Mr. Universe, Mike O’Hearn and feature live fitness shows for all ages. Ticket prices range from AED50 for a one-day pass, to AED120 for a three-day pass. A single day VIP pass, which includes exclusive opportunities to get up-close to global fitness celebrities, is priced at AED100.

With the majority of ticket categories for UFC^â 242: KHABIB vs. POIRIER sold out, the last remaining hotel and ticket packages for the event are available at www.adshowdownweek.ae. VIP tickets can also be purchased via https://ufcvipexperience.com/ufc-242

With tickets for Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Yas Island concert on September 4 available on www.ticketmaster.ae, DCT Abu Dhabi is urging all local, regional and international fans purchasing tickets for Abu Dhabi Showdown Week events to avoid unauthorised online sites and only purchase tickets via www.ticketmaster.ae – the sole authorised ticket vendor – or official sales channels for specific in-property events.

For 2019, IMG will act as the local promoter for UFC^â 242 and Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, overseeing operations and production logistics for the whole 7-day experience.  IMG is part of the Endeavor network alongside UFC.

                         

July 24, 2019                                                                                                         TSX: ACB | NYSE: ACB 

Aurora Cannabis and UFC^® Launch Clinical Research on Use of Hemp-Derived CBD Products by MMA Athletes

New studies to advance the science on CBD use and athlete health and wellness and
to drive product development under new U.S. sports performance brand, ROAR Sports

Las Vegas, NV – July 24, 2019 – Aurora Cannabis Inc. (“Aurora” or the “Company”) (NYSE: ACB) (TSX: ACB), the Canadian company that’s defining the future of cannabis worldwide, and UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, are proud to announce the launch of a joint clinical research program that will produce multiple studies under the terms of their recently announced partnership.

The research will examine the use of hemp-derived CBD as an effective treatment for pain, inflammation, wound-healing, and recovery on MMA athletes.

The ground-breaking research partnership is aimed at understanding key health and recovery needs of elite athletes in such a highly physical and competitive sport as mixed martial arts. Research data will then be used to drive the development of science-backed, hemp-derived CBD topicals that will be safe and reliable. These new products will help combat the rapidly growing market of untested CBD treatments currently being used by high-performance and non-professional athletes.

Once research is complete, any resulting product will come to life in the U.S. under the new high-performance sports brand ROAR Sports, a portfolio of high-quality, hemp-derived CBD topical treatments scientifically formulated with elite athletes in mind. Through analysis of athlete needs and scientific data, ROAR Sports will challenge the status quo, seek to alleviate the stresses of competition, and earn designation as the “Official CBD product of UFC.”

The multi-phase clinical study at the UFC Performance Institute^Ò in Las Vegas will be led by Dr. Jason Dyck, Chair of Aurora’s Global Scientific Oversight Committee; Dr. Kelly Narine, Aurora’s Vice President Global Research and Medical Affairs; and the team of sports performance experts at the UFC Performance Institute, led by Dr. Duncan French, UFC Vice President of Performance. Using active UFC athletes on a strictly voluntary basis, the study will help establish peer-reviewed, publishable research in this area. Products will be developed in full compliance with U.S. federal law and with UFC’s anti-doping program, which adheres to WADA and USADA regulations.

“Our partnership with UFC is about committing to the science that will educate and advocate,” said Aurora CEO Terry Booth. “We are goingto work together to change the way people think, to change the industry, and to launch the first hemp-derived CBD products that are backed by scientific research. The brand-building and product development are all part of our move into the U.S., and in collaboration with UFC, and we intend to play a major role in that market.”

“We know anecdotally that professional athletes across sports disciplines are turning to hemp-derived CBD treatments to assist with physical recovery, with varying degrees of success,” added Jason Dyck, Chair of Aurora’s Global Scientific Oversight Committee. “The work we do in partnership with UFC will create an evidence-based, science-backed pipeline of consistent, and ‘clean’ hemp-derived CBD topicals that the high-performance athletes of UFC can rely on to treat the pain, inflammation, injury and other conditions associated with competing at such a high level.”

“Collaborating with Aurora is the best way to educate ourselves and our fighters about the impact of CBD on MMA athletes and our sport,”said Dr. Duncan French, UFC’s Vice President of Performance. “We want to apply science and see where it leads us.  Ideally, these studies will give us the clarity we need to determine n the effectiveness of hemp-derived CBD on athlete health and injury recovery.” 

“Although CBD is allowed under USADA and WADA regulations, we want to be the leaders on educating UFC athletes on CBD use,” said Jeff Novitzky, UFC Senior Vice President of Athlete Health & Performance.  “Athlete safety is a top priority for UFC, and we will collaborate with Aurora to ensure that any new products are third-party tested for all WADA-prohibited substances to make certain they meet WADA standards.” 

Download the media kit HERE.

About UFC®

UFC®, is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization and the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. UFC boasts more than 300 million fans worldwide, including 70 million social media followers across all its digital platforms, and its programming is broadcast in over 170 countries and territories to one billion TV households worldwide in 40 different languages. UFC produces more than 40 live events annually and consistently sells out some of the world’s most prestigious arenas. Since 2001, UFC has been proudly headquartered in Las Vegas, supported by a network of employees around the world. UFC’s current roster of athletes features more than 590 men and women representing over 60 countries. UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports, delivers exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand, and original content to fans around the world. UFC was acquired in 2016 by global sports, entertainment, and fashion leader Endeavor, along with strategic investors Silver Lake Partners and KKR, in what is among the largest transactions in sports history. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.

About Aurora                     

Headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with funded capacity in excess of 625,000 kg per annum and sales and operations in 24 countries across five continents, Aurora is one of the world's largest and leading cannabis companies. Aurora is vertically integrated and horizontally diversified across every key segment of the value chain, from facility engineering and design to cannabis breeding and genetics research, cannabis and hemp production, derivatives, high value-add product development, home cultivation, wholesale and retail distribution.

Highly differentiated from its peers, Aurora has established a uniquely advanced, consistent and efficient production strategy, based on purpose-built facilities that integrate leading-edge technologies across all processes, defined by extensive automation and customization, resulting in the massive scale production of high-quality product at low cost. Intended to be replicable and scalable globally, our production facilities are designed to produce cannabis of significant scale, with high quality, industry-leading yields, and low per gram production costs. Each of Aurora's facilities is built to meet EU GMP standards. EU GMP certification has been granted to Aurora’s first production facility in Mountain View County, the Aurora River facility in Bradford, Ontario, and its wholly owned European medical cannabis distributor Aurora Deutschland.

In addition to the Company's rapid organic growth and strong execution on strategic M&A, which to date includes 15 wholly owned subsidiary companies – MedReleaf, CanvasRX, Peloton Pharmaceutical, Aurora Deutschland, H2 Biopharma, Urban Cultivator, BC Northern Lights, Larssen Greenhouses, CanniMed Therapeutics, Anandia, HotHouse Consulting, MED Colombia, Agropro, Borela, ICC Labs, Whistler, and Chemi Pharmaceutical – Aurora is distinguished by its reputation as a partner and employer of choice in the global cannabis sector, having invested in and established strategic partnerships with a range of leading innovators, including: Radient Technologies Inc. (TSXV: RTI), Hempco Food and Fiber Inc. (TSXV: HEMP), Cann Group Ltd. (ASX: CAN), Micron Waste Technologies Inc. (CSE: MWM), Choom Holdings Inc. (CSE: CHOO), Capcium Inc. (private), Evio Beauty Group (private), Wagner Dimas (private), CTT Pharmaceuticals (OTCC: CTTH), Alcanna Inc. (TSX: CLIQ), High Tide Inc. (CSE: HITI) and EnWave Corporation (TSXV: ENW).

Aurora's Common Shares trade on the TSX and NYSE under the symbol "ACB", and are a constituent of the S&P/TSX Composite Index.

For more information about Aurora, please visit our investor website, investor.auroramj.com

Terry Booth, CEO

Aurora Cannabis Inc.

UFC^® RETURNS TO VANCOUVER WITH A FIGHT OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE BETWEEN

(#4) COWBOY CERRONE AND (#5) JUSTIN GAETHJE

FEATURED BOUTS EXCLUSIVELY ON ESPN+:

(#10) GLOVER TEIXEIRA vs. (#14) NIKITA KRYLOV

(#11) URIAH HALL vs. (#13) ANTONIO CARLOS JUNIOR

TICKETS FOR UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+^®: COWBOY vs. GAEHTJE AT ROGERS ARENA GO ON SALE FRIDAY, JULY 26

Vancouver, Canada – UFC^® makes its fifth stop in Vancouver with a blockbuster clash of lightweight contenders featuring two of MMA’s most exciting fighters, as No. 4 ranked Cowboy Cerrone faces No. 5 Justin Gaethje. Plus, former light heavyweight title challenger and No.10 ranked Glover Teixeira goes for his third consecutive win against dangerous finisher and No. 14 Nikita Krylov.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+^®: COWBOY vs. GAEHTJE will air live from Rogers Arena exclusively on ESPN+ at 5 p.m. PT on Saturday, September 14, with the ESPN+ prelims kicking off at 2 p.m. PT. Doors open at 1 p.m. PT. All UFC live events will also be available in English and Spanish.

A former lightweight title challenger and perennial fan favorite, Cerrone (36-12, 1 NC, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M., USA) has delivered some of the most spectacular fights in UFC history. Throughout his storied career, he has netted thrilling victories over Al Iaquinta, Edson Barboza, Mike Perry, Matt Brown and Rick Story. Cerrone now looks to remain undefeated in Canada and continue his ascent up the 155-pound rankings against one of the division’s most dangerous competitors.

Known as “The Highlight,” Gaethje (20-2, fighting out of Arvada, Colo., USA) has proven to be among the most exciting fighters on the UFC roster. In only five appearances, he has taken home six Fight Night bonuses. During his UFC tenure, he has delivered incredible wins over Edson Barboza, Michael Johnson and James Vick. Gaethje now aims to earn his third consecutive victory over one of MMA’s most respected athletes and further stake his claim as a lightweight title threat.

A 17-year MMA veteran, Teixeira (29-7, fighting out of Danbury, Conn. by way of Governador Valadares, Brazil) has fought the who’s who of MMA. Known for his heavy hands and punishing grappling attack, he has picked up impressive victories against former UFC light heavyweight champions Rashad Evans and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Currently riding a two-fight win streak, he is now poised to stop yet another surging contender.

An unpredictable and dynamic finisher, Krylov (26-6, fighting out of Donetsk, Ukraine) has yet to go to a judges’ decision in 32 MMA bouts. Equally dangerous with his striking as he is on the mat, Krylov has delivered highlight-reel finishes against Ovince Saint Preux, Ed Herman, Walt Harris, Francimar Barroso and Fabio Maldonado. He now hopes to use Teixeira as a stepping stone to crack the light heavyweight division’s top 10.

Announced bouts on the card include:

• KO artist and No. 11 ranked middleweight contender Uriah Hall (15-9, fighting out of Queens, N.Y. by way of Kingston, Jamaica) takes on submission ace and No. 13 Antonio Carlos Junior (11-3, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
• No. 13 ranked heavyweight Marcin Tybura (17-5, fighting out of Uniejow, Poland) faces rising No. 15 Augusto Sakai (13-1, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil)
• No. 14 middleweight contender David Branch (22-6, fighting out of Brooklyn, N.Y.) hopes to rebound against gritty Andrew Sanchez (12-4, fighting out of Montreal, Canada by way of Belleville, Ill.)
• No. 15 light heavyweight contender Misha Cirkunov (14-5, fighting out of Toronto, Canada by way of Riga, Latvia) aims to slow the momentum of undefeated prospect Jim Crute (10-0, fighting out of Bendigo, Australia)
• In a clash on undefeated bantamweights, Canadian Cole Smith (7-0, fighting out of Squamish, B.C., Canada) takes onMiles Johns (8-0, fighting out of Dallas, Tex.)
• Kyle Prepolec (12-6, fighting out of Windsor, Ont., Canada) takes on Austin Hubbard (10-3, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) in a battle of lightweight prospects
• Heavyweight Todd Duffee (9-3, by way of Boca Raton, Fla.) returns from a four-year hiatus against Jeff Hughes (10-2, fighting out of Independence, Ohio)
• Louis Smolka (15-6, fighting out of Kapolei, Hawaii) faces Ryan MacDonald (10-1, fighting out of North Platte, Neb.) in an exciting bantamweight bout

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^®: COWBOY vs. GAETHJE go on sale Friday, July 26 at 10 a.m. PT. Tickets are available for purchase at ticketmaster.ca. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.

UFC Fight Club^® members have the opportunity to purchase tickets today via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, July 25 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.