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UFC
109: Las
Vegas, NV (USA) – In 1998, two of the United States’ greatest
amateur wrestlers - Randy “The Natural” Couture and Mark “The
Hammer” Coleman - were scheduled to meet in a relatively new proving
ground called the Ultimate Fighting Championship. That mixed martial
arts bout at UFC 17 never happened due to injury, but on Saturday,
February 6th, nearly 12 years and six UFC championships later, Couture
and Coleman finally square off at UFC 109: Relentless, presented by Bud
Light and live on pay-per-view from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in
Las Vegas, Nev., for a colossal meeting of Hall of Famers over a decade
in the making. Plus,
red-hot welterweight contender Josh Koscheck gets a chance to avenge his
lone knockout loss against Brazil’s Paulo Thiago in the co-main event,
along with pivotal showdowns featuring Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs.
Brandon Vera, Nate Marquardt vs. Chael Sonnen and Matt Serra vs. Frank
Trigg. “Couture
vs. Coleman is one of those dream matchups that fans have always talked
about,” said UFC President Dana White. “And when you consider that
these are two of the greatest wrestlers turned mixed martial artists
ever, and it’s the first time that two guys who have already earned
their way into the UFC Hall of Fame are fighting each other, this is not
only an intriguing matchup, but a historic one. Tickets
for UFC 109 are priced at $600, $400, $300, $200, $100 and $50, not
including applicable service charges, and go on sale Saturday, Dec. 12
at 10 a.m. PT at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s
Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to
eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call
Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase
at UFC.com, www.mandalaybay.com
or www.ticketmaster.com <http://www.ticketmaster.com/>
. UFC®
Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to
this event Thursday, Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. PT via www.UFC.com
<http://www.ufc.com/> . A
special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter
subscribers Friday, Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users
must register for the UFC newsletter through www.UFC.com
<http://www.ufc.com/> . UFC
109 will be available live on pay-per-view on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH
Network, TVN, BellTV, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada
for a suggested retail price of $44.95 ($49.95/Canada) for standard
definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available). A
five-time UFC champion who has reached the top of the mountain in both
the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions, the ageless Randy
Couture <http://www.ufc.com/randycouture>
(fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) is coming off a unanimous decision
victory over light heavyweight contender Brandon Vera at UFC 105 in
November, and with 14 career UFC wins over the likes of Chuck Liddell,
Tito Ortiz, Vitor Belfort, Pedro Rizzo and Tim Sylvia, “The Natural”
is used to facing the best of the best. On February 6th, he will finally
get his opportunity to take on “The Hammer”. “Mark
Coleman is another classic matchup for me,” said Couture. “Like
(Antonio Rodrigo) Nogueira, this is a fight that was supposed to happen
a long time ago and is finally now a reality. Mark has a tremendous
wrestling pedigree, and his collegiate and freestyle background has
taken him a long way in MMA. I look forward to testing my skills and
fighting spirit against another UFC Hall of Fame fighter.” The
Godfather of Ground and Pound, Mark Coleman <http://www.ufc.com/markcoleman>
(fighting out of Columbus, Ohio) used that strategy to earn the first
UFC heavyweight championship and a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame. A
former NCAA Division I national champion wrestler at Ohio State now
fighting at light heavyweight, “The Hammer” returned to the Octagon
in 2009 after a successful career in Japan with a memorable battle
against Mauricio Rua and a victory over Stephan Bonnar, and on February
6th, he will begin his quest for a title at 205 pounds as he takes on
fellow legend Randy Couture. “This
is by far the biggest fight of my career,” Coleman said. “I have
nothing but respect both inside and outside of the Octagon for Randy
Couture. He is one of the greatest in the history of MMA. It’s an
honor to accept this challenge to fight him and a win here would be one
of the top highlights of my career. I expect to win, and will prepare
for a war. I will do all I can to make this an exciting fight for the
fans.” A
fighter willing to fight anyone at anytime, Josh Koscheck <http://www.ufc.com/joshkoscheck>
(fighting out of Fresno, Calif.) is coming off one of the biggest wins
of his career, as he made a statement to the welterweight division by
submitting rising star Anthony Johnson at UFC 106. But the 32-year-old
former NCAA Division I national champion wrestler is not about to rest
on his laurels; instead he will look for a dose of redemption against
Paulo Thiago as he continues on his road to a world title shot. “I
am training super hard right now,” Koscheck said. “This is a big
fight for me because I lost the first time. I fought him last February
and I’m fighting him again this February but this time I am going to
be the one knocking him out. I promise you this fight will not go out of
the first round.” A
decorated grappler with knockout power, 28-year-old Paulo Thiago <http://www.ufc.com/PauloThiago>
(fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil) made his name on the international
scene with his first round TKO of Koscheck in February 2009, and after a
memorable battle with Jon Fitch and a victory over Jacob Volkmann last
year, Thiago looks to kick off his 2010 campaign in style by repeating
his spectacular win over “Kos”. “Josh
Koscheck is a great fighter who I had a lot of respect for before our
first fight and who I still respect today,” said Thiago. “But I am
still as hungry as I was the first time we fought, and I will do
everything I can to repeat my victory on February 6th.” A
former PRIDE star that kicked the door open in his UFC debut, Antonio
Rogerio Nogueira <http://www.ufc.com/AntonioRogerioNogueira>
(fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) needed less than two minutes to
knock out dangerous contender Luiz Cane at UFC 106 in November. The
twin-brother of former PRIDE and UFC heavyweight champion Antonio
Rodrigo Nogueira, the 33-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and
former Pan-Am Games boxing medalist is deadly wherever the fight goes, a
fact he plans on introducing to Brandon Vera at UFC 109. Like
Nogueira, Brandon Vera <http://www.ufc.com/brandonvera>
(fighting out of San Diego, Calif.) is a feared striker and ground
fighter who enjoys nothing better than a good ol’ fashioned war in the
Octagon. Winner of three UFC bouts since moving to the 205-pound weight
class, and fresh from a hard-fought three round scrap with Randy
Couture, “The Truth” is more focused and determined than ever to
destroy any opposition in his path, beginning with Rogerio Nogueira. One
of the leading contenders for a shot at the middleweight title, Nate
Marquardt <http://www.ufc.com/natemarquardt>
(fighting out of Denver, Colo.) has left little doubt that he is ready
for a rematch with Anderson Silva after decisive knockouts of Martin
Kampmann, Wilson Gouveia, and Demian Maia. But there is still one more
obstacle in the former King of Pancrase’s way, and on February 6th, he
gets the chance to remove fellow contender Chael Sonnen from his path. A
former U.S. Olympic alternate and two-time NCAA national champion, Chael
Sonnen <http://www.ufc.com/chaelsonnen>
(fighting out of West Linn, Ore.) has used his strong wrestling pedigree
to secure 25 wins in his mixed martial arts career, and with wins over
Yushin Okami, Dan Miller, and previously unbeaten WEC champion Paulo
Filho, the time has come for Sonnen to make his case for a shot at the
185-pound crown. Former
welterweight champion Matt Serra <http://www.ufc.com/mattserra>
(fighting out of East Meadow, N.Y.) emerged as one of the UFC’s true
superstars with his stirring first round knockout of Georges St-Pierre
in 2007. But Serra - the first American to earn a Brazilian jiu-jitsu
black belt under the legendary Renzo Gracie - was no overnight
sensation, having already faced the likes of BJ Penn, Din Thomas, Chris
Lytle and Yves Edwards over the course of his career. On February 6th,
fresh from an exciting Fight of The Night with Matt Hughes last May,
Serra returns to the Octagon. World-class
wrestler and perennial contender Frank Trigg <http://www.ufc.com/franktrigg>
(fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) is a veteran of six UFC fights,
including two classic battles with then champion Matt Hughes and two
finishing wins against Renato Verissimo and Dennis Hallman. This
February, the 37-year-old – who has won four of his last five bouts -
looks to begin another UFC winning streak. For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com, UK.UFC.com, GERMANY.UFC.com, UFCJapan.jp or UFCEspanol.com. All bouts live and subject to change.
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A
CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLEHEADER HIGHLIGHTS THE
RETURN OF UFC® TO NEW JERSEY UFC
WORLD WELTERWEIGHT TITLE GEORGES
ST-PIERRE vs. DAN HARDY UFC
WORLD INTERIM HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE FRANK MIR vs. SHANE CARWIN
SATURDAY,
MARCH 27, 2010 Live
from the Prudential Center, Newark, N.J. – Tickets on Sale Saturday,
Jan.9 at 10 a.m. ET Las Vegas, NV (USA)
– Two world titles will be on the line for the first time in 2010 when
the Ultimate Fighting Championship® returns to the Prudential
Center in Newark, New Jersey for UFC 111: ST-PIERRE vs HARDY,
Saturday, March 27th, live on Pay-Per-View and presented by
TapouT. In featured bouts, one of the best fighters in the game today, UFC®
welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, looks to extend his reign and his
six fight winning streak against British bomber Dan “The Outlaw”
Hardy, and former heavyweight champion Frank Mir looks to become only the
second man in UFC history to win the championship three times when he
takes on number one contender Shane Carwin for the interim UFC heavyweight
title. “UFC 111 will see
our first two title fights of 2010, and they’re both incredible matchups,”
said UFC President Dana White. “Georges St-Pierre is pound for pound one
of the very best fighters in the world and has been dominant as
welterweight champion, but Dan Hardy has the punching power and the
confidence to score an upset on March 27th. And I can’t say enough about
a fight that has undefeated powerhouse wrestler Shane Carwin taking on
former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir for the interim belt. This fight
pits Carwin’s one punch KO power versus Mir’s fight-ending submission
game. Both of these matches are ‘can’t miss’ fights in terms of
action.” Tickets for UFC 111
are priced at $600, $400, $300, $200, $100 and $50, not including
applicable service charges, and go on sale Saturday, January 9 at 10 a.m.
ET at all Ticketmaster locations. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8)
per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call
Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for
purchase at UFC.com, www.prucenter.com
or ticketmaster.com. UFC® Fight
Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets
to this event Thursday, Jan. 7 at 10 a.m. ET via UFC.com.
A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter
subscribers Friday, Jan. 8 at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users
must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com. UFC 111 will be
available live on pay-per-view on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN,
BellTV, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested
retail price of $44.95 ($49.95/Canada) for standard definition or
high-definition broadcasts (where available). UFC welterweight
champion Georges
St-Pierre (fighting out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 19-2
professional record) has been unstoppable since regaining the title in
2008. The 28-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt holds two career wins
a piece over the legendary Matt Hughes and current UFC lightweight
champion and former welterweight champion BJ Penn. The 170-pound champ
defended his crown most recently against feared striker Thiago Alves at
UFC 100 last July, and now St-Pierre makes his fourth title defense
against one of the fiercest threats to his crown in UK superstar Dan
Hardy. “Dan Hardy is a very
worthy contender and I’m preparing for a war,” said St-Pierre. “He
is hungry for the title and that makes him very dangerous, but I’m just
as hungry to keep the belt and I am going to train and fight like I am the
challenger on March 27th.” Dan
“The Outlaw” Hardy (fighting out of Nottingham, England,
23-6 1 NC) is unbeaten in the UFC and fresh off wins over Marcus Davis
and Mike Swick. A black belt in Tae Kwon Do and a purple belt in Brazilian
jiu-jitsu, the brash 27-year-old is looking to extend his seven-fight win
streak as he becomes the first British fighter to contend for a UFC title.
With 11 wins by KO/TKO and three by submission, the UK fighter with the
4-0 mark in the UFC always looks for the finish. “I
think I am underestimated by the fans a little,” Hardy said. “But GSP
is smart enough to realize that I could knock him out with either hand. He
will come fully prepared and I expect to face the very best GSP in March -
and wouldn’t want it any other way. When I came into the UFC in October
2008, I didn’t expect to be the first Briton to fight for a UFC world
title, but I am proud to make a little bit of history. But the real prize
is becoming the first British UFC champion and that’s what is going to
happen.” Winner of four of his
last five fights, former two-time heavyweight champion Frank
Mir (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev., 13-4) has put on the
necessary muscle and weight to face the biggest challengers in the
heavyweight division, and he is refocused on earning back the world title.
A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt with immensely improved striking, the
30-year-old knocked down feared striker Cheick Kongo at UFC 107 and then
proceeded to submit the French contender with a guillotine choke, putting
him firmly back in the title picture. “Shane Carwin is an
extremely dangerous opponent and being matched up against him is an honor,”
Mir said. “It’ll be a great challenge to face him and get to match
wits against his coaches. Greg Jackson is like the ‘Yoda’ of mixed
martial arts and I will need a strong gameplan heading into this fight.” Originally scheduled
to face UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, No. 1 contender Shane
Carwin (fighting out of Denver, Colo., 11-0) has been on a tear
ever since he stepped foot into the Octagon™. A former national
wrestling champion with dynamite in his fists, Carwin has made quick work
of all three of his UFC opponents, finishing Christian Wellisch, Neil Wain
and Gabriel Gonzaga within 91 seconds each. Now he takes the next step in
his career against Frank Mir. “It’s an honor to
not only fight for the interim UFC heavyweight title, but to do so against
a respected former champion like Frank Mir,” said Carwin. “This is
going to be a fight to remember for the fans, and I plan on making it one
of my most memorable performances as well. Beating Frank is going to be a
test, but I’m confident that it’s a test I will pass with flying
colors.” For more information,
or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com, UK.UFC.com, GERMANY.UFC.com,
UFCJapan.jp or UFCEspanol.com. All bouts live and subject to change. |
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ULTIMATE
FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP® CONFIRMS
REMAINING BOUTS FOR UFC 107 CLAY
GUIDA VS. KENNY FLORIAN STEFAN
STRUVE VS. PAUL BUENTELLO WILSON
GOUVEIA VS. ALAN BELCHER SHANE
NELSON VS. MATT WIMAN RICARDO
FUNCH VS. JOHNY HENDRICKS LUCIO
LINHARES VS. ROUSIMAR PALHARES EDGAR
GARCIA VS. DAMARQUES JOHNSON TJ
GRANT VS. KEVIN BURNS Live
from FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., Saturday, December 12 Las Vegas, NV (USA) – If an
explosive lightweight title clash between champion BJ Penn and
challenger Diego Sanchez, and a heavyweight tilt between former champ
Frank Mir and devastating striker Cheick Kongo weren’t enough, the
Ultimate Fighting Championship® is proud to confirm nine
other phenomenal bouts for UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez, live
from FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn. on Saturday, December 12th. Tickets
for UFC 107: PENN vs. SANCHEZ, priced at $350, $250, $150
$100, $75 and $50, are on sale now and available online at ticketmaster.com
or UFC.com, at all Ticketmaster locations, the FedExForum Box Office or
by phone at (800)745-3000. Tickets are subject to additional fees
and service charges. UFC 107 will be available
live on pay-per-view on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, BellTV,
Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail
price of $44.95 for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts
(where available). A phenomenal wrestler who
honed his craft at Purdue University, welterweight Jon Fitch
(fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) heads into UFC 107 riding
back-to-back victories over Akihiro Gono and Paulo Thiago. The
31-year-old hopes to extend that streak to three and climb one step
closer to the world title when he meets ground-and-pound specialist Mike
Pierce (fighting out of Vancouver, Wash.) at FedExForum. Boasting a
six-fight winning streak, including a 1-0 mark in the UFC, Pierce (9-2)
looks to impose his will on Fitch (23-3, 1 NC) and prove that he belongs
among the welterweight elite. The 29-year-old believes a win over Fitch
on Dec. 12 will launch him into immediate contention in the stacked
170-pound division. Two of the lightweight
division’s most exciting fighters lock horns when Clay Guida
(fighting out of Johnsburg, Ill.) meets Kenny Florian (fighting
out of Brookline, Mass.) at UFC 107. After competing in a torrid
“Fight of the Year” candidate against Diego Sanchez in June, the
28-year-old Guida (25-7) returns to the Octagon™ with his
sights set on derailing “Ken-Flo.” Having trained for this fight
under the tutelage of renowned trainer Greg Jackson in New Mexico, Guida
believes he has refined all of the tools needed to best his seasoned
opponent. A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt who also possesses some of
the most dangerous elbow strikes in all of MMA, Florian (13-4) has shown
a knack for finishing fights in his 12-bout UFC career. The 33-year-old
has won six out of his last seven fights, including five by way of
stoppage. Heavy-handed striker Paul
Buentello (fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) returns to the UFC for
the first time since 2006 to take on 21-year-old rising star Stefan
Struve (fighting out of Beverwijk, the Netherlands) in heavyweight
action. Owning a 3-1 mark with three knockouts inside the Octagon,
Buentello (25-10) looks to reinsert himself in the title picture with a
win over his 6’11” opponent. The task may be easier said than done
for “The Headhunter.” An outstanding kickboxer and submission
artist, Struve (22-3) has submitted his last two opponents and is on a
meteoric rise in the division. Known for his smooth transitions and
slick grappling, “Skyscraper” plans to spoil Buentello’s
homecoming and take a giant leap toward his goal of one day wearing UFC
gold. A terrific Muay Thai striker
with an advanced ground game, Alan Belcher (fighting out of Biloxi,
Miss.) is an exciting fighter with a “go-for-broke” style of
fighting. The 25-year-old, nicknamed “The Talent,” is hungry to make
a statement in the middleweight division and believes a win over gifted
grappler Wilson Gouveia (fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) will
propel him into pivotal bouts in 2010. Equally determined to end the
year with a bang is the American Top Team product Gouveia (12-6). A
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt who trains alongside the likes of Luiz
Cane and Thiago Alves, the 31-year-old has earned 11 of his 12
professional wins by stoppage. He’ll look for another dominant
performance when he clashes with Belcher (13-5) on Dec. 12. A purple belt in jiu jitsu
under BJ Penn, Shane Nelson (fighting out of Hilo, Hawaii) has
steadily become one of the lightweight division’s most promising
prospects. With wins in eight out of his last nine bouts, the
26-year-old Nelson (13-4) faces a stiff test in Memphis when he battles Matt
Wiman (fighting out of Dallas, Texas). Known for his aggressive,
gritty performances inside the Octagon, “Handsome” seeks his fifth
win in the organization against the Hawaiian. Having already fought some
of the best fighters in the lightweight class, Wiman (10-5) thinks his
experience will play a key role in the bout with Nelson. Riding the momentum of a
first round stoppage victory over Amir Sadollah in August, Johny
Hendricks (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) looks to remain unbeaten
when he touches gloves with newcomer Ricardo Funch (training out of
Ludlow, Mass.) in welterweight action. A four-time Division I
All-American wrestler at Oklahoma State University, Hendricks (6-0)
boasts heavy hands and powerful takedowns. He’ll look to impose his
will on the undefeated Funch in Tennessee. Holding a record of 7-0,
“Golden Boy” Funch trains alongside UFC heavyweight Gabriel Gonzaga
and the 29-year-old, who originally hails from Lencois-Bahia, Brazil,
believes he’ll become an impact player at 170 pounds with a win over
Hendricks later this month. Training under the guidance
of former UFC middleweight champion Murilo Bustamante, submission ace Rousimar
Palhares (fighting out of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil) is one of
most feared grapplers in the sport. With five of his last six wins
coming by way of submission, “Toquinho” will put his grounds skills
on display when he battles fellow Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt Lucio
Linhares (fighting out of Helsinki, Finland). A winner of five
consecutive fights, Linhares (13-4) has a solid grappling game, but
doesn’t mind slugging it out on the feet. With nine stoppage victories
in his career, the fighter nicknamed “The Spartan” is ready to test
his mettle in the UFC when he battles Palhares (18-2) in a 185-pound
contest. A contestant on season nine
of The Ultimate Fighter®, Damarques Johnson
(fighting out of Salt Lake City, Utah) believes he can one day rule
the welterweight division. Johnson (14-7), who is trained by UFC vet
Jeremy Horn, continues his quest for the title on Dec. 12 when he takes
on heavy-handed Edgar Garcia (fighting out of Yuma, Ariz.). A
close friend and training partner of lightweight star Efrain Escudero,
Garcia (7-1) owns five wins by way of knockout. Also a state wrestling
champion in his native Arizona, the 25-year-old looks to demonstrate his
versatility when he battles Johnson inside the Octagon. Having only gone the distance
once in his 11-fight career, Kevin Burns (fighting out of Des Moines,
Iowa) is a relentless competitor with a strong desire to finish
fights. The Iowan, who has ended all eight of his wins before the final
bell, seeks another impressive victory when he battles TJ Grant
(fighting out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada) at UFC 107. Equally
dominant in ending fights, the 25-year-old Canadian Grant (14-3) owns 12
submission victories and one knockout win since launching a professional
career in 2006. He seeks his 15th victory when he takes on
Burns (8-3) in “The Volunteer State.” For more information, or
current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com, UK.UFC.com, GERMANY.UFC.com,
UFCJapan.jp or UFCEspanol.com. All bouts live and subject to change. About The
Ultimate Fighting Championship® UFC is the largest live
pay-per-view provider in the world and the fastest growing main stream
sports organization in history. Owned and operated by Zuffa™,
LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® produces over twelve
live pay-per-view events annually that are distributed residentially
through North American cable and satellite providers including iNDEMAND
Networks, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN Entertainment, BellTV,
SaskTel Max™, Shaw Pay-Per-View, and Viewers Choice. International
distributors include WOWOW in Japan, Premiere Combate and SporTV in
Brazil, with worldwide distribution via the Internet on UFC.com and
Yahoo! Sports. UFC content is distributed commercially through Joe
Hand Promotions in the U.S. and Canadastar in Canada. UFC
programming is distributed in 132 countries, territories and
jurisdictions, reaching 415 million homes worldwide. Ultimate Fighting
Championship®, Ultimate Fighting®, UFC®, The Ultimate Fighter®,
Submission®, As Real As It Gets®, Zuffa® , The Octagon™ and the
eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks,
registered service marks, trademarks, trade dress and/or service marks
owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC and licensed to its affiliated entities
and other licensees in the United States and other jurisdictions. All
other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC, its
affiliates or other respective owners. ### Press Contacts: 702.635.0995
(cell)
00 44 (0) 7792 802652 (mobile)
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UFC
lightweight prospect Joe Lauzon heading
back inside The Octagon E.
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (Nov. 18, 2009) – A little more than eight months
since undergoing knee surgery, UFC lightweight prospect Joe “J-Lau”
Lauzon (18-4, 5 KOs, 13 submissions) is fully recovered and anxious
to get back into The Octagon. Lauzon,
star of The Ultimate Fighter 5 television reality show, had ACL
surgery and his meniscus repaired on his right knee March 6. He is
tentatively scheduled to return to UFC action in early January. Joe
has a torn ACL in his right knee for 1 ½ years before requiring surgery
and being sidelined. “I felt looseness in my knee but could still
train,” Lauzon explained. “Doctors at that time said they didn’t
want to disturb it. And it wasn’t affecting me much. Two weeks before
my last fight (Feb. 8, 2009 – WSUB2 vs. Jeremy Stephens) I felt it
like it wasn’t wuite right warming up. I tried to take him down in the
first round and I fell over. I needed stitches in my head and couldn’t
train for a week, but when I returned my knee completely locked-up.” Doctors
felt Joe wouldn’t be able to fight for 14 months, but he’ll be back
in action in less than 10, largely due to a committed rehabilitation
schedule and his age (24). “I’ve always been able to recover quickly
and bounce right back,” he noted. “Being 24 probably helped, too. I
was lucky to have an awesome doctor (Dr. Pavlovich) and physical
therapist. They let me push at an aggressive pace. I am 100-percent now;
my knee is stronger than ever. It (injured knee) hurt me grappling --
triangle chokes – and anything my that stressed my knee felt loose.
Now it’s better than ever. My ‘bad knee’ is more solid than my
other knee. I did so much in rehab to strengthen it.” “A
lot of people have told me a mental block would be the toughest part
coming back to fight. For me, though, that’s not a problem. I have
faith in my doctor and coach. They told me my knee is strong, I feel the
same way, and I’m not going to worry about it. I’ve always been an
instinctive fighter and that’s the way I’m going to continue to be.
I’ve talked to a lot of people. My strength-and-conditioning coach
(Steve Baccari) has been through it all. He’s had surgery on both
knees, so he knows where I am coming from. I know all about the knee now
– where to apply pressure and where to be careful. ” Lauzon
not only fights, he coaches about 30 members of Team Aggression at
Lauzon MMA in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. When he wasn’t able to
workout, Joe played a lot of Xbox, watched a lot of TV and movies, and
the Wentworth College graduate with a degree in computer science,
naturally, spent a lot of time on line. “I
was still in the gym two weeks after surgery,” Lauzon concluded. “I
was helping out and running classes. Before surgery, I was laid-up in
bed but afterwards started going to shows to support and watch our guys
fight. I just couldn’t get on the mat. Now, I’m ready to go and
I’ve felt this way for a while. This has been my longest break. I’m
chomping at the bit. I must have fought 30 times in six years, so I
can’t wait to get back.” For more information about Joe “J-Lau” Lauzon go online and visit www.joelauzon.com.
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GRUDGE
MATCH BETWEEN EVANS AND SILVA MOVES TO
MAIN EVENT FOR UFC® 108 Nogueira
Forced to Withdraw from UFC 108 Due to Injury SATURDAY, JANUARY
2, 2010 Live
from the MGM Grand Garden Arena – Tickets on Sale Now Las
Vegas, NV (USA) – The Ultimate
Fighting Championship®(UFC®) announced
today that the bout between former UFC light heavyweight
champion Rashad Evans and Brazilian knockout artist Thiago
Silva will headline UFC 108 as
Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira today was forced to
pull out of his fight with Cain Velasquez due to a severe injury to his
left elbow. UFC
108, which is presented
by “Bayonetta” and live on pay-per-view from the MGM Grand
Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, will take place on Saturday, January
2, 2010. “The
bout between Rashad Evans and Thiago Silva is a fight we always talked
about as a main event, and now these guys have the chance to headline
UFC 108 and kick off the new year in impressive fashion," said UFC
President Dana White. "At the same time, we wish Antonio Nogueira a
speedy recovery and can't wait for his return.” Tickets
for UFC 108 are priced at
$600, $400, $300, $200, $100 and $50, not including applicable service
charges, are on sale and are available at all Las
Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and
Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To
charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800)
745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at UFC.com,
www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com. UFC
108 will be available live on
pay-per-view on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, BellTV, Shaw
Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price
of $44.95 ($49.95/Canada) for standard definition or high-definition
broadcasts (where available). Ready
to get his UFC light heavyweight title back, Rashad
Evans (fighting
out of Albuquerque, N.M.) has
notched wins over some big names in the division, including consecutive
knockout victories over Chuck Liddell and then-champion Forrest Griffin.
The Niagara Falls, New York native and former Michigan State University
wrestler has won 18 of his 20 pro fights, including a draw against
former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz. A skilled grappler
that has tremendous knockout power, Evans will need all of his
well-rounded abilities when he takes on Thiago Silva, the man who
knocked out his teammate and training partner Keith Jardine. “Being
able to get right back in the mix and right back into a main event is an
honor,” Evans said. “This is the first step in getting my title
back. Thiago is a dangerous fighter standing up and on the ground and I
always relish an opportunity to fight the best and put on a great show
for the fans.” A
Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt that can get the knockout as easy as the
tap out, Thiago
Silva (fighting
out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) has
won 14 of his first 15 pro fights. His 95 second KO victory over Jardine
at UFC 102 was his fifth win in the UFC, with four coming via KO/TKO and
one by submission. The 26-year-old has put away his opponents within two
rounds in all of his UFC wins and he looks to throw his name in the UFC
title contention hat with a win over former world titleholder Rashad
Evans. “I
feel that the bigger the fight, the better I do,” Silva said. “Being
in the main event for a UFC card has always been a goal of mine. Rashad
is a great fighter, but he’d better come prepared in all aspects of
mixed martial arts.” Nogueira
was forced to withdraw from UFC 108 due to a staph infection on his left
elbow, the same injury he incurred prior to his fight with Frank Mir at
UFC 92. The infection was previously treated in Brazil, however his
physicians have determined the virus was never eradicated, and as a
result, attacked his system at some point within the past week,
leaving his elbow severely swollen. Nogueira’s physicians stated
he must undergo treatment for at least three weeks, and that the virus
is so aggressive that it may require an intravenous antibiotic to
ensure a full recovery. “I
am so disappointed,” Nogueira said. “I am sorry to my fans, but I
have learned from my mistakes, and I’m not going into a fight unless I
can give 100 percent my best performance. I have to be in top
form, and then I can guarantee an exciting fight, a battle like what
they saw at UFC 102. I appreciate all the fans around the world who are
supporting me right now so much, and my next fight, a great fight,
I give to them.” Nogueira
is currently in the United States and receiving medical care at a
facility in San Diego. For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com, UK.UFC.com, GERMANY.UFC.com, UFCJapan.jp or UFCEspanol.com. All bouts live and subject to change.
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REQUEST
STRIKEFORCE EVENTS TO BE SHOWN IN AUSTRALIA If
you would like Strikeforce events, including Fedor Emelianenko vs. Brett
Rogers, to be shown in Australia, please let your Foxtel or Austar
provider know by emailing them at either ask@austar.com.au or enquiries@foxtel.com.au
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PRIMETIME
MMA FIGHT CARD ANNOUNCED FOR "CBS/STRIKEFORCE/M-1 GLOBAL SATURDAY
NIGHT FIGHTS" SATURDAY,
NOV. 7 ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK Fedor Emelianenko,
the #1 Ranked MMA Heavyweight in the World, To Be Seen for the First
Time by a Broadcast Television Audience, Squares Off Against Undefeated
American Brett Rogers Middleweights
Jake Shields and Jason "Mayhem" Miller Battle for the Recently
Vacated STRIKEFORCE Middleweight Title; Gegard Mousasi and Heavyweight
Fabricio Werdum Will Also Appear on the Four-Fight Primetime Card LOS ANGELES, Oct.
9 - CBS, STRIKEFORCE, M-1 Global today officially announced the fight
card for mixed martial arts' (MMA) return to primetime with CBS/
STRIKEFORCE/M-1 GLOBAL SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS, Saturday, Nov. 7 (9:00 PM,
live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network from Chicago,
Illinois' Sears Centre Arena. "We're
looking forward to delivering an explosive night of world class MMA
action on CBS," said Scott Coker, Founder and CEO of STRIKEFORCE.
"We have the world's # 1 fighter, Fedor, making his network
primetime debut against an undefeated powerhouse in Brett Rogers and,
with the stars lined up for the remainder of the card, it is bound to be
an exciting night of television." The following
four primetime matchups are confirmed for CBS/ STRIKEFORCE/ M-1 GLOBAL
SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS on Nov. 7: *
Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko vs. Brett "The
Grim" Rogers *
Jake Shields vs. Jason "Mayhem" Miller (Middleweight Title
Fight) *
Gegard "The Dreamcatcher" Mousasi vs. Rameau Thierry "The
African Assassin" Sokoudjou *
Fabricio "Vai Cavalo" Werdum vs. Antonio "Big Foot"
Silva (All bouts are
pending approval by the Illinois Athletic Commission.) FEDOR
"THE LAST EMPEROR" EMELIANENKO vs. BRETT "THE GRIM"
ROGERS: Simply referred
to as "Fedor" by fans around the world, the 6-foot, 235-pound
Russian is one of the most dominant fighters in the sport. A
master of the Russian military combat system, Sambo, he boasts a record
of 30 wins, one loss, no draws with 16 wins by submission, seven
knockouts and seven decisions. His opponent, undefeated American,
28-year-old Brett Rogers (10-0) stands 6-feet, 5-inches tall, weighs 265
pounds and brings two of the heaviest hands in the sport to the cage.
Both Fedor and Rogers' last victories came against former heavyweight
champion Andrei Arlovski. JAKE SHIELDS
vs. JASON "MAYHEM" MILLER In the night's
middleweight title fight (185 pounds), Jake Shields (23-4-1) squares off
against Jason "Mayhem" Miller (22-6). Shields, widely
considered one of the best fighters in the world, brings an impressive
12-fight win streak to the cage, six of his last seven coming by way of
first round submission. Most recently, he defeated world-ranked
middleweight "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler in his STRIKEFORCE debut
on June 6. His opponent, Miller, a fellow submission expert, is
one of MMA's most exciting fighters. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and
Muay Thai specialist is the host of MTV's reality series "Bully
Beatdown" and trains with two of the sport's most recognizable
fighters, Randy "The Natural" Couture and Quinton
"Rampage" Jackson. He currently has 13 submission victories on
his resume. GEGARD
"THE DREAMCATCHER" MOUSASI vs. RAMEAU THIERRY "THE
AFRICAN ASSASSIN" SOKOUDJOU Gegard Mousasi
and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou will face one another in the night's light
heavyweight (205 pounds) bout. Mousasi (26-2-1) of Leiden,
Netherlands, recently scored his 13th consecutive victory on August 15,
2009 by winning his US debut and the STRIKEFORCE light heavyweight title
in a first round victory over defending champion Renato "Babalu"
Sobral on SHOWTIME®. Sokoudjou (7-4), known to his fans as
"The African Assassin," has scored six of his seven wins by
knockouts and brings an impressive striking game to the cage.
FABRICIO
"VAI CAVALO" WERDUM vs. ANTONIO "JUNIOR" SILVA Fabricio "Vai
Cavalo" Werdum will face Antonio "Junior" Silva in a
matchup of two promising Brazilian heavyweights. Werdum is a
two-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion and a submission expert
while Silva has nine KOs in his 13 victories. Werdum, a former
PRIDE and UFC standout, is coming off an impressive first round
submission victory in his STRIKEFORCE debut on Aug. 15 over veteran Mike
Kyle. Silva, a fellow 6-foot-4 Brazilian, will be making his
STRIKEFORCE debut after compiling a remarkable 13-1 record since he
turned pro in 2005. SHOWTIME Sports will produce the four-fight event with host Gus Johnson calling the action and MMA legend Frank Shamrock and Mauro Ranallo serving as color analysts. The executive producer is David Dinkins, Jr.
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FEDOR
SIGNS World’s
No. 1 MMA Heavyweight To Fight In
STRIKEFORCE / M-1 Global Co-Promoted Events First
Fight To Air This Fall, Live on SHOWTIME® NEW YORK
(August 3, 2009)–-After a week of intense negotiations and
speculation, the hottest topic of discussion in the professional fight
world has come to a head as the world’s number one heavyweight and
most sought after mixed martial arts (MMA) champion Fedor “The Last
Emperor” Emelianenko has signed a historic, multi-fight agreement
that will see him headline mega-events co-promoted by world championship
promotions STRIKEFORCE and M-1 Global. Emelianenko, known
globally as Fedor, will make his premium television debut this Fall when
his first fight under the new agreement airs live on SHOWTIME®.
Up until now, Emelianenko’s live fights have aired exclusively on
pay-per-view in the United States. “I am looking
forward to going back to work and fighting at the highest level,"
said the 33-year-old Emelianenko. During his nine year
professional fight career, which included a four and a half year stay
with the world’s former top MMA promotion, the now defunct PRIDE
Fighting Championship, the Russian native has faced and defeated all
comers. In his last effort,
the 6-foot, 235-pound Emelianenko decimated the number two ranked
heavyweight at the time Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski with a
single punch in the first round (3:14) of the main event of Affliction:
“Day of Reckoning” at Anaheim, California’s Honda Center on
January 24. “STRIKEFORCE is a
top fight promotion that houses some of the greatest fighters in the
world,” continued Emelianenko. “I am prepared to fight any of
them.” “We are extremely
excited to have the opportunity to work with M-1 Global and Fedor,”
said STRIKEFORCE Founder and CEO Scott Coker, a martial arts
fight promoter of over 25 years. “Fedor has been the reigning
king of MMA’s heavyweight division for quite some time now so being
able to work with M-1 and Fedor will substantially increase the level of
competition amongst the athletes in this weight class.” “With the addition
of Fedor and STRIKEFORCE’s new relationship with M-1 Global, SHOWTIME
is now the home of the best pound-for-pound male and female fighters in
the world,” said Ken Hershman, Senior VP and General Manager of
SHOWTIME Sports®. “The Aug. 15 Carano-Cyborg matchup on
SHOWTIME will clearly determine the best female mixed martial artist on
the planet. Then, come this Fall, our subscribers again will
witness history when the universally recognized best male fighter—Fedor
Emelianenko—joins the already long list of world-class athletes on the
STRIKEFORCE roster, and for the first time ever plies his skills live on
SHOWTIME.” Hershman continued:
“We are better positioned now than ever before to deliver on our
promise to televise the top fighters in mixed martial arts today.” “I am very happy
and excited about the upcoming collaboration with Strikeforce,” said Vadim
Finkelchtein, President of M-1 Global. “We are very pleased that
we found a reliable partner and I feel that Strikeforce and M-1 can
support each other on many things. This will create big opportunities
for both parties to test their fighters against worthy opponents.” Though his official
professional record is 30-1, Emelianenko is considered undefeated.
The only blemish on his record is a December 22, 2000 fight that was
stopped after 17 seconds and declared a TKO in favor of his opponent, Tsuyoshi
Kohsaka, due to a cut Emelianenko sustained in the opening seconds
of the matchup in Osaka, Japan. Amongst those on
Emelianenko’s list of impressive conquests are former PRIDE
Heavyweight Champions Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mark “The
Hammer” Coleman, and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic
as well as former UFC Heavyweight Champions Kevin “The Monster”
Randleman and Tim Sylvia, whom Emelianenko submitted with
a rear naked choke only 36 seconds into their main event showdown at
Affliction: “Banned” on July 19, 2008. Despite his
extensive experience, Emelianenko’s debut under the new
STRIKEFORCE-M-1 venture will, interestingly enough, mark his first start
in a cage. To date, all of his bouts have taken place in a ring. After co-promoting two events live on SHOWTIME in 2007 and 2008, STRIKEFORCE in March 2009 signed a multi-year agreement to stage live MMA events on the premium cable television network.
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MMA at the Playboy Mansion
A-List fighters, nude female wrestling, and the iconic Playboy Mansion! What better way to end the summer? On August 23rd MMA fighter and WWE Tough Enough champ Daniel Puder (www.danielpuder.com) are inviting all MMA fans to Los Angeles for a once-in-a-lifetime event at the Playboy Mansion benefiting the Cops Care Cancer Foundation, an organization that provides financial assistance to children and their families who have been stricken with cancer. Fighters in attendance will include Chuck Liddell, Gilbert Melendez and Jake Shields. For a $750 ticket (discounts for fire and law enforcement and special VIP tickets are also available) MMA fans can take a dip in the grotto, enjoy a Bunny Tour of the historic mansion, take in comedy and fashion shows, and even enjoy all-girl wrestling courtesy the Naked Women’s Wrestling League (nwwl.com). Tickets are available for purchase at www.puderpro.com.
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