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Mostrando las entradas con la etiqueta UFC189. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando las entradas con la etiqueta UFC189. Mostrar todas las entradas

viernes, 24 de julio de 2015

Mis columnas de esta semana para Metro y De Todo Newspaper/Periódico De Todo



¿Puerto Rico no está al nivel de las selecciones en los Juegos Panamericanos 2015?
Por Daniel “Mr. Clutch” Mercado Castro en especial para Metro
          “Somos lo que somos y a veces sentimos que somos más de lo que nos creemos”; eso fue una cita del ex dirigente Nacional, Francisco “Paco” Olmos, que explica la realidad del equipo de Puerto Rico rumbo a los Panamericanos 2015 en Toronto, Canadá. Tal vez la paliza que Brasil le propinó a los boricuas vía 92-59 en el debut de Rick Pitino al mando de la escuadra boricua desató una serie de interrogantes sobre el desempeño y nivel de juego en estas justas. Inclusive no faltaron las fuertes expresiones del ex centro Nacional José “Piculín” Ortiz y del Secretario General Emérito de la FIBA Américas, Jenaro “Tuto” Marchand, ante la Federación de Baloncesto de Puerto Rico y su presidente Carlos Beltrán sobre el desarrollo y formación de este equipo. La realidad es que la temporada del Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) pudiera ser el mayor detonante para el fatídico resultado de armar un equipo sin los mejores jugadores de Puerto Rico, incluyendo aquellos que participan en la liga local. Actualmente, mientras Puerto Rico defiende su medalla de oro ganada en Guadalajara 2011, en la Isla la final de la BSN va rumbo al sexto juego. En esa final, dentro de los equipos de Ponce y Arecibo al menos hay seis jugadores que bien pudieran estar dentro de la escuadra Nacional. Renaldo Balkman, Carlos Rubén Rivera, Ángel Daniel Vassallo, David Huertas, Johwen Villegas y hasta Denis Clemente, serían sin duda jugadores hábiles para mejor unos “12 Magníficos” que andan escasos de estatura y ofensiva consistente.

          El inicio de una BSN a la par con la NBA sin que afecte el béisbol Invernal local, pudiera ser una solución simplista pero efectiva para un mejor desarrollo de la Escuadra Nacional. Comenzar la temporada en el mes de febrero y terminando no más tarde a finales de junio, a la par con las Finales de la NBA, les daría un mayor tiempo de descanso a los jugadores rumbo a eventos internacionales. Aparte del descanso, se compraría un tiempo adicional para practicar en conjunto, y no limitarse a unas semanas antes de cada torneo. Si es cierto que mover el torneo afectaría a jugadores boricuas y refuerzos que juegan en otras ligas, de igual forma fomentaría un “boom” local en el baloncesto tener baloncesto local cuando se corre un gran interés por la postemporada de la NBA. A nivel de mercadeo e interés del fanático pudiera atraer ventajas económicas que tanta falta hace para la liga. No es competir es reinventarse. Otro aspecto que hay que mejorar es el compromiso de los jugadores para representar a su país. Contratos sería una buena opción, sobre todo si son para un ciclo o dos. Esta edición nos falló eso y más. Rick Pitino se quedó esperando por hombres grandes como Ricky Sánchez, Peter John Ramos y Jorge Bryan Díaz mientras que jugadores juveniles como Gilberto Clavell, Jezreel De Jesús, Gary Browne, Paul Graham, Kevin Young junto a los veteranos Larry Ayuso, José Juan Barea y Alejandro “Bimbo” Carmona, entre otros, contestaron el llamado del nuevo dirigente Nacional.  
           La realidad es que hay que apoyar a los que respondieron el llamado a la Patria y estarán sudando la misma para lograr  traer una medalla. Hay que entender que no solo Puerto Rico, los demás países que también compiten en estas justas, están pasando por un momento de transición y que desean exponer a otros jugadores para adquirir experiencia rumbo al campeonato FIBA Américas 2015. Puerto Rico tendrá que hacer sus ajustes si quieren ganar medalla, pero sobre todo si quieren volver a una Olimpiadas, ganando uno de los dos puestos que se darán en México. Sin duda la escuadra necesita de sus grandes nombres y esperemos que los mismos estén disponibles para representarnos en el próximo torneo. Mientras tanto, somos lo que somos, nos guste o no.


lunes, 16 de marzo de 2015

MMA en Directo-Notas recientes de la UFC


Las Vegas – Undisputed UFC® featherweight champion Jose Aldo and challenger Conor McGregor will embark on a world press tour spanning eight cities in five countries over the course of 12 days to promote their upcoming championship bout at UFC® 189: ALDO vs. McGREGOR on Saturday, July 11 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The co-main event featuring newly cemented welterweight champion Robbie Lawler and the division’s No. 2 contender Rory MacDonald will also make appearances on the tour.

UFC® 189 will serve as the culminating event of the world’s largest MMA fan experience, International Fight Week, which takes place in Las Vegas – the home of the UFC. 

UFC® 189 World Championship Tour Schedule
(ALL TIMES LOCAL)

·         March 20 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Press Conference – 2 p.m. at Maracanazinho Arena
o   Participants: Aldo and McGregor
o   Media are asked to RSVP to lcaparroz@ufc.com 
o   Event is free and open to the public; live streamed at www.ufc.com

·         March 23 – Las Vegas Press Tour
o   Participants: Aldo and McGregor
o   Media only. Please email mwelp@ufc.com for more details

·         March 24 – Los Angeles  Press Tour
o   Participants: Aldo and McGregor
o   Media only. Please email ccostello@ufc.com for more details

·         March 25 – Boston Press Conference – 5:30 p.m. at The Strand Theater
o   Participants: Aldo and McGregor
o   Media are asked to RSVP to kim@ring-communications.com
o   Event is free and open to the public

·         March 26 – New York City Press Conference – 5 p.m. at Beacon Theater
o   Participants: Aldo, McGregor, Lawler and MacDonald
o   Media are asked to RSVP to dlockett@ufc.com  
o   Event is free and open to the public

·         March 27 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada Press Conference – 4 p.m. at Eaton Centre (MAC Court Fountain)
o   Participants: Aldo, McGregor, Lawler and MacDonald
o   Media are asked to RSVP to cblakely@ufc.com 
o   Event is free and open to the public

·         March 29 – McGregor to attend UEFA European Championship in Dublin, Ireland
o   2016 Qualifying round of UEFA European Championship: Republic of Ireland vs. Poland at Aviva Stadium in Dublin

·         March 29 – Aldo to attend FIFA International Match featuring Brazil in London, England
o   FIFA International friendly featuring Brazil vs. Chile at the Emirates Stadium in London

·         March 30 – London, England Press Conference – Location TBA
o   Participants: Aldo and McGregor
o   Media are asked to RSVP to vcoghlan@ufc.com   
o   Event is closed to the public

·         March 31 – Dublin, Ireland – Fan Event – Convention Centre Dublin
o   Participants: Aldo and McGregor
o   Media are asked to RSVP to vcoghlan@ufc.com   
o   Event is free and open to the public

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

Headlining UFC’s International Fight Week is UFC®189: ALDO vs. McGREGOR, presented by Bud Light®, which takes place Saturday, July 11 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It’s a championship doubleheader as second-ranked pound-for-pound fighter and reigning featherweight champion Jose Aldo looks to remain the division’s only title holder when he goes for a seventh consecutive defense against rising star Conor McGregor, undefeated in the UFC and winner of 13 straight.  Plus, newly crowned welterweight champion Robbie Lawler attempts his first UFC title defense against No. 2 contender Rory MacDonald. Tickets for UFC® 189 are on sale Friday, March 27 at 10 a.m. PT at UFCFIGHTWEEK.com.



UFC® SIGNS ENERGY DRINK PARTNERSHIP WITH MONSTER ENERGY®


Las Vegas, Nev. – The UFC® today confirmed a new partnership with Monster Energy®, to be the official energy drink of the UFC. This new exclusive deal - which excludes Brazil - continues UFC’s approach of partnering with industry-leading companies that share the same values and vision to further maximize and expand branding opportunities worldwide.

“The UFC® is excited to partner with a category leader like Monster Energy and introduce them to our fans who embody the same enthusiasm and passion synonymous with their brand,” UFC Executive Vice President of Global Marketing Partnerships Michael Mossholder said. “This new multi-year deal will bring new and exciting experiential opportunities and unique in-market retail promotions.”

“We are excited to partner with the world’s leading mixed martial arts organization as the official energy drink of UFC as we expand our commitment into the MMA category,” said Sam Pontrelli, Monster Energy Senior Vice President of Marketing. “Through this partnership we will build a stronger brand position and expand our reach globally, thereby gaining exposure to a new audience while supporting the sport’s premiere athletes. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship.” 

Monster Energy will also be sponsoring select athletes including UFC women’s bantamweight champion “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey, as well as UFC® lightweight champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis and former UFC welterweight champion and current No.1 welterweight contender Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks, both of whom are competing at UFC® 185 in Dallas this coming Saturday.

Additional UFC athletes will be announced at a later date.

As part of this partnership, the Monster Energy logo has center placement on the canvas, as first witnessed at UFC® 184: Rousey vs. Zingano in Los Angeles. Monster Energy will also be promoted on various UFC® entities inside and outside the Octagon® and together with UFC they will execute distinctive retail promotions and contest opportunities such as:

·         “Belt the Champ”: a promotion to give one lucky fan the opportunity to attend a title fight and step inside the Octagon to present the championship belt.
·         The “Monster Experience”: an opportunity for fans to gain unparalleled access during a UFC fight week, including access to open workouts, the weigh-in, press conferences, and the chance to sit with UFC President Dana White at the live event.

For more information on UFC or current fight news, visit ufc.com. For more information on Monster Energy visit monsterenergy.com.


           
TryouT DATE for THE UPcOMINg SEASON OF The Ultimate Fighter® moved TO monday, APRIL 27

Tryouts to be held in Las Vegas at Palace Station
Open to lightweight and welterweight men

Las Vegas, NevadaOfficial tryouts for the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter® are now scheduled to take place at Palace Station in Las Vegas, Nev. on Monday, April 27. Tryouts are open to 155 and 170-pound men with a winning professional record.

The winner of this season of The Ultimate Fighter® will win a lucrative contract with the UFC®. This season of The Ultimate Fighter will begin filming in May and will premiere on FOX Sports 1 in September 2015.

Candidates must attend tryouts. Additionally, they must be male, between the ages of 21 and 34 years of age, have the legal ability to live and work in the United States and have professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight experience – holding a winning record with a minimum of three professional fights (with verifiable records). Applications, which should be completed and brought to the tryouts, can be found online at http://www.ufc.com/tuf22. Tryout details are provided below:

Where:
Palace Station Hotel, 2411 West Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada 89102
Tryouts will be held in the Grand Ballroom

When:
Monday, April 27, 2015
Registration begins @ 8:00 a.m. PT

Fighters will be required to grapple & hit pads. Please bring appropriate gear.

*Applicants will be notified at the end of the tryouts if they have been selected to participate in the casting finals process. If selected, applicants must be prepared to stay in Las Vegas until May 1, 2015.

Questions can be directed to: TUFcasting@ufc.com
    
The Ultimate Fighter®, which debuted in 2005, has launched the careers of some of the UFC’s most recognizable names and successful athletes. The series has produced champions such as Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, TJ Dillashaw, Carla Esparza and Matt Serra, as well as season winners Michael Bisping, Ryan Bader, Nate Diaz and John Dodson.

For more show information, bios, videos and photos, visit ultimatefighter.com and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @UltimateFighter or on Facebook.com/TUF.


 TOP CONTENDERS FRANKIE EDGAR AND URIJAH FABER HEADLINE HISTORIC DEBUT UFC® EVENT IN MANILA, PHILIPPINES

Plus:
Gregard Mousasi vs. Costas Philippou
Luke Barnatt vs. Mark Munoz
Hyun Gyu Lim vs. Neil Magny
Phillipe Nover vs. Yui Chul Nam
Tae Hyun Bang vs. Jon Tuck
Mark Eddiva vs. Alex White
Zhang Lipeng vs. Kajan Johnson
Li Jingliang vs. Roger Zapata
Roldan Sangcha-an vs. Jon Delos Reyes
Yao Zhikui vs. Nolan Ticman
Royston Wee vs. Ning Guangyou

TICKETS FOR UFC FIGHT NIGHT® MANILA: EDGAR vs. FABER
AT MALL OF ASIA ARENA
ON SALE FRIDAY, MAR. 13

Singapore The UFC® announced that its upcoming live event debut in Manila on Saturday, May 16 at the Mall of Asia Arena will be headlined by two former champions, as the featherweight division’s No. 1 contender Frankie Edgar comes head to head with Urijah Faber, who makes a long awaited return to 145 lbs. in a five-round battle sure to thrill the Filipino fans.

Riding a three-fight win streak, former UFC lightweight champion Edgar (17-4-1, fighting out of Toms River, New Jersey, USA) has proved his undeniable skills against Cub Swanson, BJ Penn, and Charles Oliveira.  With his sights now set on another title shot opportunity, Edgar will be looking for a memorable finish at this highly anticipated event.  Making a return to the weight class of his greatest triumphs in the WEC, Faber (37-7-0, fighting out of Sacramento, California, USA) has won six of his last seven fights and has never lost a non-title fight. His experience in the cage has seen him go the five round championship distance five times against Dominick Cruz, Jose Aldo, Mike Brown and twice against Renan Barao.

The co-main event brings a middleweight bust-up between No. 8 ranked Gregard Mousasi (35-5-2, fighting out of Leiden, The Netherlands) and New York banger Costa Philippou (13-4-0, fighting out of Long Island, New York, USA).  Mousasi holds 20 wins by KO and has defeated many seasoned fighters including Hector Lombard, Ovince St. Preux, Mark Munoz, ‘Babalu’ Sobral, and Ilir latifi.  Mousasi will be looking to build on his last win over legend Dan Henderson as he meets former pro boxer Philippou, who has been victorious in six of his last eight bouts.  Plus up and coming Brit Luke “The Bigslow” Barnatt (8-2-0, fighting out of Cambridge, England) takes on “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” Mark Munoz (13-5, fighting out of Lake Forest, California, USA). Munoz comes to Manila to live out the dream of being able to fight in front of his fellow Filipinos for the first time in his long and distinguished career.

In addition, the Manila card will also feature a diverse mix of UFC fighters from the Philippines and China bringing fans a truly international event.

Other confirmed bouts for UFC FIGHT NIGHT® MANILA: EDGAR vs. FABER include:
·        In a welterweight bout South Korea’s “The Ace” Hyun Gyu Lim (13-4-1, fighting out of Seoul, South Korea) takes on hot prospect Neil Magny (14-4-0, fighting out of Denver, Colorado, USA) who is on a fierce five fight winning streak.
·        The Philippines own Roldan Sangcha-an (4-1, fighting out of Baguio City, Philippines) will have the Mall of Asia Arena behind him when he takes on skilled Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner Jon Delos Reyes (7-4, fighting out of Tamuning, Guam) in a flyweight tilt.
·        The Ultimate Fighter China winner Zhang ‘The Warrior’ Lipeng (9-8-1, fighting out Beijing, China) takes on ‘Rajan’ Kajan Johnson (19-12-1, fighting out of Montreal, Canada) in a lightweight clash
·        Korea’s ‘Supernatural’ Tae Hyun Bang (17-8, fighting out of Seoul, Korea) takes on rising prospect Jon ‘The Super Saiyan’ Tuck (8-2, fighting out of Hagatna, Guam) in a lightweight fight that highlights two emerging MMA markets in Asia.
·        In another welterweight bout, Li ‘The Leech’ Jingliang (9-3, fighting out of Beijing, China) takes on The Ultimate Fighter: Edgar vs. Penn veteran Roger ‘Viva’ Zapata (4-1, fighting out of New York, New York).
·        Another Ultimate Fighter China steps back in the Octagon when Yao Zhikui (1-2, fighting out of Beijing, China) meets dynamic Nolan Ticman (4-2, fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif.) in the debut of both fighters at 125 pounds.  
·        Former The Ultimate Fighter finalist Phillipe Nover (6-3-1, fighting out of Brooklyn, New York, USA) returns to the UFC against “The Korean Bulldozer” Nam Yui Chul in a featherweight bout.
·        Another Philippines national Mark Eddiva (6-1-0, fighting out of Baguio City, Philippines) squares off against Alex “The Spartan” White (10-2-0, fighting out of Farmington, Missouri, USA) in a featherweight match-up.
·        Undefeated Singaporean Royston Wee (4-0-0, fighting out of Singapore) meets The Ultimate Fighter  China winner Ning Guangyou (5-2-1, fighting out of Beijing, China) in a bantamweight bout

Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT® MANILA: EDGAR VS. FABER go on sale Friday, Mar 13 at 10 a.m. Manila time and are priced at PHp13,250 (VIP), PHp10,600 (Patron), PHp7,950 (Lower Box A), PHp5,830 (Lower Box B), PHp3,710 (Upper Box), and  PHp1,590 (General Admission) plus applicable service charges. Tickets are available in Mall of Asia Arena Box Office, SM Tickets outlets in all SM Cinema branches nationwide, select The SM Store branches, and online thru www.smtickets.com. For more information, call the Customer Care hotline at +63 (02) 470 2222.

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

UFC® CONGRATULATES THE LABOR GOVERNMENT FOR REGULATORY CHANGE IN VICTORIA

Ministerial directive formally legalizes fenced-in enclosures for professional mixed martial arts in the State of Victoria

UFC confirms Melbourne pay per view event November 2015

Melbourne, Australia – The UFC® today applauded the State of Victoria Labor Government for executing a ministerial directive designed to increase safety within the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) by allowing the sport to be conducted in a much safer fenced-in enclosure.  The directive was announced this morning at a press conference held by The Honourable John Eren, Minister for Sport, Tourism and Major Events.  “This is a major milestone for mixed martial arts in Victoria, which will allow the sport to flourish while at the same time better protecting its competing athletes,” said Tom Wright, UFC Executive Vice-President and General Manager, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. 

Prior to the passing of today’s ministerial directive, MMA competitions in the State of Victoria were required to be conducted in boxing rings which were never designed for MMA competitions. The UFC uses a unique, octagon-shaped enclosure which prevents fighters from falling out of the structure or becoming entangled in the ropes as could occur with a boxing ring.  “The Octagon® is purpose-built for MMA competition and was designed and developed to optimize safety and to create a level playing field.  The UFC thanks the Labor Party for spearheading this initiative and focusing on the safety of the competitors,” added Wright. 

With this new ministerial directive in place, the UFC confirmed that it will bring a global pay per view event, UFC 193, to Melbourne on Sunday, November 15, 2015 locally, to be broadcast live in North America on Saturday, November 14.

Since 2010, the UFC has hosted six live events in Australia with each experiencing tremendous success. Collectively, the six events have seen more than 75,000 fans in attendance and millions worldwide watching on Pay-Per-View and broadcast television. The three host cities to date – Sydney, Gold Coast and Brisbane – have had a cumulative gross gate of more than $12 million and millions more in economic impact. The UFC will host its seventh Australian event, UFC® FIGHT NIGHTTM: MIOCIC vs. HUNT, at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on May 10.

For more information or current fight news, visit ufc.com. 


Quotes from some of Australia’s top mixed martial artists

No.5 ranked UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt (10-9-1, fighting out of Sydney)
“Just like a jockey needs a horse or a tennis player needs a racquet or a V8 driver needs a car – mixed martial artists, UFC fighters need the Octagon®. It’s our tool for competition – to make competition fair and safe. I’m excited that the UFC can now come to Melbourne and trust me, I want to be there competing to make sporting history.”

Robert Whittaker (13-4, fighting out of Sydney)
“This progress in Melbourne is an amazing opportunity for the Australian MMA community. The UFC is already bringing more events to Australia and this new destination opens up more opportunities for aspiring mixed martial artists. As a MMA fighter myself, it would be an honour and privilege to compete in Melbourne and make history!”

Vik Grujic (7-5, fighting out of Melbourne)
“MMA in Melbourne will no longer fall behind the rest of the world because of ignorance.”

Kyle Noke (fighting out of Albuquerque, USA via Dubbo, Australia)
“We now finally get the chance to fight in front of a home crowd in the sporting capital of Australia. This is a dream come true for me and the rest of the UFC competitors representing Australia around the world.”

Daniel Kelly (9-0 fighting out of Melbourne)
“It’s only fitting to have the fastest growing sport in the world in the sporting capital of Australia. Personally it would be a dream to compete in the UFC in my hometown.”

Brendan O’Reilly (5-1-1, fighting out of Brisbane)
“This is a momentous occasion for the sport of MMA in Victoria, Australia and the growth of the UFC worldwide. Melbourne has some of the most passionate sports fans in the world, and I can't wait to fight in the UFC Octagon® in front of a live Victorian audience.”

Soa Palelei (22-4, fighting out of Perth)
“Being able to fight in the UFC is a dream come true. Being able to compete in Australia is the icing on the cake. I'm extremely proud to be Australian and being able to do what I love for my country is truly gratifying. With Melbourne now able to host the UFC, I can see MMA growing immensely and I cannot wait till Perth also gets on board.”

Richie Vaculik (10-4, fighting out Sydney)
“So good to hear that finally the Victorian government has come to its senses and allowed MMA to be performed in its safest environment: the Octagon®. I can't wait to be a part of a spectacular UFC event in Melbourne.”

Alex Chambers (4-2, fighting out of Sydney)
Fantastic news that the ban will no longer remain in Victoria for MMA bouts inside a fenced-in enclosure. There was a big misconception about what was actually banned, which I feel has hindered MMA in Australia although the sport was always legal. A really great day for all MMA athletes and fans, not just in Victoria but all of Australia”

UFC® ANNOUNCES CHINA DIGITAL BROADCAST PARTNERSHIP
 

Singapore – With the exponential growth of mixed martial arts (MMA) in Asia, a landmark announcement was made today by UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization, displaying their continued commitment to the region.

The UFC has agreed to a significant new partnership with a leading digital sports platform in China, PPTV.  The deal will allow Chinese UFC fans to access all UFC® events live and in local language in China for the first time, this localized content will be used to support UFC® promotions in the social media and digital marketing environment.  The UFC® has grown its audience engagement across social media channels to the same levels as English Premier League football teams in the region*.  The growing number of MMA and UFC® fans in China will have unprecedented access to all of the passion, excitement and top quality athletes that are the trademark of all UFC®  events.

Ken Berger, EVP and General Manager UFC Asia, said: “This landmark deal displays the rapid growth and demand for premium MMA content in China.  There is a real upward trend of MMA taking hold in the region with increased engagement amongst fans and more and more athletes dedicating their lives to becoming the best they can be. The UFC® recognizes that it really is only a matter of time before we start seeing champions emerge from China.”  Ken continued, “PPTV have always been a valued supporter of the UFC, we couldn’t be happier to grow our partnership with them this year.”

PPTV Sports General Manger Li Dong says, "We hope PPTV will become the best partner of UFC; PPTV is going to be the home of UFC in China."

China is emerging as a significant breeding ground for talented MMA athletes who are increasingly taking their place on the world’s MMA stage. With 14 Chinese fighters within the UFC® and an actively engaged fan base established in the country, the partnership will build upon the increasing demand for UFC® content in this market, strengthening the substantial growth seen within Asia over the last twelve months.

TWO TITLE FIGHTS HEADLINE UFC® 187 AS JONES MEETS JOHNSON AND WEIDMAN COLLIDES WITH BELFORT
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

PLUS:
(# 2) KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV vs. (# 3) DONALD CERRONE
(# 3) TRAVIS BROWNE vs. (# 7) ANDREI ARLOVSKI
(# 9) DONG HYUN KIM vs. JOSH BURKMAN
(# 2) JOSEPH BENAVIDEZ vs. (# 5) JOHN MORAGA

TICKETS FOR UFC® 187: JONES vs. JOHNSON
AT MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS
ON SALE FRIDAY, MARCH 6


Las Vegas – On Memorial Day Weekend, two world title fights headline UFC® 187 as undisputed light heavyweight king Jon “Bones” Jones meets No. 1 contender Anthony “Rumble” Johnson in the five-round main event. Plus, middleweight champion Chris Weidman puts his belt on the line when he faces former light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort Saturday, May 23 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The pound-for-pound king, Jon Jones (21-1, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) continues to smash records and make history as he goes for an unprecedented ninth successful UFC light heavyweight title defense. Undefeated in his last 12 bouts, Jones is currently tied for second place with Georges St-Pierre for the longest active winning streak, just behind former middleweight champion Anderson Silva with 17. Jones is on a path to become arguably the greatest fighter of all-time, having defeated both former legends and rising stars, with his most recent victory coming after a five-round war against U.S. Olympian Daniel Cormier at UFC 182. Looking to further etch his name in the record books, Jones gladly welcomes the challenge of facing the hardest-hitting opponent of his career at UFC 187. 

Since making his UFC return in 2014, (No. 1) Anthony “Rumble” Johnson (19-4, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla.) has gone 3-0, collecting two first-round finishes over former title challenger Alexander Gustafsson (TKO at 2:15 of round 1 at UFC Fight Night® in Stockholm) and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (KO at 0:44 seconds of round 1 at UFC on FOX in San Jose), while also delivering a masterful performance against seventh-ranked Phil Davis at UFC 172. A nine-fight win streak, coupled with dominant wins over top tier talent, has earned Johnson a chance to challenge the pound-for-pound king for the light heavyweight world title.

In what will be an electric co-main event, middleweight champion Chris Weidman (12-0, fighting out of Baldwin, N.Y.) will put his spotless record on the line when he faces the fourth-ranked Belfort, who has been anxiously awaiting his shot at the belt. After doing the seemingly impossible by beating former champion Anderson Silva twice, Weidman went on to defend his title in spectacular fashion against former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida at UFC 175. The five-round battle earned the pair a Fight of the Year nomination and cemented Weidman’s place in the pound-for-pound rankings (No. 4). With victories over many of the sport’s elite, the New Yorker looks to add another notable name to his resume when he takes on one of his most ferocious opponents to date.

Determined to hold titles in two weight classes, former 205-pound champ (No. 4) Vitor Belfort (24-10, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla. by way of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) has been destroying his competition as of late, and at 37 years old, has never looked better. In his most recent outings, “The Phenom” defeated both Dan Henderson and Luke Rockhold in the first round following his incredible second-round TKO victory over Michael Bisping in January 2013. Weidman and Belfort have been slated to meet on three separate occasions, and the two will finally go to war on May 23.

Other bouts for UFC 187 include:
·         Undefeated lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov returns from a lengthy layoff (22-0, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia) to face No. 3 Donald Cerrone (27-6, 1NC, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.), a winner of seven straight.
·         In a battle of heavyweights, third-ranked Travis Browne (17-2-1, fighting out of Glendale, Calif.) collides with (No. 7) Andre Arlovski (23-10, 1 NC, fighting out of Chicago, Ill.).
·         Ninth-ranked welterweight Dong Hyun “Stun Gun” Kim (19-3-1, 1 NC, fighting out of Busan, South Korea) meets Josh Burkman (28-11, fighting out of Draper, Utah).
·         Former title challengers Joseph Benavidez (21-4, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) and John Moraga (16-3, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) hit the stage in a flyweight scrap.
·         Plus, the flyweight division’s No. 1 contender and TUF season 14 winner John Dodson (17-6, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) makes his return against (No. 9) Zach Makovsky (19-5, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.).
·         In their UFC debuts, newcomers Leo Kuntz (17-1-1, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) and Islam Makhachev (11-0, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia) square off in a 155-pound bout.

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

Tickets for UFC® 187: JONES vs. JOHNSON go on sale Friday, March 6 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $1,000, $750, $500, $350, $225 and $125 (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. Beginning at noon, tickets also will be available for purchase in person at any MGM Resorts International box office. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.

UFC® AND FOX SPORTS ANNOUNCE ALL-NEW FORMAT FOR 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER®



The Ultimate Fighter®: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians to award
$500,000 and first-ever The Ultimate Fighter Team Trophy

This season of The Ultimate Fighter will premiere on FOX Sports 1 on Wednesday, April 22 at 10 p.m. ET

Las Vegas, Nev. – Coming off a historic season that saw the crowning of the UFC’s first-ever women’s strawweight champion, the next installment of The Ultimate Fighter® looks to raise the stakes once again. For the first time in the show’s 10-year history, a gym versus gym format will be introduced pitting fighters from the famed American Top Team against those from Blackzilians, all while living together under one roof in South Florida.

It will be a monumental season, as $500,000, the first-ever The Ultimate Fighter Team Trophy and most importantly, ultimate bragging rights, are all up for grabs. The decisions and strategy determined by each team have never impacted the show as much as they will this season.

This season of The Ultimate Fighter®: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians premieres with a two-hour episode Wednesday, April 22, at 10 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 and will continue with 11 more one-hour shows Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET. This is the fifth season of The Ultimate Fighter to air on FOX Sports 1. The series is the network’s highest rated and most watched original program since the network’s inception in August 2013.

There’s no shortage of bad blood between these two camps. In 2001, the famed American Top Team gym was founded in Coconut Creek, Fla. by Dan Lambert. The gym has since been home to numerous champions and top contenders including current UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler, former title challengers Thiago Alves and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, former WEC® featherweight champ Mike Brown, Hector Lombard, Tyron Woodley and Dustin Poirier. However, in 2011 several members defected to start their own camp, the Blackzilians. Partnering with successful businessman Glenn Robinson, the fighters started their own training facility only 20 minutes away in Boca Raton, Fla., beginning one of the deepest rivalries in all of MMA. The Blackzilians camp is now home to former UFC light heavyweight champions Rashad Evans and Vitor Belfort, as well as top contenders Anthony Johnson, Eddie Alvarez, Michael Johnson and Matt Mitrione.

This season features eight rising welterweights from each team who will be selected by their respective gym owner to live in a South Florida house alongside their competition. The fighters will continue to train at their home gym with their own coaches and sparring partners. However, fights will no longer be held at a neutral site and now move to the teams’ respective gyms, always leaving one fighter to compete in enemy territory. Adding to the anticipation ahead of each bout, opponents won’t be known until the weigh-in. The culmination of the season will see two fighters meet at The Ultimate Fighter Finale in summer 2015, where the winning gym will be crowned.

This season’s cast includes:

AMERICAN TOP TEAM                                          BLACKZILIANS
Marcelo Alfaya (16-7, 1NC) Porto Alegre, Brazil       Valdir Araujo (14-5), Gama, Federal District, Brazil
Steve Carl (21-4), Belle Plain, Iowa                            Carrington Banks (3-0), Peoria, Ill.
Nathan Coy (14-5), Vallejo, Calif.                              Luiz Buscape (16-5), Joao Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil
Michael Graves (4-0), Toledo, Ohio                           Jason Jackson (4-2), Kingston, Jamaica
Hayder Hassan (6-1), Fort Lauderdale, Fla.               Vicente Luque (7-4-1), Westwood, N.J.
Sabah Homasi (8-4), New Brunswick, N.J.                 Andrews Nakahara (4-2-2), Mogi das Cruzes, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Uros Jurisic (5-0), Ljubljana, Slovenia                       Felipe Portela (8-2), Brasilia, Brazil
Steve Montgomery (8-2), Florence, S.C.                    Kamarudeen Usman (5-1) Auchi, Nigeria
           
Many of today’s most recognizable names in the UFC have emerged from The Ultimate Fighter® series, which also produced champions such as Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, TJ Dillashaw, Carla Esparza and Matt Serra, as well as season winners Michael Bisping, Ryan Bader and John Dodson.

For more show information, bios, videos and photos, visit ultimatefighter.com and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @UltimateFighter or on Facebook.com/TUF


INVICTA FC 11 PRELIMS TO BE AVAILABLE ON FREE LIVE STREAM THIS FRIDAY
FIRST FOUR FIGHTS OF ALL-FEMALE CARD WILL BE LIVE AND FREE ON UFC.tv
 
Las Vegas, Nevada – UFC FIGHT PASS®, the UFC®’s digital subscription service, has announced that the prelims for this Friday’s highly anticipated Invicta FC 11 event will be made available to fans around the world for free.
 
Invicta FC 11: Cyborg vs Tweet takes place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and kicks-off a huge weekend for female mixed martial arts.
 
UFC® 184, headlined by UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey vs No.1 contender Cat Zingano and co-headlined by Holly Holm vs Raquel Pennington, also emanates from Los Angeles one day later, this Saturday, February 28.
 
UFC Chief Content Officer Marshall Zelaznik said: “This is arguably the biggest weekend for female MMA ever, and we’re excited to get things going by making the first half of a great Invicta card free to our fans. This will be the fourth Invicta FC event we have streamed on UFCFIGHTPASS.com in the last five months, and we invite fans who haven’t seen Invicta yet to check out the kind of great exclusive content we offer on UFCFIGHTPASS.com.”
 
The Invicta FC 11 prelims will begin steaming live at 7pm PT/10pm ET on UFC.tv here: http://www.ufc.tv/video/invicta-fc-11-prelims
 
The main card – headlined by the long-awaited return to action for Invicta featherweight champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino taking on the surging Charmaine Tweet – will then stream exclusively live on UFCFIGHTPASS.com from 9pm PT/midnight ET here: http://www.ufc.tv/video/invicta-fc-11
 
Then, on Saturday, UFCFIGHTPASS.com will exclusively live stream the UFC 184 early prelims, featuring a featherweight fight between Masio Fullen and Alexander Torres and two-time performance of the night winner James Krause taking on lightweight Valmir Lazaro. Link here: http://www.ufc.tv/video/ufc-184-fight-pass-prelims
 
Here’s what the streaming schedule looks like for this weekend.
 
Strawweight: Jamie Moyle (1-0) vs. J.J. Aldrich (1-0)
Strawweight: Brianna Van Buren (3-1) vs. Amy Montenegro (5-1)
Flyweight: Christine Stanley (3-1) vs. Emily Corso (4-0)
Flyweight: Kristi Lopez (2-0) vs. Aspen Ladd (0-0)
 
Invicta FC 145lbs Title: Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino (12-1, 1 NC) vs. Charmaine Tweet (6-4)
Strawweight: Alexa Grasso (6-0) vs. Mizuki Inoue (8-3)
Strawweight: DeAnna Bennett (6-0) vs. Lynn Alvarez (6-3)
Bantamweight: Irene Aldana (4-1) vs. Melanie LaCroix (3-2)
 
UFC featherweight: Masio Fullen vs Alexander Torres
UFC lightweight: James Krause vs Valmir Lazaro
UFC FIGHT PASS is available now at UFCFIGHTPASS.com on personal computers, Apple TV, iPad, iPhone, Chromecast, Android, Samsung, LG Smart TV and Roku. Subscriptions are $9.99 month to month, $8.99 per month for six months or $7.99 per month for a one-year subscription. Start your one-week free trial now.