mixed martial arts-News

UFC 109:
COUTURE vs. COLEMAN

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.

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 27^th, 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 27^th.”

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.

ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP^®

CONFIRMS REMAINING BOUTS FOR UFC 107

MIKE PIERCE VS. JON FITCH

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 12^th.

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 15^th 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:
Jennifer Wenk, UFC Public Relations Ant Evans
702.221.4790 Senior Communications Manager, UFC UK Division

702.635.0995 (cell) 00 44 (0) 7792 802652 (mobile)

jwenk@ufc.com aevans@ufc.com

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.

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.

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.

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.