UFC® KICKS OFF TICKET SALES FOR UFC®
FIGHT NIGHT: BROWN vs GASTELUM
WITH PRESS CONFERENCE AT HOTEL HABITA IN MONTERREY, MEXICO
Welterweights Matt Brown and Kelvin Gastelum collide in the five-round main event on November 21
Tickets for UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: BROWN vs GASTELUM
at Arena Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico
on sale Friday, September 11
Monterrey, Mexico– After two successful event sell-outs in Mexico City for UFC® 180 and UFC® 188, UFC®conquers new territory with UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: BROWN vs GASTELUM, scheduled for November 21 in Arena Monterrey, in Monterrey, Mexico.
Kelvin Gastelum, Ricardo Lamas, Diego Sanchez, Erik Perez, Leandro Silva, Efrain Escudero, Hector Urbinaand Henry Cejudo were present at the press conference, which took place today at Hotel Habita in Monterrey, Mexico.
Headlining the November card is the five-round main event featuring UFC® welterweights Matt “The Immortal” Brown (22-13, fighting out of Cincinnati, Ohio), and Kelvin Gastelum (12-1, fighting out of Yuma, Ariz.). UFC®FIGHT NIGHT: BROWN vs GASTELUM will mark Mexico’s second event of 2015 as well as the season finale ofThe Ultimate Fighter® Latin America 2, where two fighters from the famous reality show will be crowned champions.
In addition, Ricardo “The Bully” Lamas (14-4, fighting out of Chicago, Ill.) goes up against Diego “The Dream” Sanchez (27-7, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) in a featherweight showdown. Lamas, who challenged for the 145lb. belt in 2014 against Jose Aldo, will bring his black belt jiu-jitsu skills to the Octagon® against The Ultimate Fighter® season one winner and 21 fight UFC® veteran Sanchez.
Other bouts for UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: BROWN vs GASTELUM include:
· Third-ranked, Jussier Formiga, (13-8, fighting out of Natal, Brazil) and no. 5 and Olympic wrestling gold medalist Henry “The Messenger” Cejudo (9-0, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) will collide in a flyweight battle
· Leandro “Buscape” Silva (18-2-1, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) will meet The Ultimate Fighter® Latin America 2 coach, Efrain “Hecho en Mexico” Escudero (25-9, fighting out of Tempe, Ariz.) in a lightweight bout
· Monterrey native, Erik “Goyito” Perez (14-6, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M., by way of Monterrey, Mexico) and Damian “Webster” Stasiak (9-2, fighting out Lodz, Poland) will compete in a bantamweight match
· Valmir “Bidu”Lazaro (13-3, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) will face his Brazilian counterpart Michel “Tractor” Prazeres(18-2, fighting out of Belem, Para, Brazil) in a lightweight fight
· Hector “El Toro” Urbina (25-8, fighting out of Muncie, Ind. by the way of Monterrey, Mexico) will challenge Bartosz “The Butcher” Fabinski (12-2, fighting out of Warsaw, Poland) in a welterweight bout
Tickets for UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: BROWN vs GASTELUM go on sale Friday, September 10 and are priced at zone Diamante (orange) $5,000.00, zone Platino (green) $3,500.00, zone Barrera Platino (blue) $2,500, zone Barrera Oro (yellow) $1,850, zone Preferente (red) $1,580, zone Butaca (light green) $1,222, zone Luneta Especial (brown) $1,059, zone Luneta (purple) $896, zone Balcón Especial (grey) $651, zone Balcón (pink) $350, Bar 'n Grill & Super Palco $2,500 (prices listed in Mexican pesos and include taxes). Tickets can be purchased starting September 11 throughwww.superboletos.com. To order by phone with a credit card, call +52 (81) 15154100. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. The ticket price does not include applicable service charges.
Get your VIP package today! The UFC VIP Experience packages together your tickets with behind-the-scenes access to the official weigh-ins, backstage tours, meet and greet and autograph signings with top UFC stars, Q&A sessions, and photo opportunities, access to an in-arena VIP party room, a chance to hold the championship belt inside the Octagon® and more.
For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com. All bouts are live and subject to change.
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UFC® FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP UNIFICATION BOUT BETWEEN
JOSE ALDO AND CONOR McGREGOR
PLUS UNDEFEATED MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION CHRIS WEIDMAN MEETS LUKE ROCKHOLD
Also:
(#2) JACARE SOUZA vs. (#3) YOEL ROMERO
TICKETS FOR UFC® 194: ALDO vs. McGREGOR
AT MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA
ON SALE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
Las Vegas - In the most anticipated matchup in UFC® history, two kings battle for one throne, as inaugural UFC featherweight champion and pound-for-pound great Jose Aldo returns to face newly-crowned interim champion Conor McGregor in the five-round main event ofUFC 194®. Plus, undefeated middleweight champion Chris Weidman puts his spotless record on the line when he meets No. 1 contenderLuke Rockhold in the co-main event. UFC 194®: ALDO vs. McGREGOR takes over the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, Dec. 12.
Jose Aldo (25-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), UFC’s first-ever featherweight champion, has proven to be one of the most dominant titleholders in the history of the sport, as he’s compiled seven consecutive title defenses while remaining unbeaten for nearly a decade. Slated to meet earlier in the year at the record-breaking UFC 189 event, an injury forced Aldo to withdraw from the contest against bitter rival Conor McGregor (18-2, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland). The undeterred Irishman was then pitted against No. 1 contender Chad Mendes, who he defeated with a thrilling second-round knockout to claim the interim title.
Ready to finally settle the score, Aldo returns to the Octagon® to prove he is the undisputed featherweight champion, while “The Notorious” intends to cement his claim as the true 145-pound world champion.
In the second half of this championship doubleheader, undefeated middleweight champion Chris Weidman (13-0, fighting out of Baldwin, N.Y.) will clash with former STRIKEFORCE® middleweight champion Luke Rockhold (14-2, fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) in the co-main event. Having defeated former champions Anderson Silva (twice), Lyoto Machida and, most recently, Vitor Belfort, Weidman looks to add another name to his perfect record. Rockhold earned his crack at the title after racking up four stoppage victories, including impressive second-round submissions over Machida and Michael Bisping. This high-stakes bout has analysts wondering if this could be the greatest middleweight matchup in UFC history.
Plus, vying for the next shot at the 185-pound championship, No. 2 contender and former STRIKEFORCE middleweight championJacare Souza (22-3, 1NC, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) goes toe-to-toe with third-ranked Yoel Romero (10-1, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Pinar del Rio, Cuba), who is riding a six-fight unbeaten streak that includes five knockouts.
Additional bouts include:
· In a showdown between top-ranked welterweights, No. 6 Demian Maia (24-6, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) will look for a fourth straight win when he meets Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, No. 11 Gunnar Nelson (14-1-1, fighting out of Reykjavik, Iceland).
· In what promises to be an exciting featherweight scrap, fifth-ranked Max Holloway (14-3, fighting out of Waianae, Hawaii) takes on UFC veteran and eighth-ranked Jeremy Stephens (24-11, fighting out of San Diego, Calif.).
· MMA legend and former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber (32-8, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) returns to the bantamweight division to face No. 12 Frankie Saenz (11-2, fighting out of Scottsdale, Ariz.).
· The Ultimate Fighter® Season 20 standout and fifth-ranked strawweight contender Tecia Torres (6-0, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) meets former Invicta FC atomweight champion and 11th-ranked contender Michelle Waterson (13-4, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.), in a 115-pound bout.
· Undefeated rising contenders Warlley Alves (10-0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Colby Covington (8-0, fighting out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) square off in a welterweight bout.
· The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2 winner Leonardo Santos (14-4, 1NC, fighting out of Campos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) takes on surging lightweight star Kevin Lee (11-1, fighting out of Las Vegas.), a winner of four straight.
· Joe Proctor (11-3, fighting out of Bridgewater, Mass.) meets Russian prospect Magomed Mustafaev (12-1, fighting out of Sochi, Russia).
· Tristar Gym staple John Makdessi (12-4, fighting out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada) battles exciting lightweight Yancy Medeiros (11-3, 1NC, fighting out of Makaha, Hawaii).
· The Ultimate Fighter Season 11 veteran Court McGee (16-4, fighting out of Orem, Utah) takes on The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 finalist Marcio Alexandre (13-2, fighting out of Florianopolis, Brazil) in a welterweight showdown.
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 additional information, media credential applications, and content to support your UFC coverage.
Tickets for UFC®194: ALDO vs. McGREGOR go on sale Friday, Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $1,253, $853, $603, $403, $278 and $178. Tickets are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. 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 any MGM Grand box office. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.
UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. PT via the websitewww.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Sept. 10 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.
Get your VIP package today! The UFC VIP Experience packages together your tickets with behind-the-scenes access to the official weigh-ins, meet and greet and autograph signings with top UFC stars, Q&A sessions, and photo opportunities, access to an in-arena VIP hospitality room, a chance to hold the championship belt inside the Octagon® and more.
UFC 194 headlines an unprecedented three-day series of events in Las Vegas. Before Aldo and McGregor square off at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday night, UFC will host two nights of live action at The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. This includes a UFC FIGHT PASS® event (bouts to be announced soon) on Thursday, Dec. 10, followed up by The Ultimate Fighter®: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber Finale on Friday, Dec. 11. These three incredible events make Las Vegas the can’t-miss destination for fight fans this December.
UFC®194: ALDO vs. McGREGOR will be available live on Pay-Per-View on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Vubiquity, and in Canada on BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, Rogers and Canal Indigo for a suggested retail price of $49.99 US/CAN for Standard Definition and $59.99 US/CAN for High-Definition.
SUPER SEPTEMBER STREAM-A-THON
POWERED BY RONDA
Exclusive access to all of Ronda Rousey’s Championship fights, new live events, live UFC Prelims, and new original content showcased on UFCFIGHTPASS.com in a stacked September
Las Vegas –UFC FIGHT PASS® will be “Powered by Ronda” throughout September – kicking off with a comprehensive collection of every Ronda Rousey title fight, two sets of live UFC FIGHT PASS Prelims, four exclusive mixed martial arts (MMA) events streamed live from three continents and brand new Original Content all premiering throughout September.
“September will prove to be the greatest month to date for UFC FIGHT PASS – especially since we arePowered By Ronda as we showcase all of her championship fights including her first round KO of Bethe Correia at UFC 190 in Brazil,” said Eric Winter, Senior Vice President and General Manager of UFC FIGHT PASS. “In addition, we have two sets of live UFC FIGHT PASS Prelims, four exclusive live MMA events from three continents, the debut of our new original series The 3rd Degree, and the strongest installments yet of our fan-favorite Original Series, Fightography and Pioneers of MMA.”
During Super September Stream-a-thon, UFC FIGHT PASS will live stream the prelim fights kicking off UFC®191: JOHNSON vs. DODSON 2 and UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: BARNETT vs. NELSON.
In addition, UFC FIGHT PASS will live stream Invicta FC 14 on September 12 – featuring the bantamweight title showdown between champion Tonya Evinger and unbeaten challenger Pannie Kianzad – from Kansas City, Missouri. On September 19th, live on UFC FIGHT PASS, three titles will be defended at Titan FC 35. Then, on September 25, UFC FIGHT PASS cameras will travel to Moscow, Russia for the inaugural broadcast of the streaming service’s latest content partner, EFN MMA. Finally, UFC FIGHT PASS will present another action packed card from Shooto Brazil 57 on September 27.
Additional highlights of the Super September Stream-at-thon on UFC FIGHT PASS include:
Ronda Rousey: Every Title Fight (premieres September 1)
All eight of the world’s most dominant athlete’s title fights – from her Strikeforce® championship win back in 2012 to her recent domination of Bethe Correia – are presented in their entirety in a back-to-back format.
The 3rd Degree – with Kyra Gracie (two-part series, premieres September 8)
Every culture, in every corner of the globe, has a tradition of martial arts. Kyra Gracie – third degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and member of the legendary Gracie clan – travels the world seeking the roots of the world’s ancient fighting styles. Venturing beyond the bright lights of international competition, Kyra visits hole-in-the-wall gyms to encounter the men and women who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of their culture’s martial art.
In the first episode, Gracie travels across Brazil to better understand the richness of her native martial art. Then, in the second episode, Kyra travels completely out of her comfort zone – visiting the iconic Don Nacho gym in Mexico City to immerse herself in Mexican boxing. The first two episodes will premiere together on September 8, with UFC FIGHT PASS already committed to a full season of The 3rd Degree in 2016.
Pioneers of MMA: Bas Rutten (premieres September 15)
A brand new episode of the ground-breaking Original Series focuses on the career of Bas Rutten, the Dutch kickboxer whose terrifying striking helped him win championships in Pancrase and UFC, ultimately leading him to the UFC Hall of Fame. Featuring interviews with Rutten, Joe Rogan, Ronda Rousey and leading MMA historians, Pioneers of MMA is the definitive retrospective of true MMA icons.
Also, accompanying the Pioneers of MMA episode, UFC FIGHT PASS will present every single Rutten fight, in career order, from his September 1993 debut, his legendary bouts in Japan, his UFC championship run and his farewell fight in the World Fighting Alliance in 2006.
Fightography: BJ Penn (premieres September 22)
Legendary two-division UFC champion BJ Penn gives a dramatic first-person account of his historic trilogy with Matt Hughes. The pair of UFC Hall of Famers fought three times between 2004 and 2010, starting off as bitter rivals but eventually developing a mutual respect that turned into a friendship. In the latest installment of the popular FIGHT PASS Original Series, Penn gives his side of the epic rivalry with Hughes.
The short film will be presented with all of Penn’s UFC bouts, including his professional debut, to his two UFC championship reigns, to his final bout in July 2014.
UFC Fan Expo® 2015:The Fighter Panels
Recorded exclusively for FIGHT PASS at UFC Fan Expo® in 2015, hosts Mike Goldberg and Megan Olivi sat down with some of the biggest names in UFC, past and present, in front of a live audience. Unless you were lucky enough to attend UFC Fan Expo, this is your first chance to enjoy these fascinating panels.
“Reigning UFC Champions Panel” (premieres September 6)
Hosted by Mike Goldberg and featuring reigning UFC champions Fabricio Werdum, Chris Weidman, Rafael dos Anjos, Demetrious Johnson and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
“Women of the UFC Panel” (premieres September 11)
Hosted by Megan Olivi and featuring Paige VanZant, Rose Namajunas, Julianna Pena and Liz Carmouche.
“Legends of UFC Panel” (premieres September 13)
Hosted by Mike Goldberg and featuring UFC legends Chuck Liddell, Matt Hughes, Pat Miletich, Oleg Taktarov, Don Frye, Paul Varelans, Guy Mezger and Gary Goodridge.
Hosted by Mike Goldberg and featuring UFC legends Chuck Liddell, Matt Hughes, Pat Miletich, Oleg Taktarov, Don Frye, Paul Varelans, Guy Mezger and Gary Goodridge.
Plus, there is a new brand episode of The Road to UFC Japan every Monday and The Ultimate Fighter®: Latin America premieres every Wednesday. Both shows are exclusive to UFC FIGHT PASS.
“Our number one goal is to provide the greatest collection of live-streaming fights and video-on-demand to our existing subscribers, while enticing all MMA fans to give UFC FIGHT PASS a try via our 7-day free trial,” Winter said.
ANTONIO RODRIGO ‘MINOTAURO’ NOGUEIRA
JOINS UFC® BRAZIL AS ATHLETE RELATIONS AMBASSADOR
Sao Paulo – Mixed martial arts (MMA) legend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, known by fans worldwide as “Minotauro,” officially announced his retirement from UFC® competition today. While his fighting days may have come to a close, his work in the MMA community is only beginning as he will serve as an Athlete Relations Ambassador for UFC® Brazil.
As part of his new contract, Nogueira will provide services for a number of initiatives in the Brazil region. He will serve as a liaison for the organization between athletes, sponsors, media and government bodies, as well as act as a mentor in the development of young athletes. Additionally, Nogueira will assist in identifying rising talent throughout Brazil as UFC® continues to seek the best athletes for its roster.
"'Big Nog' is a legend in the sport of MMA," UFC President Dana White said. "He is respected by fighters and fans worldwide. It has been an honor to watch him compete and I'm happy to see him retire. He will be a huge asset to the UFC, the athletes and the sport as an ambassador. I look forward to working with him in this new chapter of his life."
Nogueira added: “It’s a great pleasure and an honor for me to further my ties with the UFC. I’ve always had a passion to follow the development of new athletes and that’s what I intend to continue doing. I want to help further the spread of MMA around the world and give my contribution to the emergence and development of young talent. I appreciate all the confidence that Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta and Frank Fertitta have in me, and I believe we will reach big results together. I know that I can, and will, contribute much to the growth of our sport outside of the Octagon.”
Prior to his retirement, Nogueira boasted one of the most successful careers in MMA history. With his first professional fight in 1999, Nogueira rose to prominence in Japan with PRIDE Fighting Championship, eventually becoming a two time champion in the organization, including winning their first ever heavyweight belt in 2001. Upon PRIDE being purchased by an affiliate of Zuffa, LLC in 2007, Nogueira continued his dominance by defeating Tim Sylvia for the interim UFC® heavyweight title. Big Nog also had a number of other memorable fights, including his homecoming to Rio de Janeiro in 2011, when he defeated Brendan Schaub at UFC® 134 in front of raucous crowd that few will forget. Nogueira finishes his career with a sterling impressive 34-10-1 record and a reputation as one of the greatest Brazilian jiu-jitsu artists ever in the heavyweight division, as evidenced by his 22 submission victories.
Nogueira is a pillar to the community in Rio de Janeiro boasting an Institute co-owned by his twin brother, current UFC® fighter Antonio Rogério “Minotouro” Nogueira. The “Nogueira Brothers Institute” was created in 2008 and has six operating centers that train underprivileged children in Brazil, using MMA as a social inclusion tool. Since its inception, the project has contributed to social development by changing the lives of many young people from communities throughout Rio de Janeiro, building exemplary citizenship and overcoming barriers.
Rodrigo and Rogerio are also known for their entrepreneurial profiles. The twins own a chain of franchised Team Nogueira gyms, with 33 locations, including a gym in Dubai. In three years, Team Nogueira franchises have reached over 10,000 students.
CAST REVEALED FOR
THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER®: TEAM McGREGOR vs. TEAM FABER
Lightweights from the United States and Europe collide in special
USA vs. Europe format
Season premieres Wednesday, September 9 at 10 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1
Las Vegas – Competitors from 11 different countries have been cast for the next season of The Ultimate Fighter® led by UFC® interim featherweight champion and proud Irishman Conor McGregor, opposite former WEC® featherweight champion Urijah “The California Kid” Faber. The premiere episode, debuting on September 9 at 10 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1, will showcase 32 fighters competing for one of 16 spots featuring eight Europeans and eight Americans and the opportunity to be coached by two of the sport’s best athletes.
The Europeans will be led by Dublin’s own McGregor (18-2, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland), while the American squad will be under the tutelage of Faber (32-8, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.). The fighters from around the globe will descend upon the Las Vegas desert for a chance at a UFC contract and the ability to be coached by two of the sports’ best. Given the history between McGregor and Faber’s Team Alpha Male gym, paired with national pride on the line, the teams’ rivalry will be fierce and competition intense.
McGregor took the MMA world by storm when he burst onto the UFC scene in 2013, quickly amassing a 6-0 record inside the Octagon®en route to becoming the interim featherweight champion. Currently riding a 14-fight winning streak, “The Notorious” is set to unify his title with pound-for-pound king Jose Aldo at UFC 194 on December 12 in Las Vegas.
This will be Faber’s second stint as coach, having served as head coach for season 15 against rival Dominick Cruz in 2012. Widely considered a pioneer amongst fighters in the lighter weight classes, Faber is one of the most recognized and respected competitors in mixed martial arts history.
Below is a full list of competitors by team and in alphabetical order (name, professional record, age, hometown):
United States
|
Europe
|
Andreas Quintana, 8-1, 24, Albuquerque, N.M.
|
Artem Lobov, 11-10-1-1, 28, Dublin, Ireland
|
Austin Springer, 8-0, 27, Portland, Ore.
|
Abner Lloveras, 19-7-1, 32, Barcelona, Spain
|
Billy Quarantillo, 6-1, 26, Tampa, Fla.
|
David Teymur, 3-1, 25, Stockholm, Sweden
|
Brandon Ricetti, 7-1, 28, Chico, Calif.
|
Djamil Chan, 19-2, 24, Amsterdam, Netherlands
|
Brennan Sevin, 7-1, 29, Chauvin, La.
|
Frantz Frank Slioa, 4-0, 24, Stockholm, Sweden
|
Chris Gruetzemacher, 12-1, 29, Peoria, Ariz.
|
Marcin Wrzosek, 10-2, 27, Bydgoszcz, Poland
|
Jason Soares, 8-0, 25, Miami, Fla.
|
Martin Delaney, 10-1, 36, Bathgate, Scotland
|
Johnny Nunez, 5-1, 29, Las Vegas, Nev.
|
Martin Svensson, 14-5, 30, Malmo, Sweden
|
James Jenkins, 8-1, 29, Long Island, N.Y.
|
Mehdi Baghdad, 11-3, 29, Toulon, France
|
Jason Gonzalez, 9-2, 25, Colton, Calif.
|
Mohamed Grabinski, 10-1, 23, Dusseldorf, Germany
|
Julian Erosa, 14-2, 25, Yakima, Wash.
|
Paulo Boer, 10-1-1, 29, Holland
|
Mike Flach, 7-1, 27, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
|
Sascha Sharma, 8-2, 27, Stuttgart, Germany
|
Ryan Hall, 4-1, 30, Falls Church, Va.
|
Saul Rogers, 10-1, 25, Bolton, England
|
Thanh Le, 4-1, 29, New Orleans, La.
|
Sean Carter, 10-1, 30, Essex, England
|
Tim Welch, 12-5, 25, Glendale, Ariz.
|
Thibault Gouti, 10-0, 28, Avignon, France
|
Tom Gallicchio, 19-8, 28, Perth Amboy, N.J.
|
Vladimir Sikic, 10-0, 25, Frankfurt, Germany
|
The show will feature 12 episodes airing Wednesdays on FOX Sports 1. Each episode’s winner will advance in the single-elimination tournament, leading to the season finale card on December 11 in Las Vegas. The finale will be headlined by former lightweight champion and current second-ranked featherweight Frankie Edgar taking on Faber teammate, No. 3 Chad Mendes.
For more show information, bios, videos and photos, visit ultimatefighter.com and follow us on Twitter @UltimateFighter and Facebook.
ETIHAD STADIUM TO HOST HISTORIC UFC® EVENT
UFC® 193 TO FEATURE FIRST EVER UFC CHAMPIONSHIP CONTEST ON AUSTRALIAN SOIL
Melbourne, Australia – After years of anticipation, Australia’s sporting capital will play host to the biggest combat sports event the country has witnessed, as UFC® 193: LAWLER vs. CONDIT finds a home at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium. In an Australian first, a UFC® championship belt will go on the line in the main event with welterweight champion Robbie Lawler slated to defend his title against former UFC interim welterweight champion Carlos Conditon Sunday, November 15, 2015.
A special UFC® 193: LAWLER vs. CONDIT microsite - UFC.com/melbourne - launches today, providing registering fans with pre-sale access to tickets and event related information. Those who sign up will also receive a 30-day free trial to UFC FIGHT PASS®.
“Finally the UFC is coming to Melbourne in what will be the biggest UFC event EVER!” UFC president Dana White said. “There’s been a lot of talk about Melbourne, title fights and stadium shows. The UFC is doing all three at the Etihad Stadium in front of 70,000 people. Australia has been an amazing market for the UFC and to thank the Aussies for all of their support we are bringing the superstar of the welterweight division, UFC World Champion Robbie Lawler. He will be facing the always-exciting “Natural Born Killer” Carlos Condit. Robbie Lawler is coming off of the most exciting title defense in welterweight history. We are also bringing the rematch of the greatest heavyweight fight I have ever seen between New Zealand legend Mark Hunt vs. Big Foot Silva. November 15 is going to be insane!”
Fighting for the first time outside of his native United States of America at UFC® 193: LAWLER vs. CONDIT, welterweight champion Robbie Lawler (26-10-0 1 NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, FL, USA) is enjoying a renaissance inside the Octagon®. Since his return to the organisation in 2013, Lawler has won seven of his last eight bouts, including a tight split-decision victory over Johny Hendricks at UFC® 181 to claim the welterweight title.
Most recently Lawler is coming off his first title defense at UFC® 189 over Canadian mixed martial arts prodigy Rory Macdonald, in an incredible five-round back-and-forth battle, which earned the ‘Fight of the Night’ bonus. Lawler is no stranger to fight bonuses, having earned ‘Knockout of the Night’ for his performance at UFC® 157 which signified his return to the UFC and the welterweight division. He also won ‘Fight of the Night’ against Johny Hendricks, when they first battled for the vacant UFC welterweight belt at UFC® 171, and against Matt Brown in a title-eliminator bout atUFC FIGHT NIGHT™: LAWLER vs. BROWN.
Set to face Lawler across the Octagon® at UFC® 193: LAWLER vs. CONDIT is Carlos Condit (30-8-0, fighting out of Albuquerque, NM, USA). Condit became the UFC interim welterweight champion after defeating bad-boy Nick Diaz atUFC® 143 in 2012.
Owner of four ‘Fight of the Night’ and two ‘Knockout of the Night’ performance bonuses, Condit has competed and won against a who’s-who of the mixed martial arts welterweight elite including Rory MacDonald, Dong Hyun Kim and Martin Kampmann. Returning to the Octagon® in May 2015 after a 14-month injury lay-off, Condit has catapulted himself back into 170-pound title contention. A dominant win over Thiago Alves at UFC FIGHT NIGHT™: CONDIT vs. ALVES was a performance worthy of granting him another shot at the UFC welterweight title.
UFC® 193: LAWLER vs. CONDIT will also feature a stacked fight card of elite Australian and international mixed martial artists, including:
- In the co-main event, Australian knockout artist and fan-favourite Mark ‘Super Samoan’ Hunt (10-9-1, fighting out of Sydney, Australia) and Brazilian behemoth Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva (19-7-0 1 NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Florida, USA) will meet in the Octagon® once again to settle their 2013 ‘Fight of the Year’ draw, remembered as the greatest UFC heavyweight fight of all time.
- Coming off an impressive first-round KO win over Brad Tavares, Robert Whittaker (14-4-0, fighting out of Sydney, Australia) will look to keep his unblemished record at middleweight and break into the division’s Top 10 with a win over brash Brit and perennial contender Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping (28-7-0, fighting out of Manchester, England).
- Hometown hero and Australian rising star Jake ‘The Celtic Kid’ Matthews (9-1-0, fighting out of Melbourne, Australia) will be looking to jump back on the winner’s list against experienced Mexican Akbarh ‘El Caballero’ Arreola (23-9-1, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico) at lightweight.
- Pioneer Australian mixed martial artist Kyle ‘KO’ Noke (20-7-1, fighting out of Albuquerque, NM, USA) will continue his run in the welterweight division against Polish submission specialist Peter Sobotta (15-4-1, fighting out of Au, Balingen, Germany).
- Light heavyweight veteran Anthony ‘The Hippo’ Perosh (15-9-0, fighting out of Sydney, Australia) will finally face American prospect Gian Villante (13-5-0, fighting out of Bellmore, NY, USA). The pair were originally set to meet at UFC FIGHT NIGHT™: TE HUNA vs. MARQUARDT in June 2014, but Perosh was forced to withdraw due to injury.
- Four-time Australian Olympic Judoka Daniel Kelly (9-1-0, fighting out of Melbourne, Australia) will relish the opportunity to compete in front of his home crowd taking on Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Ricardo Abreu (5-2-0, fighting out of Huntington Beach, CA, USA) in a middleweight tilt.
- In an Australian welterweight showdown, Richard ‘Filthy Rich’ Walsh (8-4, fighting out of Sydney, Australia) will face Western Australia’s Steve Kennedy (22-7, fighting out of Morley, Western Australia)
Additional bouts for UFC® 193: LAWLER vs. CONDIT will be announced in the coming weeks.
Tickets will be available at www.ticketmaster.com.au. Ticket prices will be available at a later date. UFC Fight Club®members will have first access to purchase tickets starting on Monday September 14 at 10 a.m. AEST via the websitewww.ufcfightclub.com. The presale will then extend to UFC® 193: LAWLER vs. CONDIT microsite registrants and UFC newsletter subscribers, starting at 10 a.m. AEST on Wednesday, September 16. To access this presale, users must register via the UFC® 193: LAWLER vs. CONDIT microsite at UFC.com/melbourne. General on sale will commence on Monday, September 21 at 10 a.m. AEST.
Sign up at UFC.com/melbourne to receive UFC VIP Experience package information. The UFC VIP Experience packages together your tickets with behind-the-scenes access to the official weigh-ins, meet and greet and autograph signings with top UFC stars, Q&A sessions, and photo opportunities, access to an in-arena VIP hospitality room, a chance to hold the championship belt inside the Octagon® and more.
UFC® 193: LAWLER vs. CONDIT will be available live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Vubiquity, in Canada on Bell TV, Shaw, Sasktel, Rogers and Canal Indigo for a suggested retail price of $49.99 US/CAN for Standard Definition and $59.99 US/CAN for High-Definition, in Australia on Main Event and in New Zealand on SKY.
Since 2010, the UFC has hosted seven live events in Australia with each experiencing tremendous success. Collectively, the seven events have seen more than 85,000 fans in attendance and millions worldwide watching on Pay-Per-View and broadcast television. The four host cities to date – Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Adelaide – have had a cumulative gross gate of more than $13 million and millions more in economic impact.
