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UFC/FOX Press Conference Rundown, As Told By Twitter

Rejoice, fight fans, because the UFC has finally made it to network television. It was announced today in Los Angeles that the world’s premier MMA promotion will begin hosting live events on FOX beginning November 12th. And that’s just the beginning.

While following the live video stream of today’s UFC/FOX press conference, I — like every other MMA writer who wasn’t actually in the building — was intently monitoring people’s reactions on twitter and chipping in my own two cents when it seemed appropriate. So much information was released in the hour-long session that instead of transcribing the whole mess myself, I’ll just cherry-pick the most important bits that were coming through on our Freaks of the Industry feed. (Future of journalism, people.) All the good stuff is contained right here, so read on…

@stevecofield: UFC/FOX makes it official with a 10:02am PT press release. First event airs on Nov. 12 at 9pm ET. Spring 2012 TUF 15 on FX

@jordanbreen: You’ll never see another sport where so many people are excited for the symbolism of a guy from Newsradio wearing a jacket.

@benfowlkes: Fox cameramen apparently confused about the difference between GSP and Frankie Edgar. Rough start, but okay…

@mikechiappetta: FOX exec says TUF will move to Fridays. “We’ll literally own Friday nights,” he says.

(Pic via MiddleEasy)

@stevecofield: UFC/FOX makes it official with a 10:02am PT press release. First event airs on Nov. 12 at 9pm ET. Spring 2012 TUF 15 on FX

@jordanbreen: You’ll never see another sport where so many people are excited for the symbolism of a guy from Newsradio wearing a jacket.

@benfowlkes: Fox cameramen apparently confused about the difference between GSP and Frankie Edgar. Rough start, but okay…

@mikechiappetta: FOX exec says TUF will move to Fridays. “We’ll literally own Friday nights,” he says.

@showdownjoe: From Spike: “The Ultimate Fighter” season 14 in September will be our last.”

@stevecofield: Dana White is giddy. “this was it for me. This is what I always wanted. This was always the pinnacle”

@jordanbreen: Someone throw a blazer on Dana. Please. People who dress themselves will understand.

@mmaweeklycom: TUF 15 will be taped week to week with the elimination fight shown live each Friday night on FX. #UFConFox

@maggiehendricks: The UFC already owns my Saturday nights, but now Fridays, too? MMA! The sport for shut-ins!

@showdownjoe: New promo airing right now for TUF…audience will now have a voice and select who will fight. I like it.

@thetomasrios: Just realized Pacquiao/Marquez 3 is Nov. 12th as well. That’s a very bold move for your network debut.

@5ozsofpain: Josh Gross and Dana White in the same room. This presser gets more monumental by the moment.

@stevecofield: @arielhelwani Asks about Nov 12 on FOX. Dana says it’ll be down in Anaheim. No card info yet. Seven yr deal.

@cagepotatomma: UFC programming like ‘Unleashed’ and ‘Prelims Live’ to appear on Fuel. Karyn Bryant was a big fan of ‘The Shield’.

@stevecofield: Richard Sandomir asks why this is such a big deal. David Hill makes a joke and Sandomir disappears.
[Ed. note: Sandomir is a New York Times reporter who asked Fox Sports CEO David Hill why he promoted this announcement as such a big deal. Hill: “So you’d call in.” Hill was firing brief, sardonic answers all day. Dude’s a character.]

@mmaweeklycom: Production will be run by the UFC, FOX will bring in their guys for the pre and post shows. #UFConFox

@stevecofield: Dana again confirming six UFC Fight Nights on FX and four big UFC cards on FOX. Plus 26 weeks of TUF live fights on FX

@maggiehendricks: Lorenzo says Fox caters to men, then the feed cuts out for me. Damn, @ufc, you really don’t want me around, huh?

@5ozsofpain: Also Loretta Hunt at the presser. Epicness continues.

@showdownjoe: Lorenzo stated that there will be championship fights on Fox, but not all will include champs.

@cagepotatomma: “No speedo fights anymore.”

@mmaweeklycom: The move for the UFC to Fox Latin America will be the driving force in the company having a show in Mexico #UFConFox

@mmaweeklycom: FX exec takes a shot at Spike TV regarding to the promotion of the ‘Ultimate Fighter’. They expect many more eyeballs on the show now #UFC

@5ozsofpain: Wide shot reminds us that Edgar, GSP, Rashad, and Chuck are still there. Would love to hear some questions towards them about the impact.

@showdownjoe: Dana just stated that there will be a new look and change to UFC ppv’s

@cagepotatomma: GLADIATOR OPENING IS GOING AWAY! HOLY SHIT!!!!!!

@jordanbreen: What are your favorite Gladiator Man memories? I always liked when he rubbed the sand between his hands to up the grip on his sword.

@cagepotatomma: “Try the wings.” – Joe Rogan #ufcfoxpressconference #lastwords

Watch the UFC/FOX Live Press Conference Today at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m ET

(Also, Glenn Beck’s old spot will be permanently replaced by BJ Penn tackling people.)

As reported earlier this week, the UFC and FOX have been finalizing a new broadcast deal that will place up to four annual fight events on the network and move weekly programming (like The Ultimate Fighter) to cable subsidiary FX. The partnership will be made public today at a press conference in Los Angeles, scheduled for 10 a.m. local time. (Or at least that’s what we think will happen. I mean, what else would they announce? Their mutual love of It’s Always Sunny?)

Expected for the press conference are Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta, Georges St. Pierre, Frankie Edgar, Rashad Evans, as well as FOX Sports Media Group Chairman and CEO David Hill, Co-Presidents and COO’s Randy Freer and Eric Shanks, and FX President John Landgraf.

fxnetworks.com will host a live stream of the press conference at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m ET. Keep your eye on it, and we’ll talk later.

(Also, Glenn Beck’s old spot will be permanently replaced by BJ Penn tackling people.)

fxnetworks.com will host a live stream of the press conference at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m ET. Keep your eye on it, and we’ll talk later.

UFC 131 Press Conference Recap: Five-Round Non-Title Fights Added, Flyweights Coming, Diaz Vacating Strikeforce Belt + Much More

(Dana White runs down some current events with Ariel Helwani following the press conference. Props: MMAFighting)

The UFC hosted a press conference in Vancouver yesterday in advance of UFC 131, but the most interesting announcements had nothing to do with Saturday’s “Dos Santos vs. Carwin” event. Here’s a recap…

Five-round non-title fights: UFC president Dana White announced that the UFC will make non-title main event fights five rounds from now on; previously, only title fights were worthy of the five-round distinction. The rule doesn’t apply to non-title main events that are already booked — Dos Santos vs. Carwin, or Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis at UFC 133, for example — but it will apply to every non-title main event signed in the future, even for UFC Fight Night and UFC Live events.

Flyweight division in the works: According to White, the UFC will be adding a 125-pound division “really soon,” possibly by the end of 2011. He expected that some of the UFC’s current bantamweights would make the drop.

(Dana White runs down some current events with Ariel Helwani following the press conference. Props: MMAFighting)

Nick Diaz to vacate Strikeforce welterweight title: When Diaz returns to the UFC to challenge Georges St. Pierre for GSP’s welterweight title in October, he’ll be leaving his own belt behind. Said DW: ”[Diaz] will give up his Strikeforce title. He will come in and fight Georges St-Pierre, two guys will fight for the vacant belt in Strikeforce and we’ll go from there.”

Jon Jones vs. Quinton Jackson slated for September: The rumored light-heavyweight title scrap between Bones and Rampage will take place at UFC 135 (September 24, Denver), pending medical clearance for Jones’s hand. Diego Sanchez vs. Matt Hughes is also expected for that event.

UFC still looking at China, Sweden for future events: Though the U.K. is getting shut out this year, Dana White announced that he hopes to bring the promotion to China “within the next 18 months.” The UFC also has plans for an event in Sweden sometime after 2011.

TUF 14 hype-up of the day: “The fights to get into the house happened Tuesday,” White said. “I’m going to figure out a way to make sure every one of those fights airs on TV. The best fights ever in the history of ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’…There’s some nasty guys on this season. Just the show open is better than the entire last season’s fights.”

Watch the UFC’s Madison Square Garden Press Conference Live at 2 p.m. ET

("Well…I’m not much of a foot guy, but I guess they’re alright, Mrs. Ryan." / Photo via MMAWeekly)
At 2 p.m. ET today, the UFC will hold a press conference at New York’s Madison Square Garden to formally announce their intent to bring MMA…

("Well…I’m not much of a foot guy, but I guess they’re alright, Mrs. Ryan." / Photo via MMAWeekly)

At 2 p.m. ET today, the UFC will hold a press conference at New York’s Madison Square Garden to formally announce their intent to bring MMA to the Big Apple as soon as possible. In attendance will be UFC president Dana White, Zuffa co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta, lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, light-heavyweight contender Rashad Evans, and Madison Square Garden Sports president Scott O’Neill.

A new economic impact study is scheduled to be released in the hopes that New York will join the 44 other U.S. states that currently regulate the sport — even though cash doesn’t seem to be a big motivator among MMA’s stubborn critics.

Despite our long history of promoting the "MMA in NY" cause, CagePotato has unfortunately been barred from attending the event due to the whole Arianny Celeste Playboy leak fiasco. Their loss. When the first media question is from some spaz asking if he can sit in Dana’s lap, they’re gonna wish they had some real freakin’ journalists in the building…

The video player is after the jump.

Watch the UFC’s Madison Square Garden Press Conference Live at 2 p.m. ET

("Well…I’m not much of a foot guy, but I guess they’re alright, Mrs. Ryan." / Photo via MMAWeekly)

The video player is after the jump.

Watch the ‘UFC 121: Lesnar vs. Velasquez’ Press Conference Right Here, Beginning at 5 p.m. ET

As is tradition during UFC fight week, the major players of UFC 121 are about to assemble for a public press conference at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Beginning at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT, Brock Lesnar, Cain Velasquez, Jake Shields, Martin Kampmann, Tito Ortiz, Matt Hamill, and Dana White will be fielding questions from the media. You can watch the proceedings in the UFC’s media player, which is waiting for you after the jump. And if you need any more help in getting hyped up for this event, be advised that Spike TV will be airing UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin tonight at 7 p.m., followed by the third and final episode of UFC Primetime: Lesnar vs. Velasquez at 9:30 p.m.