Press Release – Jan. 23, 2012 – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that its event on Saturday, Jan. 28 at the United Center in Chicago is officially sold out. The UFC’s long-awaited return to the Windy City is headlined by a light heavyweight No. 1 contender fight between former champion Rashad Evans and unbeaten Phil Davis. In addition, middleweight contenders Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping collide for the right to fight champion Anderson Silva later this year, while Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace Demian Maia meets red-hot 185-pound prospect Chris Weidman.
This exciting tripleheader airs live on FOX at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
“The fans in Chicago have wanted us to come back there for a long time and they proved why it’s a great sports town by selling out the United Center,” UFC President Dana White said. “Get ready Chicago! We’re bringing a night of fights that you won’t forget!”
For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.
About Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® is the world’s premier MMA organization and produces over 12 UFC live Pay-Per-View events annually around the globe. This year, FOX will broadcast four fights annually. In spring 2012, The Ultimate Fighter®, UFC’s signature weekly reality TV show, debuts on FX. UFC content is also distributed commercially to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions in the U.S.
Globally, UFC programming is broadcast in 150 countries, territories and jurisdictions, reaching over one billion homes worldwide, in 21 different languages.
UFC® also boasts a powerful presence online, with UFC.com attracting over seven million unique visitors per month, while also possessing one of the most powerful social media followings in all of professional sports. To date, UFC has over seven million fans on Facebook and over 475,000 followers on Twitter. In addition, UFC President Dana White is one of the most accessible and most followed executives in sports with more than 1.8 million followers on Twitter. On January 22, 2011, UFC continued to set trends in social media, becoming the first major sports league to stream live, broadcast quality action on Facebook.
Ancillary businesses include best-selling DVDs, a magazine, 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, and articulated action figures.