#ClutchUFC Noticias recientes de la UFC...

        

UFC^® ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER 2019 EVENT DATES

ESPN+ and ESPN to Carry Seven UFC Fight Night Events from April through June 2019

LAS VEGAS – UFC^®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, today announced the dates and distribution plans for UFC events in the second quarter 2019. The schedule is a continuation of the historic multi-year agreement between UFC and The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-To-Consumer & International segment and ESPN beginning in 2019 that makes ESPN+ and ESPN the exclusive media homes of UFC in the United States. The exact locations of the Q2 events will be announced at a later date. 

The first of five second-quarter “UFC Fight Night on ESPN+” takes place Saturday, April 20 on the premium multi-sport, direct-to-consumer video service. ESPN+ will also carry Saturday UFC events on May 4, May 18, June 1 and June 22, with ESPN+ exclusively streaming all bouts for each event.

ESPN linear networks will air two “UFC Fight Night on ESPN” in the second quarter, on Saturday, April 27 and Saturday, June 29. The main card for both events will be televised live to a national audience exclusively on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, while the prelims and early prelims will be streamed live on ESPN+. 

Other confirmed events for the second quarter 2019 include three UFC Pay-Per-Views: UFC 236 on Saturday, April 13; UFC 237 on Saturday, May 11; and UFC 238 on Saturday, June 8. ESPN linear networks will televise the prelims for each of these events.

DATE	EVENT
Saturday, April 13	UFC 236
Saturday, April 20	UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+
Saturday, April 27	UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN
Saturday, May 4	UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+
Saturday, May 11	UFC 237
Saturday, May 18	UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+
Saturday, June 1	UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+
Saturday, June 8	UFC 238
Saturday, June 22	UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+
Saturday, June 29	UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN

Locations, fight cards and ticket on-sale information will be announced at a later date.

Starting in January 2019, ESPN+ and ESPN will be the exclusive digital and linear distributors of UFC in the U.S., showcasing 42 live events, 30 of which will feature a full card of 12 UFC bouts.  Starting January 19, ESPN+, the recently-launched multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service, will offer 20 exclusive events and all preliminary fights for “UFC Fight Night on ESPN+” programs, and ESPN linear networks will broadcast 10 exclusive “UFC Fight Night on ESPN” events, as well as all UFC pay-per-view preliminary fights.

To subscribe to ESPN+, visit https://watch.espnplus.com/sports/.

                  

UFC FIGHT PASS^® and Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions Reach Multi-Year Live Streaming Agreement

Exclusive Programming Includes up to 72 Boxing Events Through 2021

First Event will Stream Live on Jan. 31 at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

LAS VEGAS – UFC^® and Roy Jones Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions have reached a new agreement to live stream up to 72 professional boxing events over the next three years on UFC FIGHT PASS^®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports.

The inaugural event in the RJJ Boxing series on UFC FIGHT PASS will stream January 31, starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, live from Viejas Casino & Resort in Alpine, California.  WBO #2-rated world title challenger, “Mighty” Aston Palicte (24-2-1, 20 KOs), and unbeaten WBO #4 ranked Jose “Chiquiro” Martinez (20-0-2, 13 KOs) will headline in the 12-round World Boxing Organization Junior Bantamweight Title Eliminator.

Roy Jones Jr., a multi-time world champion and future boxing Hall of Famer, formed the Las Vegas-based promotional company RJJ Boxing Promotions three years ago with Las Vegas entrepreneur Keith Veltre and developed a growing stable of fighters in a short period of time.

“I’ve always been a big fan of Roy Jones Jr. and I’m excited to be in business with him,” said UFC President Dana White. “Everyone knows I’m looking to get into boxing, and I look forward to the future with Roy and using FIGHT PASS to live stream these exciting fights to our subscribers.”

“I was elated when my partner, Keith Veltre, told me he had started talking with UFC,” said Jones. “This is just the beginning of a long, lucrative partnership between these two brands.”

“I couldn’t be happier to bring together the biggest name in boxing, Roy Jones Jr., with UFC, the biggest name in combat sports,” said Veltre. “I love that UFC is allowing us to be creative, so expect to see prospects, tournaments, title fights, and more in this series.”

FIGHT PASS is a digital subscription service that is now available in more than 200 countries and territories. In 2019, FIGHT PASS will showcase more than 200 exclusive events featuring top promotions from around the world, providing fans with a front row seat to a broad spectrum of competitive fighting, including mixed martial arts, boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, individual and team submission grappling, and more.

Fight fans can access FIGHT PASS on personal computers, iOS and Android mobile devices, Apple TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, and Sony TVs with Android TV.

UFC FIGHT PASS^® TO STREAM MORE THAN 200 LIVE COMBAT SPORTS EVENTS
IN 2019 – DOUBLE THE CURRENT SCHEDULE

Exclusive Programming Includes UFC Pay-Per-View Prelims and Live Bouts from Top Promotions Including
Glory Kickboxing, Cage Warriors, Invicta FC, Roy Jones Jr. Boxing, and More

LAS VEGAS – UFC FIGHT PASS^®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports, today announced that it will double its live event schedule in 2019, showcasing more than 200 exclusive events featuring top promotions from around the world. In all, FIGHT PASS will offer more than1,000 hours of live and exclusive combat sports programming in 2019, providing fans with a front row seat to a broad spectrum of competitive fighting, including mixed martial arts, boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and more.

“If you’re a combat sports fan, FIGHT PASS is a must have for 2019,” said UFC President Dana White. “Fans will get exclusive UFC FIGHT PASS Prelimsbefore every Pay-Per-View, as well as a look at up-and-coming fighters competing live in top combat sports promotions around the world. This is just the beginning of how we’re going to tap into the power of FIGHT PASS to continue to grow MMA and all these other combat sports that fight fans love.”

The preliminary 2019 programming schedule calls for FIGHT PASS to live stream fights from a minimum of 20 combat sports promotions. The total number of live fights offered on FIGHT PASS is expected to rise throughout the year, as discussions take place with current and potential partners about booking additional events.

ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING

Complementing the live event schedule on FIGHT PASS will be a lineup of original programming featuring in-depth interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and award-winning documentaries. FIGHT PASS will also premiere ON THE LINE, a new betting show that will help educate fight fans about placing wagers on UFC bouts, featuring analysis from professional bettors and oddsmakers. In addition, the UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, a marquee annual event noted for immortalizing MMA’s pioneers, trailblazers, innovators, and visionaries, is streamed live and exclusively on FIGHT PASS.  Additional details about FIGHT PASS original programming will be announced at a later date. 

SELECTION OF FEATURED LIVE EVENTS ON FIGHT PASS IN 2019

MMA

UFC FIGHT PASS Prelims

Leading FIGHT PASS’ live programming schedule will be exclusive UFC FIGHT PASS Prelims, comprising the early bouts from every upcoming UFC Pay-Per-View event in 2019 and regularly featuring Octagon® veterans and the fastest-rising stars in UFC.

Invicta FC

The world’s elite all-female MMA promotion, Invicta has produced over thirty UFC champions and contenders, including UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas, UFC women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, and former UFC women’s strawweight champion Carla Esparza.

Cage Warriors

Known for its fast-paced live events, Europe’s premier MMA organization has seen some of the biggest names in MMA history pass through its ranks over the years, including former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor, former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping, former UFC welterweight Dan Hardy, and former UFC women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC)

Operating primarily in the Northeastern United States, CFFC has launched the careers of UFC stars like Aljamain Sterling, Paul Felder, Jim Miller, and the late street-fighting icon Kimbo Slice.

Pancrase

For much of the 1990s, Pancrase boasted the world’s greatest roster of MMA fighters, including UFC Hall of Famers Bas Rutten and Ken Shamrock, as well as Masakatsu Funaki. A quarter of a century later, this pioneering Japanese MMA promotion continues to build upon its legacy with monthly events on FIGHT PASS.

Island Fights 

Owned and promoted by boxing legend Roy Jones Jr., the Florida-based Island Fights produces fast-paced events featuring both MMA and boxing bouts.

KICKBOXING

GLORY Kickboxing

Home to the most devastating strikers in all of combat sports and selling out arenas across the globe, GLORY is the world’s premier kickboxing promotion.

SUBMISSION GRAPPLING / BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU (BJJ)

Eddie Bravo Invitational (EBI)

Founded by jiu-jitsu icon Eddie Bravo, EBI is the progenitor of the submission-only grappling phenomenon. Each EBI event is a 16-competitor grappling tournament with the world’s best submission specialists competing for a winner-take-all cash prize.

Polaris Professional Jiu-Jitsu Invitational

A pro jiu-jitsu event based in the UK, Polaris Pro Grappling invites the world's best grapplers to compete in a series of superfights.

Combat Jiu-Jitsu

The brainchild of grappling icon Eddie Bravo, Combat Jiu-Jitsu sees the greatest grapplers in the world compete with the added nuance of legal palm strikes.

Quintet

Created by UFC Hall of Famer Kazushi Sakuraba, this unique five-on-five team survival match is contested under submission only rules. Some of the biggest names in BJJ and MMA have already competed in this entertaining grappling format that has the combat sports world buzzing.

BOXING

Roy Jones Jr. Boxing

After FIGHT PASS showcased the final fight of his legendary career in 2018, the great Roy Jones Jr. returns to UFC’s streaming service with a monthly live boxing event featuring the sport’s rising title contenders.

MUAY THAI

Friday Night Fights

The longest running Muay Thai promotion in North America, the New York-based Friday Night Fights brings high-quality Muay Thai fighting to FIGHT PASS.

Bangkok Fights

Every week, FIGHT PASS will live stream a major Muay Thai event from the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, showcasing the “art of the eight limbs” in its most authentic form.

Muay Thai Grand Prix

Europe’s elite Thai boxers compete in a series of elimination tournaments noted for their all-out action.

LETHWEI

World Lethwei Championship

The ancient Burmese sport of Lethwei is considered the most aggressive martial art in the world. Using slightly modified rules, theWorld Lethwei Championship brings world-class production values to the ancient Burmese art, featuring noted American combat sports broadcaster Sean Wheelock calling the action from ringside.

Lethwei Fighting Championship

Featuring the most aggressive fighters in the world’s most aggressive martial art, Lethwei Fighting Championship events will stream live on FIGHT PASS from Myanmar.

WORLD’S LARGEST FIGHT LIBRARY 

FIGHT PASS subscribers will also have complete access to the world’s largest fight library, featuring more than 20,000 bouts from dozens of combat sports organizations as well as every fight in UFC history.

UFC^® KICKS OFF 2019 ON ESPN+ WITH

FLYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP SUPERFIGHT BETWEEN

(C) HENRY CEJUDO AND (C - BW) TJ DILLASHAW

FEATURED BOUTS:

PAIGE VANZANT vs. RACHAEL OSTOVICH

(#11) GLOVER TEIXEIRA vs. ION CUTELABA

TICKETS FOR UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+^®: CEJUDO vs. DILLASHAW 

AT BARCLAYS CENTER GO ON SALE FRIDAY, DEC. 14

Las Vegas – UFC^® debuts on ESPN+ in Brooklyn, NY with a championship superfight that will see newly crowned flyweight titleholder Henry Cejudo make his first title defense against current bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw. Also, fan favorite Paige VanZant returns to the Octagon to take on The Ultimate Fighter: A New World Champion veteran Rachael Ostovich. UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+^®: CEJUDO vs. DILLASHAW takes place Saturday, Jan. 19 at Barclays Center and will stream live at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, with the prelims kicking off the evening at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on ESPN and ESPN Deportes and the early prelims on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT. All UFC live events on ESPN+ will be available in English and Spanish.

An Olympic wrestling gold medal winner, Cejudo (13-2, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) put on his most spectacular performance to date in August when he dethroned dominant flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson. During his UFC career, he has also earned impressive victories over Sergio Pettis, Wilson Reis, Jussier Formiga and Chris Cariaso. Cejudo now looks to make his first successful title defense in the biggest fight of his career.

Dillashaw (17-3, fighting out of Angels Camp, Calif.) aims to make history by joining Conor McGregor and Daniel Cormier as only the third fighter to simultaneously hold championships in two UFC divisions. Dillashaw most recently defended his bantamweight belt against heated rival Cody Garbrandt by sensational KO. He also holds incredible wins against Renan Barao, John Lineker and Raphael Assuncao. Dillashaw is now poised to etch his name among the all-time UFC greats.

Looking for her first win at flyweight, VanZant (7-4, fighting out of Portland, Ore.) finally returns to action after a year off due to injury. A fan favorite for her time on season 22 of Dancing with the Stars where she placed second, VanZant is still one of the youngest fighters on the roster. She intends to show off her constantly-evolving mixed martial arts skills by outdoing her highlight reel knockout of Bec Rawlings and earning the third post-fight bonus of her career. 

Ostovich (4-4, fighting out of Waianae, Hawaii) looks to start 2019 off on a high note by earning her second UFC win in the biggest opportunity of her career. A quarterfinalist on her season of The Ultimate Fighter, Ostovich has won half of her fights by submission, most recently tapping out fellow TUF competitor Karine Gevorgyan in under two minutes. She is now positioned to break into the top-15 rankings with an impressive win. 

Announced bouts on the card include:

• No.11-ranked light heavyweight contender and former title challenger Glover Teixeira (27-7, fighting out of Danbury, Conn. by way of Governador Valadares, Brazil) goes to war with power-punching Ion Cutelaba (14-3, fighting out of Chisinau, Moldova)
• Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series signee Allen Crowder (9-3, fighting out of Mebane, N.C.) looks to spoil the highly-anticipated debut of ex-NFL star Greg Hardy (3-0, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.)
• No. 11-ranked Joanne Calderwood (12-3, fighting out of Glasgow, Scotland) intends to defend her top-15 rank against the debuting Ariane Lipski (11-3, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil)
• New York’s Randy Brown (10-3, fighting out of Queens, N.Y.) looks to rebound against Chance Rencountre (12-3, fighting out of Pawhuska, Okla.)
• In a battle of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series contract winners, Alonzo Menifield (7-0, fighting out of Dallas, Tex.) takes on Vinicius Moreira (9-1, fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil)
• Belal Muhammad (14-2, fighting out of Chicago, Ill.) meets Geoff Neal (10-2, fighting out of Dallas, Tex.) in a welterweight thriller

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

Visit the UFC^® Press Portal for information and content to support your UFC coverage. Please click here to apply for the event.

Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+^®: CEJUDO vs. DILLASHAW go on sale Friday, Dec 14 at 10 a.m. ET and are priced at $200, $150, $120, $100 and $90 (not including fees). Tickets are available for purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center beginning Saturday, Dec. 15 at noon. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.

UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Dec. 13 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

               

TSN and RDS Extend Broadcast Partnership with UFC^®

– New multi-year agreement includes extensive broadcast and digital rights across TSN, RDS and Bell Media platforms –

TORONTO (December 11, 2018) – TSN, RDS, and UFC^®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, have agreed on a multi-year renewal in which the networks continue to serve as the broadcast partners of UFC in Canada. The agreement, which includes extensive broadcast and digital rights, was announced live from Toronto on SPORTSCENTRE in advance of one of UFC’s biggest events of the year, UFC^® 231: HOLLOWAY vs. ORTEGA, hosted at Scotiabank Arena.

Under the terms of the agreement, TSN and RDS are the home in Canada for 22 UFC Fight Night main cards and late preliminaries, as well as preliminary fights ahead of UFC’s 12 pay-per-view events. TSN and RDS will also broadcast Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series, focused on finding the next generation of UFC talent.

TSN and RDS will also distribute UFC content beyond linear broadcasts, including across social channels and via other Bell Media platforms, such as the short-form video content hub SnackableTV. The all-new Crave will feature a UFC collection where fans can stream content on demand, and as a result of UFC’s exclusive agreement with ESPN and ESPN+ in the United States, TSN viewers will also have access to original UFC content from ESPN.

“We are incredibly excited to build on our strong relationship with UFC to extend our agreement as their Canadian home,” said Shawn Redmond, Vice-President, TSN and Discovery Networks. “This expanded partnership allows us to deliver even more UFC content across not only TSN and RDS but also Bell Media platforms, providing additional choice and coverage to our viewers.”

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with TSN and RDS, as they have been a key component of UFC’s growth in Canada,” said David Shaw, UFC Senior Vice-President, International and Content. “Canada is one of UFC’s most important markets, supported by a strong and loyal fan base. With this continued relationship, TSN and RDS will help us reach more UFC fans in Canada than ever before.”

The new agreement with TSN and RDS also allows UFC FIGHT PASS^® to expand its offerings to customers in Canada with eight exclusive UFC Fight Night events and all Early Preliminary fights from each UFC live event. FIGHT PASS customers will also have access to the largest collection of combat sports programming in the world, featuring UFC’s full archive of historic events, classic bouts, and original content, as well as live events from leading independent promotions from around the globe.

UFC programming is also available to TSN and TSN Direct subscribers on TSN.ca and the TSN app. The complete UFC on TSN broadcast schedule can be found here.

#Knockeando Notas y resultados recientes de la UFC

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PLEASE ENJOY COMPLIMENTARY USE OF SELECT IMAGES OF MAIN EVENT ATHLETES FROM TODAY’S WEIGH-INS COURTESY OF UFC HERE

CREDIT JEFF BOTTARI/ZUFFA LLC.

ADDITIONALLY, MEDIA CAN FIND THE OFFICIAL UFC 215: NUNES VS SHEVCHENKO PREVIEW STORY HERE FROM UFC.COM TO UTILIZE IN THEIR COVERAGE

CREDIT MATT PARRINO/UFC.COM

Edmonton, Canada – On Friday, September 8, the headlining stars of UFC^® 215: Nunes vs. Shevchenko took to the stage in front of raucous fans at Rogers Place.   All fighters made weight and champion Amanda Nunes and No. 1 contender Valentina Shevchenko look set to determine finally who will reign supreme above the women’s bantamweight division.

UFC 215: Nunes vs. Shevchenko is UFC’s first-ever event in Edmonton at Rogers Place and takes place on Saturday, September 9. Edmonton now becomes the 10^th Canadian city to host a UFC card. UFC^® 215: Nunes vs. Shevchenko marks the UFC’s second Canadian event this year, following a successful return to Halifax in February.

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For more information or current fight news, visit ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

Tickets for UFC^® 215: NUNES vs. SHEVCHENKO are available and priced at $379.75, $253.16, $126.58, $94.94, $63.29, (plus additional fees). Tickets are available for purchase via Ticketmaster.ca and limited to eight (8) per person.

UFC^® 215: NUNES vs. SHEVCHENKO will be available live on pay-per-view on Saturday, September 9 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Vubiquity, and in Canada on BellTV, Rogers, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Canal Indigo for a suggested retail price of $49.99 US/CAN for Standard Definition and $59.99 US/CAN for High-Definition.

Since 2008, the UFC has staged 23 events in the Great White North, across nine different cities – Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Saskatoon, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg. Edmonton now becomes the 10^th Canadian city to host a UFC card. 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).

FOR SELECT IMAGES FROM TODAY’S OPEN WORKOUT COURTESY OF UFC PLEASE CLICK HERE

PLEASE CREDIT JEFF BOTTARI/ZUFFA LLC.

Edmonton, Canada – On Thursday, September 7, the headlining stars of UFC^® 215: Johnson vs. Borg took to the mats at highly anticipated open workout at Ford Hall at Rogers Place.   Eager fans lined the venue for a look at UFC^® flyweight world champion and pound-for-pound great Demetrious Johnson, surging prospect Ray Borg,women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes and No. 1 contender Valentina Shevchenko.

UFC 215: Johnson vs. Borg is UFC’s first-ever event in Edmonton at Rogers Place and takes place on Saturday, September 9. Edmonton now becomes the 10^th Canadian city to host a UFC card. UFC^® 215: Johnson vs. Borg marks the UFC’s second Canadian event this year, following a successful return to Halifax in February.

WHAT’S ON THE MINDS OF THE STARS OF

UFC 215^®: JOHNSON vs. BORG?

UFC 215 LIVE FROM ROGERS PLACE IN EDMONTON, CANADA ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

PHOTOS ATTACHED AVAILABLE FOR USE – PLEASE CREDIT JEFF BOTTARI/ZUFFA LLC.

Edmonton, Canada – On Saturday, September 9, UFC^® flyweight world champion and pound-for-pound greatDemetrious Johnson will look to keep his belt a record 11^th time and pass legend Anderson Silva in the record books for most successful title defenses.  Johnson, the only champion the division has ever known, squares off against surging prospect Ray Borg who is relishing the opportunity to play spoiler on this historical evening.  Adding to the excitement is a co-main matchup, which pits champion Amanda Nunes versus Valentina Shevchenko for supremacy in the women’s bantamweight class.  Originally scheduled to clash in July, anticipation has built to crescendo as fans finally get to see two of the most fearsome strikers go head to head.  Ahead of the highly anticipated UFC^® 215: JOHNSON vs. BORG, these four fighters set to feature in the headlining bouts share their thoughts and predictions:

Demetrious Johnson:

“I expect a war. Ray Borg is tough, he’s young and you always expect a war. I’ve always expected wars in any of my fights.”

On breaking the record…

“I don’t think about it a lot and I don’t let it weigh on me. As an athlete, you have to stay focused and you have to go out there and execute what you’ve been doing in the gym for eight or 10 weeks. Once I solidify that and attain it, ask me at the press conference.

It doesn’t make more nerves.  I’ve wrestled in front of people like that. I’ve also fought in front of sold out crowds before. But I’m absolutely grateful that the people in Canada have come out and shown their support and sold the place out.

I got my ESPY. It came that Wednesday when I got back home. I put Dave Lockett in charge and Dave got it for me. I’m happy about it. It showed up in a box, in the mail. It’s right next to my Black Panther mask.”

On Borg saying he wants to win more…

“I think the last 10 men have had the same mindset. See how far that got them?”

On Borg saying he’ll grant DJ a rematch if he wins…

“That’s very generous. Wilson Reis said the same thing.”

On what fans can expect watching him fight…

“Probably one of the greatest mixed martial artists to ever do it. I’m very fluid in my transitions, I can fight anywhere and I’ve beat the best.”

On saying DJ’s run isn’t as impressive as Anderson’s…

“How can you say Joseph Benavidez is not better than Nate Marquardt? Kyoji Horiguchi is over there kicking ass in Japan. I think Kyoji Horiguchi has a better skill set than Dan Henderson. Dan Henderson only has a right hand bomb and wrestling. Let’s go down the line. How can you say John Dodson doesn’t have a better skill set than Chael Sonnen? Really? Let’s not f**king kid ourselves guys. John Dodson is an amazing athlete. I could just go down the list. Like I said, that’s just the public perceiving certain things.”

Amanda Nunes

“I don’t know why people put MMA on another level or a different category. If a soccer player feel like his calf muscles (are hurt), he sits and waits until he’s 100 percent. Nobody talks shit about him because they know what he’s feeling. Why can’t MMA be like that? This is a sport as well. We have to use our whole body. We’re not only running or using just our hands or legs. I made the right decision. I’m the best on the planet right now and I’m a target for a lot of people. I’m ready to go through everything because I’m the champion.

I’m focused, I love training and I love stepping into the Octagon and doing my best. I think every time I step in there, eventually people are going to remember everything that I did. This is normal. It is what it is and you have to move forward. I always move forward, whatever happens in my career.

This fight is awesome.  I think the other opponents fall into Valentina’s game plan. This makes it difficult to for the other girls to beat Valentina. You have to make Valentina fight your game plan. You have to be smarter than her.  I am and she knows that I am. That’s why she says all those weird things. She knows I will beat her. I’m better than her everywhere and I will prove that Saturday.”

On struggling later in fights…

“People who have been watching me they think this is my weakness. I fought Valentina and I beat her before. Ronda (Rousey) was the same thing and people were wrong. I can’t say anything I have to show it.”

Ray Borg

“I think he knows it’s not going to be an easy fight for him. I’m going to be in his face for 25 minutes, if it goes that long. I’m not going to stop and I’m not going to give up. It’s going to be a night of hell. I think he knows I possess different strengths than a lot of his former opponents. I think he knows he’s in for a rough night.”

On Demetrious…

“I think what makes DJ unique as a fighter, people are going to say his cardio – which it is – but I think what people don’t give him credit for, something that’s hard to do in a fight, is his I.Q. He has the ability, in the middle of a fight, to change things to not lose. If he’s getting taken down with single legs he has the I.Q. to fix it on the spot. It’s something we’ve prepared for going into this fight.

I think I’m prepared for everything he brings to the table. He really isn’t going to show me anything or do anything to me that I haven’t seen before; that I haven’t prepared for or seen in sparring or in a fight. No matter what he changes in his outlook on the fight or no matter what he does in the fight, I feel like I’ll be prepared in those positions.”

Valentina Shevchenko

“Now she can find any excuse in the world.  Why was she feeling so bad? She cut too much weight in 24 hours. I don’t believe in this reason of sinuses or anything else. It’s very unbelievable.

I have my point of view and I have my opinion. I will not change my mind because she has demonstrated a few times how easy she changes her mind. She’s acting like she’s dependent on the fans and what they want to hear. 

Her cardio doesn’t matter because I’m not thinking about this fight in that context.  No, I will win this fight because of everything. I was preparing for this fight very hard. I had very great training in my preparation for this fight. I will do all my best to fight with all my heart and think about nothing more. She can be confident for now, but once the door closes in the Octagon it will be totally different.

Just one prediction: I will do everything to win this fight.”

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For more information or current fight news, visit ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

Tickets for UFC^® 215: JOHNSON vs. BORG go on sale Friday, July 28 at 10 a.m. MT and are priced at $379.75, $253.16, $126.58, $94.94, $63.29, (plus additional fees). Tickets are available for purchase via Ticketmaster.ca and limited to eight (8) per person.

UFC^® 215: JOHNSON vs. BORG will be available live on pay-per-view on Saturday, September 9 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Vubiquity, and in Canada on BellTV, Rogers, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Canal Indigo for a suggested retail price of $49.99 US/CAN for Standard Definition and $59.99 US/CAN for High-Definition.

Since 2008, the UFC has staged 23 events in the Great White North, across nine different cities – Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Saskatoon, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg. Edmonton now becomes the 10^th Canadian city to host a UFC card. 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).

REEBOK AND UFC^® UNVEIL NEW UFC FIGHT NIGHT COLLECTION

Enhanced style and fit plus new athlete co-design process headlines new UFC Fight Night Collection

September 5, 2017: Canton, MA – Reebok and UFC^® today introduced their new UFC Fight Night Collection, a holistic update to the official UFC athlete fight night apparel that brings a new aesthetic and style combined with an unprecedented standard of customization to the world-famous Octagon^®. Drawing on feedback and inspiration from UFC athletes and the greater mixed martial arts community, this new collection features updated versions of the UFC Walkout Jersey, UFC Walkout Hoodie, UFC Octagon Shorts and UFC Walkout Hats.

Headlining the new UFC Fight Night Collection is the Legacy Series – a program that pairs UFC athletes who are either headlining a Pay-Per-View (PPV) event or competing in a championship bout with the Reebok design team to co-design a one-of-a-kind UFC Fight Night Walkout Jersey. This experience will provide each participating UFC athlete with a unique hands-on customization experience that will bring their personality to life while further connecting them with their individual fan base.

“With the new UFC Fight Night Collection, we wanted to give athletes product that meets the quality and performance demands that they depend on in the Octagon, but also offer them an opportunity to let their unique confidence and personalities shine through. Our design, product and research teams have spent countless hours talking to and working with the UFC athletes and MMA community to do just that.  We are thrilled to debut our latest iteration of the UFC athlete fight night apparel with the new UFC Fight Night Collection and are committed to constantly reimagining and evolving the Reebok Combat collection to adapt to athlete requirements and appeal to UFC fans,” said Corinna Werkle General Manager Training at Reebok.

“We’re excited to launch the new UFC Fight Night Collection and Legacy Series program leading up to UFC 215, which marks our first-ever event in Edmonton,” UFC Senior Vice President of Global Consumer Products Tracey Bleczinski said. “Both collections represent the continued evolution of our fight apparel product lines, offering more advanced performance gear, while providing fight fans a unique offering of jerseys that were designed by some of their favorite UFC athletes. The level of customization with the Legacy Series is unprecedented in the world of professional sports. This program is truly a game changer.”

UFC FIGHT NIGHT COLLECTION UPDATES:

While maintaining country color combinations across the UFC Walkout Hoodie, UFC Octagon Shorts and UFC Walkout Hats, the UFC Fight Night Collection Walkout Jersey has evolved to a more lifestyle-driven look and feel, developed from a relaxed performance cotton fabric that will improve overall comfort and fit.

“The new fit and material is something you notice as soon as you put this gear on. It still offers everything fighters need when it comes to performance, but there’s a new style and attitude to the collection that I’m especially excited about,” said UFC women’s strawweight and Reebok athlete, Paige VanZant.

See images of UFC women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk, UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Moicic, UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway, UFC women’s strawweight Paige VanZant, UFC women’s strawweight Rose Namajunas and other UFC athletes debut the new UFC Fight Night Collection here.

UFC LEGACY SERIES:

The Legacy Series marks the biggest update to the current UFC athlete apparel by allowing for any athlete competing in the main event of a UFC PPV event or competing in a championship bout to co-design and wear a UFC Walkout Jersey that is customized to their specifications.  Here, athletes will work directly with Reebok designers to collaborate on a design that is featured on the front of their UFC Fight Night Collection Legacy Series Walkout Jersey. The resulting products will be worn by the respective PPV headliners and title bout competitors, in conjunction with being available to fight fans for purchase for a limited time around each event.

The four athletes competing in the co-main and main events of UFC^® 215: JOHNSON vs. BORG in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, are the first to join the design process for the Legacy Series, as UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson will defend his title against Ray Borg while UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes will defend her title against top-ranked contender Valentina Shevchenko.

“It was a great experience to be one of the first UFC athletes to take advantage of the Legacy Series with Reebok, speaking directly with the designers at different points and collaborating on what I thought best represented me as a UFC athlete,” shared Demetrious Johnson. “This is a very special fight for me and this experience really elevated that.”

See images of the debut UFC Legacy Series for UFC 215 here.

Starting on September 5, the UFC Fight Night Collection is available to fans at Reebok.com and UFCStore.com. The first Legacy Series is available now on Reebok.com and UFCStore.com, and will be available on a limited-edition basis ahead of each UFC card for the respective PPV main event and all title bout athletes.

For further information and assets please, visit the Reebok News Stream at news.reebok.com

   

UFC^® AND KITMAN LABS^® LAUNCH INNOVATIVE SPORTS SCIENCE

PROGRAM AT UFC PERFORMANCE INSTITUTE

Las Vegas – UFC^® and Kitman Labs^® today announced a multi-year partnership to deliver an innovative sports science and medicine program to all athletes competing under the UFC banner as they visit the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Kitman Labs and provide this one-of-a-kind program to UFC athletes,” UFC Vice President of Operations James Kimball said. “Kitman Labs are industry leaders in performance analysis and injury analysis, both of which are essential in allowing UFC athletes to compete at the highest level. We look forward to offering this service to our entire active roster to help optimize their performance.”

When UFC athletes visit the UFC Performance Institute, staff members will use Kitman Labs solutions to gather and consolidate information that will be used to monitor performance and analyze injury trends. Kitman Labs analytics will allow members of the Performance Institute staff to accurately quantify key performance and injury risk factors, along with providing personalized training programs for athletes to use remotely. The remote coaching program allows athletes to share information pertaining to their individual progress or potential signs of injury, in efforts to track training and health improvements with Performance Institute staff in real-time. 

“We are honored to work with UFC to bring advanced science and analytics to this world-class sport and these incredible athletes,” Kitman Labs Founder and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Smith said. “The UFC is showing a unique and progressive attitude by proactively investing in protecting the welfare and longevity of their talent. The one-stop-shop and remote coaching approach will propel them to the forefront of sport science and medicine and we are delighted to help them become global leaders in this space.”

As the world’s first mixed martial arts multi-disciplinary research, innovation and performance center, the Performance Institute is a state-of-the-art 30,000 square-foot facility provides benefits and services to all athletes competing under the UFC banner. The Performance Institute is equipped with a full-time staff of experts in the fields of strength and conditioning, nutrition and physical therapy, with a designed focus to provide athletes with world class performance optimization, at no cost to the athletes. For more information, please visit UFCPI.com.

NO. 2 TONY FERGUSON AND NO. 7 KEVIN LEE MEET FOR THE LIGHTWEIGHT INTERIM TITLE

IN THE MAIN EVENT AT UFC^® 216

Plus:

(#2) FABRICIO WERDUM vs. (#6) DERRICK LEWIS

PAIGE VANZANT vs. JESSICA EYE

TICKETS FOR UFC^® 216: FERGUSON vs. LEE

AT T-MOBILE ARENA ON SALE AUG. 31

Las Vegas – The owner of the longest winning streak in the UFC^® lightweight division finally gets his shot at gold when No. 2 Tony Ferguson collides with one of the sport’s most exciting young stars for the division’s interim title. No. 7 Kevin Lee has the same aspirations, while ultimately staring down the road at a potential unification bout against current champion Conor McGregor. In the co-main event, No. 2 heavyweight Fabricio Werdumlooks to get back in the title hunt when he clashes with knockout artist No. 6 Derrick Lewis. UFC^® 216: FERGUSON vs. LEE takes place on Saturday, Oct. 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The event will air live on Pay-Per-View.

Currently on a nine-fight win streak, Ferguson (23-3, fighting out of Orange County, Calif.) believes a title shot has been a long time coming. During his streak, “El Cucuy” has racked up post-fight bonuses in each of his last five bouts, including Fight of the Night honors in his most recent win against former lightweight champion, Rafael Dos Anjos. Ferguson is primed to capitalize on the opportunity and be a part of history. Standing in his way is the always dangerous Lee (16-2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.). Though nine years younger than his foe, Lee has shown tremendous growth every time he enters the Octagon^®, including a first-round submission win in his most recent bout against the then No. 7 Michael Chiesa. 

At 40 years old, Werdum (21-7-1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif.) is one of the best mixed martial artists ever. The former UFC champion has defeated some of the best heavyweights in history, with wins over Cain Velazquez, Alistair Overeem and Fedor Emelianenko, and is preparing for yet another title run. Clashing with the always dangerous Lewis (18-5, fighting out of Houston, Texas) will be no easy task. With 16 of his 18 victories coming by way of knockout, including top contenders Travis Browne and Roy Nelson, Lewis is looking to get back on the winning track after his first loss in seven bouts, and reestablish himself as a title contender.

Two of the UFC’s most popular female fighters look to revitalize their careers by moving to the women’s flyweight division. No. 10 strawweight Paige VanZant (7-3, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) is renowned for her all-around athleticism and is an electrifying performer with two knockouts and two submissions on her resume. Her 125-pound debut will be anything but easy, as she faces veteran Jessica Eye (11-6, 1NC, fighting out of Cleveland, Ohio). Hoping the brand new division will revitalize her career, Eye has always been most comfortable fighting at 125 lbs. and is excited to compete again at her natural weight.

Additional bouts:

• A heavyweight bout featuring knockout artists Walt Harris (10-5, fighting out of Birmingham, Ala.) and the equally dangerous Mark Godbeer (12-3, fighting out of Bridgewater, England).
• Top-15 lightweights No. 12 Beneil Dariush (14-3, fighting out of Yorba Linda, Calif.) looks to ascend the rankings against No. 14 Evan Dunham (17-6, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) who is on a four fight win streak.
• Dynamic lightweights Will Brooks (18-3, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) and Nik Lentz (29-8-2, 1NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) jockey for position in the stacked 155-pound division.
• Two impressive winning streaks are on the line when the durable Tom Duquesnoy (15-1, 1NC, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) challenges the always dangerous Cody Stamann (15-1, fighting out of Sparta, Mich.).
• Two strawweight women look for their first win in the UFC as Pearl Gonzalez (6-2, fighting out of Chicago, Ill.) challenges Poliana Botelho (5-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).
• The unpredictable Lando Vannata (9-2, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) looks to prove himself against MMA veteran Bobby Green (23-8, fighting out of Fontana, Calif.).
• No 10 flyweight John Moraga (17-6, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) hopes to continue his ascent through the rankings against the undefeated No. 15 flyweight Magomed Bibulatov (14-0, fighting out of Grozny, Russia).
• No. 12 middleweight and UFC veteran Thales Leites (27-7, fighting out of Rio de Janiero, Brazil) faces a formidable challenge against Las Vegas’ own Brad Tavares (15-5, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.).
• A battle of explosive flyweight athletes Matt Schnell (10-4, fighting out of Shreveport, La.) and Marco Beltran (8-6, fighting out of Mexico City, Mexico).

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^® 216: FERGUSON vs LEE will air live on PPV at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Saturday, Oct. 7, 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 UFC^® 216: FERGUSON vs LEE go on sale Thursday, Aug. 31 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $300, $175, $100, $75, and $50 (prices do not include applicable service charges and handling fees). To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.

UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Tuesday, Aug. 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 Wednesday, Aug. 30 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

           

UFC^® AND 7–ELEVEN, INC. SIGN SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT

Las Vegas – UFC^®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, today announced a new agreement with 7-Eleven^®, the world’s largest convenience store chain, in which the industry-leader will serve as the global brand’s first-ever “Official Convenience Store” throughout the United States and Canada. As part of this collaboration, the two brands will launch a peel-to-win “BIG GULP^®” sweepstakes on Friday, September 1, 2017, with more than 1.8 million individual prizes available at participating 7-Eleven locations.

“7-Eleven is one of the world’s most innovative and consumer-friendly brands and we’re thrilled to launch this new sponsorship,” UFC Vice President of Global Partnership Activation Brette Sadler said. “We look forward to continuing our ongoing engagements with consumers in the U.S. and Canada with new and exciting fan activations, such as our BIG GULP sweepstakes.”

“UFC has a huge fan base of both male and female young adults who like to shop at convenience stores, making this promotion a great match-up,” said 7-Eleven Marketing Director Maria Trujillo. “With one in four of those UFC convenience store shoppers choosing 7-Eleven, that leaves a lot of potential to reach an untapped audience that is important to us. I believe this collaboration that includes exclusive UFC merchandise and a prize on every Big Gulp cup provides a great incentive to entice even more fans to shop at 7-Eleven.”

The sweepstakes, which runs through Sunday, December 31, 2017, allows fight fans in the U.S. and Canada to purchase and/or collect UFC branded BIG GULP’s (30 oz.) with designs featuring UFC gloves, a UFC Octagon and select UFC athletes. Athletes included on these collectibles include: UFC welterweight champion TYRON WOODLEY, UFC men’s bantamweight champion CODY GARBRANDT, UFC women’s bantamweight champion AMANDA NUNES, former UFC light heavyweight champion DANIEL CORMIER and UFC featherweight YAIR RODRIGUEZ. 

Fans can also purchase a UFC / 7-Eleven Travel Mug (20 oz.), that features the UFC’s logo. Customers who purchase a BIG GULP drink will obtain a peel-to-win game piece which contains one of the following options: (a) an instant win game piece redeemable for a prize; (b) an instant win food or beverage prize redeemable at 7-Eleven; (c) non-winning ticket redeemable for a 10% discount on a purchase at UFCStore.com or a free 7-day UFC FIGHT PASS^® subscription. 

Instant win prizes include a grand prize of 2017 Harley-Davidson Motorcycle, and five Replica UFC Championship belts, 100 Xbox One EA UFC 2 games and many more. For more information and official sweepstakes rules, please visit UFC.com/7-ElevenRules. 

In addition to the sweepstakes and product placement inside UFC’s world-famous Octagon^®, 7-Eleven will also have a presence on UFC.com and live-event programming, as well as being integrated across multiple UFC-based social and digital platforms. For more information, please visit UFC.com.