Press Release – LOS ANGELES, CA – UFC® ON FUEL TV travels to Wembley Arena in London, live, on Saturday, Feb. 16 (3:00 PM ET) and marks the network’s first-ever Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) title fight. The seventh installment of UFC ON FUEL TV is highlighted by Renan Barao’s first interim title defense in the bantamweight division against top contender Michael McDonald. Barao is riding a 19-fight win streak (4-0 in the UFC, 31-1, 1 NC), while McDonald (8-fight win streak, 4-0 in the UFC) could become the youngest fighter in the UFC to win a title at the age of 22. The Barao vs. McDonald main event is preceded by five exciting undercard matchups, all televised by FUEL TV, while FOXSports.com live streams the six-fight Prelims.
In the POSTFIGHT SHOW, FUEL TV premieres its “Fan CAMeo,” a groundbreaking feature that allows viewers to submit video reactions to the fights. By using the FUEL TV website or app, Fan CAMeo lets viewers record video responses from their mobile phone, table or laptop, upload the clip, and have it used within minutes on the live show. Fans can upload their videos here: http://www.fuel.tv/fancameo
The afternoon telecast features a featherweight clash between Cub Swanson (18-5, 3-1 UFC), who’s riding a three-fight win streak, and Dustin Poirier (13-2, 5-1 in the UFC), who was awarded Fight of the Night honors in his back-and-forth battle with the “Korean Zombie,” Chan Sung Jung, at UFC® ON FUEL TV 3. Undefeated Jimi Manuwa (12-0) takes on Cyrille Diabate (20-8-3) in a light heavyweight battle; Gunnar Nelson (10-0-1) tries to follow up his first round submission of DaMarques Johnson at UFC® ON FUEL TV 5 against fellow welterweight Jorge Santiago (25-10); light heavyweight Ryan Jimmo (17-1) hopes to carry the momentum from his seven-second KO of Anthony Perosh at UFC® 149 in his clash with James Te Huna (17-5), who’s coming off a victory over Joey Beltran at UFC® ON FUEL TV 4. Che Mills (15-5, 1 NC) plans on giving his home country fans something to cheer about against Matthew Riddle (7-3, 1 NC) in a welterweight war.
UFC announcers Jon Anik and Kenny Florian call all bouts live from London on FUEL TV. Host Jay Glazer, UFC number one UFC light heavyweight contender Chael Sonnen and bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz offer analysis from FUEL TV’s Los Angeles studios.
Coverage of UFC ON FUEL TV 7: BARAO vs. MCDONALD begins Tuesday, Feb. 12 (10:00 PM ET) with UFC TONIGHT (10:00 PM ET), the official news and information show of the UFC and features in depth breakdowns of the main fights with hosts Kenny Florian and Chael Sonnen. The evening wraps with UFC ULTIMATE INSIDER (10:30 PM ET), a 30-minute program going behind-the-scenes to deliver an insightful preview of the World Bantamweight Championship fight between Barao and McDonald.
On Friday, Feb. 15 (11:00 AM ET) FUEL TV carries the weigh-in LIVE from London. The program is hosted by Karyn Bryant, with Sonnen and Cruz adding analysis. Veteran British MMA Journalist Gareth A. Davies interviews fighters backstage. Cruz hosts a Twitter Chat on the FUEL TV account (@fueltv) following the WEIGH-IN SHOW (1:00 PM ET).
FUEL TV and FOXSports.com are webcasting the UFC PRELIMS beginning on Saturday, Feb. 16 (9:00 AM ET) – http://www.fuel.tv/ufc/events/barao-vs-mcdonald.
Immediately following UFC® ON FUEL TV 7: BARAO vs. MCDONALD on Saturday, Feb. 16 (6:00 PM ET), the UFC POSTFIGHT SHOW airs on FUEL TV featuring host Glazer and analysts Sonnen and Cruz, breaking down the biggest and best moments of the evening. Davies provides interviews backstage live from Wembley Arena.
In addition to streaming the prelims, FOX Sports Media Group’s digital arm, FOXSports.com, produces feature stories previewing the fight, and on Fight Day offers live blogs of the main card fights and offers a post-fight recap.
FSMG’s Spanish language network FOX Deportes re-airs UFC ON FUEL TV 7′s six fights on Sunday, February 17 (5:00 PM ET).For a complete listing of FUEL TV shows, go to: http://www.fuel.tv/schedule. For more information, go to www.fuel.tv, www.fuel.tv/ufc, on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/fueltv, and on Twitter at: @fueltv, #FUELTV7
FUEL TV
FUEL TV is the only cable and satellite television network that features the exciting world of adrenaline and thrill-seeking sports as well as high energy entertainment programming. This includes UFC®, surfing, motocross, BMX and more. With more hours of UFC® coverage than any other network, FUEL TV is the ultimate destination for live fights, weigh-ins, prelims, pre- and postfight coverage, results and more. This new generation of sports provides a rich landscape of some of the most vibrant and action-packed television entertainment in the world. See why adrenaline sports fans call FUEL TV the channel they never turn off. FUEL TV, part of FOX Sports Media Group, was launched July 1, 2003 and is seen in more than 36 million U.S. homes and can be accessed by broadband, mobile devices and other digital platforms such as iTunes®. FUEL TV programming is available in more than 50 countries around the world with 24/7 channels operating in Australia and Europe. To subscribe to FUEL TV, call 877-4 FUEL-TV. For program times and other information, visit www.fuel.tv.
FOX Sports Media Group
FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) is the umbrella entity representing News Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FSMG includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FSMG includes FOX Sports, the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; Fox’s 20 regional sports networks, their affiliated regional web sites and FSN national programming; SPEED and SPEED2; FOX Soccer, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Soccer 2Go; FUEL TV; FOX Deportes and FOX College Sports. In addition, FSMG also encompasses FOX Sports Interactive Media, which includes FOXSports.com on MSN, Whatifsports.com Scout.com and Yardbarker.com. Also included in the Group are Fox’s interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network, BTN 2Go and STATS, LLC, as well as licensing agreements that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network and FOX Sports Skybox restaurants.