Author: UFC

Las Vegas, Nevada – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® organization is proud to confirm that Tito Ortiz – the longest-reigning light heavyweight champion of all time and one of the biggest personalities in the sport of mixed martial arts – will be the ninth individual to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.

Ortiz will be officially inducted at midday on July 7 at the UFC Fan Expo, meaning he will fight the final bout of his 15-year career against old nemesis Forrest Griffin at UFC 148 on July 7 as a confirmed UFC Hall of Famer. Ortiz is the first inductee since 2010, and joins Matt Hughes, MMA pioneer Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis, Mark Coleman, Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn as well as contemporaries Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture in the pantheon of Octagon immortals.  

“It is a huge honor to be recognized as one of the greatest fighters of all time by the UFC,” Ortiz said. “To be inducted into the Hall of Fame is final proof that all the hard work and dedication, all the pain and sacrifices, were all worth it. To be able to walk to the Octagon one last time as an official UFC Hall of Fame level fighter is going to be humbling and awesome. I’m very grateful to have this opportunity to end my career on such a high like this.

“I want to thank my family for all their love and support and my fans for sticking with me through the bad times when being a Tito Ortiz fan wasn’t the coolest thing to be. Finally, I want to thank Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White for giving me so many opportunities over the years and for securing the future of the sport I love and have dedicated my life to.”

A brash, polarizing presence with bleached blonde hair and devastating takedowns, Ortiz made his UFC debut on May 30, 1997 at UFC 13. He smashed an entrant named Wes Albritton in 31 seconds and, within three years, had annexed the UFC light heavyweight title by beating the also soon-to-be legendary Wanderlei Silva. The Huntington Beach Bad Boy would go on to reign for a record three and a half years and had some of the biggest fights of his or any other era.

UFC President Dana White said: “Everyone knows the story of me and Tito and all the things that went on between us. A lot of it wasn’t fun at the time, but all that controversy and craziness is now part of the story of the UFC, and there’s no question that in his prime he was a huge star and one of the greats of his era.

“You can’t write the story of this era of mixed martial arts without Tito Ortiz, and that’s why he belongs in the Hall of Fame. He’s been in the UFC for 15years – and sticking around that long is an achievement in itself – and now he’s down to just 15minutes at UFC 148. Believe me, I know how proud and stubborn this guy is and I expect him to use everything he has left as a fighter to go out as a winner at UFC 148.”

UFC Chairman & CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said: “Tito is part of the fabric of our sport and of the history of our company. He’s given his life to mixed martial arts and gave all of us some memorable moments as both a fighter and a personality outside the Octagon. He was a lock to go into the UFC Hall of Fame at some point, and I’m happy we could make this happen now so he gets to enter the Octagon for the final time as a reigning Hall of Famer. I think this will be an emotional goodbye for Tito and one final special moment for his fans.”

Ortiz aims to leave UFC 148 – and his career – as a winner.

“My name will probably always be linked with guys like Wanderlei Silva, Chuck Liddell and especially Ken Shamrock,” Ortiz said. “But the fights with Forrest were as good and competitive as any of them. When I first fought him, he was inexperienced and made a name for himself in doing so well against me. The next time we fought I was supposed to be over the hill, and I showed that I wasn’t finished by long shot.

“Now, I just want to prove I was the better fighter all along by winning the rubber match. I don’t want to go out on a sour note – I want everyone’s last image of me to be me in the center of the Octagon with my hand raised.”

UFC® 148: SILVA vs. SONNEN II 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, and in Canada on 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.

For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

Las Vegas, Nevada – Reigning UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva and bitter rival and No1 contender Chael Sonnen have long been known as two of the most colorful characters in the Ultimate Fighting Championship® organization. But that has been taken to a whole new level in a special comic strip which will countdown to the UFC 148 main event between the two bitter rivals.

Each day another page of the strip will be published on the UFC’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/UFC leading to the biggest fight of the summer at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, on July 7.

The strip has been drawn by British artist Dave Golding, 37, a professional comic book artist since 2006. Golding was the original artist for the critically acclaimed Dare graphic novel ‘The Hunter’, which has recently been optioned by Hollywood, and his work has been featured throughout the medium as well as on designs for various science-fiction shows for British television.

The strip – which launched on Sunday on Facebook – will tell the story of this almost-inevitable rematch of the 2010 fight of the year, and is peppered with in-jokes long-time UFC fans will appreciate.

Golding has also re-imagined Silva – a lifelong comic book fan – and Sonnen as costumed heroes for two special faux comic book covers. Silva dons the tights as ‘the Silver Spider’ and wears an outfit featuring the colors of his beloved Brazil’s national flag. Sonnen, meanwhile, is taken at his word and has been transformed into the ‘American Gangsta’, and given a patriotic Old Glory color scheme.

Silva said: “I’ve always been a comic book fan since I was young. I liked heroes who had everyday problems but still tried to help people.”

Sonnen said: “What a thrill, to see myself in comic book form. Never before has a real life super-hero been turned into a mortal in a comic book, you will never see this in your lives again.”

Please find attached hi-res pictures of both cover images shots.

UFC® 148: SILVA vs. SONNEN II 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, and in Canada on 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.

For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

Sao Paulo, Brazil – The first-ever middleweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil® will now be decided in a three round bout between Cezar Mutante and Serginho (Sergio) Moraes at UFC® 147: Silva vs. Franklin II, on June 23, at the Mineirinho Arena, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Moraes, a semifinalist of the first international edition of the UFC’s reality TV show, was chosen to replace of Daniel Sarafian, who was forced off the card due to an arm injury.

Moraes reached the TUF Brazil semifinals after beating Delson Heleno via submission on the ninth episode of the show. Originally a member of “Team Vitor”, he was moved to “Team Wanderlei” later in the season, squaring off against Daniel Sarafian for the first spot in the middleweight final. Though Sarafian won the bout, everyone was moved by Moraes story, a jiu-jitsu expert who overcame adversity in his personal life. It was this drive and success that made him the perfect choice to replace Sarafian.
 
The middleweight contestants will square off in the fourth bout of the main card, ahead of a long awaited rematch between TUF Brazil coach Wanderlei Silva and former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin. The main card will also feature the TUF Brazil featherweight final, between Rony Jason and Godofredo Pepey, who along with Moraes and Mutante are competing for a lucrative contract with the UFC.

Seven of the 11 bouts at UFC 147 will feature contestants from the first season of TUF Brazil. Due to the injury and the loss of his opponent, Renee Forte will be unable to fight and will make an appearance on a future UFC card. The complete fight card is pasted below and can be found at UFC.com. All bouts live and subject to change.
 
UFC 147 Main Card
Rich Franklin vs Wanderlei Silva
Cezar Ferreira (Mutante) vs Serginho Moraes
Rony (Jason) Mariano Bezerra vs Godofredo Pepey
Mike Russow vs Fabricio Werdum
Hacran Dias vs Yuri Alcantara

UFC 147 Preliminary card
Rodrigo Damm vs Anistavio Medeiros
Francisco Drinaldo vs Delson Heleno
Hugo Viana vs John Teixeira
Leonardo Mafra vs Thiago Perpétuo
Wagner Campos vs Marcos Vinicius
Milton Vieira vs Felipe Arantes

With the change on the main card, fans who purchased tickets for the event will now officially have three (3) days to decide whether to seek a full refund.

Episode 13 recap: Mutante KO’s his way into the finale and wins two bonuses

In the final episode of the first season of TUF Brazil, which aired Sunday, June 17, the last middleweight finalist was announced, as well as the season winners of best Fight, Knockout and Submission bonuses. The awards were announced by on-air personality Galvão Bueno.

After knocking out Thiado Bodão, Cezar Mutante secured his place in the middleweight final and a spot on the UFC 147 card.

“What I did was focus on my training and what I was going to do out there. The opportunity presented itself at the right moment and I took it,” said Mutante, who now faces Serginho Moraes Saturday, June 23, at the Mineirinho Arena.

The high kick that took Bodão down in the first round of their battle also assured Mutante of winning the Best Knockout of the season award. The Team Vitor fighter also took home the Raça Forte Fighter prize, given to the contestant who needed the least amount of time to win his fights during the show.

The winner of the best Submission of the Season award was Rony Jason, for the armlock that gave him the win over Anistavio Gasparzinho. The best Fight of the Season award was given to Bodão and Massaranduba, who faced off in a two round battle that took Bodão into the semifinals. Each winner received $45,000 Brazilian Real.

Las Vegas, Nevada – Former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua continues his quest back to the title when he collides with Muay Thai ace Brandon “The Truth” Vera at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, Aug. 4. The Ultimate Fighting Championship® formally announced today that the Rua-Vera showdown will take place at the home of the 2012 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings.

In the night’s co-main event, former light heavyweight champion Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida battles Ryan Bader, winner of season eight of The Ultimate Fighter®. Plus, red-hot heavyweight Travis Browne collides with tested veteran Ben Rothwell, while exciting lightweights Joe Lauzon and Terry Etim meet in a can’t-miss bout in Los Angeles.

This action-packed card from STAPLES Center will air live on FOX at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Tickets for UFC® on FOX: SHOGUN vs. VERA go on sale on Friday, June 22 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $200, $150, $100, $85, $70, $45 and $30. Tickets will be available at the STAPLES Center Box Office or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are subject to convenience and service fees.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, June 20 at 10 a.m. PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, June 21, starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.   

For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com.  All bouts live and subject to change.

Las Vegas, Nevada – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® returns to the city where it all started – Denver, Colo. – on Saturday, Aug. 11 with the highly anticipated lightweight title rematch between champion Benson Henderson and former divisional kingpin Frankie Edgar.

Henderson, a Colorado Springs native, won the title in February by defeating Edgar, who had held the championship for nearly two years. UFC® 150: HENDERSON vs. EDGAR II will take place at Denver’s Pepsi Center, which also served as the site of UFC 135, where Jon Jones defended the light heavyweight crown by submitting Quinton “Rampage” Jackson last September. UFC also held its very first event in Denver in Nov. 1993 at the McNichols Sports Arena.

The UFC will host a free, public press conference tomorrow at 11 a.m. MT at the Ridgeline Room at the Pepsi Center. Henderson, Edgar and UFC President Dana White will be in attendance. The press conference will also be streamed live at www.ufc.com.

Tickets for UFC® 150: HENDERSON vs. EDGAR II go on sale on Friday, June 15 at 10 a.m. MT and are priced at $300, $225, $150, $125, $90, $75 and $45. Tickets will be available at the Pepsi Center Box Office, by calling Ticket Horse at 303-53-HORSE or online at www.TicketHorse.com.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, June 13 at 10 a.m. MT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, June 14, starting at 10 a.m. MT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.   

UFC® 150: HENDERSON vs. EDGAR II, which is presented by the United States Marine Corp., 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, and in Canada on 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.

For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com.  All bouts live and subject to change.

Corona, CA – June 6, 2012 – UFC GYM®, the ultimate fitness destination in partnership with the Ultimate Fighting Championship®, will host its first-ever UFC GYM Challenge in conjunction with the UFC Fan Expo® in Las Vegas, July 6-7. UFC fans and fitness fanatics will have the opportunity to battle against fellow contenders in two days of sweat-dripping and heart-pumping physical challenges. UFC GYM’s expert training staff will judge the competition, and in the end, crown the first-ever UFC GYM Challenge champion. The top three male and female finishers will be awarded a cash prize and UFC merchandise.
“UFC GYM is thrilled to be a part of the highly anticipated UFC Fan Expo and allow UFC and MMA enthusiasts the opportunity to put their skills to the test,” said Adam Sedlack, senior vice president of UFC GYM. “The UFC’s world renowned athletes and fighters have truly raised the standards of training and fitness, so there is no better host for our first-ever UFC GYM Challenge.”
The UFC GYM Challenge competitors will participate in a grueling series of skills and drills that will test their strength, agility and mental toughness. From kettle bells to Marpo Rope Trainers to battling ropes, nothing is off limits and every aspect of physical fitness will be tested. For a $75 entry fee, the first 45 male and 45 female registrants will not only have the opportunity to take part in the challenge, but they will also receive a two-day pass to the UFC Fan Expo. The expo will feature the largest collection of UFC fighters ever to appear in one location, autograph sessions, exciting special events, interactive Q&A sessions, meet and greets, training and development seminars, and the world-famous Octagon®.
If you’re interested in registering for the UFC GYM Challenge and vying for the first-ever crown, visit www.ufc.eventbrite.com.