Press Release – New York, NY, April 14, 2011 – Spike TV will telecast live undercard bouts from UFC® 129: ST-PIERRE vs. SHIELDS on Saturday, April 30 at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT in front of a record-setting crowd at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The one-hour telecast will lead directly into UFC® 129: ST-PIERRE vs. SHIELDS, which airs LIVE on Pay-Per-View at 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT. The one-hour telecast will feature Nate Diaz (13-6) vs. Rory MacDonald (10-1) and Sean Pierson (11-4) vs. Jake Ellenberger (24-5) in welterweight contests.
Fighting out of Stockton, CA, with Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Nate Diaz is one of the sport’s most electrifying fighters, winning either “Fight of the Night” or “Submission of the Night” in six of his last nine bouts. The Ultimate Fighter® season five champion will have his hands full with the rising star, Rory MacDonald, who is fighting in front of a partisan Canadian crowd.
Rory MacDonald, who trains with St-Pierre at the Tristar Gym in Montreal, won his first 10 pro fights, with six of those via first round submission. The 21-year-old most recently was awarded “Fight of the Night” honors in a three-round war with Carlos Condit at UFC 115 last June. A victory over Diaz would be a huge boost to MacDonald’s ascent up the welterweight ranks.
A Toronto MMA pioneer, Sean Pierson will finally be fighting in front of his hometown fans in the biggest pro fight of his career. Pierson has won his last six fights, including a decision victory over Matt Riddle last December at UFC 124.
Fighting out of the Reign Training Center in Orange Country, CA, Jake Ellenberger has impressively won his last three bouts in the Octagon®, with two victories coming via TKO. Known for his strong wrestling ability and extraordinary toughness, both will be on display as Ellenberger has taken the fight on two weeks notice in replacing an injured Brian Foster. He looks to stretch his winning streak in the UFC to four when he takes on Pierson in Toronto.
Other bouts on the card might air on Spike TV, to be determined by the length of the fights.
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