Author: UFC News

Red tape has put a stranglehold on one of the planned fights for the UFC on FOX card in Chicago: The bantamweight bout between Johnny Bedford and Mitch Gagnon has been pulled due to visa issues.

FOX Changes – Sonnen vs. Bisping, Maia vs. Weidman updated January 17
UFC’s second show on Fox has seen a major change, as UFC President Dana White announced today that Mark Munoz is out of his January 28th bout against Chael Sonnen due to injury. Stepping in for Munoz will be “The Count,” Michael Bisping, with the winner squaring off against middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

Fans who expected verbal fireworks between these two notorious jawers didn’t have to wait long for the jibes to start.

“This isn’t the new co-main, because I sold all the tickets. This is the new main event,” said Sonnen. “I am going to knock the teeth out of this snot-nosed Brit who calls a Count. I am MMA royalty and America will tune into the Chael Sonnen show next Saturday on FOX.”

Never one to turn the other cheek, Bisping offered some opening remarks on his opponent: “He’s been kicked out of politics, he has been kicked out of the real estate business, and I am going to kick him out of the middleweight division.”

Stepping in to face Bisping’s original foe, Brazilian submission ace Demian Maia, will be unbeaten New Yorker Chris Weidman, who is coming off an impressive first round finish of Tom Lawlor at UFC 139 last November.

Roller in for McKenzie in Chi-Town updated January 5th
Guillotine specialist Cody McKenzie has been injured and forced to withdraw from the UFC on FOX event later this month. Stepping in on short notice to face TUF runner-up Michael Johnson in the lightweight affair is blue-chip wrestler Shane Roller, who has verbally agreed to the newly-made bout.

Mitch Gagnon to Make UFC Debut in Chicago updated December 28
With Eddie Wineland sidelined, one of Canada’s very best bantamweights, Mitch Gagnon, has stepped in to fill the spot against Johnny Bedford at the UFC on Fox event January 28th in Chicago. Verbal agreements are in for the bout between Bedford, a TUF 14 standout, and the 8-1 Gagnon, who will look to extend his six-fight win streak.

Injuries Waylay Chicago Fight Card updated December 26
A pair of injuries has required change-ups to the January 28th Chicago fight card.

Brit submission specialist Paul Sass has been injured and forced to withdraw from his bout against Evan Dunham. Stepping in will be Nik Lentz, looking to bounce back from his recent loss at UFC 140. Verbal agreements are in for this lightweight tilt.

In bantamweight action, former champion Eddie Wineland has also suffered an injury and is now out of his bout against TUF 14’s Johnny Bedford. A replacement will be named soon. Wineland was originally slated to face Demetrious Johnson, who was pulled from the fight to appear in the UFC’s first-ever flyweight matchup on March 3.

City of Broad Shoulders Gets Heavyweight Match-Up updated December 20
Heavyweight sluggers have verbally agreed to battle at UFC on FOX 2 as Strikeforce alum Lavar “Big” Johnson will face fan favorite Joey “The Mexicutioner” Beltran, UFC president Dana White announced today.

Brutal Bedford Gets Bout Against Wineland updated December 13
“With Demetrious Johnson joining the flyweight division, former bantamweight champ Eddie Wineland will now be facing TUF 14 standout Johnny Bedford on January 28th in Chicago,” said UFC president Dana White today. Both fighters have verbally agreed to the bout.

More Middleweight Matchups for UFC on FOX 2 updated December 7
The televised card for UFC on FOX 2 was revealed today to be a triple-header, with last weekend’s TUF 14 Finale winner Michael Bisping returning to action January 28 against Demian Maia. The winner of that bout will be next in line for a middleweight title shot after the winner of Sonnen-Munoz, taking place the same night.

Another middleweight matchup has been verbally agreed to for the undercard of that event, as 6-1 Dustin Jacoby takes on 15-5 Chris Camozzi.

Seven Fights Set for UFC on FOX 2 updated December 5
The fight card for UFC </a>on FOX 2 is gathering steam as a number of bouts have been verbally agreed upon by the athletes, UFC president Dana White announced today.

In the night’s main event, former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad
Evans battles the unbeaten Phil Davis to determine the next challenger
to the 205-pound title. Plus, in the night’s co-feature, controversial
middleweight contender Chael Sonnen takes on “The Filipino Wrecking
Machine” Mark Munoz in a bout that will decide which fighter gets the
next crack at champion Anderson Silva.

In lightweight action, 12-0 undefeated submission specialist Paul Sass will face 12-2 lightweight contender Evan Dunham. Plus, Ultimate Fighter veterans Michael “The Menace” Johnson will take on the freshly-shorn Cody McKenzie.

More bouts in the works include:
– Cub Swanson will take on the always-dangerous George Roop in the talent-packed featherweight division.
– One of the bantamweight division’s toughest competitors, Eddie Wineland, will meet one of the UFC’s fastest, Demetrious Johnson.
– UFC 131 Fight of the Night winner John-Olav Einemo will face Chicago’s 14-1 Mike Russow in a heavyweight throwdown

Las Vegas, Nevada
– The Ultimate Fighting Championship^®, in conjunction with Cinedigm
Digital Cinema Corp. (NASDAQ: CIDM)  and
NCM Fathom, announced that tickets for the first-ever live, 3-D broadcast of a
UFC^® Pay-Per-View event on the Big Screen are on sale now. The
championship fight card, UFC^® 143: DIAZ vs. CONDIT,
airs live and in 3-D in more than 100 theatres nationwide on Saturday, Feb. 4
at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT from Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

 

The night’s main event pits the fiery and unpredictable Nick
Diaz against hard-hitting knockout artist Carlos Condit for the interim UFC
welterweight title. An exciting co-main event features heavyweight Roy “Big
Country” Nelson battling submission ace Fabricio Werdum.

 

Tickets for UFC^® 143: DIAZ vs. CONDIT are
available for purchase now at www.ufc.com/3D, as well as at
theatre box offices across the country. Fans can visit the website for
information on which theatres will be carrying the event in their respective
regions.

 

“I know the fans love 3-D, so
I’m happy to give them this championship fight live and in 3-D in theatres
across the country,” UFC President Dana White said. “I cannot wait for this
fight between Diaz and Condit to determine the interim UFC welterweight
champion!”

 

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 six 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.

 

About Cinedigm

Cinedigm offers a new
business model to exhibitors by enabling theatres to present engaging
alternative programming including live 2-D and 3-D sporting events and
concerts, shorts, cartoons, live Q&As, as well as branded
entertainment.  Recent releases by
Cinedigm include the groundbreaking, LIVE 3-D broadcast of The Foo Fighters
performance, the worldwide LIVE

3-D broadcast of the
FIFA World Cup Championship, the BCS Championship in LIVE 3-D, the Dave
Matthews Band 3-D concerts, and the sold out 3-D PHISH concerts. Cinedigm has
also released the KIDTOONS series for the past six years, a weekly family
friendly matinee series that runs in over 165 theatres across the country.  Cinedigm also provides a number of powerful
software applications that enable exhibitors to enhance and streamline their
daily operations.  Additionally, Cinedigm
offers precision marketing tools to dramatically increase exhibitor marketing
effectiveness, including social media initiatives, targeted advertising and
strategic public relations.  Cinedigm™ and Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp™ are
trademarks of Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. www.cinedigm.com [CIDM-G]

 

About National CineMedia (NCM)

NCM operates NCM Media Networks, a leading
integrated media company reaching U.S. consumers in movie theaters, online and
through mobile technology.  The NCM Cinema Network and NCM Fathom present cinema advertising and events across the nation’s largest digital in-theater
network, comprised of
theaters owned by AMC Entertainment Inc., Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK),
Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC) and other leading regional theater
circuits. NCM’s theater advertising network covers 176 Designated Market Areas®
(49 of the top 50) and includes over 18,300 screens (17,300 digital). During
2010, approximately 700 million patrons attended movies shown in theaters in
which NCM currently has exclusive, cinema advertising agreements in place.  The NCM Fathom Events broadcast network is comprised of nearly
700 locations in 165 Designated Market Areas® (all of the top 50). The NCM Interactive
Network offers 360-degree
integrated marketing opportunities in combination with cinema, encompassing 42
entertainment-related websites, online widgets and mobile applications.  National CineMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCMI) owns
a 48.7% interest in and is the managing member of National CineMedia LLC. For more information, visit www.ncm.com.

Bantamweight Nick Denis made quite an impression in his UFC® debut. The Canadian nicknamed “The Ninja of Love” showed no love to opponent Joseph Sandoval, finishing him with elbow strikes just 22 seconds into the first round. For his performance, Denis earned Knockout of the Night honors.

Headliner Jim Miller earned Submission of the Night for his rear naked choke over Melvin Guillard. After finding himself on the receiving end of some powerful strikes from Guillard, Miller got the fight to the floor. From there, Miller used his superior ground skills to earn the tapout 2:02 into the first round.

Pat Barry and Christian Morecraft opened the main card with an entertaining one-round scrap that earned both men Fight of the Night honors. Morecraft had several submission attempts, but Barry was able to show off an improving ground game before stopping Morecraft with punches.

Each bonus winner recived $45,000.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship released a statement today regarding the outcome of UFC 142’s welterweight bout between Erick Silva and Carlo Prater. Silva was disqualified during the bout for landing what the referee deemed to be illegal strikes. Marc Ratner, UFC Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs, issued the following statement:

“Based on the referee’s verbal warnings and his determination that the blows were intentional and a disqualifying foul, this is not the type of decision that can be reviewed. Therefore, the decision stands. Recently, Zuffa has decided to implement the use of instant replay at all international events that are self-regulated, and to encourage all regulators to consider the feasibility and effectiveness of instant replay in the sport of MMA. While instant replay would not have reversed the call in the Silva-Prater bout, we believe that it could be valuable to referees and the sport in the future.”

Zuffa also noted that Silva was awarded his potential Win Bonus following the contest.

Continuing a commitment to the health and safety of its athletes, the Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that all potential UFC® and STRIKEFORCE® signees will be subject to a mandatory pre-contract screening for performance-enhancing drugs. Beginning Jan. 1, 2012, all incoming athletes will be tested prior to finalizing a contract with the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization.

UFC and STRIKEFORCE already work closely with the most prestigious regulators and athletic commissions to ensure the healthy and safety of athletes prior to competition. This includes contestants on The Ultimate Fighter®, all of whom are pre-screened for performance-enhancing drugs prior to participating on the longest-running sports reality show on television.

All current UFC and STRIKEFORCE athletes will continue to be screened for performance-enhancing drugs, both prior to competition and at random, in accordance with athletic commission rules and regulations.

“We’re committed to the health and safety of our athletes and we take it very seriously,” UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said. “We already work closely with athletic commissions to protect our athletes and now we’re taking it one step further. We’re going to test any potential UFC or STRIKEFORCE fighter before finalizing their contract. This shows that we don’t want performance-enhancing drugs in our sport.”

This pre-contract screening policy further cements the organization’s dedication to the well-being of its athletes. In May, the organization announced that nearly 350 UFC and STRIKEFORCE independent contractor athletes would be eligible for customized accident insurance coverage, an unprecedented policy that covers accidental injuries suffered by athletes while training, as well as non-training incidents such as automobile accidents.

“The health and safety of our athletes is our top priority,” UFC President Dana White said. “We’ve seen the issues performance-enhancing drugs have caused in other sports and we’re going to do everything we can to keep them out of the UFC and STRIKEFORCE. Our athletes are already held to the highest testing standards in all sports by athletic commissions. Our new testing policy for performance-enhancing drugs only further shows how important it is to us to have our athletes competing on a level playing field.”

Due to a schedule change, the UFC will not hold an event in Montreal this March as initially announced. “We’re looking at other dates for Montreal and want to be back there as soon as we possibly can,” said Tom Wright, the Director of Operations for Zuffa in Canada.

UFC matchmakers are working to place the bouts that had been slated for the Montreal event on other fight cards.

Montreal Gets Makdessi vs. Njokuani, plus Canadian Debutant updated January 11
Two of the most exciting strikers in the lightweight division have verbally agreed to throw down in Montreal, Canada at UFC 145 as Anthony “The Assassin” Njokuani takes on John “The Bull” Makdessi.” Both men are coming off of disappointing December losses to high-level wrestlers, but should be able to show off their kickboxing chops against one another.

Also on that fight card, Canadian welterweight Chris “The Menace” Clements has verbally agreed to make his UFC debut against crafty veteran Keith Wisniewski. Clements is on a four-fight win streak that includes victories over two UFC veterans.

TUF Kings Collide in Montreal updated January 5
“Two former Ultimate Fighter winners have verbally agreed to face off  as season 8 winner Efrain ‘Hecho en Mexico’ Escudero takes on season 6 winner Mac Danzig at UFC 145,” said Dana White today. Both lightweights will be looking to get back into the win column after recent defeats.

Hominick Back in the Saddle for UFC 145 updated January 3
After a shocking knockout loss at UFC 140 in Toronto, featherweight contender Mark Hominick will waste no time in returning to fight again in his home country, this time taking on Eddie Yagin on March 24th in Montreal. Both fighters have verbally agreed to the bout.

Also at that event, exciting lightweights looking to move up the rankings have verbally agreed to face off in as “Handsome” Matt Wiman will take on Canadian BJJ specialist Mark Bocek.

Canada Fight Card Gets Heavyweight Addition updated December 27
Two heavyweights have verbally agreed to go to war March 24 in Montreal, Canada as Ben Rothwell will take on Brendan ‘The Hybrid’ Schaub.

Griggs Makes UFC Debut Against Browne at UFC 145 updated December 24
The UFC debut of former Strikeforce standout Chad Griggs is set, as he puts his six fight winning streak on the line at UFC 145 in March against unbeaten Travis Browne in a Montreal bout that has been verbally agreed to by both combatants.

MacDonald vs. Mills Fight Made for Montreal updated December 20
“Verbal agreements are in for an explosive welterweight matchup between ‘Beautiful’ Che Mills and Rory ‘Ares’ MacDonald at UFC 145 next March in Canada,” said UFC president Dana White.

The 22-year-old Canadian MacDonald has wowed in his four UFC outings but was forced to withdraw from UFC 140 in Toronto due to injury. The UK’s Mills made an impressive UFC debut in November at UFC 138, with a 40-second kickboxing TKO of opponent.