Author: UFC News

UFC® Hall of Famer Matt Hughes is one of the most dominant champions of his era. With wins over standouts Georges St-Pierre, BJ Penn, Royce Gracie, Frank Trigg and Carlos Newton, the fighting pride of Hillsboro, Ill. carved out his place in history as arguably the greatest welterweight fighter of all-time.  On September 20, Anchor Bay Entertainment and the UFC® present UFC® Ultimate Matt Hughes, a special two-disc set slamming onto Blu-ray™ at an SRP of $34.99 and DVD at an SRP of $24.98.  

Now is your chance to relive the career of this extraordinary athlete.  From the knockout slam of Carlos Newton that began his rule of the 170-pound division, to the rematch with Frank Trigg that many believe is the greatest mixed martial arts fight ever seen, this is the definitive chronicle of Hughes’ Hall of Fame career.  

This is a must-have for all UFC® aficionados, with over five hours of content:

•    All-new interviews with Matt Hughes, Georges St-Pierre, BJ Penn & Frank TrigOver 12 bonus fights including his impressive wins over Georges St-Pierre, BJ Penn, Frank Trigg and Royce Gracie
•    UFC® Hall of Fame Induction
•    Collectible packaging including book with images, quotes & biography of Matt Hughes
•    Never-before-seen footage & behind-the-scenes content
•    Features Spanish commentary

With 45 pro wins and 18 victories inside the Octagon® (an all-time record), Hughes reigns supreme in the sport, and here is the raw history of a true powerhouse. UFC® Ultimate Matt Hughes is the ultimate journey through the career of one of mixed martial arts’ living legends.

Order UFC Ultimate Matt Hughes at the UFC Store, or find it at retailers including Wal-Mart and Best Buy.

Following today’s UFC on Fox press conference, Fox Sports personality Jay Glazer will sit down for an unprecedented, intimate Q&A with heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and opponent Junior dos Santos.

Watch the broadcast at 6 pm ET/3 pm PT on the Fox Sports Facebook page.

Glazer’s MMA knowledge extends beyond on-air reporting – he’s personally
and professionally been involved with the sport and its major players
for years, giving him the unique perspective to question these two heavy hitters.

Submission specialist Daniel “Ninja” Roberts has been forced to withdraw from Saturday’s bout against TJ Waldburger due to injury, UFC president Dana White confirmed today. Stepping in for the welterweight will be 11-2 grappling ace and Jeff Curran protege Mike Stumpf.

Mike Lullo Faces Robert Peralta Sept 17 updated September 6
With Mackens Semerzier sidelined due to injury, newcomer and featherweight knockout artist Robert Peralta will make his UFC debut against Mike Lullo on September 17 in New Orleans, UFC president Dana White confirmed today.

Injuries Re-Shape New Orleans Fight Card updated August 31
TUF 9 star DaMarques Johnson has been injured and forced to withdraw from the welterweight bout against TUF 13 fighter Clay Harvison. Stepping in for Johnson is Seth Baczynski from season 11 of TUF.

Also on the September fight card, welterweight Justin Edwards from TUF 13 will welcome Jorge “Lil’ Monster” Lopez, an 11-1 Wanderlei Silva protégé, to the UFC.

In non-TUF-related fight card news, Mackens Semerzier has also been injured and is out of his battle against Mike Lullo. A replacement will be announced soon.

Ninja vs. Waldburger on its way to the Big Easy updated July 29
Daniel Roberts and TJ Waldburger are heading to New Orleans this September for what should be an exciting showdown on the “Battle on the Bayou” card.

“A battle between welterweight submission specialists has been agreed to as TJ Waldburger will take on Daniel ‘Ninja’ Roberts at UFC Fight Night September 17,” said UFC President Dana White.

Riddle to Welcome 5-0 Benoist to UFC

UFC president Dana White announced today that undefeated welterweight prospect Lance Benoist hasverbally agreed to make his UFC debut September 17 in New Orleans against always-aggressive TUF alum Matthew Riddle.

“Battle on the Bayou” gets Submission Battle in Sept. updated July 20
UFC President Dana White has announced another intriguing matchup for September’s “Battle on the Bayou” card in New Orleans.

“It will be a submission showdown as verbal agreements are in for a fight between lightweight grappling specialists Vagner Rocha and Cody McKenzie in New Orleans on September 17.”

TUF Stars Collide at “Battle on the Bayou”
Verbal agreements are in for a welterweight match between Clay “Heavy Metal” Harvison and DaMarques “Darkness” Johnson at UFC Fight Night in New Orleans this September.

Harvison made it to the quarterfinals of TUF 13 as a member of Team Lesnar and defeated Justin Edwards in the prelims of the season finale. Johnson was runner-up on the US vs. UK season, and went on to win Submission of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses in his next two UFC outings.

Three Bouts Added to “Battle on the Bayou” Card updated July 18
Three intriguing matchups have been verbally agreed to for September 17th’s “Battle on the Bayou” card in New Orleans, as rising lightweight star Evan Dunham faces TUF13’s Shamar Bailey, featherweights Mackens Semerzier and Mike Lullo meet, and bantamweights Ken Stone and Donny Walker collide.

The Two Jakes to Headline in New Orleans
The main event for UFC Fight Night in New Orleans on September 17 has been verbally agreed to as Jake Shields takes on Jake “The Juggernaut” Ellenberger.

Shields recently took welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre the distance and ended his record streak of consecutive rounds won. The hard-hitting Ellenberger is one of the top prospects in the welterweight division having won eight of his last nine fights.

“Ellenberger is on a mission to get his first shot at a world title, and Shields is determined to get another crack at it,” said UFC President Dana White. The televised bout is scheduled for three rounds.

Koch and Brookins to Battle on the Bayou updated June 10
An exciting featherweight bout is heading to New Orleans, with young guns Erik Koch and Jonathan Brookins taking to the Octagon on September 17th.

“Verbal agreements are in place for a featherweight showdown between Erik Koch and Jonathan Brookins, September 17 at UFC Fight Night in New Orleans,” said UFC President Dana White. “Koch is one of the division’s fastest rising stars and this will be Brookins’ first fight since winning The Ultimate Fighter, season 12.”

Battle on the Bayou Gets Its First Two Bouts
The UFC will hold its first event in the Big Easy since 2000 with Battle on the Bayou, and Dana White today confirmed that verbal agreements are in for two fights on that card.

Alan “The Talent” Belcher will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon in a middleweight showdown with Jason “The Athlete” MacDonald. MacDonald is coming off a submission win over Ryan Jensen at UFC 129; Belcher was riding a two fight win streak when he had to take a year off to recover from eye surgery.

In another middleweight matchup, Dongi “The Ox” Yang and Court “The Crusher” McGee will also go to war in NOLA. The 10-1 Yang recently scored an impressive TKO victory over Rob Kimmons, while 13-1 TUF 11 winner McGee is coming off an exciting submission victory.

Fans in the Houston area would probably love the opportunity to learn how to hit a fastball like Astros star Carlos Lee. They’d be equally excited to learn how to drive to the basket like Rockets guard Kevin Martin, or throw a tight spiral like Texans quarterback Matt Schaub.

Well, at the UFC® Fan Expo at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston this October, the opportunity to learn strategy and techniques from the most influential figures in mixed martial arts presents itself. The Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that the UFC Fan Expo in Houston will feature three Training & Development sessions sure to thrill UFC fans.

On Friday, Oct. 7, former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin heads to Texas to teach an intense session starting at 9:30 a.m. CT. Then, on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 9:30 a.m. CT, former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz will lead a Training & Development session sure to reflect The Huntington Beach Bad Boy’s aggressive ground and pound style. The action continues on Saturday at 1:30 p.m., as former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir teaches the jiu-jitsu and striking techniques that helped him earn UFC gold.

With three of the sport’s most respected individuals offering Training & Development sessions, the UFC Fan Expo in Houston continues to become the can’t-miss fan event this fall.

“Fans have watched guys like Tito, Forrest and Frank coach on The Ultimate Fighter® and now this is their chance to train with them,” UFC President Dana White said. “Whether you have been training for a long time or just beginning the sport, there is something for everyone at these Training and Development Sessions. This is a cool experience for fans.”

Tickets for Training & Development sessions are on sale now and can be bought exclusively at www.ufcfanexpo.com. Please Note: Attendance for each Training & Development Session is limited and tickets will be sold to the first 100 registrants at $150 per session. Pricing is inclusive of all state and local sales tax. Spectators are not permitted without purchasing a Training & Development credential. Participants ages 13 and under will be admitted to the Training & Development Sessions with ONE adult at no additional charge. Proper ID will be required upon check-in.

Training & Development Session Schedule
(All Times Central)

Friday, Oct. 7
9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. – Forrest Griffin

Saturday, Oct. 8
9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. – Tito Ortiz
1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. – Frank Mir

For more information on UFC Fan Expo and to purchase tickets to the event, visit www.ufcfanexpo.com.

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.