The landmark agreement, which puts UFC on par with many of the country’s professional sports organizations, delivers four live events in prime time or late night each year to the FOX broadcast network, home to the country’s biggest sports events, including the Super Bowl, World Series and Daytona 500. The first live event airs Saturday, Nov. 12 at 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT. Additional programming on multiple FOX networks launches January 2012 and includes live fights, pre and post shows, countdown shows, UFC Unleashed, UFC Primetime, the UFC Knockout series, Best of Pride, weigh-in specials, and much more original content from extensive Zuffa archives.  The agreement also provides for developing robust mobile and authenticated online offerings to exploit a vast array of digital platform rights.

In spring 2012, THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER, UFC’s signature weekly reality show moves to FX, FOX’s general entertainment cable network now in more than 99 million homes.  With the move to FX, the show will feature a newly-designed format. FX is also set to televise another four-to six-live UFC events annually, with a mixture of additional events and programs heading to FSMG cable networks including FUEL TV.

“We’re excited to be part of the FOX family,” says Dana White, UFC President.   “The UFC is finally where it belongs on the number one network in the country and aligned with the most prestigious sports properties in the world.  I’ve always said that the UFC will be the biggest sport in the world and with this relationship it will become a reality.”

“My brother Frank, Dana and I always believed that our passion for the sport of Mixed Martial Arts would help us to build the UFC into a successful global brand and ultimately make it one of the premier sports properties in the world,” said Lorenzo Fertitta, Chairman and CEO of the UFC.  “The partnership with FOX is a major step in making this a reality and also builds on the great relationship that we already have established with FOX in Latin America, Australia and Europe.”

“Mixed martial arts is not only the fastest growing sport in the world, but also the world’s most exciting form of man-to-man competition, and the UFC is the world’s premier MMA organization,” said FSMG President & Co-COO Eric Shanks.  “Since FOX Sports is America’s No. 1 sports network and FOX is America’s No. 1 network for young adults, the UFC on FOX is a perfect match.”

“UFC’s growth over the past decade is nothing short of phenomenal and it has become one of the marquee sports in this country,” said John Landgraf, President and General Manager, FX Networks.  “There is a reason for its rising popularity.  It features some of the greatest athletes in the world, and we believe it will be a terrific addition to our schedule and look forward to our relationship.”

Founded in 1993, UFC has been on a meteoric rise since 2001 when it was acquired by Zuffa, LLC, owned by Lorenzo Fertitta, Frank Fertitta III and Dana White.  UFC’S first brush with FOX Sports goes back to June 2002, when Fox Sports Net carried UFC’s first non-pay-per-view event on basic cable television, and delivered what was then its largest audience to date.  Through cooperation with state athletic commissions, consistent rules were established and refined for competition through officiating, judging, the addition of weight divisions, length of rounds and better equipment.  Combined with an unyielding devotion to fighter safety, the UFC has vaulted to mainstream status in the minds of US sports fans attracting major sponsors such as Bud Light, Dodge and Harley Davidson.

UFC has displayed tremendous growth in digital and social media consumption. Unique visitors to UFC.com tripled between 2006 and 2010 (2.1 million to 6.3 million), and UFC established local web sites in 10 countries and Latin America.  Using a unique blend of incentives, promotions and original content, including live bouts, UFC has seen its number of Facebook friends increase from 800,000 in 2009 to 6.1 million at present, outpacing the NFL, MLB and the NHL.  UFC currently ranks second to the NBA in social media followers among the major sports organizations.  Additionally, UFC President Dana White regularly interacts with over 1.5 million fans that follow him on Twitter.

Mixed martial arts skews much younger than more established US sports, which ranged from age 43 for Super Bowl XLIV to 61 for horse racing’s Triple Crown in 2010.  Thus far, the median age for UFC on Spike in 2011 is 36 and 56% of UFC fans fall into the adult 18-34 demographic. Live UFC programming performs extremely well in the advertiser attractive, hard-to-reach male 18-34 demographic, with live event programing averaging a 1.53 rating, making it a top-20 cable show this year.

Photo: Sam Barretto

Source: http://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-on-fox-announcement081811

The hardcore MMA fan was not surprised that the more polished Velasquez – who remained undefeated – was able to figure out what everyone else knew but have been unable to execute, that Lesnar was beatable if you kept him on his feet. He may have outweighed Velasquez by 20 pounds but Lesnar’s boxing skills are not quite up to his wrestling capabilities. Velasquez was able to get back up after Lesnar took him down and basically have his way with the Minnesota native.

For all intents and purposes, Velasquez beat the shit out of Lesnar, plain and simple. The main event at UFC 121 ended in the first round when the referee stopped the fight and a new heavyweight champion was crowned. But was more lost that night other than a belt on a fighter with only six previous bouts?

It is tough to admit, but the UFC is better off with a champion like Lesnar. He was a very well-known name and one that the casual or mainstream sports fan was familiar with. Now, if you ask the MMA crowd what they think, they will tell the fringe fan to go fuck him or herself and leave the cage to the real followers of the sport. But in this era, money talks and there will be less Pay-Per-View orders without Lesnar topping the card. A guy like Velasquez will be loved by the loyal UFC fans, but the guy watching Monday Night Football who catches a UFC show now and then will forget his name the day after the fight.

The regular UFC fan will order the Pay-Per-View time in and time out, so that is really not the target audience if you are thinking outside of the box. What the UFC’s goal needs to be is to broaden that number and having someone like Lesnar to sell tickets and orders was a gold mine for them. Velasquez may be the better fighter and a more deserving champion, but his name and face will not have the same effect as Lesnar’s. There’s no argument there.

Perhaps a quick rematch makes sense for sales purposes, but it is not the best move for the long term. One has to figure that Velasquez would defat Lesnar again, so the gain would be minimal. Lesnar needs to be used to the best of his abilities and build his record – and reputation – back up. Down the road, Lesnar getting more experience to broaden his game will only help his chances of regaining the title.

And that will be a huge payday for him and the UFC.

Dana White, the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, had said all along that Slice would never fight for him but relented by putting the Florida native in the 10th season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Slice did not show much by dropping his only bout and then electing to sit out with a banged up knee when he had a chance to fight again later on. For some reason (even after saying that the only way he would get a contract was to win TUF 10), White decided to let Slice have another shot in the finale against Houston Alexander. Slice did not look like a champion that night but did get the win against a tough opponent.

At UFC 113 last Saturday, fellow TUF 10 contestant Matt Mitrione was Slice’s opponent and it was he who had his hand raised. White may have been looking back on his earlier assumption of the former Internet sensation when he remarked to Michael David Smith of mmafighting.com, “That’s probably Kimbo’s last ffght in the UFC. He’s done. We’re probably going to cut him.”

On the official UFC website, Slice’s name does not appear on the roster of fighters so it is more than likely true that Slice has been given his walking papers. Although the heavyweight does have a big name in the mainstream media and is a fan magnet, the truth is that he is not a skilled MMA fighter. Even training with America’s Top Team – a very well-respected MMA school in Florida – did not give Slice what he needed to become an all around fighter.  Sure, he can stand toe-to-toe and bang but when taken to the ground, Slice’s game left a lot to be desired. Mitrione’s strategy was just that and doing so earned him the victory.

At 36, Slice will never have the opportunity that he did again. Being with the UFC was the culmination of his short career and he did not show he had what it takes to compete against the best in the world. Sure, he can find another payday somewhere – such as in Japan’s DREAM promotion – but Slice lost a lot more than just a fight against Mitrione.

CO-MAIN EVENT
JOSH KOSCHECK vs. PAUL DALEY

SAM STOUT vs. JEREMY STEPHENS
KIMBO SLICE vs. MATT MITRIONE
PATRICK COTE vs. ALAN BELCHER
TIM CREDEUR vs. TOM LAWLOR
MARCUS DAVIS vs. JONATHAN GOULET
YOSHIYUKI YOSHIDA vs. MIKE GUYMON
JOEY BELTRAN vs. CHAD CORVIN
TJ GRANT vs. JOHNY HENDRICKS
NICK CATONE vs. JOHN SALTER

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2010

Live from the Bell Centre – Montreal, Quebec, Canada – Tickets on Sale Now

The light-heavyweight title will be on the line on when the Ultimate Fighting Championship® returns to the Bell Centre in Montreal. At UFC® 104 last October, light heavyweight champion Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida and challenger Mauricio “Shogun” Rua engaged in a back-and-forth five round battle resulting in the champion retaining his belt via a razor-thin unanimous decision. On Saturday, May 8, these two warriors will square off once again with the championship on the line for UFC 113: Machida vs. Shogun 2, live from the Bell Centre.

Now the remainder of this stellar card has been confirmed. UFC 113: Machida vs. Shogun 2 will feature a full slate of action-packed matchups, including a welterweight showdown with title-shot implications when Josh Koscheck takes on British KO artist Paul Daley. The big time fight card consists of other memorable bouts such as Sam Stout vs. Jeremy Stephens, Kimbo Slice vs. Matt Mitrione, Patrick Cote vs. Alan Belcher, Tim Credeur vs. Tom Lawlor, Marcus Davis vs. Jonathan Goulet, TJ Grant vs. Johny Hendricks, Joey Beltran vs. Chad Corvin, Yoshiyuki Yoshida vs. Mike Guymon and Nick Catone vs. John Salter.

UFC 113 will be available live on Pay-Per-View on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$49.99 CAN for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available).

Tickets for UFC 113 are on sale and are available at the Bell Centre box office, by phone at (514) 790-2525 / 1-877-668-8269 or at www.geg.ca.

A veteran of the UFC, welterweight Josh Koscheck (fighting out of Fresno, Calif. / professional record 16-4) has been involved in battles with some of the best the UFC has to offer. A winner of two straight over Frank Trigg and Anthony Johnson, the Waynesburg, Pennsylvania native looks for another epic battle when he puts his streak on the line against feared striker Paul Daley (fighting out of Nottingham, England / 23-8-2). Swarming onto the scene with an impressive TKO victory over Martin Kampmann, Daley followed up that performance with another vicious knockout, this time against Dustin Hazelett. Always looking to stand and exchange, Daley hopes to collect another impressive victory and cement himself as a top contender in the welterweight division.

A winner of his last two fights over Matt Wiman and Joe Lauzon, Sam Stout (fighting out of London, Ontario, Canada / 16-5-1) is known for his impressive striking ability. The eight-fight veteran of the UFC will be taking on an equally exciting striker when he squares off with Jeremy Stephens (fighting out of Des Moines, Iowa / 17-5). Stephens is coming off a win of his own over Justin Buchholz and looks to start a winning streak in what could be a candidate for the night’s “Knockout of the Night” honor.

Making his return to the Octagon™ after a unanimous decision victory over Houston Alexander in his UFC debut, Kimbo Slice (fighting out of Miami, Fla. / 4-1) intends to show his continued evolution as a mixed martial artist and build off his first UFC win. The famed brawler and contestant of Season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter® draws a familiar face in this fight as he takes on fellow The Ultimate Fighter® 10 castmate Matt Mitrione (fighting out of Indianapolis, Ind. / 1-0). A graduate of Purdue University and an NFL veteran of six seasons, Mitrione has only one professional bout under his belt, a knockout victory over another TUF 10 cast member, Marcus Jones, and he hopes a win over Slice will help him to continue his climb in the heavyweight division.

After suffering a knee injury in a middleweight title fight against Anderson Silva, Patrick Cote (fighting out of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada / 14-5) makes his return to the Octagon after a nearly two-year layoff. Fully recovered, Cote hopes to pick up right where he left off and get himself back into the middleweight title picture with a win. He draws a difficult task in Alan Belcher (fighting out of Biloxi, Mississippi / 14-5). Coming off of an impressive TKO victory of Wilson Gouveia, the UFC veteran looks to spoil the return of Cote and add another highlight reel knockout to his resume.

Winner of three of his last four fights in the UFC, fan favorite Tim Credeur (fighting out of Breaux Bridge, La. / 13-5) always puts on an entertaining fight. A black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Credeur has proven to be comfortable wherever the fight goes as was shown by his three round standup war with Nate Quarry in his last fight. His opponent is TUF® 8 alumnus, Tom Lawlor (fighting out of Orlando, Fla. / 6-2, 1 NC). An accomplished wrestler at the University of Central Florida, Lawlor is the winner of two of his last three fights. The eccentric 26-year-old faces a difficult task when he takes on Credeur.
A former professional boxer who made the leap into the realm of MMA, Marcus Davis (fighting out of Bangor, Maine / 21-7) has had a successful 12-fight career in the UFC. Known for his impressive power, the “Irish Hand Grenade” looks to return to his winning ways when he faces Canadian welterweight Jonathan Goulet (fighting out of Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada / 22-10, 1 NC). Having won two of his last three fights, “The Road Warrior” looks to utilize the lack of travel time and put together another impressive performance in front of his countrymen.

A fourth-degree black belt in Judo, Yoshiyuki Yoshida (fighting out of Albuqurque, N.M. / 11-4) has made his mark in Judo competitions and looks to further assert himself on the MMA scene. A four-fight UFC veteran, Yoshida owns wins over Brandon Wolff and Jon Koppenhaver, both by submission. His opponent, 35-year-old Mike Guymon (fighting out of Lake Forest, Calif. / 12-3-1) plans to use his experience and determination to collect his first UFC win when he squares off with Yoshida.

Joey Beltran (fighting out of Carlsbad, Calif. / 11-3) caught the attention of fans after taking a fight with Rolles Gracie on short notice and promptly knocking him out in the second round of their UFC 109 matchup. The San Diego native has 11 career wins, all by way of stoppage (10 TKO/KO, 1 Submission) and plans to tally another victory against UFC newcomer Chad Corvin (fighting out of Elizabethtown, Ky. / 6-0). With plans of his own, all six of Corvin’s wins have come by way of first-round stoppage. When the highly touted Corvin and Beltran collide, it is sure to be an action-packed battle.

A brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Jorge Gurgel, TJ Grant (fighting out of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia / 15-3) is 2-1 in his three fights in the UFC. The 26-year-old native of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, draws a difficult task when he takes on the undefeated Johny Hendricks (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. / 7-0). A two-time Division I national champion wrestler at Oklahoma State, Hendricks has transferred his skills over to MMA in dominating fashion. Currently on a four-fight win streak in the UFC, Hendricks has recent wins over Amir Sadollah and Ricardo Funch, and looks to put his perfect record on the line against the seasoned Grant.

A three-time Division I national qualifier in wrestling for Rider University, Nick Catone (fighting out of Brick, N.J. / 8-2) is a four fight veteran of the UFC. A brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Catone hopes his well-rounded skills will help him build off of his recent split decision victory over Jesse Forbes. He will be taking on another talented wrestler, John Salter (fighting out of Tuscaloose, Ala. / 4-1). A NAIA national champion wrestler in 2007, Salter holds his purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and hopes his similar skill set will prove superior to his opponent’s as he looks for the first UFC win in his young career.

For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com, UK.UFC.com, GERMANY.UFC.com, UFCJapan.jp or UFCEspanol.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

Source: http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=80171

Photo by Sam Baretto

Why did UFC do this deal?
Dana White: We view this as the perfect strategic partnership to help us grow this business and fast track our expansion into other parts of the world. There are a lot of guys over the last nine years that have tried to buy in, invest, get us to go public, and try to partner up with the UFC. We got in this thing because we love this sport, we love the UFC, and we have this vision to take this thing globally and turn it into the biggest sport in the world. And when I say that, I know people think I’m a lunatic, but it’s true, and it’s gonna happen. So this deal is a perfect strategic partnership. These guys are awesome strategic partners to help us reach that goal even faster.

Who is Flash?
DW: Flash is an independent live events and entertainment organization based in the UAE. Its sole shareholder is the Government of Abu Dhabi. We got to know these guys discussing an event in Abu Dhabi. This led to the investment conversation. After conducting in-depth due diligence, they saw the tremendous global potential of the UFC brand. The guys who run this company are young, hip, aggressive visionaries. They are big thinkers.

What is the structure of this deal, what exactly does Flash own?
DW: Flash acquired a 10 percent minority stake through a direct investment in the equity of Zuffa, LLC.

How will this affect the operations of the UFC?
DW: It affects it positively. As for the day to day and how everything runs, it’s business as usual. Strategically, in our global expansion, it’s gonna help us get to certain places a lot faster than we could have done it.

Were there any concerns about bringing another partner into the UFC fold?
DW: I didn’t feel that way at all. I don’t look at this as my baby and nobody else can touch it. The way I look at this thing is that the UFC is a brand, like Microsoft, McDonald’s or any of these other ones. I think that I’m gonna have a certain amount of time here and then my time will be done and I will have done my part. And then somebody else will carry it on after me. I don’t look at this like I’m gonna be here forever. A lot of people say ‘without Dana the UFC couldn’t do this or couldn’t do that.’ I think the UFC is bigger than that and bigger than one person, including me.

How many UFC events will happen in Abu Dhabi each year?
DW: Hopefully we will conduct one event there in 2010; we’ll see after that.

How will this affect the fighters?
DW: This will have no effect on the fighters; it is business as usual.

How long is this deal? Is Flash a permanent partner?
DW: This is not a short-term investment. Flash is a long-term partner that understands the dynamics of our business model.

Was this deal done because UFC needed money?
DW: UFC has no financial issues and business has never been better. We did this deal because of the huge opportunities it provides for UFC’s global growth.

Will UFC now establish an office in Abu Dhabi?
DW: There are no immediate plans to establish an office in Abu Dhabi.

Is there anything else you want to tell UFC fans about this deal?
DW: I’ve been saying for years that UFC is going to become the biggest sport in the world. With this new partnership in place, it’s going to happen even faster. These guys get it and they love the sport. We built a relationship with them over the last few years, they’re guys we like, respect, and trust, and we know that they’re the perfect strategic partners. We made all the right moves over the years, done all the right things along the way, and we know that this is a good thing for the sport.

Source: http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=39963

Photo by Sam Baretto

UFC owners Lorenzo J. Fertitta, Frank Fertitta III and Dana White stated that they are pleased to have this partnership in place and are honored to be associated with Flash. The Fertitta brothers and White agree that this investment brings exceptional strategic value, expertise and global opportunities to the UFC brand.

“Over the past few years, we have built a relationship with all levels of the Flash organization. They share our vision, passion, and enthusiasm for the UFC,” said Lorenzo J. Fertitta, UFC Chairman and CEO. “We are confident that this partnership will accelerate the worldwide growth of the UFC.”

Ossama Khoreibi, Chairman of Flash Entertainment, commented, “Since our very first meeting, we were impressed by Lorenzo, Frank and Dana’s commitment to growing UFC as a global sport.” He continued, “Flash is equally committed to building Abu Dhabi’s profile as an international entertainment destination, and this partnership provides further proof of our company’s bold ambitions. We look forward to an exciting future ahead, working closely with our UFC partners to activate this sport in the UAE, the region and across the world.”

The Raine Group acted as financial advisor to Flash Entertainment. Goldman Sachs served as UFC’s financial advisor.

Flash Entertainment – www.thinkflash.ae
Formed in Abu Dhabi in August 2008, Flash Entertainment is the region’s leading events consultancy, with a proven track record in delivering world-class events from movie premieres and classical shows to international tennis tournaments and megastar music concerts. Flash is made up of a team of industry professionals, offering comprehensive event management solutions from concept design and strategic planning, through to implementation, management and evaluation.

Flash Entertainment is playing a major role in the Emirate’s evolution as a leading entertainment & leisure destination having delivered some of the most high profile events in the region including George Michael & Alicia Keys, Shakira, Coldplay, Andrea Bocelli, The Killers, Rihanna and the Yasalam series of concerts featuring Beyonce, Jamiroquai, Timbaland, Kings of Leon and Aerosmith. In January 2009, Flash launched the Capitala WorldTennis Championship which saw six of the world’s top male players compete in Abu Dhabi’s first international tennis tournament. The event has gone on to win numerous awards and widespread critical acclaim and in January 2010 saw the second year of the competition.

Flash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Awards
Winner “Event Management Company of the Year” – Sound & Stage Awards 2009
Winner “Sports Event of the Year” – Capitala World Tennis Championship 2009 – Middle East Event Awards 2009
Winner “Concert of the Year 2008” George Michael & Alicia Keys live in Abu Dhabi – What’s On Dubai Awards
Winner “Concert of the Year 2008” Shakira live in Abu Dhabi – What’s On Abu Dhabi Awards

Ultimate Fighting Championship® – www.ufc.com
Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® produces over twelve UFC live pay-per-view events annually and 30 live arena events around the world. UFC programming is distributed in the United States on Viacom, Inc.’s Spike TV and on Comcast, Inc.’s Versus network. Globally, UFC programming is broadcast in over 130 countries, territories and jurisdictions, reaching 430 million homes worldwide, in 20 different languages. Ancillary businesses now include UFC.com with over 5 million unique visitors per month, the best-selling UFC “Undisputed” videogame franchise distributed by THQ, UFC Gym™, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo™ festivals, branded apparel, trading cards, articulated action figures and other media including best-selling DVDs and a U.S. bimonthly magazine.

Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Ultimate Fighting®, UFC®, The Ultimate Fighter®, Submission®, As Real As It Gets®, Zuffa®, The Octagon™ and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks, registered service marks, trademarks, trade dress and/or service marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC and licensed to its affiliated entities and other licensees in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC, its affiliates or other respective owners.

Source: http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=39966

“The lightweight division is one of the most talent-rich in the UFC, and this card is a prime example of that,” said UFC President Dana White. “Maynard and Diaz are two top contenders with a history between them, and this is one of those fights that could be career-changing for the winner. The stakes are just as high in the Escudero-Dunham fight, as both of these guys are looking to make the jump from prospect to contender.”

Tickets for this event will go on sale Saturday, November 21 at 10 a.m. ET and are $203, $128, $93, $63 and $43 (plus applicable service charges). Tickets will be available through all Ticketmaster outlets including the Patriot Center box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or via Phonecharge at 703-573-SEAT, 202-397-SEAT or 410-547-SEAT.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Thursday, November 19 at 10 a.m. ET via the website ufc.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Friday, November 20 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through ufc.com.

The UFC Fight Night main event features a rematch of lightweight contenders Gray Maynard (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) and Nate Diaz (fighting out of Stockton, Calif.) who first met in the Octagon on season five of The Ultimate Fighter™. Diaz defeated Maynard on his way to being named “The Ultimate Fighter” that season.

A former teammate of Rashad Evans on the Michigan State wrestling team, Maynard currently trains with UFC legend Randy Couture in Las Vegas. The 30-year-old with the 9-0, 1 NC record is riding one of the most impressive winning streaks in the sport, defeating an impressive array of 155-pound fighters including Frankie Edgar, Jim Miller, and, most recently, Roger Huerta this past September.

Diaz has won six of his last eight UFC fights including a win over Melvin Guillard this past September. The pride of Stockton, California and a product of the renowned Cesar Gracie Fight Team, Diaz needs a win over Maynard to continue on his path toward a shot at BJ Penn’s lightweight crown.

Winner of the eighth season of The Ultimate Fighter™, 23-year-old Efrain Escudero (fighting out of Tempe, Ariz.) is coming off of an impressive TKO victory over Cole Miller at UFC 103 in September. At a perfect 13-0, Escudero will look to use his superior grappling skills against another rising star in the division, Evan Dunham.

An Oregon native, Evan Dunham (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) was victorious in his first two fights in the UFC, most recently earning a split decision win over Marcus Aurelio at UFC 102 in August. Now at 9-0 as a professional mixed martial artist, the 27-year-old lightweight fighter is looking for his third win in the UFC.

Coming off a submission win over CB Dollaway at UFC 100, Fall River, Massachusetts’ Tom Lawlor (fighting out of Orlando, Fla.) has already compiled a 6-1, 1 NC record with two consecutive wins in the UFC. A former three-time national wrestling champion for the University of Central Florida, Lawlor uses his superior wrestling skills to dominate his opponents.

Another up-and-coming fighter in the UFC, undefeated Aaron Simpson (fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) is a perfect 2-0 in the UFC and 6-0 as a pro. A former Arizona State University wrestler and two-time NCAA All-American, Simpson scored a TKO win over Ed Herman at UFC 102, his second knockout in as many UFC fights.

The remaining bouts will be announced in the near future.

For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com, UK.UFC.com, GERMANY.UFC.com, UFCJapan.jp or UFCEspanol.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

About The Ultimate Fighting Championship®
UFC is the largest live pay-per-view event content provider in the world and the fastest growing main stream sports organization in history. Owned and operated by Zuffa™, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® produces over twelve live pay-per-view events annually that are distributed residentially through North American cable and satellite providers including iNDEMAND Networks, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN Entertainment, BellTV, SaskTel Max™, Shaw Pay-Per-View, and Viewers Choice. International distributors include WOWOW in Japan, Rede TV and Globosat’s Combate Channel and SporTV in Brazil, ESPN in United Kingdom, Televisa in Mexico and throughout Central America, with worldwide distribution via the Internet on UFC.com and Yahoo! Sports. UFC content is distributed commercially through Joe Hand Promotions in the U.S. and Canadastar in Canada. UFC programming is distributed in 132 countries, territories and jurisdictions, reaching 430 million homes worldwide, in 20 different languages.

Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Ultimate Fighting®, UFC®, The Ultimate Fighter®, Submission®, As Real As It Gets®, Zuffa® , The Octagon™ and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks, registered service marks, trademarks, trade dress and/or service marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC and licensed to its affiliated entities and other licensees in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC, its affiliates or other respective owners.

About Spike TV
Spike TV is available in 97.7 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com.

Source: http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=26517

In professional sports, fans live for rivalries. Whether it’s Boston vs. New York in baseball, Toronto vs. Montreal in hockey, or Ohio State vs. Michigan in football, fans have a burning desire to see their favorite teams soundly defeat eternal adversaries. Regardless of standings, rankings, or championships on the line, fans believe wins over bitter rivals are of the utmost importance.

In 2010, MMA’s biggest feud takes on a whole new meaning. In what will be one of the most hotly-contested seasons ever, Liddell and Ortiz have been selected to face off as coaches of Spike TV’s most popular original series ever, The Ultimate Fighter®. Scheduled to premiere on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 10:00pm ET/PT, two of the sport’s biggest icons will lead their respective teams in a season that will produce fireworks never-before-seen in the Liddell-Ortiz saga.

“The world knows that there is no love lost between Tito and Chuck,” UFC President Dana White said. “These two guys will do whatever it takes to beat each other. Whether it’s fighting or checkers, Chuck wants to beat Tito and Tito wants to beat Chuck. On Season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter, we’ll see which legend can score the upper hand when it comes to coaching the next batch of rising stars.”

A native of Santa Barbara, Calif., Liddell (21-7) served as coach of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter in January 2005. Known for his phenomenal striking ability and staunch takedown defense, “The Iceman” earned his way into the UFC Hall of Fame by defeating the likes of Vitor Belfort, Renato Sobral, Randy Couture (twice), and Ortiz (twice). Considered by many as the greatest 205-pound fighter ever, Liddell believes he will score another victory when he coaches opposite Ortiz next year.

“I am excited for the opportunity to coach on The Ultimate Fighter, especially since I get a chance to beat Tito again,” said Liddell, who became a pop culture icon with appearances on hit programs such as “Dancing with the Stars, “Entourage,” and “The Apprentice”. “This is a perfect chance for me to help young fighters grow and it’s a chance for me to get another win against Tito.”
The longest-reigning champion in UFC history, Ortiz (16-7-1) once held the light heavyweight title for nearly four years. An outstanding wrestler with vicious ground and pound, “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” owns wins over some of the sport’s elite, including Belfort, Forrest Griffin, Wanderlei Silva, as well as three victories over Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock. A coach on season three of The Ultimate Fighter, Ortiz returns to the show holding the firm belief that he will finally knock off his arch nemesis.

“This season of the show is important to me in so many ways,” said Ortiz, who appeared on the hit series “Celebrity Apprentice” in 2008. “I love coaching and I’m happy that I can give my fighters a chance to become better athletes. Plus, I think I’m a better coach than Chuck. I think my guys are going to be hungry and ready to smash Chuck’s guys. I can’t wait to see his face when that happens.”

About The Ultimate Fighting Championship®

UFC is the largest live pay-per-view provider in the world and the fastest growing main stream sports organization in history.  Owned and operated by Zuffa™, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® produces over twelve live pay-per-view events annually that are distributed residentially through North American cable and satellite providers including iNDEMAND Networks, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN Entertainment, BellTV, SaskTel Max™, Shaw Pay-Per-View, and Viewers Choice. International distributors include WOWOW in Japan, Premiere Combate and SporTV in Brazil, with worldwide distribution via the Internet on UFC.com and Yahoo! Sports.  UFC content is distributed commercially through Joe Hand Promotions in the U.S. and Canadastar in Canada.  UFC programming is distributed in 132 countries, territories and jurisdictions, reaching 415 million homes worldwide.

Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Ultimate Fighting®, UFC®, The Ultimate Fighter®, Submission®, As Real As It Gets®, Zuffa® , The Octagon™ and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks, registered service marks, trademarks, trade dress and/or service marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC and licensed to its affiliated entities and other licensees in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC, its affiliates or other respective owners.

Source: http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=30705

Tickets for UFC 107: PENN vs. SANCHEZ, priced at $350, $250, $150 $100, $75 and $50, are on sale now and available online at ticketmaster.com or UFC.com, at all Ticketmaster locations, the FedExForum Box Office or by phone at (800)745-3000. Tickets are subject to additional fees and service charges. 

UFC 107 will be available live on pay-per-view on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, BellTV, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.95 for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available).

A phenomenal wrestler who honed his craft at Purdue University, welterweight Jon Fitch (fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) heads into UFC 107 riding back-to-back victories over Akihiro Gono and Paulo Thiago. The 31-year-old hopes to extend that streak to three and climb one step closer to the world title when he meets ground-and-pound specialist Mike Pierce (fighting out of Vancouver, Wash.) at FedExForum. Boasting a six-fight winning streak, including a 1-0 mark in the UFC, Pierce (9-2) looks to impose his will on Fitch (23-3, 1 NC) and prove that he belongs among the welterweight elite. The 29-year-old believes a win over Fitch on Dec. 12 will launch him into immediate contention in the stacked 170-pound division.

Two of the lightweight division’s most exciting fighters lock horns when Clay Guida (fighting out of Johnsburg, Ill.) meets Kenny Florian (fighting out of Brookline, Mass.) at UFC 107. After competing in a torrid “Fight of the Year” candidate against Diego Sanchez in June, the 28-year-old Guida (25-7) returns to the Octagon™ with his sights set on derailing “Ken-Flo.” Having trained for this fight under the tutelage of renowned trainer Greg Jackson in New Mexico, Guida believes he has refined all of the tools needed to best his seasoned opponent. A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt who also possesses some of the most dangerous elbow strikes in all of MMA, Florian (13-4) has shown a knack for finishing fights in his 12-bout UFC career. The 33-year-old has won six out of his last seven fights, including five by way of stoppage.

Heavy-handed striker Paul Buentello (fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) returns to the UFC for the first time since 2006 to take on 21-year-old rising star Stefan Struve (fighting out of Beverwijk, the Netherlands) in heavyweight action. Owning a 3-1 mark with three knockouts inside the Octagon, Buentello (25-10) looks to reinsert himself in the title picture with a win over his 6’11” opponent. The task may be easier said than done for “The Headhunter.” An outstanding kickboxer and submission artist, Struve (22-3) has submitted his last two opponents and is on a meteoric rise in the division. Known for his smooth transitions and slick grappling, “Skyscraper” plans to spoil Buentello’s homecoming and take a giant leap toward his goal of one day wearing UFC gold.

A terrific Muay Thai striker with an advanced ground game, Alan Belcher (fighting out of Biloxi, Miss.) is an exciting fighter with a “go-for-broke” style of fighting. The 25-year-old, nicknamed “The Talent,” is hungry to make a statement in the middleweight division and believes a win over gifted grappler Wilson Gouveia (fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) will propel him into pivotal bouts in 2010. Equally determined to end the year with a bang is the American Top Team product Gouveia (12-6). A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt who trains alongside the likes of Luiz Cane and Thiago Alves, the 31-year-old has earned 11 of his 12 professional wins by stoppage. He’ll look for another dominant performance when he clashes with Belcher (13-5) on Dec. 12.

A purple belt in jiu jitsu under BJ Penn, Shane Nelson (fighting out of Hilo, Hawaii) has steadily become one of the lightweight division’s most promising prospects. With wins in eight out of his last nine bouts, the 26-year-old Nelson (13-4) faces a stiff test in Memphis when he battles Matt Wiman (fighting out of Dallas, Texas). Known for his aggressive, gritty performances inside the Octagon, “Handsome” seeks his fifth win in the organization against the Hawaiian. Having already fought some of the best fighters in the lightweight class, Wiman (10-5) thinks his experience will play a key role in the bout with Nelson.

Riding the momentum of a first round stoppage victory over Amir Sadollah in August, Johny Hendricks (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) looks to remain unbeaten when he touches gloves with newcomer Ricardo Funch (training out of Ludlow, Mass.) in welterweight action. A four-time Division I All-American wrestler at Oklahoma State University, Hendricks (6-0) boasts heavy hands and powerful takedowns. He’ll look to impose his will on the undefeated Funch in Tennessee. Holding a record of 7-0, “Golden Boy” Funch trains alongside UFC heavyweight Gabriel Gonzaga and the 29-year-old, who originally hails from Lencois-Bahia, Brazil, believes he’ll become an impact player at 170 pounds with a win over Hendricks later this month.

Training under the guidance of former UFC middleweight champion Murilo Bustamante, submission ace Rousimar Palhares (fighting out of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil) is one of most feared grapplers in the sport. With five of his last six wins coming by way of submission, “Toquinho” will put his grounds skills on display when he battles fellow Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt Lucio Linhares (fighting out of Helsinki, Finland). A winner of five consecutive fights, Linhares (13-4) has a solid grappling game, but doesn’t mind slugging it out on the feet. With nine stoppage victories in his career, the fighter nicknamed “The Spartan” is ready to test his mettle in the UFC when he battles Palhares (18-2) in a 185-pound contest.

A contestant on season nine of The Ultimate Fighter®, Damarques Johnson (fighting out of Salt Lake City, Utah) believes he can one day rule the welterweight division. Johnson (14-7), who is trained by UFC vet Jeremy Horn, continues his quest for the title on Dec. 12 when he takes on heavy-handed Edgar Garcia (fighting out of Yuma, Ariz.). A close friend and training partner of lightweight star Efrain Escudero, Garcia (7-1) owns five wins by way of knockout. Also a state wrestling champion in his native Arizona, the 25-year-old looks to demonstrate his versatility when he battles Johnson inside the Octagon.

Having only gone the distance once in his 11-fight career, Kevin Burns (fighting out of Des Moines, Iowa) is a relentless competitor with a strong desire to finish fights. The Iowan, who has ended all eight of his wins before the final bell, seeks another impressive victory when he battles TJ Grant (fighting out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada) at UFC 107. Equally dominant in ending fights, the 25-year-old Canadian Grant (14-3) owns 12 submission victories and one knockout win since launching a professional career in 2006. He seeks his 15th victory when he takes on Burns (8-3) in “The Volunteer State.”

For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com, UK.UFC.com, GERMANY.UFC.com, UFCJapan.jp or UFCEspanol.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

About The Ultimate Fighting Championship®

UFC is the largest live pay-per-view provider in the world and the fastest growing main stream sportsorganization in history. Owned and operated by Zuffa™, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® produces over twelve live pay-per-view events annually that are distributed residentially through North American cable and satellite providers including iNDEMAND Networks, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN Entertainment, BellTV, SaskTel Max™, Shaw Pay-Per-View, and Viewers Choice. International distributors include WOWOW in Japan, Premiere Combate and SporTV in Brazil, with worldwide distribution via the Internet on UFC.com and Yahoo! Sports. UFC content is distributed commercially through Joe Hand Promotions in the U.S. and Canadastar in Canada. UFC programming is distributed in 132 countries, territories and jurisdictions, reaching 415 million homes worldwide.

Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Ultimate Fighting®, UFC®, The Ultimate Fighter®, Submission®, As Real As It Gets®, Zuffa® , The Octagon™ and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks, registered service marks, trademarks, trade dress and/or service marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC and licensed to its affiliated entities and other licensees in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC, its affiliates or other respective owners.

MIKE PIERCE VS. JON FITCH

CLAY GUIDA VS. KENNY FLORIAN

STEFAN STRUVE VS. PAUL BUENTELLO

WILSON GOUVEIA VS. ALAN BELCHER

SHANE NELSON VS. MATT WIMAN

RICARDO FUNCH VS. JOHNY HENDRICKS

LUCIO LINHARES VS. ROUSIMAR PALHARES

EDGAR GARCIA VS. DAMARQUES JOHNSON

TJ GRANT VS. KEVIN BURNS

Source: http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=30066

Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of the UFC®, does not conduct events in any state that does not properly regulate MMA. This legislation will now enable the company to hold events in Massachusetts. Specifically, the legislation mandates safety and medical requirements for every MMA fighter and event held in the state. The events will also bring an economic boost to local communities across Massachusetts that hosts them.

The UFC® has worked with members of the Massachusetts Legislature and the Department of Public Safety for over two years to pass legislation to regulate the sport so it could bring events to the state.  The UFC® is the largest live pay-per-view event content provider in the world and the fastest growing mainstream sports organization in history.  Its programming is distributed in 132 countries, territories and jurisdictions, reaching 430 million homes worldwide, in 20 different languages.

Kenny Florian, a Massachusetts native and one of the UFC®’s premier lightweight fighters, campaigned to get the legislation passed said, “The chance to fight in front of my hometown crowd has always been a dream of mine.  Now it looks like my dream will finally come true”.  The Boston College graduate testified before the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security supporting regulation of mixed martial arts.

“Mixed martial arts events are enormously popular in Massachusetts and held in venues across the state every day.  That is why passing legislation to regulate the sport was so important:  We want it to be safe for everyone” said State Senator James Timilty, chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security who led the effort to regulate MMA.

Dana White, the President of the UFC®, who grew up in Boston, expressed the reaction of many fans as well when the legislation passed, “I am so pumped that the UFC®  is finally coming to Massachusetts.  I guarantee that we will put on an incredible UFC® event for Boston in 2010” he said.

The first UFC® fight in Massachusetts could be held as early as Summer 2010.

Source: http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=29341