Author: UFC News

With the New Year rapidly approaching, residents in Torrance, Calif. now have the opportunity to Train Different in 2012. UFC GYM®, the ultimate fitness destination that goes beyond the traditional workout, announced today that its newest 24-hour location in Torrance will open for workouts on Thursday, Dec. 22 at 8 p.m.

Tours of the new, 40,000 square foot UFC GYM Torrance will be held at 12 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., allowing members and guests a sneak peek of the facility, including a comprehensive tour featuring the 32-foot Octagon®, bag room, grappling room, the latest cardio equipment and high-tech weight machines. Attendees will also enjoy MMA training that allows them to work out like their favorite UFC® athletes, as well as group fitness class demos.

 “We’re excited to open our latest UFC GYM in Torrance and truly give residents here the chance to train like never before,” said UFC GYM Senior Vice President Adam Sedlack. “We’ve built the ultimate family fitness facility, with something for every member of your family. We hope everyone takes this opportunity to Train Different in 2012 and experience UFC GYM.”

UFC GYM Torrance is located in the Torrance Promenade at 19800 Hawthorne Blvd. #420. For more information visit www.ufcgym.com or call 877-2-UFCGYM. UFC GYM recently announced the opening of UFC GYM BJ PENN HAWAII and currently has three locations operating in Concord, Rosemead and Corona, Calif.

Step into the Octagon® and get closer to the action of the Ultimate Fighting Championship® than ever before with your ultimate fight center on Xbox 360. Available for download today for all Xbox LIVE subscribers, UFC® on Xbox LIVE® allows you to experience the intensity and excitement of the world’s fastest growing sport from one central hub – your Xbox 360. 

To celebrate the launch, UFC on Xbox LIVE will make available UFC® 141: LESNAR vs. OVEREEM on Saturday, Dec. 30 for free to the first 25,000 fans that complete the order process.* These fans will be able to make predictions and prepare for a night of epic fights by watching the weigh-ins, pre-fight press conferences and other related videos live or via the on-demand library. **

All Xbox LIVE viewers who download the app will be able to purchase Pay-Per-Views using the service starting with UFC 142 on January 14.

For the first time, Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE deliver all the heart-pounding UFC action you crave. Purchase Pay-Per-View events in stunning HD, compete with friends in an exclusive fight prediction game, measure your success via friends leaderboards, access the interactive Fight Card, and view pre-fight weigh-ins, press conferences and previews live or through an expansive on-demand video catalogue, only on Xbox 360.

Check out the latest sizzle reel to see the application in action, and hear what UFC President Dana White and UFC Hall of Fame legend Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell are saying about UFC on Xbox LIVE. To watch the sizzle reel, click here.

Broadcasting live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas at 10 p.m. EST / 7 p.m. PST on Dec. 30, UFC 141 is headlined by a title contender bout between former eavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and international superstar Alistair “The Demolition Man” Overeem.  In addition, UFC 141 is set to usher in the New Year with an entire night of action-packed fights between the UFC’s most elite talent, including Nate Diaz, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, Jon Fitch, Johny Hendricks and more.

*UFC on Xbox LIVE Holiday Gift Promotion is a limited time offer good only to the first 25,000 Xbox LIVE members (Free (Silver) or Gold) in the United States and Canada age 18+ to order the UFC 141 Pay-Per-View event on Xbox LIVE. Valid credit card required for order. Limit one PPV event per account. Offer ends at 11:59pm PST on December 30, 2011, or while supplies last. This offer is not transferable, not redeemable for cash, and not combinable with any other offers. Microsoft will not be responsible for any late, lost, misrouted, or non-delivered e-mails—or any other network, Internet, or other computer- or communications-related failures—caused by events beyond the reasonable control of Microsoft. Sponsor: Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA  98052.

**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.

Showtime Networks Inc. and world championship mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion STRIKEFORCE® have entered into a new broadcast agreement to continue producing live MMA events on the premium television network, SHOWTIME. The agreement was announced jointly today by Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports®, Dana White, UFC® President, and Scott Coker, STRIKEFORCE CEO.  
 
Under the new agreement, SHOWTIME will produce and televise up to eight live events. STRIKEFORCE athletes such as lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, women’s featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Santos, women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate and other world-class MMA fighters will continue to compete for the organization on SHOWTIME.

The new deal kicks off during the network’s Free Preview Weekend, Saturday, Jan. 7, as champion Rockhold defends the STRIKEFORCE 185-pound title against dangerous veteran Keith Jardine at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Notable STRIKEFORCE contenders such as Robbie Lawler, “King Mo” Lawal and Tyron Woodley are also set to compete on the televised card, which—as part of Free Preview Weekend—will be available in more than 60 million households nationwide across SHOWTIME, SHOWTIME HD™ and SHOWTIME On Demand®.

Beginning with the Jan. 7 card, SHOWTIME will also televise undercard fights for all STRIKEFORCE events live on SHOWTIME EXTREME. The live SHO Extreme preliminary telecasts will afford network subscribers with expanded live fight coverage by up to two hours and provide invaluable exposure for the sport’s next generation of STRIKEFORCE contenders.

Under the new deal, the World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament champion will be determined when Josh Barnett battles Daniel Cormier. The winner will compete again on SHOWTIME under the STRIKEFORCE banner in the months to follow.

“Since its advent on SHOWTIME in 2007, live mixed martial arts has always performed well with our subscribers, particularly in the younger demographics,” said Espinoza, who now heads the division of the network responsible for programming live boxing, studio shows from National Football League and NASCAR as well as multiple sports documentary series. “As the one and only premium network in the MMA business, we are proud to renew our commitment to the sport and to our partners at Strikeforce.  This agreement ensures that we can continue to deliver the edge-of-your-seat programming that each live MMA event produces in the New Year and beyond.

“This exciting announcement could not have come at a better time,” he continued. “During our nationwide Free Preview Weekend a whole new crop of MMA fans will have the opportunity to sample the Strikeforce brand free of charge.”

“We’re excited about this renewal with SHOWTIME and I expect to put on some big STRIKEFORCE events next year,” White said.  “I never thought I would say this, but I am very much looking forward to building STRIKEFORCE and working very closely with SHOWTIME.”

 “SHOWTIME has been a great TV partner for us and we’re happy to renew our agreement with them,” Coker said. “Together, we’ve put on some really amazing events and we’re going to keep doing that with this new deal. We have a great core of talented fighters on our roster and MMA fans are in for a real treat.”

STRIKEFORCE®: MELENDEZ vs. MASVIDAL airs live on SHOWTIME this Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on West Coast) as lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez defends the title against hard-hitting contender Jorge Masvidal. In the night’s co-main event, women’s featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Santos meets gifted Japanese star Hiroko Yamanaka.
 

A special UFC Rio: Aldo vs. Mendes press conference with UFC president Dana White was held on Tuesday, December 13 to announce details of the event, scheduled for January 14th at HSBC Arena.

In addition to announcing the complete fight card and ticket on-sale information for the event, White revealed that Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva would coach the two teams featured in the first Brazilian version of The Ultimate Fighter. White confirmed that the show will premiere on March 25th with a season finale scheduled for June.

The event marks the first Rede Globo broadcast of an edition of The Ultimate Fighting Championship held in Brazil. “We are very happy with the success of the event in Brazil, and that is why we knew we wanted to go back to Rio de Janeiro as soon as possible”, he concluded.

Attending the press conference were White, Lorenzo Fertitta, CEO of the
UFC, featherweight champion Jose Aldo and contender Chad Mendes, as well
as middleweights Vitor Belfort and Anthony Johnson.

UFC RIO: Aldo vs. Mendes
Reigning UFC featherweight champion Aldo (20-1) is undefeated in the
UFC; in January, he will put his belt on the line against the undefeated
Mendes. ““It’s a great emotion to be able
to defend my belt in Brazil,” said Aldo. “It will be a tough fight, but
the important thing is to do my
job.”

Born and raised in Leblon, in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Belfort
(20-9) will finally fulfill his dream of fighting in his hometown. “I
have always believed in my sport, and it will be
an honor to fight in Rio de Janeiro with all my team,” said the former
UFC champion. “I really can’t
express my happiness.”

His opponent, Johnson (10-3), his known for his toughness. Coming off of
two resounding wins in the welterweight division, Johnson is now moving
up to fight middleweight to meet Belfort.

Brazilian fans will also be able to see nine more of their own in action
at UFC Rio: Rousimar “Toquinho” Palhares (middleweight), Erick Silva
(welterweight) and Edson Barboza (lightweight),  Thiago Tavares
(lightweight), Paulo Thiago (welterweight), Yuri “Marajó” Alcântara
(featherweight), Fabio Maldonado (light-heavyweight), Ednaldo “Lula”
Olivera (heavyweight) and Felipe “Sertanejo” Arantes (featherweight)
will all defend the Brazilian flag in the HSBC Arena.

Ticket information
UFC Rio: Aldo vs. Mendes tickets went on sale Wednesday, December 14 at 11:30 pm (local), exclusively through www.ingresso.com website.

Sections and prices are as follows: Single Bleacher Sector (R$ 275 / R$ 137,50 – half-price ticket). North and South Special Chairs (R$ 1.000 / R$ 500 – half-price ticket), East and West Premiere Chairs (R$ 1.600 / R$ 800 – half-price) and North and South Premiere Octagon (R$ 1.600 – R$ 800 – half-price). There will also be sectors for People With Special Needs (R$ 137,50) and Premiere People With Special Needs (R$ 800).

Scheduled for January 14th at HSBC Arena, UFC Rio also had an HSBC
customer ticket pre-sale, which sold out in under four hours.

Also at the press conference, the UFC announced a partnership with the Ministry of Health to support the national campaign for the fight against dengue.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that two of the sport’s top welterweight contenders will vie for the interim 170-pound title. Nick Diaz, a fiery and unpredictable southpaw riding an 11-fight win streak, will battle the division’s most fearsome knockout artist, Carlos Condit, when the UFC returns to the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 4.

“With GSP out for 10 months, we are going to have Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit fight to crown an interim welterweight champion,” UFC President Dana White said. “I’ve had my differences with Nick, but he is a fighter through and through. The one thing I can guarantee is that come fight night, he is going to throw down. We all saw that in his last performance against BJ Penn. Carlos Condit is no different. He’s knocked out his last three opponents and believes he is the best fighter in the division. I get goose bumps just thinking about this fight!”

Additional fights scheduled for this event include: welterweight bad boy Josh Koscheck vs. powerful wrestler Mike Pierce, as well as a pivotal featherweight bout pitting Erik “New Breed” Koch vs. Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier.

Tickets for UFC®143: DIAZ vs. CONDIT, presented by BUD LIGHT®, go on sale TOMORROW, Friday, Dec. 16 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $750, $500, $350, $225, $125 and $75. Tickets will be available at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.

UFC®143: DIAZ vs. CONDIT will be available live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Avail-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 and $54.99 US/$59.99 CAN for High Definition.

Official UFC VIP packages are also available at http://vip.ufc.com. These packages include tickets to UFC 143, official event merchandise, as well as special VIP experiences with backstage tours and meet and greets with top UFC stars. Get closer to the action than ever before with this unique UFC VIP opportunity.

During his reign as STRIKEFORCE welterweight champion, Nick Diaz (fighting out of Stockton, Calif.) defeated archrival KJ Noons and finished both Evangelista Santos and Paul Daley en route to  becoming the organization’s best 170-pound fighter. Returning to the UFC with his destruction of Penn last October, Diaz – whose brother Nate is also a UFC competitor – looks to knock off Condit and secure his first UFC world title.

“I wanted to fight Georges St-Pierre and I still want that fight when Georges comes back,” Diaz, who owns a record of 27-7, 1 NC, said. “Right now, I’m focused on beating Carlos Condit. He’s tough and he’s knocked a lot of guys out, but that doesn’t concern me. I know I’m a better fighter in all areas. I’m gonna win that belt on February 4.”

Nicknamed “The Natural Born Killer,” Carlos Condit (fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.)
is a 27-year-old former WEC champion with four straight wins, three of which came by way of knockout. A pupil of renowned trainer Greg Jackson, Condit (27-5) now has the chance to fulfill a lifelong goal of winning the UFC welterweight title. He’s also motivated by the chance to fight one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound best.

“Ever since I began my career in mixed martial arts, it has been my goal to be a UFC champion,” Condit said. “Upon hearing the news that I would be fighting for the interim welterweight title, I cannot begin to describe the mix of emotion that came over me. I am thankful to have such an opportunity. This will be the biggest fight of my career and I am ready to show that I am deserving of it.

“Nick is a great fighter,” Condit added. “He’s also a hungry and motivated fighter. Both of us want to be the champion more than anyone could imagine. I look forward to training for the challenges that he will present in the Octagon. We both have aggressive styles, and that should provide for an entertaining fight for both the UFC and the fans.”

An elite competitor who has fought some of the division’s toughest names, Josh Koscheck (fighting out of Fresno, Calif.) is fresh off a knockout victory over UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes in September. A member of the renowned American Kickboxing Academy and a former NCAA Division I national champion wrestler, “Kos” now turns his attention to ending the rise of Mike Pierce (fighting out of Vancouver, Wash.). Having won four of his last five fights, Pierce (13-4) is a hard-charging wrestler known for his ferocious ground and pound. He looks for the biggest win of his career when he meets Koscheck (18-5) on February 4.

A pupil of renowned striking coach Duke Roufus, Erik Koch (fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) has made an immediate impact since joining the UFC earlier this year, knocking out Raphael Assuncao in March and besting The Ultimate Fighter® season 12 winner Jonathan Brookins in September. To earn a crack at the featherweight title, the 23-year-old Koch (13-1) must defeat another surging prospect in 22-year-old Dustin Poirier (fighting out of Lafayette, La.).

With a perfect 3-0 mark since dropping to featherweight at the start of 2011, the gritty Poirier (11-1) has impressed many thanks to decision victories over Josh Grispi and Jason Young, as well as a dynamic submission win over Pablo Garza in November at UFC® on FOX. Eyeing his own shot at the 145-pound crown, Poirier is gearing up for what should be an incredible bout with Koch at Mandalay Bay.

Additional bouts will be announced at UFC.com in the weeks to come. All bouts live and subject to change.