FEATURED BOUTS:
(#8) JEREMY STEPHENS vs. (#12) DOOHO CHOI
(#11) URIAH HALL vs. (#12) VITOR BELFORT
(#12 WSW) PAIGE VANZANT vs. JESSICA-ROSE CLARK
TICKETS FOR UFC FIGHT NIGHT®
AT SCOTTRADE CENTER GO ON SALE FRIDAY, DEC. 8
Las Vegas – UFC® debuts in St. Louis, Missouri with a thrilling card featuring top contenders and surging prospects. UFC FIGHT NIGHT® take places Sunday, Jan. 14 at Scottrade Center and will be broadcast on FS1.
In a featherweight bout guaranteed to deliver fireworks, No.8-ranked Jeremy Stephensbattles No.12 Dooho Choi.
Known for his aggressive style and heavy hands, Stephens (26-14, fighting out of San Diego, Calif.) recently took home Fight of the Night honors for his dominant unanimous decision win over Gilbert Melendez in September. With impressive victories over Renan Barao, Dennis Bermudez and Darren Elkins under his belt, Lil' Heathen looks to kick-start 2018 with an explosive finish.
Choi (14-2, fighting out of Busan, South Korea) aims to return to the win column and ascend the featherweight ladder following his 2016 Fight of the Year loss to Cub Swanson. During his UFC stint, he’s delivered spectacular KO wins over Thiago Tavares and Sam Sicilia. By adding Stephens’ name to his resume, The Korean Superboy hopes to crack the featherweight Top 10.
In a clash of middleweight knockout artists, No.11-ranked Uriah Hall (14-8, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) takes on No.12 Vitor Belfort (26-13 1NC, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).
A standout on The Ultimate Fighter®, Hall scored a dramatic comeback victory over Krzysztof Jotko in September, and coupled with wins over Gegard Mousasi and Thiago Santos, Hall has his sights set on taking out the MMA legend. As for Belfort, the former light heavyweight champion is looking to continue his momentum following a decision win against Nate Marquardt in June. With knockout victories over Dan Henderson, Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold to his credit, Belfort plans to add Hall to his already impressive highlight reel.
No.12-ranked strawweight contender Paige VanZant aims to stake her claim in the UFC’s newly-minted women’s flyweight division when she takes on gritty prospect Jessica-Rose Clark (8-4, fighting out of Innisfail, Australia).
Holding wins over Bec Rawlings, Alex Chambers and Felice Herrig, VanZant (7-3, fighting out of Portland, Ore.) hopes an impressive victory will propel her into the 125-pound title mix, while Clark announced her arrival to the UFC with a spirited decision victory against Rawlings last month, setting the stage for a showdown in St. Louis.
Additional bouts on the card include:
· Veteran Jessica Eye (11-6 1NC, fighting out of Cleveland, Ohio) returns to flyweight when she faces Kalindra Faria (18-6-1, fighting out of Taubate, Sao Paulo, Brazil)
· No.9-ranked featherweight Darren Elkins (24-5, fighting out of Portage, Ind.) welcomes No.11 lightweight and St. Louis native Michael Johnson (18-12, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla.) to the 145-pound division
· Former welterweight title challenger Thiago Alves (26-11, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Fortaleza, Brazil) meets The Ultimate Fighter® alum Zak Cummings (21-5, fighting out of Kansas City, Mo.)
· Currently riding a two-fight win streak, James Krause (24-8, fighting out of Lee's Summit, Mo.) locks horns with Alex White (12-3, fighting out of Farmington, Mo.)
· Talita Bernardo (5-2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro. Brazil) looks to secure her first UFC win when she takes on Irene Aldana (7-4, fighting out of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico)
· DANA WHITE’S TUESDAY NIGHT CONTENDER SERIES contract winner Matt Frevola(6-0, fighting out of Long Island, N.Y.) squares off with Marco Polo Reyes (8-4, fighting out of Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico)
· Danielle Taylor (9-2, fighting out of Van Nuys, Calif.) is gunning for her third consecutive win when she faces JJ Aldrich (5-2, fighting out of Westminster, Colo.)
· In a clash of bantamweight prospects, Kyung Ho Kang (13-7, fighting out of Busan, South Korea) meets Guido Cannetti (7-3, fighting out of Buenos Aires, Argentina)
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.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT® will air live on FS1 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Sunday, Jan. 14, with the prelims kicking off the evening on FS1 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and on UFC FIGHT PASS® at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT. Doors open at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.
Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT® go on sale Friday, Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. CT and are priced at $150, $125, $100, $80 and $60 USD (prices do not include applicable service charges or fees). Tickets are available for purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com and will be available at the Scottrade Center box office. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.
UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 10 a.m. CT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Dec. 7 starting at 10 a.m. CT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.
UFC® MAINLAND CHINA DEBUT RESULTS IN SELLOUT CROWD, LARGEST MMA EVENT IN CHINA’S HISTORY
UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: BISPING vs. GASTELUM marked sixth sellout of 2017, capping off successful swing of international events
Las Vegas – UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, today shared final results from UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: BISPING vs GASTELUM, its first-ever event in mainland China.
The event took place on November 25, 2017 at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai in front of a sellout crowd of 15,128 and marked the country’s largest ever Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event. The fight night drew more than one million live views on PPTV, China’s leading sports media provider, and an additional one million in Video On Demand (VOD). UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: BISPING vs GASTELUM also aired globally across UFC’s digital streaming service, UFC FIGHT PASS®, recording the largest live-viewing audience of an Asian FIGHT PASS event to-date.
The event’s official hashtag, #UFCShanghai, garnered more than 46 million reads, making it the top trending sports hashtag in the country that evening, and surpassing the legendary Mayweather vs. McGregor boxing match. Eight of the 12 bouts featured Chinese athletes, with five notching victories including strawweight Yan Xiaonan, featherweights Wang Guan and Song Yadong, and welterweights Li Jingliang and Kenan Song. Jingliang and Yadong also each took home $50,000 (USD) Performance of the Night awards.
UFC traveled to 14 countries this year, and the event in Shanghai was one of 10 new stops for the organization – a year that saw the global brand’s fan base grow to a record 278 million in 45 measured markets. The event also marked the sixth sellout of the year. UFC has recorded seven sellouts in 2017, with others including: UFC® 208: HOLM vs. DE RANDAMIE at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York in February; UFC® 210: CORMIER vs. JOHNSON 2 at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York in April; UFC® 212: ALDO vs. HOLLOWAY in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June; the organization’s debut in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in September for UFC® 215: NUNES vs. SHEVCHENKO 2; UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: BRUNSON vs. MACHIDA in São Paolo, Brazil in October and UFC® 218: HOLLOWAY vs. ALDO 2 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan this past weekend.
UFC’s international growth trend will continue into 2018 with new stops already announced for the first quarter including first-time visits to Belem, Brazil and Perth, Australia.
EA SPORTS UFC 3 BETA IS NOW OPEN TO ALL PLAYERS ON XBOX ONE AND PLAYSTATION 4
Fans Can Download the Open Beta and Experience Revolutionary Gameplay Innovation with RPM Tech
REDWOOD CITY, CA – December 1, 2017 – Today, the EA SPORTS™ UFC® 3 beta officially became available to everyone on PlayStation®4 and Xbox One. Fans can download and play the beta right now through Monday, December 4 at 11:59 p.m. PST. The open beta offers multiple game modes: Fight Now, Online Quick Fight, Practice Mode and UFC Ultimate Team.
In all game modes, players will get their first hands-on experience with Real Player Motion (RPM) Tech, a revolutionary new EA SPORTS animation technology that sets a new bar for motion and responsiveness in the best-looking – and now the best-feeling – EA SPORTS UFC game ever. With over 5,000 new animations captured and rebuilt from the ground up, players can now move, strike, and create seamless combinations in-game with the world’s best mixed martial arts athletes.
EA SPORTS UFC 3 will be available worldwide on February 2, 2018 for Xbox One and PlayStation®4. Pre-order the Champions Edition now and receive up to three days early access to the full game, the choice of one current or former UFC champion as a Champion Fighter item in UFC Ultimate Team and 20 Premium Packs in Ultimate Team*. Champion Fighter item choices include former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, former UFC women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk, UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor, UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson or UFC middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre. For full pre-order details and to learn more about EA SPORTS UFC 3 visit https://www.ea.com/games/ufc/ufc-3.
EA Access members receive a 10 percent discount when they purchase a digital version of EA SPORTS UFC 3 on Xbox Live.**
For more information about EA SPORTS games, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit https://www.ea.com/games/ufc/ufc-3 to connect, share and compete.
* THIS PRE-ORDER OFFER IS ISSUED TO YOU FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT HAVE A CASH VALUE. PRE-ORDER OFFER EXPIRES ON FEBRUARY 2, 2018 AND IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR NEW PURCHASES OF EA SPORTS UFC 3 ("PRODUCT"). PRE-ORDER OFFER CONTENT CONTAINS UP TO 3 DAYS EARLY ACCESS AND 5 PREMIUM PACKS (“PRE-ORDER PACKS”). PRODUCT CONTENT INCLUDES 1 "CHAMPION FIGHTER" ITEM, 500 UFC POINTS, AND 20 ADDITIONAL PREMIUM PACKS (“CE PACKS”). ALL ITEMS FOR USE WITH ONE EA ACCOUNT IN UFC ULTIMATE TEAM GAME MODE ("UUT") WITHIN THE PRODUCT. FOR RETAIL PREORDERS, SEE RETAILER FOR EARLY ACCESS DISTRIBUTION DETAILS AND PICK-UP TIME. FOR DIGITAL PREORDERS, PRODUCT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD ONCE EARLY ACCESS PERIOD BEGINS JANUARY 30, 2018. ACCESS TO CONTENT MAY REQUIRE REGISTRATION WITH A SINGLE-USE CODE. CONSULT YOUR RETAILER FOR DISTRIBUTION DETAILS. REDEEM YOUR CODE AND LOG INTO UUT TO CLAIM YOUR FIRST 2 CE PACKS, "CHAMPION FIGHTER" ITEM, 500 UFC POINTS, AND 5 PRE-ORDER PREMIUM PACKS. 2 SUBSEQUENT CE PACKS WILL BE RELEASED EACH FRIDAY. CE PACKS MUST BE CLAIMED BY MAY 11, 2018; FIRST 2 CE PACKS MUST BE CLAIMED BY MARCH 9, 2018 TO RECEIVE ALL 20 PACKS. UNCLAIMED CE PACKS EXPIRE ON MAY 12, 2018; 5 PRE-ORDER PACKS EXPIRE ON FEBURARY 2, 2019.VALID WHEREVER PRODUCT IS SOLD. OFFER MAY NOT BE SUBSTITUTED, EXCHANGED, SOLD OR REDEEMED FOR CASH OR OTHER GOODS OR SERVICES. MAY NOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER PROMOTIONAL OR DISCOUNT OFFER, UNLESS EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED BY EA; MAY NOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY PREPAID CARD REDEEMABLE FOR THE APPLICABLE CONTENT. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED, TAXED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW. ACCEPTANCE OF THE EA USER AGREEMENT (WWW.EA.COM/LEGAL) AND PRIVACY AND COOKIE POLICY (PRIVACY.EA.COM) REQUIRED TO PLAY. YOU MUST BE 13+ AND HAVE AN INTERNET CONNECTION AND EA ACCOUNT TO ACCESS ONLINE FEATURES AND CHAMPION EDITION CONTENT. EA MAY PROVIDE CERTAIN INCREMENTAL CONTENT AND/OR UPDATES FOR NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE, IF AND WHEN AVAILABLE. SOFTWARE COLLECTS DATA FOR IN-GAME ADVERTISING. ADDITIONAL IN-GAME CONTENT MAY BE PURCHASED. MANDATORY CONTENT UPDATES MAY BE DONWLOADED AUTOMATICALLY, REQUIRE ADDITIONAL STORAGE, INCUR BANDWIDTH USAGE FEES, AND REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL PURCHASE TO ACCESS.
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UFC® ENDS YEAR WITH BLOCKBUSTER WOMEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT BETWEEN CRIS CYBORG AND HOLLY HOLM
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PLUS:(#2) KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV vs. (#3) EDSON BARBOZA(#4) JIMMIE RIVERA vs. (#5) JOHN LINEKER(#8) CARLOS CONDIT vs. (#11) NEIL MAGNY
TICKETS FOR UFC® 219: CYBORG vs. HOLMAT T-MOBILE ARENA GO ON SALE FRIDAY, DEC. 1
Las Vegas – UFC® will finish 2017 with a blockbuster event when UFC women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg (18-1, 1NC, fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif. by way of Curitiba, Brazil) battles former women’s bantamweight titleholder Holly Holm(11-3, fighting out of Albuquerque, New Mexico) at UFC® 219: CYBORG vs. HOLM. This marks the second consecutive year that the UFC’s New Year’s card will be headlined by a women’s championship fight. The event will take place Saturday, Dec. 30 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be available live on Pay-Per-View.
Among the most dominant fighters in mixed martial arts, Cyborg captured the vacant UFC women’s featherweight championship with a spectacular TKO win over Tonya Evinger at UFC 214 in July. Holding 16 knockout wins to her name, the Brazilian slugger now looks to cement her title reign with a stunning stoppage against Holm.
A multiple-time boxing champion whose head kick KO win over Ronda Rousey sent shockwaves through the MMA world, Holm aims to become the first woman to hold championships in two separate UFC divisions. Known for her precision striking and slick footwork, Holm’s most recent outing saw her deliver another highlight-reel knockout over Bethe Correia.
UFC® 219: CYBORG vs HOLM will also feature a thrilling lightweight co-main event between No. 2-ranked contender Khabib Nurmagomedov (24-0, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia) and No. 3 Edson Barboza (19-4, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).
A perennial contender, undefeated Nurmagomedov has torn through the 155-pound competition with dominant victories over former champ Rafael Dos Anjos, Michael Johnson and Thiago Tavares. The two-time World Sambo champion looks to use Barboza as a stepping stone to a title shot.
A dangerous striker, Barboza’s victories over Terry Etim and Beniel Dariush are among the most sensational knockouts in UFC history. Known for his crushing kicks and knees, the Brazilian has also earned impressive wins over Gilbert Melendez, former champion Anthony Pettis and Paul Felder. Adding Nurmagomedov to his resume will launch Barboza straight into the title mix.
Additional bouts on the card include:
· No. 4-ranked bantamweight contender Jimmie Rivera (21-1, fighting out of Ramsey, New Jersey) looks to stake his claim for a title shot when he meets heavy-handed and No. 5-ranked John Lineker (30-8, fighting out of Paranagua, Parana, Brazil)
· Former interim welterweight champion and No. 8-ranked contender Carlos Condit (30-10, fighting out of Albuquerque, New Mexico) returns against No. 11-ranked Neil Magny(19-7, fighting out of Denver, Colorado)
· KO artists collide as Khalil Rountree Jr. (7-2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada) takes on UFC newcomer Michal Oleksiejczuk (12-2, fighting out of Barki, Poland)
· In a pivotal strawweight bout, surging No. 7-ranked contender Cynthia Calvillo (6-0, fighting out of Sacramento, California) faces her toughest test in former champion and No. 8-ranked Carla Esparza (13-4, fighting out of Irvine, California)
· No. 14-ranked featherweight Myles Jury (16-2, fighting out of San Diego, California) aims to continue his momentum against gritty Rick Glenn (20-4-1, fighting out of Sacramento, California)
· In a battle of dynamic lightweight strikers, Dan Hooker (15-7, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand) squares off with Marc Diakiese (12-1, fighting out of Doncaster, England by way of Democratic Republic Congo)
· No. 13-ranked flyweight Louis Smolka (11-4, fighting out of Kapolei, Hawaii) looks to snap a three-fight skid when he faces streaking Matheus Nicolau (12-2-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
· In a clash of middleweight prospects, Marvin Vettori (12-3, fighting out of Mezzocorona, Italy) meets Omari Akhmedov (17-4, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia)
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.
UFC® 219: CYBORG vs HOLM will air live on PPV at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Saturday, Dec. 30, with the prelims kicking off the evening on FS1 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and on UFC FIGHT PASS® at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT.
Tickets for UFC® 219: CYBORG vs HOLM go on sale Friday, Dec. 1 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $500, $425, $350, $275, $225, $180, $150, $120, $100, $75 and $50 USD (prices do not include applicable service charges or fees). Tickets are available for purchase online at www.axs.com and will be available at the T-Mobile Arena box office. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.
UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 10 a.m. PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Nov. 30 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.
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UFC® SEARCHES FOR UNDEFEATED FIGHTERS ON SEASON 27 OF THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER®
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OPEN CASTING CALL SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, DEC. 12 IN LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas –UFC® is searching for the best undefeated fighters in the world. The world’s premier mixed martial arts competition returns for season 27 with The Ultimate Fighter: Battle of the Undefeated. An open casting call will be held on Tuesday, December 12 in Las Vegas.
Men in the 145 lb, 155 lb, or 170 lb weight classes between the ages of 21–34 with an undefeated record and at least three professional fights are invited to attend the open casting call. TUF 27 will begin filming in January 2018 and premiere on FS1 later in the year.
For those wishing to attend the tryouts, you must complete an application online at http://www.ufc.com/TUF27 and bring the completed form to the tryouts. Fighters trying out will be required to grapple and hit pads and must bring the appropriate gear to do so. Applicants will be notified at the end of the day if they have been selected to move on in the casting process. If selected, applicants must be prepared to stay in Las Vegas until Saturday, December 16. All questions can be directed to Gary DeFranco at gdefranco@pilgrimstudios.com.
WHO:
Male fighters holding an undefeated record at 145, 155, and 170-pounds
WHEN:
Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 8 a.m. PT
WHERE:
Palace Station Hotel
2411 W. Sahara Ave
Las Vegas, NV 89102
UFC FIGHT PASS® IS PROUD TO HIGHLIGHT TOP FEMALE ATHLETES IN COMBAT SPORTS THROUGHOUT ‘WOMEN’S WEEK’
DECEMBER 1-8 WILL FEATURE MORE THAN 12 HOURS OF LIVE ACTION,
PLUS ORIGINAL AND FIRST-RUN PROGRAMMING
Las Vegas, Nevada – Today, UFC FIGHT PASS® announced the world’s greatest digital destination for combat sports with an incredible lineup of female-driven content next month. Women’s Week will highlight some of the top female stars in combat sports, which coincides with the five-year anniversary of Ronda Rousey being crowned the first female champion of the UFC.
A pioneer of MMA, Rousey’s elevation to the pinnacle of the UFC helped establish the popularity of women across all combat sports disciplines - and UFC FIGHT PASS pays homage to half a decade of female fighters from December 1 through December 8.
Women’s Week will feature over 12 hours of fight action across two weekends, three combat sports, four promotions and four cities. This includes:
Friday, December 1:
· The UFC FIGHT PASS Prelims of THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER: A NEW WORLD CHAMPION - live from Las Vegas, Nevada - will feature contestants from this exciting season of The Ultimate Fighter. The bout will be announced shortly.
Saturday, December 2:
· GLORY SuperFight Series Kickboxing – the world’s greatest female striker, Tiffany van Soest, defends her GLORY bantamweight crown in New York City against No. 1 ranked challenger, Anissa Meksen.
· UFC 218 FIGHT PASS Prelims from Boston will also feature alumni of the current all-female season of The Ultimate Fighter.
Sunday, December 3:
· Eddie Bravo Invitational 14: The Absolutes – the biggest EBI event of the year is live from Austin, Texas and will include a four-woman, winner-take-all submission grappling tournament.
Friday, December 8:
· Invicta FC 26 – the final Invicta event of the year is a stacked card live from Kansas City, Missouri. Flyweight champion Jennifer Maia collides with undefeated No. 1 contender, Aga “Kuma” Niedzwiedz. The stacked card also features the promotional debut of McKenzie Dern, the undefeated submission specialist, who takes on former title challenger Kaline Medeiros in the sternest test of her 4-0 MMA career.
In addition to these amazing live events, UFC FIGHT PASS’s Women’s Week will showcase Original and first-run content featuring UFC stars Miesha Tate, Cris Cyborg, Michelle Waterson, Ronda Rousey, Rose Namajunas along with presenting the definitive collection of the greatest female fights of all time.
FIGHT PASS currently offers subscribers VOD access to 16,000+ fights from more than 35 MMA, grappling and kickboxing organizations, along with UFC’s archive of television shows including The Ultimate Fighter.
NHL’S WINNIPEG JETS VISIT
UFC PERFORMANCE INSTITUTE®
FIVE JETS PLAYERS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TOUR THE PI AND TRAIN WITH HALL OF FAMER FORREST GRIFFIN AND TOP MIDDLEWEIGHT URIAH HALL
PHOTOS ATTACHED – PLEASE CREDIT JEFF BOTTARI, ZUFFA LLC
Las Vegas, Nevada — Yesterday, UFC® played host to some of Winnipeg’s finest athletes. Five Jets players visited the newly constructed Performance Institute to discuss advanced training techniques used by some of UFC’s best fighters. Shawn Matthias, Joel Armia, Brendan Lemieux, Dmitry Kulikov, and Ben Chiarot worked with former light heavyweight champion and Vice President of Athlete Development, Forrest Griffin, and current No. 10 middleweight, Uriah Hall, to get a firsthand experience of how UFC athletes train on a daily basis.
The visit precedes UFC’s returnto Winnipeg on December 16 as the city will play host to the promotion for the second time in history for the highly anticipated UFC Fight Night Winnipeg: Lawler vs Dos Anjos. The former welterweight champion and No. 1 ranked contender, Robbie Lawler, is back in action and is looking to get another shot at the title when he faces the always dangerous No. 6 welterweight contender, Rafael Dos Anjos. The action will go down December 16, at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, Canada and will air live on FOX.
Here is what some of the athletes had to say after their visit at the highly regarded UFC Performance Institute:
Brendan Lemieux, Left Wing, #48:
· What he thought about the PI: “This is a state of the art facility. As athletes, we are always looking for ways to better ourselves and I think that is what this place offers.”
· What this facility does for the evolution for training: “This facility is cutting-edge so it really pushes the boundaries of what cutting-edge looks like. Athletes are always looking for new ways to go out there and perform and I think this place has everything. I think it’s really cool to see and gives you an idea of what high-end facilities are going to look like in the future.”
· What is what like sparring with Forrest Griffin: “It was incredible. You really get an appreciation for how good these guys are at their craft.”
Ben Chiarot, Defenseman, #7:
· What he thought about the PI: “This is the nicest facility I’ve ever seen for working-out.”
· What this facility does for the evolution for training: “This is a top-notch place and if you have the opportunity to work out at place like this one, you’re pretty lucky.”
· On UFC Fight Night Winnipeg: “I already looked into it and unfortunately we’re out of town but I know there’s a lot of UFC fans in Winnipeg and I’m sure it will be a packed house.”
Joel Armia, Right Wing, #40:
· On boxing with Forrest Griffin and Uriah Hall: “I got a good sweat-on and it was tough. I really had no idea how tough it was going to be until I tried.”
· What this facility does for the evolution for training: “Everyone has the opportunity to get better because you have all the necessary equipment and testing here.”
· On UFC Fight Night Winnipeg: “If I’m not traveling, I will for sure be there. But I’m sure that place is going to be packed.”
Uriah Hall, No. 10 Middleweight:
· What it was like meeting and practicing with Winnipeg Jets players: “It was pretty cool showing these guys some new techniques because I know they fight a lot on the ice but it was great showing them some new techniques on a flat surface. It was cool to see how quickly they picked it up. Overall, it was a great experience.”
· How physical training differs between UFC fighters and NHL players: “For each sport you have different output and group muscles to work. I know for us athletes at UFC, we work a lot of metabolic transitions and cool downs because we’re fighting five-minute rounds. Think of it like a car at high intensity for five-minutes, that’s what we have to do and we have to have a good cool down.”
Forrest Griffin, Former Light Heavyweight Champion:
· What it was like training with Winnipeg Jets players: “It’s always fun to spar with these young kids. I did get tapped out by a hockey player, that did happen.”
· What he thought the players learned from attending the PI: “They improved their punches, I feel they were pretty good punchers coming in. I’ve worked with a lot of professional athletes and I would say hockey players are without a doubt the best punchers.”
· How he feels these collaborations are beneficial: “It’s great team bonding exercise, its fun, a very different workout, and you get to work different muscles.”
· How it was meeting the Winnipeg Jets players: “It was great, I had fun but I feel it would’ve been cooler if they weren’t playing my Knights (Las Vegas Golden Knights) on Friday.”
UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: LAWLER vs. DOS ANJOS will air live on Saturday, December 16 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on FOX. In Canada, the event will be broadcast on CTV TWO and RDS 2.
Since 2008, the UFC has staged 24 events in the Great White North, across 10 different cities – Calgary, Edmonton Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Saskatoon, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg. UFC events have set single-day event gate records in five Canadian venues: Calgary’s Scotiabank Saddledome (UFC 149), Montreal’s Bell Centre (UFC 124), Ottawa’s The Arena at TD Place (UFC Fight Night), Toronto’s Rogers Centre (UFC 129) and Winnipeg’s MTS Centre (UFC 161).
UFC® ANNOUNCES NEW INTEGRATED PARTNERSHIP WITH AIRASIA
UFC taps AirAsia to serve as global brand’s first-ever “Official Airline” partner
NEW YORK – UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, today announced a new multi-territory partnership with AirAsia, Asia’s leading low-cost carrier, to serve as the global brand’s first-ever “Official Airline” sponsor. The partnership, which encompasses Asia and Australia, will begin on Saturday, November 4, during the highly-anticipated UFC® 217: BISPING vs. ST-PIERRE, live from Madison Square Garden in New York, New York.
“This deal is an indication of how much UFC and the sport of mixed martial arts have grown in Asia and around the world,” UFC Vice President of Asia-Pacific Kevin Chang said. “AirAsia is an innovative and fast-growing brand, we thank them for the support and we’re looking forward to creating engaging branded content for fight fans and AirAsia customers to enjoy.”
“In many ways, UFC’s rapid rise as a global phenomenon parallels AirAsia's,” said Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia. “The UFC expanded from their first event in Denver to the rest of the US and then to Asia-Pacific and the world, while AirAsia grew from a small domestic airline into Asia's largest low-cost carrier that now flies to the US. Opposite directions but chasing the same dream, and we are thrilled to team up with a brand that shares our drive and vision.”
AirAsia will begin its international activations during UFC’s historic inaugural event in mainland China at UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: SILVA vs. GASTELUM on Saturday, November 25 at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai. As part of this collaboration, AirAsia will obtain rights to signage and branding inside UFC’s world-famous Octagon®during the event in Shanghai and select international UFC events in 2018.
With this partnership, AirAsia will also serve as presenting sponsor of select UFC Fan Experiences throughout the region and promote a national sweepstakes campaign where two fans will win a UFC VIP Experience during an event in 2018. The airline brand will also be integrated across multiple UFC-based social and digital platforms, as well as having a presence during live-event broadcasts and on UFC.com. UFC and AirAsia will also jointly sponsor content featured on Weibo and WeChat platforms in China.
Along with integration during international UFC events, this sponsorship will also deliver exciting co-branded content to Asian fight fans via AirAsia and UFC’s media platforms. These initiatives include monthly training sessions featuring UFC athletes and members of the UFC Performance Institute’s staff.
UFC and AirAsia will also make history by selecting the first-ever UFC scholarship program recipient. As part of this program, one Asia-based athlete will be awarded an all-expenses paid scholarship that includes travel to the United States and training at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas, Nevada.
For more information on AirAsia, please visit airasia.com or follow AirAsia on Facebook and YouTube (AirAsia), Twitter and Instagram (@airasia), Weibo (@亚航之家) or WeChat and Zhihu (@亚洲航空).
EA SPORTS UFC 3 REVEALED WITH UFC® LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION CONOR MCGREGOR
AS THE OFFICIAL GLOBAL COVER ATHLETE
Revolutionary New Gameplay Technology ‘Real Player Motion Tech’ Delivers the Most Fluid and Responsive Fighter Motion Ever.
NEW YORK, NY – November 3, 2017 – Today Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) officially revealed EA SPORTS™ UFC® 3 featuring UFC® lightweight champion Conor McGregor, the only UFC athlete to hold UFC titles in two weight classes simultaneously, as the game’s official global cover athlete. EA SPORTS UFC 3 introduces a new generation of fighting for fight fans powered by Real Player Motion (RPM) Tech, a revolutionary new gameplay animation technology that delivers the most fluid and responsive motion in EA SPORTS UFC history. A new G.O.A.T. Career Mode now means that players’ choices outside UFC’s world-famous Octagon® matter just as much as their performance inside it. This new mode allows you to strategically promote upcoming fights, create heated rivalries and more on the road to becoming the Greatest of All Time. EA SPORTS UFC 3 will be available worldwide on February 2, 2018 for Xbox One and PlayStation®4.
“Two belts, two covers – EA SPORTS got it right again,” UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor said. “It’s an honor to be on the cover and I can’t wait to play the game.”
Real Player Motion (RPM) Tech is a revolutionary new EA SPORTS animation technology that sets a new bar for motion and responsiveness in the best-looking - and now the best-feeling – EA SPORTS UFC game ever. With over 5,000 new animations captured and rebuilt from the ground up, players can now move, strike, and create seamless combinations in-game with the world’s best mixed martial arts athletes. Every punch, kick, block, and counter has been recaptured and rebuilt on cutting-edge animation tech to look and feel life-like and responsive, delivering the most strategic, competitive fighting experience in franchise history.
“UFC 3 and RPM Tech mark a new generation of gameplay in EA SPORTS games,” said EA SPORTS UFC 3 Creative Director, Brian Hayes. “The new animation technology has allowed us to take a massive leap forward in motion and responsiveness. The result is a complete overhaul to gameplay where every move is more strategic and looks more authentic and beautiful.”
EA SPORTS UFC 3 also introduces the new G.O.A.T. Career Mode where – for the first time – the choices made throughout your career impact your path to greatness. Outside of fights, players will make promotional choices to build hype, gain fans, earn more cash through big contracts and capture the world's attention. A new in-game social media system allows players to create heated rivalries with other UFC athletes, providing the freedom to take on any type of persona, between cool-headed contender or infamous trash-talker.
Building on the fan-favorite Knockout Mode introduced in EA SPORTS UFC 2, EA SPORTS UFC 3 delivers a new suite of multiplayer modes designed for fast, fun fights that are perfect for letting fists fly when playing against friends. Those looking for a quick social experience can jump into Stand & Bang mode, Submission Showdown mode, or opt to customize their match with unlimited stamina or extra strike damage in Fight Now Custom. The all-new Tournament Mode offers ultimate bragging rights as players attempt to take on as many opponents as possible in bracket-style elimination rounds with continuous damage and fatigue.
EA SPORTS UFC 3 will be available worldwide on February 2 for Xbox One and PlayStation®4. Pre-order the Champions Edition now and receive up to three days early access to the full game, the choice of one current or former UFC champion in Ultimate Team and 20 Premium Packs in Ultimate Team*. Choose between former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor, UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson or UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk. For full pre-order details and to learn more about EA SPORTS UFC 3 visithttps://www.ea.com/games/ufc/ufc-3.
EA Access members receive a 10 percent discount when they purchase a digital version of EA SPORTS UFC 3 on Xbox Live.**
For more information about EA SPORTS games, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit https://www.ea.com/games/ufc/ufc-3 to connect, share and compete.
WHAT’S ON THE MINDS OF THE STARS OF
UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: BRUNSON vs. MACHIDA?
Sao Paulo, Brazil – The Octagon® returns to Brazil for an astonishing 30th time in UFC history. UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: BRUNSON vs. MACHIDA takes place this Saturday, October 28 at Ginásio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo, with the return of former light heavyweight champion and middleweight title challenger Lyoto Machida. “The Dragon” will face No. 7 middleweight contender Derek Brunson. Here is what the fighters and other stars had to say ahead of their bouts:
Derek Brunson:
- His expectations: “To arrive on Saturday and submit. I’m a first round guy. The perfect ending would be a victory in the first round. I see myself walking in the Octagon and waiting for my moment. I know everyone expects me to wrestle and for him to stay on his feet, but I feel comfortable in any area.”
- On Lyoto’s return: “I don’t know how he is doing, I’m not sure. But I think of him as the Machida of always - fast and agile on his feet. I can’t think about the last fights, in which his opponents were able to take him down with ease.”
- On the Brazilian fans: “Many Brazilians texted me in social media saying they would like to watch me fight, so I believe that I will have some support. But I don’t feel any pressure having the crowd against me. Once in the Octagon, it’s me against him. The fans can’t go in and help him. At least I think that’s illegal.”
Lyoto Machida:
- Return to the Octagon: “I waited a long time to get back to the Octagon, it’s a moment I have been waiting for. I worked hard to get here and it’s what I like to do. It’s a dream come true to come back, I’m enjoying it all, from the little things - traveling, the media commitments, making weight, everything that is involved in fight week.”
- Saturday’s fight: “I had a great camp. Many people think that the time off will be a problem for me. But I don’t see it that way. The time out helped me find different people and have a different outlook on everything. It was a maturing moment.”
- On his opponent: “Brunson is a complete fighter, a guy who even though he is a wrestler, he is good in other disciplines, punching and kicking. But I think he will use his strength with is grappling and clinching.”
- Fighting in home country: “It’s a unique opportunity for me. I am coming back, in my country, with the crowd on my side, everyone helping me. It’s a different environment. I am very happy.”
Demian Maia:
- São Paulo: “It’s special. I didn’t get this opportunity many times in my career. I only fought in the city of Sao Paulo once and I would like to experience that more.”
- Fighting after title shot: “My last three fights were very close. That is tiring, but at the same time it gives a good competitive pace. If you can use that in your favor, it can be advantageous. I accepted this fight for many reasons. The main one is to get back to winning, which is something I can’t control, but I can only get back if I try.”
- Colby Covington and his trash talk: “I think he is going down the same path that everyone thinks is right nowadays, which is to be controversial as the only way to promote a fight. As a fighter, he is a great athlete, wrestler and, as with any UFC Top 10 fighter, he is a very tough guy. I think it will be an intense fight, because he is a very aggressive guy as I am, within my style.”
Colby Covington:
- On fighting in Brazil: “I don’t want to fight here, but it was the only way to face Demian. Fighting in his home, in front of his fans. I know how Brazilians are and I hope they are very loud. But after the fight, I know they will be in silence.”
- On his opponent: “He’s a legend, had a great career. That’s why I will retire him in the first round. And the Brazilian fans will thank me because he will be in my highlights until the end of my career. He is a one-trick pony and I will catch him when he tries to take me down, submitting in the first round.”
- On the Welterweight Division: “I see myself as the uncrowned king of this division. This is my division. When Tyron Woodley comes back from his injury, his time will come. My victory over Demian will scare Woodley.”
Predictions: I think that a win will give me the chance to fight for the belt, since they are not having Robbie Lawler fight Woodley again, and Rafael dos Anjos shouldn’t be in this division - I would send him back to lightweight if I fought him.”
Pedro Munhoz:
- Fight Expectations: “The best possible, I’m fighting before the co-main event, in Sao Paulo, my city, for the fourth year in a row in search of my fourth consecutive win. I think it will be a very special moment and a victory on Saturday will be a big step to get to the coveted title shot.”
- On his opponent: “Rob is good, experience, ranked. I hope he brings his best, because I am bringing my best. I’ve seen him using different strategies in his fights, so I prepared for any situation - on my feet and on the ground. But my goal is to knockout or submit.”
- On the Bantamweight Division: “It’s a stacked division, with many great athletes, especially the Brazilians. There are always new and capable athletes coming in. Today, I see the winner of Jimmie Rivera and Dominick Cruz fighting the champion. I think they will be two highly contested fights, but I see Cody and Jimmie winning and facing each other. I don’t want to think about my next fight, because I focus on one day at a time. But victory on Saturday, I believe would put me in 8th or 10th in the rankings.”
Rob Font
- On his opponent: “He is a very aggressive striker and has very strong jiu-jitsu, but he doesn’t try to go the ground at all costs. He forces you to take him down and submits you.”
- Fight expectations: “It will be a big fight, it was a great match. He is an exciting fighter and will be at home, in his city, with the crowd supporting him. The fans here are crazy, loud and they defend their fighters at any cost. This is my second time here, I love Brazil, I love the food and the culture.”
UFC® ANNOUNCES GLOBAL LICENSING PARTNERSHIP WITH OPRO®
Las Vegas – UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, today announced a new multi-year global licensing agreement with OPRO®, the world’s largest manufacturer of mouthguards. The partnership, which begins in 2018 and was negotiated by IMG, grants the oral protection company the rights to produce UFC branded mouthguards and provide bespoke guards to UFC athletes.
“OPRO has been a world-renowned manufacturer of mouthguards for more than 20 years and we are thrilled to launch this new global partnership,” UFC Senior Vice President of Global Consumer Products Tracey Bleczinski said. “As an industry pioneer, OPRO has designed some of the most innovative guards in sports and we look forward to delivering these premium products to UFC athletes and the combat sports community.”
As part of this collaboration, OPRO will be able to brand the products and packaging for their Custom Fit, Self-Fit and Snap Fit product ranges, providing oral protection guards to athletes currently on the active roster.
“OPRO has ambitious international expansion plans for the coming years, and partnering with another hugely progressive and pioneering brand who are growing exponentially all over the world, particularly in key markets for us such as Asia and the Americas, is truly exciting,” OPRO Chief Executive Officer David Allen said. “This partnership with UFC reflects our continued growth in the combat sports market and we look forward to working with them as we kit out more and more UFC athletes with OPRO guards.”
UFC athletes will have the option of wearing mouthguards by OPRO while training or competing inside UFC’s world-famous Octagon®. OPRO will also offer UFC branded guards to combat participants and fight fans for purchase at opromouthguards.com and through a network of key global retail partners.
OPRO will plan to showcase their new UFC product line in 2018 at ISPO in Munich, Germany from January 28-31, followed by Taispo from March 7-10 in Taipei, Taiwan and at IHRSA in San Diego, California, from March 21-24, alongside the rest of the OPRO licensed product range.
OPRO serves as the official mouthguard partner of a number of professional sporting organizations, including Great Britain Taekwondo, England Boxing, England Rugby, New Zealand Rugby, Australia Rugby and England Hockey, as well as the German, French and Italian Mixed Martial Arts Federations. For more information, please visit opromouthguards.com.
WHAT’S ON THE MINDS OF THE STARS OF
UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: COWBOY vs. TILL?
Gdansk, Poland — The Octagon® returns to Poland for just the second time in UFC history. UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: COWBOY vs. TILL action takes place this Saturday, October 21, at the Ergo Arena in Gdansk, Poland. Here is what the stars had to say ahead of their bouts:
Andre Fili:
· “Artem is very tough. He’s a completely game opponent and I don’t think people give him the credit he deserves. But my fight IQ is better. I understand fighting better. I think that’s going to be the major factor in this fight, my fighting IQ”.
· “When you win, you’re the man, you feel like a king, but when you lose, everybody has something to say, it’s like the end of the world. So you can’t celebrate your wins too much but you also can’t focus on your losses too much ether.”
· “I’m focused on myself and on having the greatest performance of my career, the best performance I’ve ever had”.
· “I don’t care about his record, his career, or what anyone thinks about him; I just care about myself and performing to the absolute best of my ability.”
· “I have never ever been to Europe so as far as the history and the culture goes, I like it. It’s a very interesting experience to come here.”
· “He has never been finished before. I am going to be the first person to finish him. I don’t know if it’s going to be on the ground or if it’s going to be standing but however the finish comes, I will take it.”
Artem Lobov:
· On opponent: “He’s well-tested, well-seasoned, he comes from a very good team – Team Alpha Male – so he knows how to fight and he’s not afraid to fight so I love the match-up.”
· “I don’t know what he’s going to do, but I can tell you as always I’ll press forward, take no steps back and I’ll give the fans a great show as I always have. Russian Hammer is a brand that represents great fights and will continue to do so for the rest of my life.”
· On his losses – “If you’re put in a competitive environment, losses will happen. Look at Jeremy Stevens – he’s a top 10 featherweight in the world and he’s 13 and 13 in the UFC. These things happen: you can see the same in football or anywhere if you look at the league, even the champions have losses. What kills it for everyone and why I’m so against it is the record pattern because it gives the public the wrong view of the sport. They think you are meant to beat everyone and that’s how it is if you’re a good fighter, which is not the case.”
· On Cub Swanson fight – “From that fight, I’ve taken that I’m getting close to that level but I’m not there yet. A lot more work needs to be done which I have been doing and will continue doing until I am there.”
· On training with Connor – “As an MMA fighter, it’s hard to find the time to concentrate on just one discipline. You always have to go between wrestling, grappling, striking, kickboxing, boxing so it’s very hard to actually improve in one discipline.”
· “It was great for me to take the time and concentrate on my hands and I’ve seen great benefits from that – building the stamina in your hands, being able to control that many shots and sharpen my shots. I’m definitely excited to showcase those skills in this fight.”
Jan Blachowicz:
· “It feels really good for the UFC to come back to Poland again. It’s an amazing feeling to be part of that again, but this time I have to win!”
· “People in Poland like fighting sports.”
· “UFC is the biggest organization; it’s the dream of any fighter. This is UFC – if you’re a MMA fighter, you want to be here.”
· On his opponent: “He is a wrestler, so I know that he will try to take me down. I don’t think he will fight me standing. Maybe he’ll try at the beginning of the fight, but after a few punches he will try to use his wrestling skills to take me down. I’m going to try defend him and punch him again instead.”
· “I train with Damian Janikowski, the Olympic bronze medalist. Everyone I’m training with tries to take me down and simulate my opponent. I think I’m ready for him.”
· “I will win by KO in the first or second round. If it’s not going to happen at the beginning of the first round, it’s going to happen in the second.”
Devin Clark:
· “This is my first time out of the States, so good opportunity, good opponent – I’m really excited. It’s fun. I’m a tourist so far and people are nice.
· “I’ll fight wherever. It’s a fight, I don’t really care where it’s at. That’s part of the reason I wanted to be in the UFC; you get to travel the world, see different things and get paid to do it – why not.
· “I love that underdog situation, that adversity. I’ve had to deal with it in the past as I grew up wrestling, so it’s nothing new to me. You’ve still got to work. It adds to the feel as well.”
· “I’ve got my dad here with me. Also, I’m an advocate for down syndrome and there’s a bunch of down syndrome groups here to see me so I’ll have some fans.”
· On training with Jackson/Wink and having teammates like Jodie on the same card – “It’s been great, knowing that you’re going overseas with the team, it helps with the confidence knowing you’re not going alone. We’re all training for the same date which makes it nice and the intensity rises at about the same time.”
· On his opponent: “He knows he needs a win and he’s going to come to fight. That’s all I expect. I expect a tough fight and I hope he does the same, because it’s going to be a tough one for him.”
· “I expect to finish him, but if I don’t, it’s going to be three tough rounds for him and I’m going to grind him out.”
Jodie Esquibel:
· What a great opportunity and position to be in. This is the best opportunity that I’ve ever had – I love the match-up, I love travelling – there was just no question over it.”
· On her opponent: “All that fan-favourite and excitement around her is pressure that’s not on me. She can have all that, that’s fine. She’s good, she’s great, she’s top-ranked fighter. There’s not any challenge that I haven’t prepared for, so I’m not really worried about the challenge she brings.”
· “I think the match-up is favorable to myself honestly. She’s never really faced anybody like me stylistically. I’ve been competing MMA at a high level for a long time now. Now it’s a bigger venue and a bigger opponent and I’m ready to rise to the occasion.”
· “I feel like I’m better all around. She’s really, really great at a few things, but it’s the world of MMA and that means you have to be well-rounded and I feel like I am.”
· “On Saturday we’ll see a really calm, collected and beautiful debut.”
· On Poland: “It’s beautiful, it’s amazing. I think it’s awesome – you’re seeing stuff that you never see and it does kind of take away the monotony of fight week. Fight week in your home town is like the longest week ever, but now we’re already here, tomorrow’s weigh-ins and then fight day. I think traveling so far to somewhere so beautiful is a great way to do it.”
· “The whole experience is great. I’m just trying to be present in every moment and when I win on Saturday I’ll be present in that moment too.”
· “I’m going to have some fun, be myself and when I allow myself to do that I am victorious.”
Karolina Kowalkiewicz:
· “I never feel pressure before a fight, I love what I do. I feel pressure when I am hungry and I can’t eat a cookie!”
· “A few years ago, nobody knew UFC in Poland and now everybody knows that UFC is the biggest organization in the world”
· “I don’t talk about the past. I took my lessons and changed a few things in my training and I hope now that everything will be ok.”
· “Before fights I am very focused and happy because I’m doing what I love.”
· “Now I am not thinking about my next fight. I am focused on Saturday and on Jodie. After that we will see.”
· “I see only one scenario on Saturday – only I can win because we are in Poland. This is my home.”
Darren Till:
· “It’s the biggest moment of my career to date. I’m just trying to live in the moment and make the most of every minute of it.”
· “This kind of opportunity doesn’t come along all the time. I’ve grabbed it with both hands”.
· “I’m still a fan of Cowboy. He’s everything you want from a fighter, that’s never going to change. I look up to him and I respect him but, come fight night, I have to put all that to one side and I’ll have to put my fist in his face. It’ll be no different to any other opponent”.
· “Fighting isn’t about age or experience; it’s about intelligence. I know I’m the most intelligent fighter out there. I don’t think he’s half the fighter I am, I really don’t.”
· “This fight is my fight, it’s my show. There’s nothing he is bringing to the table that I haven’t seen before”.
· “The first round, I’m going to mentally break him, I know I am, and he’s going to start questioning himself more as the fight goes on.”
· “The dream is to headline in my home town. I want to be the first scouser to bring the UFC to Liverpool. Let’s get to the Echo arena, let’s get me a top 10 opponent - that will be one of the most historical moments in my career.”
· “I have total faith and confidence in the fact that I’m going to be the next British UFC world champion”.
· “I don’t believe in pressure, you shouldn’t feel that as a fighter. Get on with your job and keep those emotions under control.”
· “On Saturday Cowboy will see a level that he has never ever seen in his career before”.
· “I’ve been training for 14 years for this. I’ve sacrificed so much, so on Saturday, it’s do or die. Saturday I go in there and make a big statement”.
· “There’s going to be so many scousers here on Saturday that you don’t even understand!”
· “After Cowboy, I’m just going to put everyone in the welterweight division on notice.”
Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone
· “Other than the sleep apnea, coming over here to Poland has been great. My weight is fine, I’m eating anything I want right now. In fact, I met a local family here and they took us and cooked us dinner last night. She put out a thanksgiving spread and I said sorry ma’am, I can’t eat this much food but then I did.”
· “Its crazy sleeping in a hotel room for a fight, I usually have the RV with me.”
· “It’s cool, I enjoy Europe. I was trying to get a fight and the UFC gave me a lineup of all the places they’re we offering me there was no Europe on there. I said what about Poland card and Sean Shelby (UFC Matchmaker) was like you’ll go overseas and I was like sure, why not?”
· “It doesn’t matter where I fight or when I fight. You guys don’t understand, I’ll fight on the first fight of the night. It doesn’t have to be the main event or Poland or a Pay-Per-View. It makes no difference to me. This is what I love to do.”
· “I enjoy this whole process, being in Poland, walking around, checking everything out and being able to fight and doing what I love.”
· “I was even trying to get a fight sooner than now but of course its timing and other things. That was the issue with this card. Once I got the Poland fight, it was finding an opponent for Poland. Im glad Darren Till stepped up.”
· “It was no disrespect from me, I wasn’t trying to prod at the kid, I just didn’t know who Darren Till was. He has like three fights. He’s a new up and comer. This will be the biggest moment of his life. Will five rounds be too much for him? He went from the undercard to the big card. Hey man, welcome to the big leagues.”
· “Some people say Cowboy is the gate keeper. Well then can you get past the gate?”
· “I’ve been in the game a long time, this is like my 34th time doing a Zuffa walk and I’ve been in the top-ten pretty much my entire career. That’s pretty cool to sit back and say.”
· “I watch zero fights. That’s my coach’s job, to figure out and game plan. I don’t like sitting around during fight week. I like going and seeing castles like I have this week.”
· “I train hard, I train the same always. I stay ready.”
· “It doesn’t always go my way. Right now, I’m two in the wrong and the Robbie (Lawler) fight could have gone either way. I fought the best in the world and I loved it but in the end, it’s what I love to do.”
· “I want fans to say Cowboy’s in Poland? On FIGHT PASS? What’s FIGHT PASS and how do I get it? I need to see Cowboy fight because I know he’s biting down and going to give it his all. I want to come on and be the biggest draw in FIGHT PASS history.”
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VETERAN CONTENDER CUB SWANSON AND UNDEFEATED BRIAN ORTEGA CLASH IN A HOME STATE FEATHERWEIGHT SHOWDOWN WHEN THE UFC® DEBUTS IN FRESNO, CALIF. ON DEC. 9
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TICKETS FOR UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: SWANSON vs ORTEGA
AT SAVE MART CENTER ON SALE OCT. 20
Las Vegas — The Octagon® touches down in Fresno, Calif. for the first time in UFC history when perennial contender, No. 4 featherweight Cub Swanson clashes with No. 6 Brian Ortega, who hopes to keep his perfect record intact in the main event of UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: SWANSON vs ORTEGA. The always-entertaining Swanson is back in action for a California showdown against fast rising Ortega, a jiu-jitsu black belt who will be headlining his first UFC event. The action goes down Saturday, Dec. 9 at Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif. and will air live on FS1.
Swanson (25-7, fighting out of Palm Springs, Calif.) will compete in his second consecutive main event in search of a fifth victory in a row. Swanson has won 10 of his last 12 contests, and earned Fight of the Year honors for his UFC 206 victory over Dooho Choi. A win could put Swanson in position for a shot at the 145-pound title, but it will not come easy against the undefeated Ortega (12-0, fighting out of Torrance, Calif.). The Los Angeles native is on pace to be the UFC’s next big star and is in search of the biggest win of his young career. Coming off incredible performances against Renato Moicano and fan favorite Clay Guida, “T-City” knows a strong performance in front of home state fans will catapult him into title contention in the talent-rich 145-pound division.
Two bantamweight bouts are also expected to keep fans on the edge of their seats. Sixth-ranked bantamweight Bryan Caraway (21-7, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) has an impressive 6-2 record inside the Octagon, and he is currently riding a two-fight win streak. The Ultimate Fighter® season 14 competitor will compete for the first time in more than a year against up-and-coming Luke Sanders (11-1, fighting out of Nashville, Tenn.). “Cool Hand” started his professional MMA career on a tear, scoring nearly half of his wins via knockout. Fans can expect both fighters to keep moving forward in what should be a thrilling contest.
Always entertaining, No. 7 Aljamain Sterling (14-2, fighting out of Uniondale, N.Y.) is hoping a win this December will earn him a top-five ranking in the competitive bantamweight division. Sterling’s path to the top of the weight class goes through veteran submission specialist Rani Yahya (24-9, 1 NC, fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil). The four-time Submission of the Night earner is known as one of the best ground fighters in UFC, as an astonishing 18 of his 24 career victories have come via submission.
Hometown fans will cheer on one of their own when flyweight Alex Perez (18-4, fighting out of Lemoore, Calif.) makes his UFC debut. Perez looks to earn his sixth consecutive win and eighth first-round finish while defending his home turf against the Philippines’ Carls John De Tomas (8-1, fighting out of Quezon City, NCR, Philippines). The 21-year old “Golden Boy” hopes to use his Muay Thai background to ruin Perez’s homecoming.
Additional bouts:
- Two veteran women’s bantamweights will compete for the first time in the UFC at flyweight when Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Alexis Davis (18-7, fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) faces-off against the first woman to ever step inside the Octagon, Liz Carmouche (10-5, fighting out of San Diego, Calif.).
- Undefeated former Alabama Crimson Tide national football champion Eryk Anders (9-0, fighting out of Birmingham, Ala.) collides with veteran John Phillips(21-6, fighting out of Swansea, Wales) in a middleweight duel.
- Tennessee native Scott Holtzman (10-2, fighting out of Knoxville, Tenn.) meets the dangerous Darrell Horcher (13-2, fighting out of Shermansdale, Pa.).
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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UFC LAUNCHES A NEW DIVISION FOR FEMALE FIGHTERS BY CROWNING ITS FIRST WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT CHAMPION ATTHE ULTIMATE FIGHTER®: A NEW WORLD CHAMPION FINALE
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TICKETS FOR
THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER®: A NEW WORLD CHAMPION FINALE
AT PARK THEATER ON SALE FRIDAY, OCT. 20
Las Vegas — Women’s MMA in the UFC® extends to new boundaries when one talented athlete is crowned the inaugural UFC women’s flyweight champion at THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER®: A NEW WORLD CHAMPION FINALE, Friday, Dec. 1 at Park Theater in Las Vegas. One of the 16 women competing on the current season of The Ultimate Fighter®will make UFC history as the first champion in a new 125-pound weight division.
Some of the world’s most exceptional female fighters from a variety of different backgrounds converged to compete on The Ultimate Fighter this season, including two UFC vets, Roxanne Modafferi and Lauren Murphy, former Invicta FC flyweight champion Barb Honchak and seven-time world jiu-jitsu champion Sijara Eubanks. The experience levels ranged from 2-1 Shana Dobson to Modafferi’s 34 professional bouts. Women came from across the globe, bringing different life experiences that range from Hungary’s Melinda Fabian to Nicco Montano, who was born and raised on an Indian reservation in Arizona, but all with the same goal of leaving Las Vegas with gold strapped around their waist.
The winner of this season will join an elite group of current and former UFC champions, including Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Matt Serra, Michael Bisping, TJ Dillashaw, Carla Esparza and Robert Whittaker who have competed on The Ultimate Fighter and have gone on to win a world title in the Octagon®.
In addition, winner of season 23 of The Ultimate Fighter Andrew Sanchez (10-3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) returns to action to take on submission ace Ryan Janes (9-2, fighting out of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) in a middleweight showdown. Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Eric Spicely (10-3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) clashes with dynamic finisher Gerald Meerschaert (26-9, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) at 185 pounds. Sean O’Malley (8-0, fighting out of Glendale, Ariz.), who competed on the first season of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series, puts his undefeated record on the line against heavy-handed bantamweight Terrion Ware (17-6, fighting out of Hawthorne, Calif.). And former 135-pound title challenger Joe Soto (18-5, fighting out of Porterville, Calif.) meets undefeated Brett Johns (14-0, fighting out of Swansea, Wales).
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.
THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER®: A NEW WORLD CHAMPION FINALE will air live on FS1 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Friday, Dec. 1 with the prelims kicking off the evening on FS1 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and on UFC FIGHT PASS® at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
Tickets for THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER®: A NEW WORLD CHAMPION FINALE go on sale Friday, Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $150, $100, $75 and $50 (prices do not include applicable service charges and handling fees). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets are also available at the Park Theater Box Office.
UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 10 a.m. PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Oct. 19 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.
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