Author: UFC News

“Shogun has already pegged the man to dethrone [UFC light heavyweight champ Jon] Jones: Lyoto Machida.

“‘He has every chance to beat Jones,’ Rua told Sherdog.com. ‘His counterattack style is very strong and tough to beat. I think his style could match perfectly with Jones” style. I’d bet on him if I had to.'”

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The Ultimate Fighter®, the longest-running sports reality show on television, is moving to FX this March with an exciting, new live format.

The Ultimate Fighter® LIVE debuts on Friday, March 9 as part of a two-hour season premiere beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT.  The show will then air for one hour at 10 p.m. ET/PT every Friday for the next 11 weeks on FX. The three-hour finale will conclude FX’s premiere season of The Ultimate Fighter®LIVE on June 1 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.  UFC® bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and“The California Kid” Urijah Faber will serve as coaches on the upcoming season, with lightweight and welterweight contestants competing for two, six-figure UFC contracts.

This past Saturday, The Ultimate Fighter® concluded its run on SPIKE TV as 2.5 million viewers tuned in to watch the season 14 finale headlined by Michael Bisping battling Jason “Mayhem” Miller in a middleweight contest. The event was the highest rated and most watched TUF Finale since TUF 10 in 2009, and was the No. 1 program on cable among M18-49 and M18-34 (No. 2 in A18-49). In addition, season 14 was up +121 percent with A18-34 compared to the previous season. The strong ratings prove that the show has tremendous momentum heading into its highly anticipated arrival on FX.

“We’re producing ground-breaking television with The Ultimate Fighter LIVE and we can’t wait to kick this season off with FX in March,” UFC President Dana White said. “It’s going to be can’t-miss TV. Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber are two incredible personalities who also happen to be two of the best fighters in the world. They genuinely dislike each other and I expect this to make for the best season yet.”

“We believe that Dana and Lorenzo (Fertitta), along with Executive Producer Craig Piligian, have come up with exciting new changes to the format of The Ultimate Fighter that will expand and grow the series,” said Chuck Saftler, Executive Vice President, FX Networks. “The fact that the fights at the end of each episode will now be televised live is certain to create a sense of urgency for UFC fans.  Furthermore, the move of TUF to Friday nights will provide a great ratings boost to the network.”  

The rivalry between coaches Cruz and Faber dates back to March 2007, when Faber handed Cruz his first and only professional loss in a 145-pound bout. The 26-year-old Cruz avenged that loss this past July, defeating Faber by unanimous decision to retain the bantamweight crown in a Fight of the Year candidate. With the series now even, Cruz and Faber look to settle the score as TUF coaches, followed by a title fight in mid-2012 inside the Octagon®.

Undefeated at 9-0 since dropping to bantamweight in 2008, San Diego’s Cruz (19-1) has surged to the top of the division thanks to unorthodox striking, tremendous cardio, and aggressive wrestling. Owner of wins over the likes of Faber, Demetrious Johnson, Scott Jorgensen, Joseph Benavidez (twice), and Brian Bowles, “The Dominator” has long sought an opportunity to serve as coach on The Ultimate Fighter®. The chance to coach opposite his longtime rival makes the opportunity that much sweeter.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a gym rat and love learning and teaching mixed martial arts,” Cruz, who trains at Alliance MMA in San Diego, said. “This is a dream come true. To get a chance to coach TUF and beat Faber again is all the motivation I need. This is going to be an insane season of The Ultimate Fighter.”

Sacramento’s Faber cemented his place as a pioneer in the lighter weight divisions after holding the WEC featherweight title for a span of over two years from 2006-2008. Boasting victories over the likes of Cruz, Jeff Curran and Jens Pulver at 145-pounds, “The California Kid” dropped to his more natural weight class of 135-pounds in November 2010 in search of his second world title. He’s since been on a tear, most recently submitting former champion Bowles at UFC® 139.  

Now, the 32-year-old turns his attention to another one of his passions – coaching.

“I can’t wait to be the next coach on The Ultimate Fighter,” Faber, whose gym in Sacramento has helped produce UFC stars Benavidez, Chad Mendes and Danny Castillo, said. “I am looking forward to mentoring a bunch of hungry and talented fighters. The new cast needs to be ready to work hard and learn! Having Dominick coach on the opposite side couldn’t be more perfect. I’m not too thrilled about being in each other’s space for an extended period of time, as I am sure we are going to get on each other’s nerves. But I can’t wait to mentally beat him up as a coach, and then literally beat him up in the cage and swipe that UFC strap.”

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that four UFC® 140: JONES vs. MACHIDA preliminary fights will air live on the ION Television network on Saturday, Dec. 10 beginning at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

The fights are: Krzysztof Sozynski vs. Igor Pokrajac in a light heavyweight contest; Jared Hamman vs. Costa Phillippou in a middleweight bout; John Makdessi vs. Dennis Hallman in 155-pound action; Yves Jabouin vs. Walel Watson in a bantamweight bout.

Saturday’s UFC 140 prelims will reach almost 100 million U.S. households, giving UFC fans the opportunity to watch four exciting UFC bouts leading in to the Pay-Per-View event.

“We are excited to give UFC fans four great fights live and free on ION Television this Saturday,” UFC President Dana White said. “We always try to give fans free fights on TV and this is just another example.”

To find the ION Television channel in your area, visit http://www.iontelevision.com/.

UFC®140: JONES vs. MACHIDA, which takes place Saturday, Dec. 10 from Air Canada Centre in Toronto, will be available live on Pay-Per-View at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN, BellTV, ShawTV, SaskTel,Viewer’s Choice Canada and Canal Indigo for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$54.99 CAN for Standard Definition and $54.99 US/$59.99 CAN for High Definition.

In the night’s main event, reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones defends his crown against former titleholder Lyoto Machida. Plus, heavyweights Frank Mir and Antonio Minotauro Nogueira collide, while former light heavyweight champ Tito Ortiz battles Rogerio Nogueira.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT MAIN EVENT
RASHAD EVANS vs. PHIL DAVIS

MIDDLEWEIGHT CO-FEATURE
CHAEL SONNEN vs. MARK MUNOZ

PRESS CONFERENCE
Wednesday, Dec. 7 – 1 P.M. CT
United Center – Chicago, IL

*FREE AND OPEN TO PUBLIC*

STREAMED LIVE AT UFC.COM

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, DEC. 9 – 10 A.M. CT

Las Vegas, Nevada – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that it will host a press conference at 1 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at the United Center in Chicago. UFC President Dana White will discuss the UFC® on FOX event scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 at United Center.

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.

The four competitors will join White at the press conference, which is free and open to the public. It will also be streamed live at www.ufc.com.

Tickets for UFC® on FOX are priced at $250, $150, $100, $75, $50, and $40, and go on sale to the public on Friday, Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. CT. Tickets will be available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at ticketmaster.com and charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the United Center Box Office.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 10 a.m CT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Dec. 8, starting at 10 a.m. CT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

The two-hour UFC® on FOX broadcast airs live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012.  

History was made during the debut of UFC® on FOX as 5.7 million viewers (8.8 million peak) tuned in to watch Cain Velasquez battle Junior dos Santos for the UFC heavyweight title on Saturday, Nov. 12. 

WHO:            
DANA WHITE, UFC President
RASHAD EVANS, former UFC light heavyweight champion
PHIL DAVIS, unbeaten UFC light heavyweight contender
CHAEL SONNEN, UFC middleweight contender
MARK MUNOZ, UFC middleweight contender

WHAT:          
UFC® on FOX Press Conference

WHEN:         
Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. CT

*DOORS OPEN TO PUBLIC at 12 p.m.*
1 p.m.  – Press Conference Begins

WHERE:        
United Center
1901 West Madison Street
Chicago, IL 60612

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.  UFC content is distributed commercially through Joe Hand Promotions in the U.S. In 2012, FOX will broadcast four fights annually. In spring 2012, The Ultimate Fighter®, UFC’s signature weekly reality TV show, debuts on FX. Globally, UFC programming is broadcast in over 149 countries and territories, reaching a half a billion homes worldwide, in 20 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 more than 400,000 followers on Twitter.  In addition, UFC President Dana White is one of the most accessible and most followed executives in sports with more than 1.7 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.

 

 

On Dec. 20, Xbox will become the ultimate place to watch live UFC Pay-Per-View events with the launch of UFC® on Xbox LIVE®. With access to live event videos and a catalog of videos on demand, an interactive fight card, a fight prediction game with friend leaderboards, and Pay-Per-View events in stunning HD all together in one place, the energy of the Octagon® comes right into your living room.

UFC on Xbox LIVE provides UFC content available in one comprehensive hub on your TV, including:

•    Live and On Demand Video – Event previews, Countdown to UFC, Press Conferences, Weigh-Ins, Interviews, Workouts, and more, together for the first time on your big screen.

•    Streaming High Definition –UFC fans demand stunning High Definition viewing, and UFC on Xbox LIVE provides the highest quality streaming HD to the big screen.

•    Easy Pay-Per-View –The biggest Pay-Per-View fights available to all Xbox LIVE members in standard HD and SD pricing options. Purchase directly with the credit card associated with your Xbox LIVE account – no Microsoft Points required.

•    Interactive Fight Card with Fight Picks – Size up the fighters with the tale of the tape, and view their past fight results. Make your Fight Picks, predict specific fight outcomes, and compete with your friends. And with the live leaderboard and leaderboard alerts tracking the results, you will always know where you stand. Access leaderboards and Fight Picks features in split screen, so you’ll never have to leave the excitement of the Octagon.

•    Control the action with Kinect – Focus on the fight instead of looking for the remote. Navigate through the video content, bring up the Interactive Fight Card, or play, pause, and rewind that big punch, kick or submission…all through the body and voice-controlled power of Kinect.

Check out the latest sizzle reel for UFC on Xbox LIVE that shows the app in action, and see what the UFC’s biggest superstars, including Jason “Mayhem” Miller, Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell, Phil Davis and even UFC President Dana White, are saying about UFC on Xbox LIVE. To watch the sizzle reel, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EACjfbrn8Ns

To celebrate the launch, UFC on Xbox LIVE will present UFC® 141: LESNAR vs. OVEREEM on Dec. 30 in Pay-Per-View. Xbox LIVE Gold Members who download the application will be able to make predictions and get pumped up for the fight by watching the weigh-in, pre-fight press conferences and other related videos live or via the on-demand library. *

UFC on Xbox LIVE is your ultimate fight center! With access to live event videos and a catalog of videos on demand, an interactive fight card, and Pay-Per-View events in stunning HD all together in one, UFC on Xbox LIVE brings the world’s fastest growing sport to fans, just the way they want it.

*Pay-Per-View events sold separately. Xbox LIVE Gold Membership required for video content and other premium features. Kinect for Xbox 360 required for voice and gesture controls.

“A couple of weeks ago, UFC president Dana White sent out a message via his Twitter account asking if fans wanted to see former Octagon girl Brittney Palmer back with the promotion.

“Within minutes, White had his answer and he responded in kind saying that Palmer would be returning to the organization.”

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