Author: UFC News

Welterweight Title Fight
CHAMPION GEORGES ST-PIERRE vs. CARLOS CONDIT

Welterweight Co-Main Event
BJ PENN vs. NICK DIAZ

UFC 137®: ST-PIERRE vs. CONDIT
SATURDAY, OCT. 29
MANDALAY BAY EVENTS CENTER
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

*Live on Pay-Per-View at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT*

Las Vegas, Nevada – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced that tickets to UFC® 137 at Mandalay Bay Events Center on Oct. 29 sold out within a few hours of being made available to the public today. Headlined by a welterweight title fight between champion Georges St-Pierre and the surging Carlos Condit, UFC 137 will also feature an outstanding co-main event between former two-division champion BJ Penn and the fiery, and definitely unpredictable Nick Diaz in 170-pound action.

“It’s been a crazy few days here at UFC, but there’s no doubt that UFC 137 is going to be an incredible card,” UFC President Dana White said. “GSP is on his way to becoming the best welterweight of all-time, but Condit wants that belt. He’s knocked out his last three opponents and couldn’t be more fired up for this fight. Plus, we’ve got BJ Penn taking on Nick Diaz in what could be one of the most intense fights of the year.”

Limited VIP packages are still available as of publish time at VIP.UFC.COM.

UFC®137: ST-PIERRE vs. CONDIT, which is presented by UFC UNDISPUTED 3, also features heavyweight battles pitting Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo and Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson, as well as the UFC debut of Japanese star Hatsu Hioki, who will battle veteran George Roop.

UFC®137: ST-PIERRE vs. CONDIT 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, 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.

All bouts live and subject to change.

 

After more than a decade, the wait is finally over. The Ultimate Fighting Championship® confirmed at a Tokyo press conference today that 2012 will mark the return of the world famous Octagon® to Japan.

Japan’s Saitama Super Arena will host a blockbuster UFC® event on February 26, 2012. It will serve as the organization’s first event in Japan since UFC 29 held in December 2000. It will also serve as the first UFC event in Japan since the organization was purchased by Zuffa, LLC in 2001.

“This February, the wait is finally over – the UFC is coming back to Japan,” UFC President Dana White said. “For fans in Japan who’ve never witnessed a UFC event live, this is going to be an incredible experience and one you won’t want to miss. It’s been over 10 years since a UFC event was held in Japan and we’re pumped to bring the fastest-growing sport in the world there once again.”

Japan has made an enormous contribution not only to traditional martial arts by inventing styles like jiu-jitsu, karate and judo, but also to the sport of mixed martial arts. As well as hosting four UFC events from 1997 to 2000, the nation of Japan also became renowned for its incredible live PRIDE FC® shows from 1997 to 2007.

“Japan has played a huge role in helping get the sport of mixed martial arts to where it is today,” White added. “UFC stars such as Rampage Jackson, Wanderlei Silva, Minotauro Nogueira and Mirko Cro Cop all made names for themselves fighting in PRIDE and dozens more fought in front of the passionate Japanese fans at some point in their careers.

“Japan has also produced world-class fighters such as Yoshihiro Akiyama, Takanori Gomi and Yushin Okami, all of whom have represented their country well in the Octagon, headlining major UFC events all over the globe.”

The full card for the Tokyo event, along with ticket information, will be announced in the coming months. For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship® organisation will illuminate the skies of Great Britain this coming bonfire night, as UFC 138®: LEBEN vs. MUNOZ heads to the LG Arena in Birmingham on Saturday, November 5.

Showcasing a fascinating middleweight (13stone 3lbs) showdown between fan favourites Chris ‘The Crippler’ Leben and Mark ‘The Filipino Wrecking Machine’ Munoz, as well as a bantamweight (9st 9lbs) battle between Brad ‘One Punch’ Pickett and Renan Barao, UFC 138 marks the UFC’s first and only appearance on British soil this calendar year.

Tickets for UFC 138 are priced at £50, £75, £100, £150 and £225 and go on sale to UFC Fight Club members on Wednesday, September 7 (non-members may join at UFCFightClub.com to get a pre-sale code) at 9am and to UFC Newsletter subscribers on Thursday, September 8 at 9am via theticketfactory.com.

Tickets will then go on general public release on Friday, September 9 at 9am and will be available to buy via theticketfactory.com and the LG Arena box office.

The UFC 138 main event between Leben and Munoz carries significance for a number of reasons. As well as having major implications on the future of the middleweight division, Leben’s brawl with Munoz also represents the first time a UFC non-title fight has ever been scheduled over five rounds.

The 31-year-old Leben, 22-7 in his career, remains one of the most colourful and beloved characters in the sport of mixed martial arts, having first risen to prominence as a cast member on season one of The Ultimate Fighter. He has since carved a niche for himself as a dangerous and durable middleweight contender and has scored stunning victories over the likes of Wanderlei Silva, Yoshihiro Akiyama and Aaron Simpson. He was last seen on British shores in October 2008, the night he last travelled to Birmingham and pushed British hero Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping all the way.

Rejuvenated by recent results, however, Portland-born Leben looks to move one step closer to a shock stab at the UFC middleweight championship with an emphatic victory over Munoz.

The 33-year-old Munoz, 11-2 in MMA, meanwhile, is another fighter who is at the peak of his powers. The former light-heavyweight contender is now settled and thriving at the peak of the UFC’s middleweight division and has dazzled in wins over Demian Maia, C.B. Dollaway and Aaron Simpson. A world-class wrestler with one-punch knockout power, Californian Munoz guarantees excitement each and every time he steps inside the Octagon.

British fight fans have waited with baited breath for the arrival of Brad ‘One Punch’ Pickett, 21-4, a high-octane bantamweight who previously compete with distinction in the WEC® organisation. The talented Londoner scored Stateside wins over currently No1 contender Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson and Ivan Menjivar and now attempts to bring the same level of success into the UFC’s famed Octagon.

Pickett’s first UFC opponent will be Renan Barao, 26-1 1NC, a skilful 24-year-old from Rio De Janeiro of whom great things are expected. Having spent the first five years of his career competing in his native Brazil, Barao has achieved his last three victories in America has the longest unbeaten record in all of MMA. His recent performances have announced his arrival as a major player in the 9stone 9lbs division and this battle with Pickett has significant implications for the bantamweight class.

Another British star looking to steal the show at UFC 138 is John ‘Hitman’ Hathaway, 15-1, a welterweight contender from Brighton with the world at his feet. Still just 24 years of age, Hathaway has already defeated the likes of Diego Sanchez, Rick Story and Paul Taylor in his brief UFC tenure and many consider the long-limbed fighter one of the best prospects in mixed martial arts right now.

Hathaway’s foe on November 5 will be American Matt ‘The Immortal’ Brown, 12-10, no stranger to the British Isles himself. The 32-year-old Brown shattered the dreams of Englishman James Wilks in Manchester in November 2009 and carries a reputation for dogged determination and a never-say-die spirit. Brown most recently defeated the dangerous John Howard over three rounds and seeks to continue this good form on a return trip to Britain in November.

The UFC 138 main card is rounded off by an intriguing match between former UFC welterweight title challenger Thiago ‘Pitbull’ Alves and Sweden’s undefeated Papy Abedi, as well as a lightweight slugfest between Walsall favourite Paul Taylor and fast-rising Nigerian Anthony Njokuani.

UFC 138 will be broadcast live in the UK by ESPN; by Spike in the US.

Former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem has found a new home – in the UFC. But after signing a deal with the promotion today in Las Vegas, he’s going to get put to work immediately, as it was also announced that he will make his Octagon debut on December 30th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena against former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.

Stay tuned for more information on Overeem vs. Lesnar and the December 30th event in Las Vegas.

Devised to celebrate
success and achievement within the MMA industry, the World Mixed Martial
Arts Awards gives fans across the globe the opportunity to cast their
vote on which athletes, brands, and industry professionals have made the
greatest impact on the sport in the last 12 months. Voting is now open
across 22 different award categories including: Fighter of the Year,
Knockout of the Year, and Submission of the Year.
 
Fighters Only World MMA Awards returns with a live ceremony to
be held on Wednesday, November 30th 2011 in the exclusive Pearl Concert
Theatre inside the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

The Fighters Only website is now taking votes,
but in addition fans are also able to download a free iPhone
application.

Several UFC fighters and personalities were nominated in the categories below –

CHARLES “MASK” LEWIS FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
    Dominick Cruz
    Jon Jones
    Anderson Silva

BREAKTHROUGH FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
    Donald Cerrone
    Phil Davis
    Demetrious Johnson
    Brian Stann

FIGHT OF THE YEAR
    Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick at UFC 129
    Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber at UFC 132
    Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard at UFC 125
    Diego Sanchez vs. Martin Kampmann at UFC Live 3

SUBMISSION OF THE YEAR
    Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia at UFC Fight Night 24
    Pablo Garza vs. Yves Jabouin at UFC 129
    Tito Ortiz vs. Ryan Bader at UFC 132

RING ENTRANCE OF THE YEAR
    Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 133
    Vitor Belfort at UFC 133
    Dave Herman at UFC 131
    Mark Hominick at UFC 129

INTERNATIONAL FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
    Michael Bisping
    Alexander Gustafsson
    Dennis Siver

KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR
    Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry at UFC Live 5
    John Makdessi vs. Kyle Watson at UFC 129
    Lyoto Machida vs. Randy Couture at UFC 129
    Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort at UFC 126

COMEBACK OF THE YEAR
    Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry at UFC Live 5
    Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (career)
    Tito Ortiz (career)

LEADING MAN OF THE YEAR
    Lorenzo Fertitta
    Marc Ratner
    Dana White

PROMOTION OF THE YEAR
    UFC

Midleweight UFC Champion Anderson “Spider” Silva – who increased his unbeatable run, crushing all rivals and increasing his title record – is on the cover of new Dub Magazine.

Curitiba’s native Anderson Silva (29-4-0) comes from his ninth successful title defense in UFC Rio. You can watch the replay here.