UFC FIGHT PASS® IS “POWERED BY BAS” DURING OCTOBER
UFC Hall of Famer Bas Rutten Provides In-depth Fight Analysis and Shares His Favorite Stories from His Legendary Career
Las Vegas – UFC FIGHT PASS® will be “Powered By Bas” throughout October, with UFC® Hall of Famer Bas Rutten previewing an upcoming fight and sharing some of his favorite memories from his storied career. Presenting an all new Face/Off collection, Rutten will give his expert analysis on the much-anticipated fight between lightweight contenders Dustin Poirier and Joe Duffy, as well as list his favorite eight fights of his legendary career on My Favorite 8.
Just in time for Pancrase 271, which will be streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS on October 31, A Brief History of Pancrase will be narrated by Rutten, a three-time King of Pancrase champion, as he gives an insider’s look into the legendary mixed martial arts (MMA) organization from Japan.
“Bas Rutten’s legendary career has made him one of the most trusted analysts in mixed martial arts and his insight will give fans a unique perspective into the upcoming fight between Dustin Poirier and Joe Duffy, his storied career and the history of Pancrase,” Eric Winter, Senior Vice President and General Manager of UFC FIGHT PASS, said. “After a successful September that was ‘Powered By Ronda,’ October will be another exciting month as we close out the year.”
To continue UFC FIGHT PASS’ momentum leading into the end of 2015, November will be “Powered By Miesha,” featuring exclusive content curated by bantamweight contender Miesha Tate. To close out the year, the second annual “Dana White Christmas” will recap all of the UFC President’s favorite moments inside the Octagon.
Exclusive October programming “Powered By Bas” includes:
Face/Off: Poirier vs. Duffy (premieres October 13)
Rutten previews the upcoming lightweight showdown between contenders Dustin Poirier and Joe Duffy at UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: POIRIER vs. DUFFY in Dublin, Ireland. Duffy has been very impressive since his UFC debut earlier this year, but Poirier is vastly experienced with 13 UFC fights dating back to 2011. It is a tough fight to call, so Rutten examines the protagonists’ recent fights to see how they will face off.
My Ultimate 8: Bas Rutten (premieres October 27)
Rutten introduces his favorite eight victories from his Hall of Famer career. Going back to his greatest moments in the Pancrase promotion, Rutten provides insight into his bitter grudge matches, fighting his friends, battling through injuries and taking on the very mentor who first introduced him to MMA.
A Brief History of Pancrase, with Bas Rutten (premieres late October)
Rutten– a three-time King of Pancrase champion– gives us an insider’s look into the history of Pancrase, the legendary Japanese MMA organization that actually pre-dates UFC.
UFC® CAPS OFF EPIC YEAR WITH A LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE BOUT AS RAFAEL DOS ANJOS COLLIDES WITH DONALD ‘COWBOY’ CERRONE
Plus
(#2) JUNIOR DOS SANTOS vs. (#9) ALISTAIR OVEREEM
(#5) MICHAEL JOHNSON vs. (#14) NATE DIAZ
TICKETS FOR UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: DOS ANJOS vs. COWBOY 2
AT AMWAY CENTER IN ORLANDO
ON SALE FRIDAY, OCT. 16
Las Vegas – It’ll be lights out in the Sunshine State when UFC® returns to Amway Center with a lightweight title bout as newly crowned champion Rafael Dos Anjos looks to defend his title for the first time when he meets No. 2 contender Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in a highly-anticipated rematch on Saturday, Dec. 19. In the co-main event, former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santosclashes with former STRIKEFORCE® champion Alistair Overeem in a bout that could have major title implications in the wide open division. UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: DOS ANJOS vs. COWBOY 2will be the second consecutive championship bout to air nationally on FOX and eighth overall.
After putting on one of the best performances of his career against Anthony Pettis at UFC 185, Dos Anjos (24-7, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) captured the 155-pound title, becoming the first Brazilian to hold the UFC lightweight championship. In addition to his impressive wins over former champion Benson Henderson and Nate Diaz, Dos Anjos also handed Cerrone his last loss back in 2013. The Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt will put his title on the line when he and his former foe meet again.
Since dropping a decision loss to the champion, Cowboy (28-6, 1NC, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) went on to dismantle the lightweight division by picking off top contenders in one of the most talent-rich divisions in the sport. Undefeated in his last eight appearances, Cerrone has wins over the likes of Henderson, Eddie Alvarez, Myles Jury, Edson Barboza and Jim Miller. A Muay Thai expert who holds 15 wins by submission and five by knockout, Cowboy has proven he has the heart of a champion and is now looking for the belt to solidify his place atop of the division.
To set the stage, former UFC heavyweight champion Dos Santos (17-3, fighting out of Salvador, Bahai, Brazil) makes his long-awaited return against Overeem (39-14, 1NC, fighting out of Amsterdam, Netherlands), the former STRIKEFORCE heavyweight champion who owns 18 wins by knockout.
Plus, UFC FIGHT NIGHT showcases local talent as Orlando’s own Josh Samman will have home field advantage when he meets Tamdan McCroy in a middleweight bout. Coconut Creek’s powerhouse gym, American Top Team, will be represented by 10th-ranked featherweight Nik Lentz, welterweight Hayder Hassan and featherweights Cole Miller and Jim Alers, while Boca Raton’sMichael Johnson, Kamaru Usman and Vicente Luque compete under the Blackzilians banner.
Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: DOS ANJOS vs. COWBOY 2 go on sale Friday, October 16 at 10 a.m. ET and are priced at $250, $175, $125, $90, $75 and $50 (prices do not include applicable service charges and handling fees). Tickets are available for purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com and by phone at (800) 745-3000. Tickets will also be available at amwaycenter.com, and Chase Box Office at Amway Center. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.
UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, October 14 at 10 a.m. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, October 15 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: DOS ANJOS vs. COWBOY 2 will air live on FOX at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Saturday, December 19, with the prelims kicking off the evening on FS1 at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.
UFC® ANNOUNCES PETER VESEY AS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF AGENCY PARTNERSHIPS
New UFC Satellite Office in New York Region to Develop Key Relationships with Advertising Agencies Worldwide
Las Vegas – UFC® is pleased to announce Peter Vesey has joined the organization as Senior Vice President of Agency Partnerships. Based in the New York City metropolitan area, Vesey will lead UFC’s strategic partnerships with top advertising agencies around the world to ensure the continued success of UFC and the growth of its brand. Opening a satellite office in the New York region will uniquely position UFC to maximize its role as an important media influencer, while uniting key sponsors and global advertising agencies to create compelling marketing solutions and impactful ideas.
On the announcement, UFC Executive Vice President of Global Marketing Partnerships Michael Mossholder said: “Peter brings extensive experience and knowledge to the UFC organization and we are thrilled to have him build strong partnerships with leading advertising agencies. With a dedicated executive based in the New York area, UFC will be able to better manage the needs and relationships between our sponsors and advertising agencies around the world.”
As an industry leader in creating innovative and successful marketing campaigns, Vesey has developed start-up organizations, managed transitions during corporate mergers, and expanded new business at every level of his career. Previously at FOX Sports, Vesey successfully developed and managed the UFC portfolio for the network, negotiating strategic partnerships between the organizations and key sponsors like Coca-Cola, Samsung, Microsoft, Reebok, Anheuser-Busch and Harley-Davidson. Vesey was also part of the launch team for Classic Sports Network— which was ultimately sold to ESPN— and oversaw its tremendous growth as a leader in the emerging market of sports programming.
Vesey added: “As UFC continues to develop captivating stories around its brand and athletes, the advertising industry has quickly recognized UFC for its growing and passionate audience. With the UFC organization experiencing tremendous expansion over the past few years, it will be important to identify advertising partnerships that can utilize the strength of the UFC brand by leveraging its key sponsors to deliver compelling ideas to our audience.”
UFC® SCHEDULES EVENT IN NEW YORK’S HISTORIC MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
Las Vegas ‒ UFC® today announced a series of important steps to bring mixed martial arts (MMA) events to New York. These efforts include the scheduling of the organization’s first, professional MMA event in New York since the state’s ban in 1997. This event will take place at Madison Square Garden on April 23, 2016 featuring UFC’s top champions competing with other world-class athletes inside the Octagon®. UFC is also taking additional steps through the federal courts to ensure the event’s success.
“We believe fight fans have waited long enough to experience live UFC events in the state of New York and we are thrilled to announce our first event at Madison Square Garden,” UFC Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Epstein said. “Professional MMA is legal around of the world and it is about time New York followed suit.”
In August, UFC filed an appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit – the federal appellate court with jurisdiction over New York – stating that New York’s prohibition of regulated professional MMA events violates the First Amendment rights of athletes and fans throughout the state.
On September 28, UFC filed a new case in federal court, reiterating its claim that the New York law banning MMA events is unconstitutional. This out-of-date law is too unclear for the public to understand, and has allowed regulators in New York to pick and choose arbitrarily what events they will permit. Events featuring every combat sport except MMA seem to be allowed in New York, though this is not explicitly stated in the law. The statute, and the state’s pattern of enforcing it, violates the Constitution’s prohibition on unconstitutionally vague laws.
Later this week, UFC will ask a federal judge to issue a preliminary injunction against New York state officials enforcing its unconstitutional law. Without such an injunction, the event at Madison Square Garden will not be able to proceed.
BACK-TO-BACK EVENTS AT THE COSMOPOLITAN OF LAS VEGAS SET THE STAGE FOR A BLOCKBUSTER WEEKEND
THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER® FINALE: TEAM McGREGOR vs. TEAM FABERAND UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: VanZANT vs. CALDERWOOD
Las Vegas – UFC’s December to remember will be highlighted by an unprecedented three-event fight week featuring some of the sport’s biggest stars. The action begins Thursday, December 10 as No. 6 strawweight contender Paige VanZant battles No. 8Joanne Calderwood on UFC FIGHT PASS® in the main event of UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: VanZANT vs. CALDERWOOD. The following night No. 2 featherweight contender Frankie Edgar and No. 3 Chad Mendes serve as the marquee bout of The Ultimate Fighter®: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber Finale. Both events will take place at The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
The blockbuster weekend culminates Saturday night when the first featherweight champion in UFC history, Jose Aldo, and interim champion Conor McGregor, finally settle their differences in the main event of UFC® 194®: ALDO vs. McGREGOR.
Former lightweight champion Edgar (18-4-1, fighting out of Toms River, N.J.) looks to secure a shot at the title with a win in the five-round main event of The Ultimate Fighter Finale. “The Answer” is riding a four-fight win streak that includes wins over Mendes’ teammate Urijah Faber, Cub Swanson, UFC legend BJ Penn and Charles Oliveira. A win here would solidify his place as the No. 1 contender in the stacked 145-pound division.Mendes (17-3, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) looks to get back in the win column after a short notice loss to McGregor in July. With a full camp behind him, the Team Alpha Male standout is confident the result will be different and that he will leave the Octagon® in line for another shot at championship gold.
Setting the stage for Edgar and Mendes will be the much anticipated return of third-ranked lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov (22-0, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia), who looks to keep his perfect record intact when he meets No. 9 Tony Ferguson (20-3, fighting out of Ventura, Calif.). Ferguson is coming off back-to-back Performance of the Night victories, and he hopes to climb into the top five of the division by handing Nurmagomedov the first loss of his career.
To headline the first UFC FIGHT PASS card on American soil, VanZant (6-1, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) meets Scottish sensation Calderwood (10-1, fighting out of Glasgow, Scotland). VanZant, who is one of mixed martial arts fastest rising stars, will need to use her relentless attack to counter Calderwood’s dangerous striking in hopes of staying undefeated inside the Octagon and take one step closer to a shot at the title. With four wins by knockout – three in the first round, the Scot is the most dangerous opponent to date for the Team Alpha Male prodigy.
For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.
Tickets for THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER® FINALE: TEAM McGREGOR vs. TEAM FABER go on sale Friday, September 25 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $350, $250 and $150. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com or through www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call (888) 929-7849. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.
UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, September 23 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, September 24 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.
Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: VanZANT vs. CALDERWOOD go on sale Friday, September 25 at 12 p.m. PT and are priced at $225, $125 and $75. Tickets are available for purchase online atwww.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com or through www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call (888) 929-7849. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.
UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, September 23 at 12 p.m. PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, September 24 starting at 12 p.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.
THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER® FINALE: TEAM McGREGOR vs. TEAM FABER airs live on FOX Sports 1 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Friday, December 11, with the prelims kicking off the evening on FOX Sports 1 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: VanZANT vs. CALDERWOOD will air live on UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service with exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content beginning at7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT with the main card airing at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
