Abu Dhabi, UAE: UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organisation, in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), returns to the UAE capital with an epic middleweight fight as No.5 ranked Robert Whittaker takes on rising star Reinier de Ridder on Saturday,26 July, at Etihad Arena on Yas Island.

UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: WHITTAKER vs DE RIDDER tickets are now available via etihadarena.ae and Ticketmaster.ae. 

Former champion Whittaker (27-8-0, fighting out of New South Wales, Australia) is one of the UFC’s most respected middleweights, who rose to prominence with standout victories over Yoel Romero, Jared Cannonier and Marvin Vettori. Whittaker looks to return to the win column with a dominant performance against the Dutchman.

De Ridder (20-2-0, fighting out of Breda, Netherlands) has swiftly established himself as one of UFC’s most promising middleweight contenders. Since joining the promotion in late 2024, he has showcased his elite grappling and finishing abilities. Most recently, de Ridder delivered a statement win by handing Bo Nickal his first professional loss. De Ridder is rapidly ascending the middleweight ranks and aims to continue his win streak with a win over the former champion.

Get ready for an electrifying night in the Octagon®, as global stars collide in what promises to be one of the year’s most unforgettable events.

Additional bouts on the card include:? 

• Nikita Krylov (30-10-0, fighting out of Kislovodsk, Russia) faces Bogdan Guskov (17-3-0 fighting out of Dukent, Uzbekistan), who is looking to continue his win streak, in a light heavyweight match-up.
• Ramazan Temirov (19-3-0, fighting out of Karshi, Uzbekistan) takes on Asu Almabayev (21-3-0, fighting out of Almaty, Kazakhstan) in what promises to be a thrilling flyweight bout.
• Ibo Aslan (14-2-0, fighting out of Istanbul, Turkey) will meet American Billy Elekana (7-2-0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada) in a light heavyweight bout that should produce fireworks.

VIP Experience packages are available via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. Enjoy exclusive access with an official ticket package that can feature premium seating, VIP access to weigh-ins, all-inclusive hospitality, meet-and-greets with UFC athletes and more. For more information, visit UFCVIP.com to view package details.

For more information on event, visit: https://visitabudhabi.ae/en/campaign/ufc-fight-night

Las Vegas – UFC^® today announced that former UFC light heavyweight champion and UFC^® 12 heavyweight tournament winner Vitor Belfort will be inducted into the 2025 Class of the UFC Hall of

Fame as a Pioneer. The 2025 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place as part of the 13^th Annual UFC International Fight Week^Ô, on Thursday, June 26, at T-Mobile Arena, and will be streamed live, exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS^®.

“Vitor Belfort was 19 years when he was signed by UFC and he quickly made an impact by becoming the youngest athlete to win a UFC fight, and UFC tournament,” said UFC President & CEO Dana White. “Vitor was a pioneer of the sport and is definitely a UFC legend. It will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.”

Belfort will enter the UFC Hall of Fame as the 20^th member of the Pioneer Era Wing. The Pioneer Era Wing includes athletes who turned professional before November 17, 2000, (when the unified rules of mixed martial arts were adopted). Other requirements include a minimum age of 35 or those who have been retired for one year or more.

A veteran of 41 fights during his 22-year MMA career, Belfort registered a record of 26-14,1 NC (20-14,1 NC – UFC / PRIDE / Strikeforce), securing victories over UFC Hall of Famers Wanderlei Silva, Randy Couture, Rich Franklin, Michael Bisping, and Dan Henderson (Fight Wing); former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Bobby Southworth, former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nate Marquardt, and former Pancrase heavyweight champion Kazuo Takahashi.

At age 19, Belfort made his professional MMA debut on October 11, 1996, by competing in SuperBrawl 2 in Hawaii. Despite a seven-inch height discrepancy and 100-pound. weight disadvantage, Belfort defeated his opponent, Jon Hess, via knockout in 12 seconds of the first round to launch his career. He immediately signed with UFC following his victory.

Belfort made his UFC debut as a heavyweight by entering the tournament of UFC^® 12: JUDGEMENT DAY, which took place on February 7, 1997, in Dothan, Alabama. He defeated his opponents, Tra Telligman and Scott Ferrozzo, both via first-round TKO, to win the heavyweight tournament.

Belfort returned to action three months later, defeating fan favorite Tank Abbott via TKO in 52 seconds during UFC^® 13: THE ULTIMATE FORCE, which took place on May 30, 1997, in Augusta, Georgia. The win helped establish Belfort as a rising star and earned him a fight against Couture at UFC 15.

UFC^® 15: COLLISION COURSE tookplace on October 17, 1997, in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Belfort and Couture faced off in the co-main event with the winner facing then-UFC heavyweight champion and future UFC Hall of Famer Maurice Smith at UFC Japan.

Couture would defeat Belfort via TKO eight minutes into the first round to hand him his first loss as a professional. Belfort would win his next two fights against Joe Charles and Wanderlei Silva at UFC Japan (December 21, 1997) and UFC Brazil (October 16, 1998), respectively, bringing his record to 6-1. His fight with Couture would also set the stage for two exciting rematches down the road, as both athletes would continue to ascend in popularity.

For the next three years, Belfort won four of his next five fights in PRIDE, with his only loss to future UFC Hall of Famer Kazushi Sakuraba.

Belfort returned to UFC as a light heavyweight on June 22, 2002, losing a decision to UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell in the main event of UFC^® 37.5: AS REAL AS IT GETS. He would return to his winning form one year later, defeating Marvin Eastman via TKO in the first round of UFC^® 43: MELTDOWN, on June 6, 2003, in Las Vegas.

The win earned him his first title shot and a rematch against Couture in the main event of UFC 46. UFC^® 46: SUPERNATURAL took place on January 31, 2004, in Las Vegas. The highly anticipated fight was cut short due to a doctor stoppage 49 seconds into the first round, and Belfort was crowned the new UFC light heavyweight champion.

Belfort would give Couture an immediate rematch at UFC^® 49: UNFINISHED BUSINESS on August 21, 2004, in Las Vegas, where he would lose the title due to doctor stoppage in the third round. He would lose his next fight to future UFC Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz in the main event of UFC^® 51: SUPER SATURDAY on February 5, 2005, ending his second stint with UFC.

Over the next four years, he would win six of his next nine fights across numerous fight promotions, including Strikeforce and PRIDE, before returning to UFC to face Franklin in the main event of UFC^® 103: FRANKLIN vs. BELFORT. Belfort would win his return fight with a memorable KO of Franklin, re-establishing himself as a star inside the Octagon.

For the next nine years, Belfort would compete against the top contenders in the UFC middleweight and light heavyweight divisions. He would fight for both titles, losing to UFC Hall of Famer Anderson Silva and Jon Jones.  He also secured unforgettable victories over Bisping, Rockhold, Henderson and Anthony Johnson during this stretch. His last victory came in 2017, as he defeated Nate Marquardt via unanimous decision at UFC^® 212: ALDO vs. HOLLOWAY, in his hometown of Rio de Janeiro. He retired after his next fight, losing via KO to former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida during UFC^® 224: NUNES vs. PENNINGTON on May 12, 2018, in Rio.

Belfort enters the UFC Hall of Fame with an impressive resume that includes:

UFC:

• Most first-round finishes in UFC history – 13

• Knockouts in 90 seconds or less – 10

• 18 first-round finishes in 26 career wins

Outside the Octagon, Belfort is an accomplished author, having his autobiography Vitor Belfort: Lições de garra, fé e sucesso published by Thomas Nelson Brazil in 2012. In 2013, he won the Knockout of the Year for his KO of Luke Rockhold in the main event of UFC^® on FX: BELFORT vs. ROCKHOLD during the Fighters Only World MMA Awards. Belfort also spent time inside the boxing ring, winning both of his professional matches in 2006 and 2023.

A native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he began training in boxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 12. By the age of 18, he was a black belt under Carlson Gracie and had captured Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championships in the absolute and heavyweight divisions. In 2001, he returned to compete in ADCC, winning the bronze medal in the absolute division. He currently lives in Florida, with his wife and children.

To view Belfort’s UFC FIGHT PASS collection please visit: https://ufcfightpass.com/playlist/28686. To see a complete list of UFC athletes and fights enshrined in the UFC Hall of Fame, as well as details regarding the UFC Hall of Fame format, please visit UFCHOFFAQ. For additional information, please visit UFC.com.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with a thrilling bout between top flyweights, as No. 3 ranked contender Erin Blanchfield faces off against No. 4 Maycee Barber. Also on the card, No. 7 ranked lightweight contender Mateusz Gamrot meets rising star Ludovit Klein.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: BLANCHFIELD vs. BARBER takes place Saturday, May 31 in Las Vegas and will be available on ESPN+ (English and Spanish). The prelims will air at 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET followed by the main card, also airing on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET. 

UFC APEX VIP Experience packages are available via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. Enjoy exclusive access with an official ticket package that includes premium seating, all-inclusive hospitality, in-seat beverage service, meet-and-greets with UFC Octagon Girls and more. Visit UFCVIP.com for more information.

Blanchfield (13-2, fighting out of Elmwood Park, N.J.) looks to deliver a statement and secure her first shot at UFC gold. Still only 25 years old, Blanchfield has become one of the top contenders at 125 pounds by defeating former UFC champions Rose Namajunas and Jéssica Andrade. She now sets forth to halt Barber’s momentum and win in emphatic fashion.

Dana White’s Contender Series signee Barber (14-2, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) makes her long-awaited return to action. A staple in the flyweight division, Barber has made a name for herself by dominating formidable opponents such as Katlyn Cerminara, Amanda Ribas, and Andrea Lee. With her sights now set on Blanchfield, Barber plans to become the clear No. 1 contender.

Perennial top lightweight contender Gamrot (24-3, 1 NC, fighting out of Poznan, Poland) makes his first Octagon appearance of 2025. An elite grappler, Gamrot rose through the 155-pound ranks with impressive performances against Rafael Dos Anjos, Arman Tsarukyan and Jeremy Stephens. He now intends to make an example of Klein and turn his attention back towards the Top 5 of the division.

Klein (23-4-1, fighting out of Nove Zamky, Slovakia) intends on delivering his best performance yet to secure the biggest win of his career. A well-rounded competitor with nine wins by knockout and eight by submission, he is currently on a seven-fight unbeaten streak that includes victories over Ignacio Bahamondes, Thiago Moises and Roosevelt Roberts. Klein now aims to vault into the rankings for the first time by taking out Gamrot.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Welterweight action sees Billy Ray Goff (9-3, fighting out of Groton, Conn.) take on SeokHyeon Ko (11-2, fighting out of Seoul, South Korea)
• Dustin Jacoby(20-9-1, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.) meets Bruno Lopes(14-1, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) in a battle of light heavyweight veterans
• Dana White’s Contender Series alumni Zachary Reese (8-2, fighting out of Houston, Texas by way of Shiner, Texas) and Duško Todorovi? (12-5, fighting out of Belgrade, Serbia) compete at middleweight
• Jafel Filho(16-3, fighting out of Sento Sé, Bahia, Brazil) and Allan Nascimento(20-6, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) are set for flyweight action
• Jeremiah Wells(12-4-1, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.) locks horns with Andreas Gustaffson(11-2, fighting out of Västerås, Sweden) at welterweight
• No. 3 ranked bantamweight contender Ketlen Vieira (14-5, fighting out of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil) collides with No. 5 Macy Chiasson (14-2, fighting out of Springfield, Ill.)
• Ramiz Brahimaj(11-5, fighting out of Dallas, Texas by way of the Bronx, N.Y.) clashes with Dana White’s Contender Series signee Oban Elliott(12-2, fighting out of Merthyr Tydfil, Wales) at welterweight
• Lightweights Kurt Holobaugh(22-9, 1 NC, fighting out of Amite, La.) and Jordan Leavitt (11-3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) lock horns
• MarQuel Mederos (10-1, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.) aims to deliver another signature performance when he faces Bolaji Oki (9-2, fighting out of Brussels, Belgium) in a lightweight bout
• Rayanne Dos Santos(14-8, fighting out of Belém, Pará, Brazil) battles Alice Ardelean(9-7, fighting out of Birmingham, England) at strawweight

For the latest information on bout announcements and additional information for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts are subject to change. Please click?here?to apply for the event.

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 259 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+?? ??

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more.?ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst. 

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Atlanta with a thrilling welterweight bout that sees former champion and current No. 4 ranked contender Kamaru Usman battle surging No. 6 Joaquin Buckley. Also, former strawweight champion and No. 6 ranked flyweight contender Rose Namajunas takes on No. 12 Miranda Maverick.

UFC^® FIGHT NIGHT: USMAN vs. BUCKLEY takes place Sat., June 14 at State Farm Arena. The entire card will be available in English and Spanish on ESPN+, starting with the prelims at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT. The main card will also air on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, kicking off at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

UFC^® FIGHT NIGHT: USMAN vs. BUCKLEY tickets will go on sale Fri., May 2 at 10 a.m. ET and are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wed., April 30 at 10 a.m. ET via the website UFCFightClub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thurs., May 1 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Usman (20-4, fighting out of Denver, Colo. by way of Auchi, Nigeria) returns with the intention of  delivering a statement performance. A dominant champion for over three years, he holds knockout victories over Colby Covington, Jorge Masvidal and Gilbert Burns. Usman now intends to kick off his 2025 campaign by beginning his ascent back to world title contention.

Buckley (21-6, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) plans to continue his momentum by adding a decorated former champion to his resume. A dynamic striker and KO artist, he has earned thrilling finishes against Colby Covington, Stephen Thompson and Vicente Luque. Buckley now hopes to secure his seventh consecutive win to stake his claim for a championship opportunity.

Namajunas (14-7, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) intends to deliver a highlight-reel finish in her first outing of 2025. A two-time former world champion, she has netted spectacular victories over Zhang Weili, Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Jessica Andrade. Namajunas now has her sights set on defending her spot in the rankings by turning away another rising contender.

Maverick (17-5, fighting out of Denver, Colo. by way of Buffalo, Mo.) plans to extend her win streak by taking out her first former UFC titleholder. Victorious in her last four Octagon appearances, she holds notable wins against Andrea Lee, Priscila Cachoeira and Gillian Robertson. Maverick now looks to turn heads by finishing Namajunas to continue her climb up the flyweight rankings.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Michael Chiesa (20-7, fighting out of Spokane Valley, Wash.) takes on Court McGee (23-13, fighting out of Orem, Utah) in a clash of welterweight veterans
• Undefeated Mansur Abdul-Malik (8-0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) looks to keep his 100 percent finish rate intact when he meets gritty Cody Brundage (11-6 1NC, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.) at middleweight
• Tereza Bleda (7-1, fighting out of Prague, Czech Republic) faces Jamey-Lyn Horth (7-2, fighting out of Squamish, B.C., Canada) in a flyweight tilt
• Edmen Shahbazyan (14-5, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) squares off with Andre Petroski (13-4, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.) at middleweight
• Georgia’s own Cody Durden (17-7-1, fighting out of Covington, Ga.) locks horns with Jose Ochoa (7-1 1NC, fighting out of Moyobamba, Peru) in a flyweight bout
• No. 14 ranked light heavyweight contender Alonzo Menifield (16-5-1, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) collides with undefeated Oumar Sy (11-0, fighting out of Paris, France) 

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit UFC.com. All bouts are live and subject to change. Please click?here?to apply for credentials to the event.

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and approximately 266 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 900 million households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About State Farm Arena

Home to the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, the award-winning State Farm Arena is a next-generation sports and live entertainment venue focused on experience, sustainability, and service. Inspired by the city, State Farm Arena showcases the core values of the organization: inclusiveness, authenticity, and innovation. From the first ever in-arena barbershop with the Killer Mike SWAG Shop to the Hawk Bar on the court behind the basket to the concourse to the Topgolf Swing Suites, State Farm Arena is True to Atlanta. Community and sustainability are at the core as the arena hosts the largest annual food distribution event with the Million Meal Pack and the arena was also the first venue in the world to earn TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Platinum certification for zero waste. State Farm Arena was recently named Best Venue by Front Office Sports, a leading multi-platform media and news organization, and consistently ranks among the top 10 concert and event venues in the world from industry-leading publications Pollstar and Billboard. Accessible to every fan with a MARTA station adjacent, the downtown Atlanta arena hosts approximately 175 events and close to 2 million guests annually and stakes its claim as the city’s best sports and live entertainment venue. For more information on State Farm Arena, visit StateFarmArena.com or follow on X @StateFarmArena and Instagram @StateFarmArena.

About ESPN+ 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading multiplatform sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, the leading sports app, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, leading social and digital platforms, ESPN.com, ESPN Audio, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with a thrilling bout between elite welterweights, as No. 8 Gilbert Burns faces off against undefeated No. 12 ranked contender Michael Morales. In addition, an entertaining light heavyweight bout will see Paul Craig lock horns with Rodolfo Bellato.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: BURNS vs. MORALES takes place Saturday, May 17 in Las Vegas, Nevada and will be available on exclusively on ESPN+ (English and Spanish). The prelims will air at 1 p.m. PT / 4p.m. ET, followed by the main card airing at 4 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. ET. 

UFC APEX VIP Experience packages are available via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. Enjoy exclusive access with an official ticket package that includes premium seating, all-inclusive hospitality, in-seat beverage service, meet-and-greets with UFC Octagon Girls and more. Visit UFCVIP.com for more information.

Burns (22-8, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla. by way of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) returns to action for the first time in 2025. A decorated grappler that also wields knockout power, Burns has made a name for himself at 170-pounds by securing victories against Jorge Masvidal, Neil Magny, and Stephen Thompson. The Brazilian now sets forth to derail the Morales hype train with a statement performance.

Morales (17-0, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico by way of Pesaje, Ecuador) steps back inside the Octagon for his first UFC main event. The undefeated prospect has made a splash at welterweight by delivering emphatic finishes of Neil Magny, Jake Matthews, and Max Griffin. Morales now turns his attention towards Burns as he looks to secure the biggest win of his career and enter the Top 10 rankings.

Always entertaining, Craig (17-9-1, fighting out of Coatbridge, Scotland) returns to the light heavyweight division looking to make an immediate impact. A submission specialist, he has impressed with stoppage victories over UFC champion Magomed Ankalaev, as well as former champions “Shogun” Rua and Jamahal Hill. Craig now intends to hand Bellato his first loss in the UFC in emphatic fashion.

Dana White’s Contender Series signee Bellato (12-2-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) aims to deliver another bonus-earning performance. A proven finisher with 11 of his 12 wins coming before the final bell, Bellato showed he has what it takes to compete in the UFC with his debut stoppage of Ihor Potieria. He now has his sights set on adding Craig’s name to his resume.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Julian Erosa (31-12, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) and Melquizael Costa (23-7, fighting out of Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil) return to the Octagon for an all-action featherweight showdown
• Featherweight standouts meet at lightweight as Sodiq Yusuff (13-4, fighting out of Bladensburg, Md. by way of Lagos, Nigeria) takes on The Ultimate Fighter season 32 winner Mairon Santos (16-1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Duque De Caxias, Rio de Janeiro)
• Lightweight veterans face off as Jared Gordon (20-7, 1NC, fighting out of Queens, N.Y.) battles Thiago Moises (19-8, fighting out of Indaiatuba, Brazil)
• Gabe Green(11-4, fighting out of San Pedro, Calif) welcomes UFC newcomerMatheus Camilo (9-2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) to the lightweight division
• A middleweight contest pits Dustin Stoltzfus(16-6, fighting out of Germersheim, Germany) against Nursulton Ruziboev(35-9-2 2 NC, fighting out of Tashkent, Uzbekistan)
• No. 14 ranked strawweight contender Luana Pinheiro(11-4, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and No. 15 Tecia Pennington(14-7, fighting out of Colorado Springs, Colo. by way of Fall River, Mass.) square off in a high-stakes matchup
• Elise Reed(8-4, fighting out of Princeton, N.J.) takes on Denise Gomes(10-3, fighting out of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) at strawweight
• Road to UFC Asia signee HyunSung Park(9-0, fighting out of Gyeonggi-do, South Korea) takes on Dana Whites Contender Series contract winner Carlos Hernandez(10-4, fighting out of Chicago, Ill.)
• Bantamweights Luana Santos(8-2, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) and Tainara Lisboa(7-2, fighting out of Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil) look to steal the show

For the latest information on bout announcements and additional information for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts are subject to change. Please click?here?to apply for the event.

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 259 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+?? ??

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more.?ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst. 

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Newark, N.J. with another stacked card, headlined by a pair of blockbuster championship bouts. In the main event, reigning bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili rematches with former title holder and No. 1 ranked contender Sean O’Malley. The co-main event will see women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Pena defend her newly won belt against No. 2 ranked Kayla Harrison.

UFC^® 316: DVALISHVILI vs. O’MALLEY 2 takes place Saturday, June 7 at Prudential Center, with the main card available on ESPN+ PPV at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The prelims will be available on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, as well as simulcast in English and Spanish on ESPN+, at 8p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The early prelims will kick off at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass.

UFC^®returns to Prudential Center after setting the venue’s live sporting event gate record in 2024 with UFC^® 302 headlined by Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier. UFC^® 316: DVALISHVILI vs. O’MALLEY 2 will mark the eleventh UFC event at the famed arena dating back to 2007.

UFC^® 316: DVALISHVILI vs. O’MALLEY 2 will go on sale this Friday, April 18 at 10 a.m. ET and are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.

“NJSEA, the city of Newark and Prudential Center continue to be great partners to us,” said Peter Dropick, Executive Vice President of Event Development and Operations, UFC. “Makhachev vs. Poirier was one of our top fights last year and set the gate record at this famed arena. We’re thrilled to be returning for the third year in a row. I know UFC 316 will be another special night.”

“New Jersey is proud to be a premium entertainment destination for visitors across the country and world,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “We are excited to welcome the UFC back to Newark, bringing an incredible experience to thousands of fans while also generating economic activity for the region.” 

“Hosting UFC in Newark for the third year in a row shows that our city rises to the same level of excitement as the event’s electrifying fight card,” said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. “It is an honor to be selected and to welcome fans from all across the globe to deliver the perfect one-two-punch of hospitality and entertainment.” 

“For the third consecutive year, Prudential Center is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to welcome our partners at UFC back to Newark,” said Tad Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment. “UFC 316 promises to be another record-breaking night as Prudential Center continues to deliver as a destination for marquee events. We look forward to hosting fans from all over the world for the next unforgettable night in New Jersey’s rich combat sports history.”

Dvalishvili (19-4, fighting out of Long Island, N.Y. by way of Tbilisi, Georgia) looks to leave no doubt that he is the best bantamweight on the planet. The first Georgian-born champion in UFC history, Dvalishvili is currently on an 11-fight win streak, the longest in UFC bantamweight history, which includes victories over Umar Nurmagomedov, Sean O’Malley and Henry Cejudo. He now intends to further etch his name into the record books with another dominant performance.

Former champion O’Malley (18-2, fighting out of Glendale, Ariz.) makes his return to the Octagon for the first time since dropping the title to Dvalishvili last September. An elite and exciting striker with the most post-fight bonuses in UFC bantamweight history (9), he has entertained fans with finishes of Aljamain Sterling, Raulian Paiva and Kris Moutinho. O’Malley now plans to regain UFC gold by taking out Dvalishvili with a vintage showing.

Pena (12-5, fighting out of Chicago, Ill.) seeks to make her second reign as bantamweight champion a historic one. The first woman to win The Ultimate Fighter, Pena holds notable wins over former UFC champions Amanda Nunes, Raquel Pennington and Nicco Montano. She now looks to make her biggest statement yet by handing Harrison her first loss in the UFC.

A two-time Olympic gold medalist in Judo for the United States, Harrison (18-1, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) has her sights set on adding UFC gold to her impressive resume. In her short time as part of the UFC roster, Harrison has already earned impressive wins over former champion Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira. She now intends to start off her 2025 campaign with a title-winning effort.

Current bouts also on the card include:

• No. 7 ranked bantamweight contender Marlon Vera (23-10-1, fighting out of Chone, Manabi, Ecuador) looks to halt the momentum of No. 10 Mario Bautista (15-2, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.)
• Thrilling welterweight actions pits No. 14 ranked contender Vicente Luque (23-10-1, fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil) against Kevin Holland (27-13, 1NC, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas)
• An exciting flyweight bout pits No. 12 ranked contender Bruno Silva (14-6-2 1NC, fighting out of Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil) against No. 14 Joshua Van (14-2, fighting out of Houston, Texas)
• Light heavyweight action sees No. 10 ranked contender Johnny Walker (21-9 1NC, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland by way of Rio das Ostras, Brazil) take on undefeated No. 12 ranked Azamat Murzakanov (14-0, fighting out of Fairfield, N.J. by way of Nalchik, Russia)
• No. 14 ranked flyweight contender Ariane da Silva (17-10, fighting out of Curitiba, Parana, Brazil) aims to defend her spot in the rankings against Wang Cong (7-1, fighting out of Shanghai, China)

For the latest information on bout announcements and additional information for this event, please visit UFC.com. All bouts are subject to change. Please click?here?to apply for the event. 

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 228 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to over 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About Prudential Center

Prudential Center is the world-class sports and entertainment venue located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Opened in October 2007, the state-of-the-art arena is the home of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) three-time Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils, Seton Hall University’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball program, and more than 210 concerts, family shows and special events each year. Ranked in the Top 5 worldwide by Pollstar, Billboard and Venues Today, Prudential Center is recognized as one of the premier venues in the United States, and hosts over 2 million guests annually. For more information about Prudential Center, visit https://www.prucenter.com/ and follow the arena on Facebook, X and Instagram @PruCenter. Prudential Center is a HBSE property.

About ESPN+ 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading multiplatform sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, the leading sports app, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, leading social and digital platforms, ESPN.com, ESPN Audio, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

Las Vegas – UFC^® today announced that former UFC bantamweight and featherweight champion Amanda Nunes will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s Modern Wing as a member of the Class of 2025. Nunes will enter the Hall of Fame as the third female inductee in UFC history.

The 2025 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place as part of the 13^th Annual UFC International Fight Week^Ô, on Thursday, June 26, at T-Mobile Arena, and will be streamed live, exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS^®.

“Amanda Nunes is the greatest female fighter of all-time,” said UFC President & CEO Dana White. “Amanda was a great champion who had one of the most legendary careers in combat sports history. She is an incredible person, and it will be an honor to induct her into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.”

Nunes will enter the UFC Hall of Fame as the 15^th member of the Modern Wing. The Modern Era category includes athletes who turned pro on or after November 17, 2000, when the first UFC event under the unified rules of MMA was held. Other requirements include a minimum age of 35 or those who have been retired for one year or more.
A veteran of 28 fights during her 15-year professional MMA career, Nunes compiled a record of 23-5 (17-3 UFC / Strikeforce), securing victories over UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey, UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (twice), UFC bantamweight champion Julianna Pena, former UFC featherweight champions Germaine de Randamie (twice) and Cris Cyborg, and former UFC bantamweight champions Miesha Tate, Holly Holm, and Raquel Pennington.

Nunes made her professional MMA debut on March 8, 2008, losing her first fight via armbar submission in the first round. She would bounce back by winning her next six fights, including her Strikeforce debut, with a KO in 14 seconds against Julia Budd to improve her record to 6-1. In 2013, Nunes signed with UFC.

Nunes made her UFC debut on the FX prelims of UFC^® 163: ALDO vs. KOREAN ZOMBIE, which took place on August 3, 2013, at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She defeated Sheila Gaff via first-round TKO to launch her UFC career. 

Nunes returned to the Octagon^® three months later in November to face Germaine de Randamie on the FS1 prelims of UFC^®: FIGHT FOR THE TROOPS 3, which took place on November 6, 2013, at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. She defeated Germaine via first-round TKO, earning a chance to meet undefeated bantamweight Cat Zingano. After winning the first round, Nunes would lose via TKO in the third, marking her first loss inside the Octagon. 

Nunes would win her next 12 fights over six years (March 21, 2015 – March 6, 2021), capturing or defending her title nine times and cleaning out the bantamweight and featherweight divisions in the process. Eight of her 12 fights were won by KO or submission.

Nunes faced number one-ranked Julianna Pena in the co-main event of UFC^® 296: OLIVEIRA vs. POIRIER, which took place on December 11, 2021, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Pena would stun the world with her second-round submission of Nunes via rear-naked choke, handing her the fifth, and last loss of her career.

Nunes earned an immediate rematch against Pena, meeting seven months later in the main event of UFC^® 277: PENA vs. NUNES 2, which took place on July 30, 2022, at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. She would reclaim the bantamweight title with a convincing unanimous decision victory.

Nunes retired on June 10, 2023, after defeating Irene Aldana via unanimous decision, defending the bantamweight title in the main event of UFC^® 289: NUNES vs. ALDANA.

Nunes enters the UFC Hall of Fame with an impressive resume that includes:

UFC:

• First woman to become a two-division champion and hold both UFC bantamweight and featherweight titles simultaneously.

• Longest winning streak in UFC women’s history – 12

• Most title fight wins in UFC women’s history – 11 (T-4^th most in UFC history)

• Most finishes in UFC women’s history – 10

• Most first-round finishes in UFC women’s history – 9

• Most knockdowns in UFC women’s history – 8

• Most knockouts in UFC women’s history – 7

• Second-most wins in UFC women’s history – 16 (Jessica Andrade, 17)

Outside the Octagon, Nunes has been honored with several awards throughout her career, receiving Female Fighter of the Year in by MMA Junkie in2018 and 2019, and by the Fighters Only World MMA Awards in 2016, 2018 and 2019.

A native of Pojuca, Bahia, Brazil, Nunes began competing in karate, boxing, and capoeira at the age of seven. At 16, she began training in judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. With a brown belt in judo and black belt in jiu-jitsu, she captured several medals as an amateur, including gold medals at the 2008 Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship and 2009 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship. In 2012, Nunes became a World Champion of the North American Grappling Association in the lightweight and absolute divisions. She currently resides in Florida, with her wife, former UFC fighter Nina, and their two children.

To view Nunes’ UFC FIGHT PASS collection please visit: https://ufcfightpass.com/playlist/28685

To see a complete list of UFC athletes and fights enshrined in the UFC Hall of Fame, as well as details regarding the UFC Hall of Fame format, please visit UFCHOFFAQ. For additional information, please visit UFC.com.

Baku, Azerbaijan: UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organisation, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Baku City Circuit (BCC) Operations Company, today announced UFC’s debut event in Baku, Azerbaijan on Saturday, June 21 at the Baku Crystal Hall.  An epic main event sees former UFC light heavyweight champion and No. 4-ranked contender Jamahal Hill take on No. 7-ranked Khalil Rountree Jr.

Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT^Ò: HILL vs. ROUNDTREE JR will go on sale at 10 a.m. AZT on Friday, April 25, via iTicket. Fight Club members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets early at 10 a.m. AZT on Wednesday, April 23, whilst those who registered their interest early in this event will gain access at 10 a.m. AZT on Thursday, April 24.

The partnership was announced at a signing ceremony with UFC President and CEO Dana White, and Minister of Youth and Sports Azerbaijan Farid Gayibov in Miami ahead of UFC 314: VOLKANOVSKI vs. LOPES this Saturday.

“Azerbaijan and the city of Baku have an incredible history of hosting massive global sporting events,” said UFC President and CEO Dana White. “We have so many great athletes from in and around this country that it was a natural next destination for us. I’m excited to have our debut event there on June 21.”

Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan Farid Gayibov emphasized the significance of the event in advancing Azerbaijan’s role in the international sports community while stating, “Hosting UFC in Baku marks another significant milestone in our efforts to develop Azerbaijan as a regional sports leader. Thanks to President Ilham Aliyev’s unwavering support and attention, along with his successful sports policy, Azerbaijan has gained international recognition in the world of sports — and the city of Baku has established itself as a key hub for major global sporting events. This partnership with UFC further strengthens our reputation as a global sports hub, showcasing our commitment to sports development and international cooperation”.

Maqsud Farzullaev, General Director of Baku City Circuit Operations Company, added, “After our successful collaboration with Formula 1, partnering with UFC is an extraordinary next step for Baku. This event will not only highlight the city’s world-class facilities but also elevate Azerbaijan’s prominence on the global sporting stage. We are proud to contribute to the growth of UFC and combat sports in the region, further solidifying Baku as a go-to destination for major international sports.”

Former champion Hill (12-3 1NC, fighting out of Michigan, United States) aims to make a quick return to the Octagon® for his second bout of 2025. The first Dana White’s Contender Series alum to become an undisputed UFC champion, he earned his way to the title with wins over Thiago Santos, Johnny Walker and Jimmy Crute. Hill now plans to make a statement against Rountree Jr. and turn his attention to the championship picture.  

Rountree Jr. (14-6 1NC, fighting out of Nevada, United States) competes for the first time since his valiant Fight of the Night effort against Alex Pereira at UFC® 307 last October. A devastating striker with 9 of his 13 wins coming by way of KO, Rountree Jr. has entertained fans with his victories over Chris Daukaus, Karl Roberson and Modestas Bukauskas. He now looks to take Hill’s spot in the top five with another signature performance. 

Also featuring on this stacked card will be the highly anticipated return of Kyoji Horiguchi (34-5, fighting out of Florida, United States, by way of Gunma, Japan) as he aims to become the first ever Japanese UFC champion. Standing in his way will be No.10-ranked flyweight Tagir Ulanbekov (16-2, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia) who is training under former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and also has his eyes on the top of the flyweight division.

Expect fireworks as heavyweights collide with No.5 ranked Curtis Blaydes (18-5, fighting out of Chicago, United States) taking on Dana White’s Contender Series stand out Rizvan Kuniev (13-2-1, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia) who will be looking to make a statement in his Octagon debut.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Ismail Naurdiev (24-7, fighting out of Rabat, Morocco) will take on Junyong Park (18-6, fighting out of Seoul, South Korea) in a middleweight match up.
• Hamdy Abdelwahab (6-0, fighting out of New York, United States by way of Cairo, Egypt) takes on Mohammed Usman (10-4, fighting out of Texas, United States) in a heavyweight bout.  
• In a bantamweight bout Irina Alekseeva (5-2, fighting out of Chelyabinsk, Russia) faces Klaudia Sygula (6-2, fighting out of Lodz, Poland).
• Daria Zhelezniakova (9-2, fighting out of Paris, France by way of Saint Petersburg, Russia) meets Melissa Mullins (7-1, fighting out of Coventry, England) in a bantamweight bout.

Azerbaijani athletes are rapidly emerging as a formidable presence in UFC, showcasing world-class wrestling, striking and grit. Fighters like Rafael Fiziev have delivered dominant performances against elite opponents, including former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos and King Green.

With UFC’s history of sellout events, fans are advised to register their interest early at ufc.com/Baku to secure their seats for this highly anticipated event and to follow @UFCEurasia on social media for the latest updates.

– ENDS –

About UFC®

UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and approximately 300 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 950 million households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 70 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

Abu Dhabi, UAE: UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organisation, in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), is excited to announce the return of UFC to Abu Dhabi on Saturday,26^th July, at the Etihad Arena.  

UFC® FIGHT NIGHT ABU DHABI tickets will go on sale soon, so fans are encouraged to register their interest early for the best chance to secure tickets via VisitAbuDhabi. 

UFC returns to Abu Dhabi following two spectacular events in 2024. In October, UFC® 308: TOPURIA vs. HOLLOWAY featured Spain’s Ilia Topuria defending his featherweight title with a stunning third-round knockout over top contender Max Holloway. In August, fans were treated to an elite bantamweight showdown at UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: SANDHAGEN vs. NURMAGOMEDOV, where Umar Nurmagomedov secured a hard-fought victory over Cory Sandhagen with a five-round decision. 

With 20 events held in the emirate since 2010, UFC has become a mainstay in the region’s sports and entertainment calendar. Through its long-term partnership with DCT Abu Dhabi, UFC continues to bring exciting fight cards featuring top global talents to the UAE capital. With a passionate fan base and state-of-the-art venues, Abu Dhabi has become a global sports hub for major events.

Stay tuned for details on the upcoming fight card, as UFC prepares for an unforgettable line-up of bouts. Some of UFC’s most talented athletes will enter the Octagon® for another action-packed night on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island. 

VIP Experience packages will soon be available via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. Enjoy exclusive access with an official ticket package that can feature premium seating, VIP access to weigh-ins, all-inclusive hospitality, meet-and-greets with UFC athletes and more. For additional information, please visit?UFCVIP.com?to view package details. 

For further information on UFC® FIGHT NIGHT ABU DHABI and the latest updates, please visit VisitAbuDhaibi.ae.

Las Vegas – UFC^® delivers its first event in Des Moines, Iowa, headlined by a pivotal bantamweight bout that will see No. 4 ranked contender Cory Sandhagen collide with No. 5 Deiveson Figueiredo. The co-main event will see No. 13 ranked middleweight contender Reinier De Ridder square off with undefeated Bo Nickal.

UFC^® FIGHT NIGHT: SANDHAGEN vs. FIGUEIREDO takes place Sat., May 3 at Wells Fargo Arena. The entire card will be available on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, as well as simulcast on ESPN+ in English and Spanish, starting with the prelims at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT. The main card will then kick off at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

UFC^® FIGHT NIGHT: SANDHAGEN vs. FIGUEIREDO tickets will go on sale Fri., March 21 at 10 a.m. CT and are available for purchase at Hy-VeeTix.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wed., March 19 at 10 a.m. CT via the website UFCFightClub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thurs., March 20 starting at 10 a.m. CT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Sandhagen (17-5, fighting out of Aurora, Colo.) plans to kick off his 2025 campaign with another highlight-reel performance. A dynamic striker who has won three of his last four, he has delivered thrilling stoppages of Frankie Edgar, Marlon Moraes and Song Yadong. Sandhagen now intends to defend his spot in the rankings by taking out Figueiredo.

Former UFC flyweight champion Figueiredo (24-4-1, fighting out of Soure, Pará, Brazil) looks to stake his claim for a bantamweight title shot. A dangerous finisher, he has secured exciting submission victories over Cody Garbrandt, Alex Perez and Joseph Benavidez. Figueiredo now hopes to become the first fighter to knock out Sandhagen and continue his ascent up the 135-pound ladder.

De Ridder (19-2, fighting out of Breda, Netherlands) looks to continue his hot streak and cement his status as a title threat. A former champion outside the UFC, he has earned memorable wins against Kevin Holland and Gerald Meerschaert since joining the world’s premier MMA promotion last year. De Ridder is now determined to hand Nickal his first career loss.

The surging Nickal (7-0, fighting out of State College, Penn.) plans to continue his winning ways with a dominant performance. A three-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion, he has earned notable victories over Paul Craig, Cody Brundage and Jamie Pickett. Nickal now has his sights set on earning the biggest win of his career to crack the middleweight Top 15.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Jeremy Stephens (29-21 1NC, fighting out of San Diego, Calif.) returns to the Octagon against Mason Jones (11-2 1NC, fighting out of Blaenavon, Wales)
• No. 15 ranked bantamweight contender Montel Jackson (15-2, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) takes on unbeaten Daniel Marcos (17-0 1NC, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla. by way of Lima, Peru)
• Thomas Petersen (9-3, fighting out of Webster, Minn.) locks horns with Don’Tale Mayes (11-8 1NC, fighting out of Louisville, Ken.) at heavyweight
• Ryan Loder (8-1, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) meets Azamat Bekoev (19-3, fighting out of Vladikavkaz, Russia) in a middleweight bout
• Junior Tafa (6-3, fighting out of Brisbane, Australia) faces Tuco Tokkos (10-5, fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Fla. by way of London, England) at light heavyweight
• No. 9 ranked strawweight contender Marina Rodriguez (17-5-2, fighting out of Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil) battles No. 12 Gillian Robertson (15-8, fighting out of Port St. Lucie, Fla. by way of Niagara Falls, Canada)
• No. 10 ranked bantamweight contender Yana Santos (15-8 1NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Saint Petersburg, Russia) takes on former champion and current No. 11 Miesha Tate (20-9, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.)
• Santiago Ponzinibbio (31-8, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) meets Daniel Rodriguez (18-5, fighting out of Alhambra, Calif.) in an exciting welterweight tilt
• Trevor Peek (9-3 1NC, fighting out of Denver, Colo. by way of Scottsboro, Ala.) meets JeongYeong Lee (11-2, fighting out of Daegu, South Korea) at featherweight
• Cameron Smotherman (12-4, fighting out of Houston, Texas) faces Dana White’s Contender Series signee Serhiy Sidey (11-2, fighting out of Burlington, Ontario, Canada) in a bantamweight bout

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit UFC.com. All bouts are live and subject to change. Please click?here?to apply for credentials to the event.

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and approximately 266 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 900 million households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About Wells Fargo Arena

Wells Fargo Arena, located in the heart of downtown Des Moines, Iowa, is a premier entertainment and event venue and part of the Iowa Events Center. With a seating capacity of over 17,000, the arena hosts a diverse range of events, including concerts, family shows, sporting events, conventions, and more. As a key destination in the Midwest, Wells Fargo Arena is known for its state-of-the-art facilities, top-notch amenities, and its ability to deliver world-class experiences to both fans and event organizers. The venue is a part of the Iowa Events Center and is owned by Polk County and professionally managed by Oak View Group, which is committed to bringing the best in live entertainment to central Iowa.

About ESPN+ 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading multiplatform sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, the leading sports app, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, leading social and digital platforms, ESPN.com, ESPN Audio, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

Las Vegas – UFC^® today announced that former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s Modern Wing as a member of the Class of 2025. The 2025 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place as part of the 13^th Annual UFC International Fight Week^Ô on Thursday, June 26, at T-Mobile Arena and will be streamed live, exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS^®.

“Robbie Lawler is one of the most badass athletes to every step inside the Octagon,” said UFC President & CEO Dana White. “Robbie was an absolute killer, and I have a ton of respect for his toughness and his fighting style, which helped grow the sport of MMA and UFC by attracting a lot of new fans. Robbie had an amazing career, and it will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.”

Lawler will enter the UFC Hall of Fame as the 16^th member of the Modern Wing. The Modern Era category includes athletes who turned pro on or after November 17, 2000 (when the first UFC event under the unified rules of MMA was held) and who are a minimum age of 35, or who have been retired for one year or more.

A veteran of 47 fights during his 22-year MMA career, Lawler compiled a 30-16,1 NC (19-15 – UFC / PRIDE / Strikeforce), registering victories over UFC Hall of Famer Donald Cerrone, Frank Trigg (Fight Wing), former UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks, former interim UFC welterweight champion Carlos Condit, former Strikeforce and WEC welterweight champion Nick Diaz, and former WEC light heavyweight champion Scott Smith.

Lawler made his professional MMA debut on April 7, 2001, winning each of his first four fights across three organizations by first round KO before signing with UFC.

Lawler made his UFC debut on the prelims of UFC^® 37: HIGH IMPACT, which took place on May 10, 2002, in Bossier City, Louisiana. He defeated his opponent, Aaron Riley, via unanimous decision to launch his career inside the Octagon. Lawler would win three of his next six fights with UFC over two years, ending his first stint with the organization after losing to former UFC middleweight champion Evan Tanner during UFC^® 50: THE WAR OF ’04.

For the next seven years, Lawler would compete 18 times in other promotions outside UFC, securing a 11-6,1 NC record before making his return. This stint also included appearances in PRIDE and Strikeforce, as it was acquired by Zuffa and merged into UFC.

He returned to UFC competition as a welterweight in 2012, defeating Josh Koscheck via first-round TKO during UFC^® 157: ROUSEY vs. CARMOUCHE, which took place on February 23, 2013, in Anaheim, Calif. 

Lawler would win his next two fights over Bobby Voelker and Rory MacDonald and set up his first title fight with Hendricks for the vacant UFC welterweight title at UFC 171.

UFC^® 171: HENDRICKS vs. LAWLER, took place on March 15, 2014, at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Lawler and Hendricks fought for five rounds, with Johny winning a unanimous decision. The first of two fights between the athletes, the UFC 171 main event won several awards for Fight of the Year in 2014.

Following his loss at UFC 171, Lawler won his next two fights against Jake Ellenberger and Matt Brown, to earn his second shot at the welterweight title as the number one contender against Hendricks in the main event of UFC 181.

UFC^® 181: HENDRICKS vs. LAWLER II took placeon December 6, 2014, in Las Vegas, Nev.; Lawler and Hendricks would compete for all five rounds, with Lawler winning the title via split decision.

Lawler’s status as a legendary fighter would be secured during his next two fights, as he would defend the welterweight title against Rory MacDonald and Carlos Condit during UFC 189 (2015) and UFC 195 (2016). Both fights would be five-round wars that would earn Fight of the Year honors by several media outlets during their respective years. In 2023, his UFC 189 fight with MacDonald would also enter the Fight Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame. During his career, he also scored seven knockouts and landed more than 1,200 significant strikes in welterweight competition.

Lawler would lose the welterweight title to Tyron Woodley in the main event of UFC 201, which took place on July 30, 2016. Over the next seven years, he would continue to fight top contenders in the middleweight and welterweight divisions. He retired after securing a 38-second KO of Niko Price during UFC 290 on July 8, 2023.

Outside the Octagon, Lawler has been honored with numerous awards throughout his career, being named Fighter of the Year in 2014 by MMA Junkie and the Fighters Only World MMA Awards. 

A native of San Diego, Calif., Lawler began training in taekwondo at age eight and karate at age 10. His family relocated to Bettendorf, Iowa, when he was 10 years old, and he began to compete in wrestling at age 16 under the guidance of UFC Hall of Famer Pat Miletich. Lawler also wrestled in high school, earning All-State honors. He currently lives in Florida with his wife.

To view Lawler’s UFC FIGHT PASS collection please visit: https://ufcfightpass.com/playlist/28688

To see a complete list of UFC athletes and fights enshrined in the UFC Hall of Fame, as well as details regarding the UFC Hall of Fame format, please visit UFCHOFFAQ. For additional information, please visit UFC.com.

Las Vegas – UFC^® today announced that the 13^th Annual UFC International Fight Week^™ will take place in Las Vegas from Wednesday, June 25, through Sunday, June 29, headlined by UFC^® 317 with events taking place throughout the city at venues including Resorts World Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Convention Center, and T-Mobile Arena.

UFC International Fight Week, the organization’s week-long celebration of combat sports, will be highlighted by the 2025 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and the two-day UFC X fan experience. The week will be anchored by UFC^® 317, which takes place on Saturday, June 28, at T-Mobile Arena.

The prestigious 2025 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, held annually as part of International Fight Week, honors the contributors and athletes who helped shape UFC while leaving an indelible mark on the sport of mixed martial arts. The UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Thursday, June 26, at T-Mobile Arena.

Spanning more than 200,000 square feet of the Las Vegas Convention Center’s entertainment activation space, UFC X, the organization’s fully immersive and easily accessible two-day fan experience, will feature interactive brand and partner activations, live stage programming, athlete autograph sessions, and meet and greets, providing fans with unparalleled access to UFC champions, Hall of Famers, top-ranked contenders, and other UFC personalities.

UFC X will take place on Friday, June 27, and Saturday, June 28, at the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, one of the premier meeting and conference venues in Las Vegas. Fans who attend the two-day experience will have access to purchase exclusive merchandise at the UFC Store, while also participating in numerous interactive fan-favorite activities.

General admission tickets for UFC X start at $30 for one-day access and $50 for two-day access. All children ages 12 and under will receive free entry. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. PT on Friday, March 14 via AXS.com.VIP packages will also be made available for UFC X through UFC’s Official VIP Experiences partner, On Location, at UFCVIP.com. UFC X will be produced by global full-service cultural marketing agency 160over90.

Fans from around the world who attend International Fight Week will also be able to enjoy the activities of a traditional Fight Week, including ceremonial weigh-ins and press conferences, leading to the schedule’s culminating event, UFC^® 317, on Saturday, June 28, at T-Mobile Arena.

UFC fans can also enter for their chance to win an unforgettable UFC Dream Week travel package for International Fight Week. One lucky winner and a guest will win a one-of-a-kind VIP experience that includes premium tickets to UFC^® 317, the UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, and UFC X, as well as airfare and hotel accommodations. To learn more and enter, please visit DREAMWEEK.

Details regarding the fight card for UFC^® 317, as well as event locations and additional activities for UFC International Fight Week will be announced at a later date. For more information, please visit UFCFIGHTWEEK.COM.

Las Vegas – As part of TKO Takeover Presented by VeChain, UFC^® returns to T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. with another thrilling card headlined by former UFC light heavyweight champion and No. 4 ranked contender Jamahal Hill as he faces fellow striker No. 7 Khalil Rountree Jr.. In the co-main event, fan favorite veteran and No. 15 ranked light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith faces rising star Zhang Mingyang.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: HILL vs. ROUNTREE JR. will take place Saturday, April 26 at T-Mobile Center. The main card will be available on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, as well as simulcast in English and Spanish on ESPN+, starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. The prelims will kick off streaming exclusively on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: HILL vs. ROUNTREE JR. tickets will go on sale Friday, March 7 at 10 a.m. CT and will be available for purchase at AXS.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, March 5 at 10 a.m. CT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, March 6 starting at 10 a.m. CT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Media members wishing to apply for UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: HILL vs. ROUNTREE JR. fight week credentials may sign up here.

Former champion Hill (12-3 1NC, fighting out of Grand Rapids, Mich.) aims to make a triumphant, quick return to the Octagon for his second bout of 2025. The first Dana White’s Contender Series alum to become an undisputed UFC champion, he earned his way to the title with wins over Thiago Santos, Johnny Walker and Jimmy Crute. Hill now plans to make a statement against Rountree Jr. and turn his attention to the championship picture.  

Rountree Jr. (14-6 1NC, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) competes for the first time since his valiant Fight of the Night effort against Alex Pereira at UFC 307 last October. A devastating striker with nine of his 13 wins coming by way of KO, Rountree Jr. has entertained fans with his victories over Chris Daukaus, Karl Roberson and Modestas Bukauskas. He now looks to take Hill’s spot in the Top 5 with another signature performance. 

Smith (38-21, fighting out of Omaha, Neb.) makes his 24^th UFC appearance in what could be his final walk to the Octagon after a career that spans back to 2008. A former title challenger who has finished 35 of his 38 wins before the final bell, Smith has proven that he can compete with the best in the world with wins over Alexander Gustafsson, Mauricio Rua and Rashad Evans. He now has his sights set on making his last fight a memorable one by handing Zhang his first loss in the promotion. 

Rising contender Zhang (18-6, fighting out of Shanghai, China) seeks to break into the Top 15 for the first time. Developing a name for himself for his incredible finishing ability, Zhang has ended each of his 18 victories in the very first round, including those over Ozzy Diaz and Brendson Ribeiro. He now plans to keep his impressive streak alive by taking out Smith in spectacular fashion. 

Additional bouts on the card include:

• An intriguing middleweight bout pits No. 13 ranked contender Michel Pereira (31-12 2NC, fighting out of Tucuma, Para, Brazil) against Abus Magomedov (27-6-1, fighting out of Dusseldorf, Germany)
• Featherweight strikers collide as No. 11 ranked Giga Chikadze (15-4, fighting out of Tbilisi, Georgia) returns against David Onama (13-2, fighting out of Kansas City, Mo. by way of Kyangwali, Uganda)
• Ikram Aliskerov (15-2, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia) faces Andre Muniz (24-6, fighting out of Montes Claros, MG, Brazil) in a battle of talented middleweights
• Randy Brown (19-6, fighting out of Queens, N.Y.) battles Nicolas Dalby (23-5-1 2NC, fighting out of Copenhagen, Denmark) in a welterweight contest
• Exciting flyweight action sees Matt Schnell (16-9 1NC, fighting out of Shreveport, La.) take on Jimmy Flick (17-8, fighting out of Tulsa, Okla.)
• No. 14 ranked bantamweight contender Chelsea Chandler(6-3, fighting out of Stockton, Calif.) aims to defend her spot in the rankings against No. 15 Joselyne Edwards (14-6, fighting out of Panama City, Panama)
• Mitch Ramirez (8-2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) intends to spoil the UFC debut of Dana White’s Contender Series signee Ahmad Hassanzada (12-3, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif. by way of Kabul, Afghanistan)
• Jaqueline Amorim (9-1, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Manaus, Brazil) looks to put her grappling skills to the test against Polyana Viana (13-7, fighting out of Sao Geraldo do Araguaia, Para, Brazil) at strawweight
• Undefeated Dana White’s Contender Series signee Malcolm Wellmaker (8-0, fighting out of Augusta, Ga.) plans to impress against the always-dangerous Cameron Saaiman (9-2, fighting out of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa) at bantamweight

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts are live and subject to change. Please click here to apply for the event.

T-Mobile Center in Downtown Kansas City will become the first venue to host a TKO Takeover Presented by VeChain, showcasing consecutive PBR, UFC, and WWE events over a single weekend in the same city.

Beginning with PBR on Thursday, April 24, continuing with UFC FIGHT NIGHT on Saturday, April 26, and culminating with WWE’s flagship weekly program Raw on Monday, April 28, fans will have the opportunity to experience the non-stop action from each of these thrilling sports and entertainment properties.

An exclusive all-in-one ticket bundle comprising all three of these thrilling events will go on sale starting Monday, March 3 at 10 a.m. CST on AXS.com

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About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 228 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to over 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About T-Mobile Center

T-Mobile Center is Kansas City’s home for live entertainment and sporting events. Anchor to more than $8 billion of reinvestment in a revitalized downtown Kansas City, the award-winning venue operated by ASM Global has welcomed more than 12 million guests and transformed the live entertainment experience in the Midwest. For additional information or to join the conversation, follow T-Mobile Center on social media via Facebook: @TMobileCenter; Twitter: @TMobileCenter & Instagram: @TMobileCenter.

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 24.9 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with an electric featherweight tilt that sees No. 8 Josh Emmett face off against No. 10 ranked contender Lerone Murphy. In addition, all-action featherweights Pat Sabatini and Joanderson Brito collide in the co-main event.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: MURPHY vs. EMMETT takes place Saturday, April 5 in Las Vegas, Nevada and will be available on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (English and Spanish). The prelims will air at 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET, followed by the main card airing at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET. 

UFC APEX VIP Experience packages are available via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. Enjoy exclusive access with an official ticket package that includes premium seating, all-inclusive hospitality, in-seat beverage service, meet-and-greets with UFC octagon girls and more. Visit UFCVIP.com for more information.

England’s Murphy (15-0-1, fighting out of Manchester, England) looks to resume his winning ways. Still yet to be handed a loss in his fight career, Murphy has proven to be formidable contender at 145-pounds by defeating Dan Ige, Edson Barboza, and Josh Culibao. He now sets forth to add Emmett to his unbeaten streak and continue his climb in the rankings.

Emmett (16-5, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) makes his first appearance of the 2025 season. Competing in the UFC for nearly a decade, Emmett has delivered countless highlight wins, most noteably against top talent such as Bryce Mitchell, Calvin Kattar, and Michael Johnson. With his sights now set on Murphy, Emmett plans to break into the division’s Top 5 by delivering another unforgettable finish.

Sabatini (19-5, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.) sets out to make the most of first UFC co-main event. A decorated mixed martial artist with a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Tang Soo Do, Sabatini has made a name for himself inside the Octagon with key victories against Jonathan Pearce, Lucas Almeida, and Jamall Emmers. The American now aims to deliver a statement performance against Brito and insert his name in the mix of top contenders.

Brazil’s Brito (17-4-1, fighting out of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil) steps back inside the Octagon looking to impress. The Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner has become one of the divisions most entertaining fighters after delivering impressive victories against Diego Lopes, Jack Shore, and Andre Fili. Brito now turns his attention to Sabatini as he looks to deliver an unforgettable finish.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Dana White’s Contender Series signee Cortavious Romious (9-3, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) looks for his first Octagon victory as he locks horns with Road to UFC: Shanghai standout winner ChangHo Lee (10-1, fighting out of Goyang, South Korea)
• Dana White’s Contender Series alumns Kennedy Nzechukwu (14-5, fighting out of Dallas-Forth Worth, Texas) and Martin Buday (14-2, fighting out of Trnava, Slovakia) aim to deliver fireworks at heavyweight
• Middleweight veterans Brad Tavares (20-11, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Kailua, Hawaii) and Gerald Meerschaert (16-5-1, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) are set for action
• Undefeated Dana White’s Contender Series signee Torrez Finney (10-0, fighting out of Chattanooga, Tenn.) and The Ultimate Fighter season 32 contestant Robert Valentin (10-4-1, fighting out of Zurich, Switzerland) look to impress on the ESPN main card opener
• Ode’ Osbourne (12-8, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Milwaukee, Wisc.) sets out to hand fellow Dana White’s Contender Series flyweight contract winner Luis Gurule (10-0, fighting out of Sheridan, Colo.) his first loss
• A thrilling bantamweight contest pits Davey Grant (16-7, fighting out of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, England) against Daniel Santos (11-2, fighting out of Uberlandia, Brazil)
• Rhys McKee (13-6-1 fighting out of Ballymena, Ireland) takes on Daniel Frunza (9-2, fighting out of Miami, Fla. by way of lasi, Romania) at welterweight
• Diana Belibta (15-9, fighting out of Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada) makes her return to collide with Dioine Barbosa (7-3, fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif. by way of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil) at flyweight
• Loma Lookboonmee (9-3, fighting out of Phuket, Thailand) and Ariane Carnelossi (15-3, fighting out of Presidente Prudente, Sao Paulo, Brazil) are set to compete at strawweight
• Victor Henry (9-3, fighting out of South Gate, Calif.) and Dana White’s Contender Series standout Pedro Falcao (9-3, fighting out of Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil) clash at bantamweight
• Straweights kick the night off as Vanessa Demopoulos (11-6, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) and Talita Alencar (5-1-1, fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Fla. by way of Carutapera, Maranhão, Brazil) go toe-to-toe

For the latest information on bout announcements and additional information for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts are subject to change. Please click?here?to apply for the event.

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About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 259 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+?? ??

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more.?ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst. 

Miami, Florida – UFC® returns to Kaseya Center with an electric bout that sees No. 1 ranked contender Alexander Volkanovski and No. 3 ranked contender Diego Lopes battle for the vacant UFC featherweight championship. In addition, exciting lightweight contenders No. 7 ranked Michael Chandler and No. 12 Paddy Pimblett lock horns in the five-round co-main event.

UFC^® 314 tickets will go on sale Friday, February 21 at 7 a.m. PT/10 a.m. ET and are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, February 20 starting at 12 p.m. PT/3 p.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Fight fans wanting to keep up to date with all further bout and ticketing information for UFC^® 314 can register their interest at https://www.ufc.com/miami. 

UFC^® 314 will take place Saturday, April 12 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. The Early Prelims will air on ESPN+, Disney+, and UFC Fight Pass starting at 3:00 p.m. PT/6:00 p.m. ET, followed by the Late Prelims available on ESPN+, ESPN, Disney+, and ESPN Deportes 5:00 p.m. PT/8:00 p.m. ET. The ESPN+ Pay-Per-View main card kicks off at 7:00 p.m. PT/10:00 p.m. ET.

Media members wishing to apply for fight week credentials may sign up here.

UFC^® 314 marks the fourth UFC event in Miami, Florida. Since debuting with UFC^® 42: Hughes vs. Sherk in 2003, UFC has held a total of 23 premier sporting events in Florida, across six cities which featured ten world championship bouts.

Former UFC featherweight champion Volkanovski (26-4, fighting out of Windang, NSW, Australia) returns looking to reclaim his throne. The Australia native has delivered a Hall of Fame worthy resume with wins against the likes of Max Holloway (x3), José Aldo, and Yair Rodriguez. Volkanovski now looks to defeat Lopes in dominant fashion and kickoff a new historic reign.

Lopes (26-6, fighting out of Puebla, México by way of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil) looks to achieve his dream of becoming UFC champion. Currently riding a five-fight win streak, Lopes made a name for himself in the 145-pound division with wins against notable names such as Brian Ortega, Dan Ige, and Sodiq Yusuff. He now looks to add Volkanovski’s name to his list of victories and finish the former champion in unforgettable fashion.

Chandler (23-9, fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Fla. by way of Nashville, Tenn.) looks to once again deliver fireworks. The all-action battler has entertained fans with his highlight reel finishes over Tony Ferguson and Dan Hooker. Chandler now looks to make quick work of rising contender Pimblett and position himself for a big 2025 campaign.

England’s Pimblett (22-3, fighting out of Liverpool, Merseyside, England) sets out to steal the show. A fan-favorite, Pimblett has lived up to the hype by delivering impressive wins against the likes of King Green, Tony Ferguson, and Jared Gordon. He now embarks on the biggest challenge of his career, as he looks to finish Chandler in emphatic fashion and continue his climb to greatness.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• A dynamite featherweight matchup will see No. 5 ranked contender Yair Rodriguez (16-5, fighting out of Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico) welcome Patricio Pitbull (36-7, fighting out of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil) to the Octagon
• A high stakes welterweight contest pits No. 10 ranked contender Geoff Neal (16-6, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) against No. 13 Carlos Prates (21-6, fighting out of Taubate, São Paulo, Brazil)
• No. 8 ranked light heavyweight contender Nikita Krylov (30-9, fighting out of Kislovodsk, Russia) and former title challenger No. 11 Dominick Reyes (14-4, fighting out of Victorville, Calif.) square off
• Dana White’s Contender Series featherweight alums Dan Ige (18-9, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Haleiwa, Hawaii) and Sean Woodson (13-1-1, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) are set for battle
• No. 1 ranked strawweight contender Yan Xiaonan (19-4 1 NC, fighting out of Beijing, China) goes toe-to-toe withNo. 3 Virna Jandiroba (21-3, fighting out of Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil)
• UFC lightweight veteran Jim Miller (38-18 1 NC, fighting out of Sparta, N.J.) takes on Dana White’s Contender Series graduate Chase Hooper (15-3-1, fighting out of Enumclaw, Wash.)
• Featherweights Darren Elkins (29-11, fighting out of Portage, Ind.) and Julian Erosa (30-12, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Yakima, Wash.) look to deliver fireworks
• Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Sedriques Dumas (10-2, fighting out of Pensacola, Fla.) takes on Michal Oleksiejczuk (19-9 1NC, fighting out of Barki, Poland) at middleweight
• Sumudaerji (16-7, fighting out of Sichuan, China) and Mitch Raposo (9-2, fighting out of Fall River, Mass.) seek to make a statement when they meet at flyweight
• Dana White’s Contender Seriesalumnus Alberto Montes (10-1, fighting out of Barquisimeto Estado Lara, Venezuela) collides with Roberto Romero (8-4-1, fighting out of Chihuahua, México) at featherweight
• Middleweight Tresean Gore (6-2, fighting out Lawrenceville, Ga.) looks to halt the momentum ofMarco Tulio (13-1, fighting out São Paulo, Brazil)

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts are live and subject to change.

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About UFC^® ? 

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and approximately 266 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 900 million households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

ABOUT KASEYA CENTER 

Located in the center of booming downtown Miami and the Entertainment District, Kaseya Center—home of the NBA Champion Miami HEAT—hosts 80+ non-basketball events each year including A-list concerts, family shows, sporting events, national conferences and more. Built with state-of-the-art sound and lighting and HD and electronic media signage inside and out, the impressive 19,600-seat Kaseya Center is currently ranked the #1 arena in Florida for the 10^th consecutive year—and the 13^th time during the past 14 years—according to Billboard’s 2024 year-end rankings. Kaseya Center is also among the leading facilities in the country for hosting Latin entertainment. The Center has led the renaissance of downtown Miami over the past two decades, helping to transform the area into a thriving arts and entertainment district. The facility has hosted more than 1,200 events including diverse musical superstars such as Marc Anthony, Celine Dion, Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, The Killers, Bad Bunny, Carrie Underwood, Dua Lipa, Tool, Imagine Dragons, Kane Brown, Karol G, Drake, Andrea Bocelli and Paul McCartney, just to name a few. In 2009, Kaseya Center became among the first existing buildings in the country to have achieved LEED certification by the United States Green Building Council for its commitment to sustainability practices. More recently, in 2021, the Arena achieved its second LEED gold recertification. For more information about Kaseya Center, visit kaseyacenter.com.

About ESPN+ 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Mexico City for the second time in two years and seventh time overall, headlined by a Top 10 flyweight showdown between former UFC flyweight champion and No. 2 ranked contender Brandon Moreno and former title challenger and No. 9 ranked Steve Erceg. In the co-main event, recently announced UFC Hall of Famer Kelvin Gastelum faces Joe Pyfer. 

UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: MORENO vs ERCEG will take place Saturday, March 29 at Arena CDMX. The entire event will be simulcast on ESPN2 and ESPN+ in English and Spanish beginning with the prelims at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT, followed by the main card at 7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT. ESPN Deportes will also broadcast both the prelims and main card, joining in progress at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: MORENO vs ERCEG tickets will go on sale Fri., February 21 at 10 a.m. CST and are available for purchase at superboletos.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thurs., February 20 starting at 10 a.m. CST. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

VIP Experience packages are available via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. Enjoy exclusive access with an official ticket package that can feature premium seating, VIP access to weigh-ins, all-inclusive hospitality, meet-and-greets with UFC fighters and more. For more information, visit UFCVIP.com to view package details.

Former UFC flyweight champion Moreno (22-8-2, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico) plans to impress in his third UFC main event in a row. Among the most popular athletes on the roster, Moreno has entertained fans with his winning performances against Deiveson Figueiredo (twice), Kai Kara-France and Brandon Royval. He now intends to earn another shot at flyweight gold with a statement performance against Erceg.

Erceg (12-3, fighting out of Perth, Western Australia, Australia) aims to prove he can compete with the top of the flyweight division and earn another shot at the championship. A well-rounded competitor who has finished eight of his 12 wins, he holds notable wins over Matt Schnell, Alessandro Costa and David Dvorak. Erceg now seeks to snatch Moreno’s spot in the rankings in dramatic fashion.

Gastelum (19-9 1NC, fighting out of Yuma, Ariz.) returns to the Octagon looking to put together another long win streak. Recently announced as the newest inductee for the 2025 UFC Hall of Fame for his iconic bout with Israel Adesanya, Gastelum has also delivered highlight-reel performances against Michael Bisping, Jacare Souza and Chris Curtis. He now plans to go toe-to-toe with Pyfer and put on a show for the Mexican fans.

Dana White’s Contender Series standout Pyfer (13-3, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.) looks to start his year with a signature knockout. A dynamic finisher, he has ended 12 of his 13 victories before the final bell, including those over Marc-Andre Barriault, Gerald Meerschaert and Alen Amedovski. Pyfer now has his sights set on breaking into the Top 15 by becoming the first person to KO Gastelum.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Ronaldo Rodriguez (18-2, fighting out of Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico) squares off with Kevin Borjas (9-3, fighting out of Lima, Peru) in a flyweight bout
• A thrilling lightweight collision is set between Rafa Garcia (16-4, fighting out of Brawley, Calif.) and Vinc Pichel (14-4, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.)
• Flyweights Edgar Chairez (11-6 1NC, fighting out of Mexicali, Baja California Mexico) and CJ Vergara (12-6-1, fighting out of San Antonio, Texas) lock horns
• Manuel Torres (15-3, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico) clashes with Drew Dober (27-14 1NC, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) in a lightweight bout guaranteed to deliver fireworks
• Jose Daniel Medina (11-4, fighting out of Santa Cruz, Bolivia) and Dana White’s Contender Series signee Ateba Gautier (6-1, fighting out of Doula, Cameroon) go head-to-head at middleweight
• Dana White’s Contender Series standout David Martinez (11-1, fighting out of Mexico City, Mexico) will face Saimon Oliveira (18-5, fighting out of Balneario Camboriu, SC, Brazil) in an exciting bantamweight bout
• No. 11 ranked UFC strawweight contender Loopy Godinez (12-5, fighting out of Vancouver, B.C., Canada by way of Aguascalientes, Mexico) puts her spot in the rankings on the line against the dangerous Julia Polastri (13-4, fighting out of Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts are live and subject to change. Please click here to apply for the event.

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About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 259 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+  

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

Las Vegas ­– UFC^® today announced that the classic 2019 fight between middleweights Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s Fight Wing as a part of the class of 2025. The 2025 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place this summer in Las Vegas and will be streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS^®.

“The fight between Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 was one of the greatest fights I’ve ever seen in my life,” said UFC President & CEO Dana White. “This was an absolute war with the interim title on the line. Congrats to Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum on a fight that will always be remembered!”            

As the co-main event of UFC^® 236: HOLLOWAY vs. POIRIER 2, which took place on April 19, 2019, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, both Adesanya and Gastelum entered the event for the interim middleweight title on winning streaks of 16 and two, respectively.

Adesanya entered the Octagon with an undefeated 16-0 record (5-0 UFC), having most recently secured a win over former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

Gastelum entered the bout with a 17-3,1 NC record (10-3,1 NC UFC) and previous wins over UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman, former welterweight champion Johny Hendricks, former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nate Marquardt, and former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.

Both athletes quickly advanced to the center of the Octagon, exchanging a series of kicks and punches to begin the first round. With 2:52 seconds remaining in the first, Gastelum landed a right hook that sent Adesanya to the fence, securing the first major interaction of the fight and taking control of the remainder of the round. 

Adesanya took control of round two, landing a series of kicks and body punches, creating separation with his reach advantage. Gastelum landed a powerful right jab with 3:20 left in the second, as both fighters engaged at a rapid pace in proximity. Gastelum would continue to apply pressure as the aggressor, forcing Adesanya to the fence and around the perimeter of the Octagon with a barrage of punches. Adesanya would connect with an overhand right with 2:14 remaining in the round, knocking Gastelum down and inflicting his first damage of the fight. Adesanya would control the rest of the round, flooring Gastelum a second time in the round with a reverse elbow and evening the score at one round each. Adesanya continued to dictate the action throughout round three, leading the continuous exchange of jabs, low kicks and knees to the body.

Gastelum charged Adesanya to open the fourth round, picking up the pace and initiating exchanges in the center of the Octagon. Adesanya secured a knee to the body 40 seconds into the round, followed by a right hook to take early control. Both fighters continued to trade punches, standing toe-to-toe while moving around the inner circle of the Octagon. Adesanya stunned Gastelum with a right jab with one minute remaining, but he responded with a high left kick that stunned Israel, allowing Kelvin to apply pressure near the fence to close the round.

Adesanya, with his face visibly swollen and a cut over his eye, stood tall at the beginning of the fifth, with the cameras capturing him talking to Gastelum across the Octagon, as the sold-out crowd cheered with anticipation for the start of the final round.

The excitement continued into round five with both fighters giving everything they had to secure the interim title. Both fighters continued to exchange punches and kicks in close quarters, with Adesanya attempting a guillotine 90 seconds into the round, landing a quick takedown with Gastelum rolling out and into a mounted position on top of him. Adesanya attempted to secure a triangle off his back, but Gastelum slipped out and both fighters stood to their feet as the entire crowd gave them a huge ovation with three minutes remaining.

Gastelum continued to swing wildly, but Adesanya, now in control, evaded the onslaught and countered each attack with a strike of his own. Adesanya stunned Gastelum with a straight right with 2:20 minutes left, slowing his momentum and reestablishing his reach advantage. Gastelum continued to apply pressure, but Adesanya evaded all attacks and continued to counter, securing a knockdown with one minute left in the round. Adesanya landed several elbows and punches to close out the round, knocking down a bloodied Gastelum with 25 seconds left and closing the fight in full mounted position.

Adesanya scored three knockdowns in the round, the most-ever landed in the fifth round of a UFC title fight. His four overall knockdowns were also the most ever in a UFC title fight.

Adesanya won the fight via unanimous decision, becoming the new interim UFC middleweight champion. He would unify the middleweight title six months later by defeating Robert Whittaker via second round KO in the main event of UFC^® 243: WHITTAKER vs. ADESANYA, which took place on October 6, 2019, at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.

The bout won several awards, including Fight of the Year honors from MMA Junkie and MMA Fighting. 

To view this fight on UFC FIGHT PASS, please visit: https://ufcfightpass.com/video/95785

To see a complete list of UFC athletes and fights enshrined in the UFC Hall of Fame, as well as details regarding the UFC Hall of Fame format, please visit UFCHOFFAQ. For additional information, please visit UFC.com.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to the APEX with a captivating flyweight main event as No. 1 ranked contender Brandon Royval and No. 6 ranked Manel Kape face off with title implications on the line. The middleweight co-main event will see an all-action clash between Cody Brundage and Julian Marquez.

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UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: ROYVAL vs KAPE takes place Saturday, March 1 in Las Vegas. The entire event will stream live on ESPN+ (English and Spanish) beginning with the prelims at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT, followed by the main card at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.? 

UFC APEX VIP Experience packages are available via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. Enjoy exclusive access with an official ticket package that includes premium seating, all-inclusive hospitality, in-seat beverage service, meet-and-greets with UFC Octagon Girls and more. Visit UFCVIP.com for more information. 

Royval (17-7, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) plans to make another statement win in his third UFC main event in a row. The relentless fighter has put his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai skills on display in thrilling wins over Brandon Moreno, Kai Kara-France, and Tatsuro Taira. Royval now intends to hold his spot at the top of the flyweight rankings with a victory against Kape.

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Kape (20-7, Phuket, Thailand by way of Porto, Portugal) seeks to start off his 2025 campaign by continuing the momentum from his impressive win in December over Bruno Silva. With almost a decade-long career under his belt, Kape holds additional notable wins over Zhalgas Zhumagulov, Kai Asakura and David Dvo?ák. Kape now aims to snatch Royval’s spot in the ranks with a highlight-reel performance.

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Durable grappler Brundage (10-6 1NC, fighting out of Littleton, Colo.) returns to the Octagon seeking another first round stoppage. The former college wrestler has captivated the attention of fans with exciting wins over Zachary Reese, Tresean Gore and Dalcha Lungiambula. Brundage now has his sights set on taking out Marquez in devastating fashion.

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The always entertaining Marquez (9-5, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) looks to keep his 100 percent finishing rate intact against Brundage. A member of the UFC roster since 2017, Marquez holds bonus-earning victories over Sam Alvey, Maki Pitolo and Darren Stewart. He now strives to return to the winner’s circle with a vintage showing.

Additional bouts on the card include:? 

• An exciting lightweight matchup is on tap when Nasrat Haqparast (17-5, fighting out of Rabat, Morocco) take on Esteban Ribovics(14-1, fighting out of Cordoba, Argentina)
• Former professional boxerCharles Johnson (17-6, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) meets Ramazan Temirov (18-2-1, fighting out of Toshkent, Uzbekistan) in a battle of flyweights
• No. 8 ranked UFC flyweight contender Asu Almabayev (21-2, fighting out of Almaty, Kazakhstan) takes on former title challenger and No. 9 ranked Steve Erceg (12-3, fighting out of Perth, Western Australia
• Douglas Silva de Andrade (29-6 1NC, fighting out of Castanhal, Para, Brazil) returns to action against John Castaneda (21-7, fighting out of Minneapolis, Minn.) at bantamweight
• Hyder Amil (10-0, fighting out of San Francisco, Calif. by way of San Rafael, Calif.) aims to keep his perfect record intact against William Gomis (14-2, fighting out of Paris, France) in a featherweight bout
• Flyweight actions pits Andrea Lee (13-10, fighting out of Shreveport, La.) against JJ Aldrich (13-7, fighting out of Westminster, Colo.)
• Exciting featherweights clash as Ricardo Ramos (17-6, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) meets Chepe Mariscal (17-6 1NC, fighting out of Denver, Colo.)
• Danny Barlow (9-0, fighting out of Memphis, Tenn.) intends to impress when he matches up with Sam Patterson (12-2-1, fighting out of Watford, England) at welterweight
• Montana De La Rosa (13-9-1, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas) and Luana Carolina (11-4, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) seek to make a statement when they meet at flyweight
• FeatherweightsDanny Silva (9-1, fighting out of Santa Ana, Calif.) and Lucas Almeida(15-3, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) look to put on a show
• Austen Lane (13-5 1NC, fighting out of Jacksonville, Fla.) collides with Dana White’s Contender Series signee Mario Pinto (9-0, fighting out of London, England) at heavyweight

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit UFC.com. All bouts are live and subject to change. Please click?here?to apply for the event.? 

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About UFC^® ? 

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and approximately 266 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 900 million households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

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About ESPN+? 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

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About ESPN? 

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more.?ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.? 

London, UK – UFC^® returns to London on March 22 with some of the UK and Ireland’s favourite athletes entering the Octagon^® for an action-packed night of entertainment. The card will be returning to The O2, London, for another blockbuster event as former welterweight champion Leon Edwards aims to return to title contention as he faces No.4 ranked Jack Della Maddalena, who is riding a 17-fight winning streak. The co-main event sees former champion Jan Blachowicz take on No.6 ranked Carlos Ulberg in an epic light heavyweight bout.

UFC^® FIGHT NIGHT: EDWARDS vs. DELLA MADDALENA tickets go on sale from 10 a.m. GMT on Friday, January 24 via AXS and Ticketmaster. Fight Club members can purchase tickets early at 9:00 a.m. GMT on Wednesday, January 22, whilst fans who registered their early interest will gain priority access at 10:00 a.m. GMT on Thursday, January 23.

VIP Experience packages are available via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. These exclusive packages offer premium seating, VIP access to weigh-ins, all-inclusive hospitality, meet-and-greets with UFC athletes, and more. For additional information, visit UFCVIP.com to view package details.

This 30^th UK event celebrates the rich history of MMA in Britain. UK events are known for delivering thrilling moments, from Tom Aspinall’s first-round KO of Marcin Tybura, to Michael Bisping’s comeback against Anderson Silva, and Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann’s London debuts. With The O2 hosting blockbuster events like UFC® 286: EDWARDS vs USMAN 3 and UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: ASPINALL vs. TYBURA, tickets are expected to sell fast for this milestone event.

Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards (22-4, 1NC, fighting out of Birmingham, United Kingdom by way of Kingston, Jamaica) returns to headline London, a city in which he is undefeated. Edwards became the second UK champion in UFC history and is widely considered one of the best British combat sports athletes of all time. He will be looking to earn himself the chance to reclaim his title with a victory.

Jack Della Maddalena (17-2, fighting out of Perth, Australia) has been touted as one of the UFC’s top prospects for the past few years, and he continued building his hype as he secured a third-round knockout over Gilbert Burns last March. The Australian has impressed with his range of skills and slick striking, which he has utilised to build a 7-0 start to his UFC career.

Jan Blachowicz (29-10-1, fighting out of Cieszyn, Poland) is set to make a triumphant return to the Octagon as he continues his quest for another shot at the UFC light heavyweight title. Currently ranked No. 4 in the light heavyweight rankings, Blachowicz has established himself as one of the most formidable competitors in the division and aims to leverage his experience and powerful striking skills to claim a win over Ulberg.

Carlos Ulberg (12-1, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand) continues to make waves in the division with his impressive performances and dynamic fighting style. A former kickboxer, Ulberg has quickly risen through the ranks to become one of the top contenders in his weight class. After achieving the third fastest knockout in UFC light heavyweight history with a 12-second knockout against Alonzo Menifield, Ulberg has become an athlete to watch in this division.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Gloucester’s Christian Leroy Duncan (10-2, fighting out of Gloucester, England) takes on UFC debutant Andrey Pulyaev (9-2, fighting out of Novosibirsk, Russia), who earned a contract through Dana White’s Contender Series back in August, 2024.
• Molly McCann (14-7, fighting out of Liverpool, England) faces Istela Nunes (6-5, fighting out of Pau dos Ferros, Brazil) which should be an enticing strawweight bout between two strikers.
• No.8 ranked Marcin Tybura (26-9 fighting out of Uniejow, Poland) takes on undefeated no.15 ranked Mick Parkin(10-0, fighting out of Sunderland, England) in a heavyweight bout that should produce fireworks.
• UFC veteran Alonzo Menifield (15-5-1, fighting out of Los Angeles, United States) takes on versatile Frenchman Oumar Sy (11-0 fighting out of Paris, France) who is looking to maintain his undefeated record.
• Searching for her second straight victory, Shauna Bannon(6-1, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland) takes on Puja Tomar(9-4, fighting out of Budhana, India) who became the first female Indian UFC athlete, when she won her debut last year.
• Nathaniel Wood (20-6, fighting out of London, England) will meet former Cage Warriors featherweight world champion Morgan Charriere (20-10-1, fighting out of Mantes-la-Jolie, France) in an action-packed featherweight matchup.
• Rising star Lone’er Kavanagh (8-0, fighting out of London, England) is looking to continue his unbeaten streak as he faces Brazilian prospect Felipe dos Santos (8-2, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) in a flyweight bout.
• Bantamweight athleteNathan Fletcher (9-1, fighting out of Liverpool, England) will meet Ireland’s Caolan Loughran (9-2, fighting out of Tyrone, Ireland) in a thrilling rematch following their initial Cage Warriors clash in 2018.
• Former Cage Warriors lightweight champion Jai Herbert (13-5-1, fighting out of Wolverhampton, England) will take on Chris Padilla (15-6, fighting out of Gardena, California, United States) in what promises to be a thrilling lightweight bout.

Visit the UFC.com for information and content to support your UFC coverage. All bouts are live and subject to change.

ENDS

About UFC®

UFC is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and approximately 290 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to T-Mobile Arena with a blockbuster light heavyweight championship tilt that sees Alex Pereira defend against No. 1 ranked contender Magomed Ankalaev. Also, No. 3 ranked lightweight contender Justin Gaethje battles No. 6 Dan Hooker in a five round co-main event guaranteed to deliver fireworks.

UFC^® 313: PEREIRA vs. ANKALAEV takes place Sat., March 8 in Las Vegas, Nev. with the main card at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on ESPN+ PPV. The prelims will be available on ESPNEWS and ESPN Deportes, as well as simulcast in English and Spanish on ESPN+, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The early prelims will kick off at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass.

UFC^® 313: PEREIRA vs. ANKALAEV tickets will go on sale Fri., January 24 at 10 a.m. PT and are available for purchase at AXS.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wed., January 22 at 10 a.m. PT via the website UFCFightClub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thurs., January 23 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Pereira (12-2, fighting out of Danbury, Conn. by way of Sao Paulo, Brazil) aims for his fourth successful title defense. A devastating knockout artist, he has delivered thrilling finishes against Khalil Rountree Jr., Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill. Pereira now hopes to continue his run atop the 205-pound division by handing Ankalaev his first KO loss.

Ankalaev (20-1-1 1NC, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia) plans to capitalize on his second UFC championship opportunity. Currently riding a 13-fight unbeaten streak, he has earned notable victories over Aleksandar Rakic, Anthony Smith and Volkan Oezdemir. Ankalaev now aims to dethrone Pereira and achieve his dream of capturing UFC gold.

Former interim lightweight titleholder Gaethje (26-5, fighting out of Denver, Colo. by way of Safford, Ariz.) looks to kick off his 2025 season with another highlight performance. Among the most exciting fighters in UFC history, he holds memorable KO wins against Dustin Poirier, Tony Ferguson and Donald Cerrone. Gaethje now intends to defend his spot in the rankings by stopping Hooker in emphatic fashion.

Hooker (24-12, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand) plans to steal the show to continue his climb up the lightweight ladder. A dynamic finisher currently riding a three-fight win streak, he holds thrilling victories over Jalin Turner, Gilbert Burns and Paul Felder. Hooker now hopes to secure the biggest win of his career and crack the Top 5 rankings.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Recent Dana White’s Contender Series signee Djorden Santos (10-1, fighting out of Brasília, DF, Brazil) debuts against Ozzy Diaz (9-3, fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif.) at middleweight
• No. 13 ranked flyweight contender Bruno Silva (14-6-2 1NC, fighting out of Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil) looks to halt the momentum of No. 15 Joshua Van (12-2, fighting out of Houston, Texas)
• Brunno Ferreira (12-2, fighting out of Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil) faces Armen Petrosyan (9-4, fighting out of Yerevan, Armenia) in an exciting battle of middleweight strikers
• Alex Morono (24-11 1NC, fighting out of Houston, Texas) squares off with Carlos Leal (21-6, fighting out of Curitiba, Parana, Brazil) at welterweight
• Mairon Santos Alves (15-1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Duque De Caxias, Rio de Janeiro) meets Francis Marshall (8-2, fighting out of Jersey City, N.J.) in a featherweight tilt
• Chris Gutierrez (21-5-2, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.) faces undefeated Jean Matsumoto (16-0, fighting out of Braganca Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil) at bantamweight
• No. 5 ranked strawweight contender Amanda Lemos (14-4-1, fighting out of Pará?, Brazil) collides with No. 7 Iasmin Lucindo (17-5, fighting out of Fortaleza, CE, Brazil)

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit UFC.com. All bouts are live and subject to change. Please click?here?to apply for the event.

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About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and approximately 266 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 900 million households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About T-Mobile Arena

T-Mobile Arena, the 20,000-seat venue located on the Las Vegas Strip between Park MGM and New York-New York, opened April 6, 2016. The arena hosts more than 100 events annually including major headline entertainment, awards shows, UFC, boxing, basketball and other sporting events, family shows and special events. T-Mobile Arena also is the home of the Vegas Golden Knights, a National Hockey League expansion team and the city’s first professional sports team, as well as UFC’s exclusive Las Vegas arena destination. The venue, named the No. 1 venue on Billboard Magazine’s 2018 Arena Power List as well as the “Best New Major Concert Venue” by Pollstar Magazine in 2016, features 50 luxury suites, more than two dozen private loge boxes, complete broadcast facilities, and other specially designed exclusive hospitality offerings and fan amenities destined to create a guest experience second to none. Toshiba Plaza, an adjacent two-acre outdoor entertainment space, features performance stages, a variety of video screens and other interactive content and display areas. Industry-leading architect Populous designed T-Mobile Arena to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s standards for LEED® Gold Certification. T-Mobile Arena is a privately funded joint venture between AEG and MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM). For more information, visit T-MobileArena.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About ESPN+ 

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading multiplatform sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, the leading sports app, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, leading social and digital platforms, ESPN.com, ESPN Audio, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with a thrilling middleweight matchup featuring No. 8 ranked contender Jared Cannonier facing off against Gregory Rodrigues. In addition, No. 10 ranked featherweight Calvin Kattar and Youseff Zalal lock horns.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: CANNONIER vs. RODRIGUES takes place Saturday, February 15 in Las Vegas and will be available exclusively on ESPN+ (English and Spanish). The prelims will air at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET, followed by the main card airing at 4 p.m. PT / 7p.m. ET. 

UFC APEX VIP Experience packages are available via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. Enjoy exclusive access with an official ticket package that includes premium seating, all-inclusive hospitality, in-seat beverage service, meet-and-greets with UFC octagon girls and more. Visit UFCVIP.com for more information.

Former title challenger Cannonier (17-8, fighting out of Glendale, Ariz.) returns to action looking to impress. In his decade long career, Cannonier has solidified his spot amongst the best at 185-pounds by defeating former champions and top contenders such as Anderson Silva, Sean Strickland, and Marvin Vettori. He now sets out to spoil Rodrigues’ night and kickstart another run at UFC gold.

Brazil’s Rodrigues (16-5, fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Fla. by way of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) looks to make the most of his first UFC main event. With half his Octagon wins coming by knockout, Rodrigues has wowed fans with highlight finishes against Brad Tavares, Denis Tiuliulin, and Chidi Njokuani. With his sights now set on Cannonier, Rodrigues aims to deliver another unforgettable finish and position himself for a big 2025 season.

Top ranked contender Kattar (23-8, fighting out of Methuen, Mass.) looks for a statement performance. A staple of the featherweight division, Katar has solidified his spot in the Top 10 by delivering wins against Giga Chikadze, Dan Ige, and Jeremy Stephens. He now sets forth to halt Zalal’s rise and recapture his momentum.

Zalal (16-5-1, fighting out of Casablanca, Morocco by way of Englewood, Colo.) takes on the biggest challenge of his young career. Currently on a six-fight win streak, with each of those coming via knockout or submission, Zalal has turned heads with recent wins against Jack Shore, Jarno Errens, and Billy Quarantillo. He looks to maintain his finishing streak and break into the division’s rankings.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 13 ranked strawweight Angela Hill (17-14, fighting out of San Diego, Calif. by way of Clinton, Md.) faces Ketlen Souza (15-4, fighting out of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil)
• Dana White’s Contender Series middleweight contract winners Edmen Shahbazyan (13-5, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) and Dylan Budka (7-4, fighting out of Baltimore, Md.) square off
• Jared Gordon (20-7 1NC, fighting out of Astoria, Queens, N.Y.)and Kauê Fernandes (9-2, fighting out of Rio de Janiero, Brazil) meet in a lightweight bout
• Dana White’s Contender Series featherweight alumni Connor Matthews (7-2, fighting out of Mattapoisett, Mass.) and Jose Delgado (8-1, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) battle for their first official Octagon wins
• Top 15 bantamweight contenders No. 12 Julia Avila (9-3, fighting out of Oklahoma City, Okla.) and No. 14 ranked Jacqueline Cavalcanti (8-1, fighting out of Almada, Portugal) are set for high stakes matchup
• Highly skilled grapplers collide as Rodolfo Vieira (10-2, fighting out of Orlando, Fla. by way of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) squares off with Andre Petroski (12-4, fighting out of Philadephia, Penn.) at middlweight
• An intriguing lightweight contest sees Dana White’s Contender Series signees Ismael Bonfim (20-4 1 NC, fighting out of Brasília, Brazil) and Nazim Sadykhov (9-1-1, fighting out of Brooklyn, N.Y. via Baku, Azerbaijan) meet
• Flyweights Rafael Estevam (12-0, fighting out of Macapá, Amapa, Brazil) and Jesus Aguilar (11-2, fighting out of Tijunana, Mexico) look to steal the show
• Gabriel Bonfim (16-1, fighting out of Brasília, Brazil) meets Rinat Fakhretdinov (23-1-1, fighting out of Saransk, Mordovia, Russia) at welterweight
• Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Billy Ray Goff (9-3, fighting out of Groton, Conn.) goes toe-to-toe with Nikolay Veretennikov (12-4, fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif.) at welterweight
• Heavyweights Valter Walker (12-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Dana White’s Contender Series signee Don’Tale Mayes (11-7 1 NC, fighting out of Louisville, Ken.) are set to deliver fireworks
• Vince Morales (16-8, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. By way of Ontario, Ore.) takes on Dana White’s Contender Series alumni Elijah Smith (7-1, fighting out of Colorado Springs, Colo.)

For the latest information on bout announcements and additional information for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts are subject to change. Please click?here?to apply for the event.

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About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 259 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+?? ??

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more.?ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst. 

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Seattle for the first time since 2013 with a stacked card featuring former champions, top contenders and rising prospects. In the main event, former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion and current No. 7 ranked bantamweight contender Henry Cejudo returns to action against No. 8 ranked Song Yadong. In the co-main event, No. 9 ranked bantamweight contender Rob Font takes on fellow veteran and former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz.

UFC^® FIGHT NIGHT: CEJUDO vs. SONG takes place Sat., February 22 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Wash. The entire card will stream exclusively on ESPN+ in English and Spanish beginning with the prelims at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT followed by the main card starting at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT.

UFC^® FIGHT NIGHT: CEJUDO vs. SONG tickets will go on sale Fri., January 10 at 10 a.m. PT and are available for purchase at ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wed., January 8 at 10 a.m. PT via the website UFCFightClub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thurs., January 9 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

A 2008 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling for the United States, Cejudo (16-4, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) steps back into the Octagon aiming to remind everyone of the skills that saw him become just the fourth fighter in UFC history to hold two titles simultaneously. Considered to be among the greatest combat sports athletes of all time, Cejudo holds notable wins over TJ Dillashaw, Demetrious Johnson and Marlon Moraes. He now looks to take out Song in dominant fashion.

Song (21-8-1 1NC, fighting out of Heilongjiang, China) plans to make a statement in his fourth UFC main event and insert himself into the title conversation. Still only 27 years old, he has already cemented himself as one of the top talents in the bantamweight division with wins over Chris Gutierrez, Ricky Sumon and Marlon Moraes. Song now seeks to secure the biggest victory of his career with a standout performance.

The always exciting Font (21-8, fighting out of Woburn, Mass.) intends to start his 2025 campaign by adding another former champion to his resume. A well-rounded athlete, he holds the second most knockouts in UFC bantamweight history with six, including those over Adrian Yanez, Thomas Almeida and Matt Schnell. He now has his sights set on defending his spot in the rankings and starting another run towards the Top 5.

Cruz (24-4, fighting out of San Diego, Calif.) returns to action for the first time in almost three years. One of the best bantamweights in MMA history, Cruz holds iconic victories over some of the most notable names in the UFC, including Urijah Faber, T.J. Dillashaw and Demetrious Johnson. He now is focused on delivering a vintage performance in his 19^th appearance under the Zuffa banner.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 15 ranked featherweight contender Edson Barboza (24-12, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) battles fellow striker Steve Garcia (17-5, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) in a bout guaranteed to produce fireworks
• No. 5 ranked UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes (18-5 1NC, fighting out of Chicago, Ill.) intends to make a statement against UFC debutant Rizvan Kuniev (13-2-1 1NC, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia)
• Jean Silva (14-2, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) looks to continue his undefeated run in the UFC when he faces Melsik Baghdasaryan (8-2, fighting out of Glendale, Calif.) in a featherweight contest
• Top middleweight contenders collide as No. 9 ranked Brendan Allen (24-6, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) faces No. 13 Anthony Hernandez (13-2 1NC, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.)
• Adam Fugitt (10-4, fighting out of Eugene, Ore.) looks to spoil the UFC debut of Dana White’s Contender Series signee Islam Dulatov (11-1, fighting out of Dusseldorf, Germany)
• An all-action light heavyweight bout sees Ion Cutelaba (18-10-1 1NC, fighting out of Chisinau, Moldova) square off with Ibo Aslan (14-1, fighting out of Istanbul, Turkey)
• Top 5 bantamweight contenders lock horns as No. 3 ranked Ketlen Vieira (14-4, fighting out of Manaus, Brazil) goes toe-to-toe with No. 4 Macy Chiasson (11-3, fighting out of Dallas, Texas)
• Undefeated Dana White’s Contender Series standout Mansur Abdul-Malik (7-0, fighting out of Columbia, Md.) aims to impress against Antonio Trocoli (12-5 1NC, fighting out of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil)
• Modestas Bukauskas (16-6, fighting out of London, England by way of Klaipeda, Lithuania) and Rafael Cerqueira (11-1, fighting out of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil) meet in a light heavyweight bout

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit UFC.com. All bouts are live and subject to change. Please click?here?to apply for the event.

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About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and approximately 266 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 900 million households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About Climate Pledge Arena

Climate Pledge Arena, located at Seattle Center, is the complete redevelopment of an historic landmark, originally built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. The arena is home to the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, WNBA’s Seattle Storm, and the world’s biggest performers of live music and events. The arena is named after The Climate Pledge, an initiative founded by Amazon and Global Optimism asking global corporations to become net zero carbon by 2040. Climate Pledge Arena has one of the most progressive sustainability programs of any building its size, including being the world’s first Zero Carbon Certified arena. Climate Pledge Arena opened October 19, 2021. Visit climatepledgearena.com

About ESPN+ 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading multiplatform sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, the leading sports app, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, leading social and digital platforms, ESPN.com, ESPN Audio, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hear

Las Vegas – UFC^® kicks off its first event of 2025 at UFC APEX with a compelling strawweight main event as No. 6 ranked contender Mackenzie Dernand No. 8 ranked Amanda Ribascollide with the hopes of breaking into the Top 5. Also on the card, exciting middleweight strikers face off as Chris Curtis battles Roman Kopylov.

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UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: DERN vs. RIBAS 2 takes place Saturday, January 11 in Las Vegas. The entire event will stream live on ESPN+ (English and Spanish) beginning with the prelims at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT, followed by the main card at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.? 

UFC APEX VIP Experience packages are available via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. Enjoy exclusive access with an official ticket package that includes premium seating, all-inclusive hospitality, in-seat beverage service, meet-and-greets with UFC Octagon Girls and more. Visit UFCVIP.com for more information. 

Submission specialist Dern (14-5, fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif.) aims to even the score with Ribas with a standout performance. A relentless grappler, she has put her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt skills on display in impressive wins over Loopy Godinez, Angela Hill, and Tecia Pennington. She now looks to add to her record for the most submissions in UFC strawweight history and insert herself into the title conversation.

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Ribas (13-5, fighting out of Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil) seeks to start off her 2025 campaign by replicating her October 2019 victory over Dern. A black belt in both judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, she has proven herself as one of the best in the division with finishes of Luana Pinheiro, Paige VanZant, and Emily Whitmire. Ribas now has her sights set on making a statement in her return to the 115-pound weight class.

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Curtis (31-11 1NC, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Cincinnati, Ohio) returns to the Octagon with hopes of kickstarting a run up the rankings. A well-rounded athlete, Curtis has entertained fans in wins over Marc-Andre Barriault, Joaquin Buckley and Rodolfo Vieira. He now hopes to steal the show with a definitive showing against Kopylov.

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Exciting striker Kopylov (13-3, fighting out of Bachatsky, Kemerovo, Russia) looks to notch the biggest victory of his UFC career. Winner of five of his last six bouts, he has impressed with notable knockouts of Josh Fremd, Claudio Ribeiro, and Alessio Di Chirico. Kopylov now plans to make a case to break into the Top 15 with a thunderous win over Curtis.

Additional bouts on the card include:? 

• Dana White’s Contender SeriessigneeMarco Tulio(12-1, fighting out of São Paulo, Brazil) aims to impress in his UFC debut against Ihor Potieria(21-7, fighting out of Kiev, Ukraine) at middleweight
• An exciting lightweight matchup sees Thiago Moises (18-8, fighting out of Indaiatuba, Sao Paulo, Brazil) take on Trey Ogden (18-6, fighting out of Kansas City, Mo.)
• Magomed Gadzhiyasulov (9-0, fighting out of Kingdom of Bahrain) plans to remain undefeated as he faces debuting Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Bruno Lopes(13-1, fighting out of Cotia, Sao Paulo, Brazil) in a light heavyweight bout
• Former professional kickboxerCesar Almeida (6-1, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) takes on Abdul Razak Alhassan (12-6, fighting out of Denver, Colo. by way of Accra, Ghana) in a battle of all-action middleweights
• Christian Rodriguez (11-2, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) looks to derail the rise of Dana White’s Contender Series standout Austin Bashi (13-0, fighting out of West Bloomfield, Mich.) at featherweight
• Veteran Santiago Ponzinibbio (30-8, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) looks to make a statement against Carlston Harris (19-6, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil by way of Skeldon, Guyana) at welterweight
• Dana White’s Contender Series veterans Punahele Soriano(10-4, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Oahu, Hawaii) and Uros Medic (10-2, fighting out of Anchorage, Alaska by way of Novi Sad, Serbia) go toe-to-toe at welterweight
• Jose Johnson (16-9, fighting out of Copperas Cove, Texas by way of La Romana, Dominican Republic) takes on Felipe Bunes (13-7, fighting out of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil) at flyweight
• Nurullo Aliev (9-0, fighting out of Dushanbe, Tajikistan) aims to keep his perfect record intact when he battles Yanal Ashmouz (8-1, fighting out of Fairfield, N.J. by way of Kfar Kama, Israel) in a lightweight bout
• Ernesta Kareckaite (5-1-1, fighting out of Kaunas, Lithuania) hopes to earn her first UFC victory when she meets Nicolle Caliari (8-2, fighting out of Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil) in a flyweight bout
• Welterweight action sees Preston Parsons (11-5, fighting out of Jacksonville Beach, Fla.) face off with Dana White’s Contender Series signee Andreas Gustafsson (11-2, fighting out of Västerås, Sweden)
• Fatima Kline(6-1, fighting out of Hyde Park, N.Y.) meets Dana White’s Contender Series alum Viktoriia Dudakova(8-1, fighting out of Volgograd, Russia) in a strawweight clash sure to deliver fireworks

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit UFC.com. All bouts are live and subject to change. Please click?here?to apply for the event.? 

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About UFC^® ? 

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and approximately 266 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 900 million households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

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About ESPN+? 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

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About ESPN? 

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more.?ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.? 

Las Vegas – UFC^® kicks off its 2025 Pay-Per-View schedule with its first event at the newly opened Intuit Dome in Los Angeles with two highly anticipated championship bouts. In the main event, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and No. 1 ranked contender Arman Tsarukyan rematch for gold. In the co-main event, UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili looks to take out No. 2 ranked Umar Nurmagomedov.

UFC^® 311: MAKHACHEV vs. TSARUKYAN 2 takes place Sat., January 18 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, Calif. with the main card at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on ESPN+ PPV. The prelims will be available on ESPNEWS and ESPN Deportes, as well as simulcast in English and Spanish on ESPN+, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The early prelims will kick off at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass.

UFC^® 311: MAKHACHEV vs. TSARUKYAN 2 tickets will go on sale Fri., December 6 at 10 a.m. PT and are available for purchase at ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wed., December 4 at 10 a.m. PT via the website UFCFightClub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thurs., December 5 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

No. 1 ranked pound-for-pound fighter Makhachev (26-1, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia) looks to reinforce his spot as the best combat sports athlete on the planet. He is currently riding a 13-fight win streak (the longest in UFC lightweight history), which includes victories over Dustin Poirier, Alexander Volkanovski (twice) and Charles Oliveira. Makhachev now plans to prove that his first win over Tsarukyan was no fluke with another dominant defense of his title.

Tsarukyan (22-3, fighting out of Yerevan, Armenia) hopes to make the most of his first title opportunity. Among the most well-rounded athletes on the roster, Tsarukyan was just 22 years old when he made his UFC debut against Makhachev and has since racked up impressive wins over Charles Oliveira, Beneil Dariush and Joaquim Silva. He now plans to achieve his dream of becoming UFC champion by dethroning Makhachev in emphatic fashion.

Dominant grappler Dvalishvili (18-4, fighting out of Long Island, N.Y. by way of Tbilisi, Georgia) aims to defend his newly won title in thrilling fashion. Currently on a 10-fight win streak, the longest in UFC bantamweight history, Dvalishvili has showed off his skills in victories over former champions Sean O’Malley, Henry Cejudo and Petr Yan. He now has his sights set on handing Nurmagomedov his first loss with a vintage performance.

Nurmagomedov (18-0, fighting out of Kizilyurt, Russia) intends to remain undefeated and claim his first UFC championship. Considered to be among the best prospects in the UFC since he joined the promotion in 2021, he has exceeded expectations in stand-out wins over Cory Sandhagen, Bekzat Almakhan and Raoni Barcelos. He now looks to add a win over Dvalishvili to his resume and stake his claim as the best bantamweight in the world.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 2 ranked light heavyweight contender Jiri Prochazka (30-5-1, fighting out of Brno, Czech Republic) and No. 3 ranked Jamahal Hill (12-2 1NC, fighting out of Grand Rapids, Mich.) lock horns in a battle of former champions
• No. 9 ranked lightweight contender Beneil Dariush (22-6-1, fighting out of Yorba Linda, Calif.) and No. 10 Renato Moicano (20-5-1, fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil) face off in a pivotal bout
• An intriguing middleweight bout sees fan favorite Kevin Holland (26-12 1NC, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas) take on Reinier de Ridder (18-2, fighting out of Breda, Netherlands)
• No. 9 ranked light heavyweight contender Johnny Walker (21-9 1NC, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland by way of Rio das Ostras, Brazil) aims to defend his spot in the rankings against No. 14 Bogdan Guskov (16-3, fighting out of Dukent, Uzbekistan)
• Dana White’s Contender Series standout Payton Talbott (9-0, fighting out of Reno, Nev.) matches up with veteran Raoni Barcelos (18-5, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) at bantamweight
• Top heavyweight contenders collide as No. 6 ranked Jailton Almeida (21-3, fighting out of Bahia, Brazil) battles No. 7 Serghei Spivac (17-4, fighting out of Chisinau, Moldova)
• A middleweight bout sees Zachary Reese (8-1, fighting out of Houston, Texas) and Sedriques Dumas (10-2, fighting out of Pensacola, Fla.) go head-to-head
• No. 15 ranked lightweight Grant Dawson (22-2-1, fighting out of Lee’s Summit, Mo.) faces Diego Ferreira (19-5, fighting out of Pharr, Texas) in an exciting clash of grapplers
• No. 9 ranked women’s bantamweight contender Karol Rosa (18-6, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) looks to snap the win streak of No. 13 Ailin Perez (11-2, fighting out of Buenos Aires, Argentina)
• Rinya Nakamura (9-0, fighting out of Tokyo, Japan) seeks to remain undefeated when he takes on Muin Gafurov (19-6, fighting out of Dushanbe, Tajikistan)
• Bantamweights Ricky Turcios (13-4, fighting out of Houston, Texas) and Benardo Sopaj (11-2, fighting out of Fier, Albania) aim to put on a show
• No. 11 ranked flyweight contender Tagir Ulanbekov (16-2, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia) aims to knock Clayton Carpenter (8-0, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) from the ranks of the unbeaten

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit UFC.com. All bouts are live and subject to change. Please click?here?to apply for the event.

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and approximately 266 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 900 million households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About Intuit Dome

Newly opened in August 2024, Intuit Dome is the new home of the LA Clippers and home to thousands of concerts and sporting events. Located in Inglewood, Calif., Intuit Dome is built different–it redefines fans’ expectations for live experiences and forever changed the music landscape in Los Angeles. Media information about Intuit Dome is available HERE. To sign up to receive all Intuit Dome press releases and updates, email [email protected] and follow @IntuitDomePR.

About ESPN+ 

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading multiplatform sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, the leading sports app, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, leading social and digital platforms, ESPN.com, ESPN Audio, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

London, England: UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organisation, today announced its return to London on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at The O2, marking the 30^th UFC event to be held in the UK.

Tickets for the much-anticipated event will be available to purchase from 10:00 a.m. GMT on Friday, January 24, via AXS and Ticketmaster. Fight Club members can enjoy early access to tickets at 9:00 a.m. GMT on Wednesday, January 22, while those who registered their interest early, via ufc.com/London, will receive priority access at 10:00 a.m. GMT on Thursday, January 23.

In 2023, The O2 hosted two blockbuster events, including UFC® 286: EDWARDS vs. USMAN 3 and  UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: ASPINALL vs. TYBURA, which featured a standout performance from Tom Aspinall, who delivered an impressive first-round knockout against Marcin Tybura in his last fight before winning the interim UFC heavyweight title.

Other British contenders are also climbing the ranks across UFC. Undefeated Lerone “The Miracle” Murphy has risen to no. 11 in UFC’s featherweight rankings, while Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett, fresh off an impressive win over King Green, aims for top-ranked opponents in the highly competitive lightweight division.

VIP Experience packages will also be available soon via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. These exclusive packages offer premium seating, VIP access to weigh-ins, all-inclusive hospitality, meet-and-greets with UFC athletes, and more. For additional information, visit UFCVIP.com to view package details.

With a history of sellout events, fans are advised to register their interest early at ufc.com/London to secure their seats for the event and to follow @UFCEurope on social media for the latest updates.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Tampa, Fla. for the first time since 2019 with a Top 10 welterweight matchup between two rising stars of the division as No. 7 ranked contender Ian Machado Garry battles No. 9 Joaquin Buckley. Also on the card, No. 6 ranked UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern faces No. 8 Amanda Ribas in a rematch of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: MACHADO GARRY vs BUCKLEY will take place Saturday, December 14 at Amalie Arena. The prelims will be simulcast on ESPNNEWS and ESPN+ in English and Spanish beginning at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT. The main card will be simulcast in English and Spanish on ESPN2 and ESPN+ starting at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT. The full card will also air on ESPN Desportes.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: MACHADO GARRY vs BUCKLEY tickets are available for purchase at ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.

VIP Experience packages are available via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. Enjoy exclusive access with an official ticket package that can feature premium seating, VIP access to weigh-ins, all-inclusive hospitality, meet-and-greets with UFC fighters and more. For more information, visit UFCVIP.com to view package details.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: MACHADO GARRY vs. BUCKLEY will also serve as UFC’s annual “Fight Like Hell” night, which honors the legacy of Stuart Scott, the late ESPN sportscaster, by raising funds and awareness for the V Foundation’s Stuart Scott Memorial Cancer Research Fund.  The telecast will include vignettes of UFC athletes who have been impacted personally by cancer, either directly or through family or friends who have suffered from the disease. 

Undefeated Machado Garry (15-0, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland by way of Belo Horizonte, Brazil) aims to impress in his first UFC main event. Widely considered one of the top prospects in any division, he holds victories over Michael Page, Geoff Neal and Neil Magny. Machado Garry now intends to retain his perfect record with a statement victory over Buckley.

Buckley (20-6, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) has been on fire since returning to the welterweight division in 2023. Owner of some of the most impressive knockouts in UFC history, Buckley is currently on a five-fight win streak, including victories over Stephen Thompson, Nursulton Ruziboev and Vicente Luque. He now seeks to knock Machado Garry from the ranks of the unbeaten in his first UFC main event.

Grappling ace Dern (14-5, fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif.) has her sights set on breaking into the Top 5 by becoming the first person to submit Ribas. A multiple-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion, she has showed off her skills in wins against Loopy Godinez, Angela Hill and Nina Nunes. Dern now plans to even the score with Ribas by delivering another exciting Octagon appearance.

Ribas (12-5, fighting out of Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil) looks to end the year with a highlight-reel victory. Currently ranked in both the UFC strawweight and flyweight divisions, Ribas has proven herself as one of the best in the world with victories over Luana Pinheiro, Viviane Araujo and Virna Jandiroba. She now sets out to show that her 2019 win over Dern was no fluke.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• An exciting featherweight bout sees UFC Hall of Famer Cub Swanson (29-14, fighting out of Palm Springs, Calif.) match up with Billy Quarantillo (18-6, fighting out of Tampa, Fla.)
• No. 12 ranked flyweight contender Tracy Cortez (11-2, fighting out of Scottsdale, Ariz.) puts her spot in the rankings on the line against Miranda Maverick (16-5, fighting out of Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
• Veteran Michael Johnson (23-19, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla.) looks to add another knockout to his resume when he faces Ottman Azaitar (13-2, fighting out of Rabat, Morocco)
• No. 9 ranked flyweight contender Manel Kape (19-7, fighting out of Phuket, Thailand by way of Porto, Portugal) battles No. 12 Bruno Silva (14-5-2 1NC, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil)
• Lightweights Joel Alvarez (21-3, fighting out of Asturias, Spain) and Drakkar Klose (15-2-1, fighting out of Glendale, Ariz.) lock horns
• Vitor Petrino (11-1, fighting out of Curitiba, Parana, Brazil) and Dustin Jacoby (19-9-1, fighting out of Springfield, Ill.) face off in a collision of light heavyweight strikers
• Adrian Yanez (17-5, fighting out of La Porte, Texas) returns to action against Daniel Marcos (16-0 1NC, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla. by way of Lima, Peru) in an exciting bantamweight bout
• A bantamweight bout sees Davey Grant (15-7, fighting out of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, England) battle Ramon Taveras (10-2, fighting out of Jacksonville, Fla.)
• Josefine Knutsson (8-0, fighting out of Bromma, Varmland, Sweden) aims to keep her undefeated record intact against Piera Rodriguez (9-2, fighting out of Malaga, Spain)
• Dana White’s Contender Series signee Navajo Stirling (5-0, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand) intends to make a statement in his UFC debut against Tuco Tokkos (10-4, fighting out of Lakeworth, Fla.)
• Featherweights Sean Woodson (12-1-1, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) and Fernando Padilla (16-5, fighting out of Chihuahua, Mexico) meet in an all-action bout

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts are live and subject to change. Please click here to apply for the event.

###

About UFC^®

UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 259 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About Amalie Arena

Vinik Sports Group (VSG) is an entity established by Jeff Vinik to manage the three-time Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning (2004, 2020, 2021) of the National Hockey League and hold the leasehold rights to AMALIE Arena, the 19,092-seat downtown Tampa home in which the team plays its games. The venue opened in 1996 and became AMALIE Arena in September 2014 when the family-owned, Tampa Bay-based AMALIE Oil Company partnered with Vinik and the Lightning. Since 2010, Vinik has led a complete brand and business transformation of the Lightning and the arena, featuring a mostly private renovation of the publicly owned facility. Doug Ostroverand Marc Lipschultz joined the expanded ownership group of Vinik Sports Group in 2024, alongside Arctos, which initially joined in 2021. In addition to owning the Lightning and managing AMALIE Arena, Vinik Sports Group, through TBSE, manages the Yuengling Center on the campus at the University of South Florida, while also managing multi-media rights for USF Athletics.

About ESPN+  

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to the UFC APEX with an electric welterweight bout between No. 15 ranked contender Neil Magny and rising star Carlos Prates. In addition, international middleweight star Reinier de Riddermakes his UFC debut against veteran Gerald Meerschaert.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: MAGNY vs. PRATES takes place Saturday, November 9 in Las Vegas and will be available exclusively on ESPN+ (English and Spanish). The prelims will be kicking off at 1pm PT /4pm ET, followed by the main card at 4pm PT/7pm ET.

UFC APEX VIP Experience packages are available via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. Enjoy exclusive access with an official ticket package that includes premium seating, all-inclusive hospitality, in-seat beverage service, meet-and-greets with UFC Octagon girls and more. Visit UFCVIP.com for more information.

Magny (29-13, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) looks to deliver another statement win. Competing inside the Octagon for over a decade, the Colorado native has become a staple in the 170-pound division with his victories over former champions Robbie Lawler, Carlos Condit, and Johnny Hendricks. Magny now aims his sights on rising contender Prates with the intention of derailing the prospect’s momentum.

Brazil’s Prates (20-6, fighting out of Taubate, São Paulo, Brazil) looks to make the most of his first UFC main event. With 10 straight finishes under his belt, the Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner has made waves in the welterweight division with his show-stealing performances against the likes of Trevin Giles, Charles Radtke, and Li Jingliang. The rising star now aims to break into the division’s Top 15 by finishing Magny in unforgettable fashion.

Newly signed UFC middleweight de Ridder (17-2, fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Fla.) makes his highly anticipated debut this November. An extremely skilled black belt in both judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, de Ridder also wields knockout power and has a near 90% finish rate on his resume. The Netherlands-born fighter hopes to make a statement in his first Octagon appearance by making quick work of Meerschaert.

Meerschaert (37-17, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) looks to continue his winning ways. Currently the UFC recordholder for most submission wins (11) and finishes (12) in middleweight history, Meerschaert has cemented his spot in the division with wins against Edmen Shahbazyan, Bryan Barberena, and Bruno Silva. Seeking his third win of 2024, Meerschaert plans to spoil de Ridder’s moment.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt(14-6, fighting out of Uhrichsville, Ohio) goes toe-to-toe with Miles Johns(15-2, fighting out of Kansas City, Mo.) in an exciting matchup
• No. 15 ranked UFC strawweight Karolina Kowalkiewicz(16-8, fighting out of Lodz, Poland) faces Dana White’s Contender Series signee Denise Gomes(9-3, fighting out of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
• The Ultimate Fighter season 29 bantamweight winner Ricky Turcios(13-4, fighting out of Houston, Texas) locks horns with Benardo Sopaj(11-3, fighting out of Fier, Albania)
• Dana White’s Contender Series signee and current No. 13 ranked strawweight Luana Pinheiro(11-3, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) takes on No. 14 Gillian Robertson(14-8, fighting out of Port St. Lucie, Fla. By way of Niagara Falls, Canada)
• Welterweights rematch as Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos(24-8-1, fighting out of Francisco Beltrão, Parana, Brazil)takes on Nicolas Dalby (23-5-1 2 NC, fighting out of Copenhagen, Denmark)
• Dana White’s Contender Series contract winners Mansur Abdul-Malik(6-0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) and Dusko Todorovic(12-4, fighting out of Belgrade, Serbia) square off
• Welterweights Matthew Semelsberger(11-7, fighting out of Frederick, Md.) and Charles Radtke(9-4, fighting out of Chicago, Ill.) go to battle
• An intriguing bantamweight tilt pitsCody Stamann(21-7-1, fighting out Sparta, Mich.) against Da’Mon Blackshear(14-7-1, fighting out Miami, Fla.)
• Melissa Mullins(6-1, fighting out of Coventry, England) welcomes Klaudia Sygu?a (6-1, fighting out of ?ód?, Poland) to the bantamweight division
• Gaston Bolanos(7-4, fighting out of Dublin, Calif. by way of Lima, Peru) locks horns with Dana White’s Contender Series signee Cortavious Romious (9-2, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) at bantamweight
• Tresean Gore(5-2, fighting out of Lawrenceville, Ga.) collides with Antonio Trocoli(12-4 1 NC, fighting out of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil) at middleweight

For the latest information on bout announcements and additional information for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts are subject to change. Please click?here?to apply for the event.

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 259 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+?? ??

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more.?ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst. 

Sydney, Australia – UFC is set to return to Sydney this summer with UFC 312 at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday 9 February.

In partnership with the NSW Government through Destination New South Wales, UFC 312 will mark the second Pay-Per-View event as part of a four-year, multi-event agreement.

Making the announcement at Hickson Road Reserve this morning was NSW Premier Chris Minns, Minister for Sport Steve Kamper, UFC Vice President Australia and New Zealand, Peter Kloczko and Alex Volkanovski, No.1 UFC featherweight and former champion.

“Sydney, Australia – the Octagon is coming back this summer,” said Peter Kloczko. “Get ready for another cracking event at Qudos Bank Arena, featuring the best local and international UFC athletes. We value the support from our event partners Destination NSW and hope to deliver another record-breaking result, building off the success of UFC 293 in September 2023.”

“UFC’s return to Sydney is another step in us delivering on this election commitment,” said NSW Premier, Chris Minns. “Last year’s event was a huge success and we expect next year’s event will match that, showcasing Sydney on the global stage as a top destination for sporting events.

“We are continuing to secure a calendar of unmissable events that help local businesses and create jobs, and that’s exactly what these UFC events do.”

Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said,“Hosting the UFC Octagon puts Sydney on the world stage, demonstrating that we punch above our weight when it comes to hosting blockbuster events. When the Octagon comes to town, so do thousands of visitors who stay in our hotels, eat in our cafes and restaurants and visit other attractions.

Hosting the UFC alongside our calendar of incredible arts and cultural events like Vivid or SXSW Sydney, shows NSW has a diverse world class offering that will continue driving our visitor economy to new heights.”

Fans intending to travel to Sydney for UFC 312 can secure their place at the event by purchasing a travel package, available now via Sportsnet Holidays.

VIP tickets will be available soon via On Location, Official VIP Experience Provider of the UFC. Enjoy behind-the-scenes access with a VIP Experience package that can feature premium seating, post-fight octagon experience, all-inclusive hospitality, meet-and-greets with UFC athletes and more. Visit UFCVIP.com for more information.

Fans can also register for pre-sale ticket and bout information for UFC 312 at ufc.com/Sydney. More information will be made available in the coming weeks.

Last September, the iconic Harbour City hosted UFC 293: ADESANYA vs. STRICKLAND in front of a sellout crowd of 18,168 fans. The event was UFC’s first in Sydney since 2017 and went on to break multiple records, including highest-grossing single event of any indoor arena in Australia and highest number of tickets issued for a single sporting event in Qudos Bank Arena’s history.

UFC 293: ADESANYA vs. STRICKLAND proved to be a powerful tourism draw, as 63% of the event’s ticket purchasers originated from out of state visitors, creating $57.1 million in total economic impact including $21.6 million in direct impact from the major global sporting event. UFC 293 recorded a media value of $1.1 billion, broadcast to 975 million households around the world.

Starting with Australia’s first UFC event in 2010, UFC 110: NOGUEIRA VS. VELASQUEZ, at Qudos Bank Arena (then Acer Arena), Sydney has hosted five total blockbuster events.  During that time, the popularity of UFC in Australia has soared, highlighted by the crowning of two Australian champions in middleweight Robert Whittaker and featherweight Alexander Volkanovski.

There are now more than 700 million UFC fans across the globe, including a combined 283 million followers across UFC’s social media channels. In Australia and New Zealand combined, UFC counts more than 4.3 million fans and 10 million social media followers.

Since 2010, UFC has presented 18 live events in Australia, including sold-out shows at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, Perth Arena, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Entertainment Centre and Gold Coast Convention Centre. These events have had a combined attendance of over 313,000 fans and millions more watching on Pay Per View and broadcast television globally.

In preparation for this highlight on Sydney’s summer calendar, fans who register at ufc.com/Sydney will be able to claim a special UFC Fight Pass offer. With thousands of fights at your fingertips, new users can enjoy 50% off their first month on the platform. 

About UFC

UFC is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and approximately 283 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

Las Vegas – UFC^® closes out its 2024 Pay-Per-View schedule with a pair of world title bouts. Newly crowned welterweight champion Belal Muhammad goes for his first successful defense against undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov. Also, UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja defends against Japanese sensation Kai Asakura in the co-main event.

UFC^® 310: MUHAMMAD vs. RAKHMONOV takes place Sat., December 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with the main card at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on ESPN+ PPV. The prelims will be available on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, as well as simulcast in English and Spanish on ESPN+, at 7:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT. The early prelims will kick off at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass.

UFC^® 310: MUHAMMAD vs. RAKHMONOV tickets will go on sale Fri., October 18 at 10 a.m. PT and are available for purchase at AXS.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wed., October 16 at 10 a.m. PT via the website UFCFightClub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thurs., October 17 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Muhammad (24-3 1NC, fighting out of Chicago, Ill.) is coming off a dominant victory over Leon Edwards in July to capture the welterweight championship. Currently riding an 11-fight unbeaten streak, he also holds memorable victories over Gilbert Burns, Sean Brady and Vicente Luque. Muhammad now plans to defend his belt by becoming the first fighter to defeat Rakhmonov.

Rakhmonov (18-0, fighting out of Kokshetau, Kazakhstan) hopes to make the most of his first title opportunity. A dynamic athlete who holds a 100% finishing rate, he has earned thrilling wins against Stephen Thompson, Geoff Neal and Neil Magny. Rakhmonov now plans to achieve his dream of becoming UFC champion by dethroning Muhammad in emphatic fashion.

The always exciting Pantoja (28-5, fighting out of Arraial Do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) looks to secure his third successful title defense. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist, he holds impressive victories over Brandon Moreno, Alex Perez and Brandon Royval. Pantoja now has his sights set on spoiling Asakura’s debut and maintaining his spot atop the flyweight ladder.

Asakura (21-4, fighting out of Shibuya City, Tokyo, Japan) intends to turn heads by dethroning Pantoja in his first Octagon appearance. A titleholder outside the UFC, Asakura has earned notable wins against Kyoji Horiguchi, Manel Kape and Alatengheili. Asakura now hopes to make history by becoming the first Japanese UFC champion.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 14 ranked UFC welterweight contender Vicente Luque (22-10-1, fighting out of Brasília, Brazil) battles MMA legend Nick Diaz (26-10 2NC, fighting out of Stockton, Calif.)
• Former interim UFC heavyweight champion and No. 2 ranked contender Ciryl Gane (12-2, fighting out of Paris, France) runs it back with No. 3 Alexander Volkov (38-10, fighting out of Moscow, Russia)
• Undefeated No. 5 ranked featherweight contender Movsar Evloev (18-0, fighting out of Sunzha, Republic of Ingushetia, Russia) locks horns with former UFC bantamweight champion and No. 9 featherweight Aljamain Sterling (24-4, fighting out of Uniondale, N.Y.)
• Undefeated No. 1 ranked strawweight contender Tatiana Suarez (10-0, fighting out of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) squares off with No. 3 Virna Jandiroba (21-3, fighting out of Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil)
• Perennial fan favorite Clay Guida (38-21, fighting out of Johnsburg, Ill. by way of Cape Coral, Fla.) faces Chase Hooper (14-3-1, fighting out of Enumclaw, Wash.) at lightweight
• Michael Chiesa (19-7, fighting out of Spokane, Wash.) takes on Max Griffin (20-10, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) in a welterweight bout
• Former UFC light heavyweight title challengers collide as No. 12 ranked contender Anthony Smith (38-20, fighting out of Omaha, Neb.) meets No. 13 Dominick Reyes (13-4, fighting out of Victorville, Calif.)
• An exciting welterweight matchup sees Randy Brown (19-5, fighting out of Queens, N.Y.) take on the streaking Bryan Battle (12-2 1NC, fighting out of Matthews, N.C.)
• Cody Durden (17-6-1, fighting out of Covington, Ga.) meets Joshua Van (11-2, fighting out of Houston, Texas) in a flyweight bout
• Undefeated Dana White’s Contender Series signee Tallison Teixeira (7-0, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) debuts against Lukasz Brzeski (9-5-1 1NC, fighting out of Nowy Targ, Poland) at heavyweight

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit UFC.com. All bouts are live and subject to change. Please click?here?to apply for the event.

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About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and approximately 266 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 900 million households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About T-Mobile Arena

T-Mobile Arena, the 20,000-seat venue located on the Las Vegas Strip between Park MGM and New York-New York, opened April 6, 2016. The arena hosts more than 100 events annually including major headline entertainment, awards shows, UFC, boxing, basketball and other sporting events, family shows and special events. T-Mobile Arena also is the home of the Vegas Golden Knights, a National Hockey League expansion team and the city’s first professional sports team, as well as UFC’s exclusive Las Vegas arena destination. The venue, named the No. 1 venue on Billboard Magazine’s 2018 Arena Power List as well as the “Best New Major Concert Venue” by Pollstar Magazine in 2016, features 50 luxury suites, more than two dozen private loge boxes, complete broadcast facilities, and other specially designed exclusive hospitality offerings and fan amenities destined to create a guest experience second to none. Toshiba Plaza, an adjacent two-acre outdoor entertainment space, features performance stages, a variety of video screens and other interactive content and display areas. Industry-leading architect Populous designed T-Mobile Arena to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s standards for LEED® Gold Certification. T-Mobile Arena is a privately funded joint venture between AEG and MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM). For more information, visit T-MobileArena.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About ESPN+ 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading multiplatform sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, the leading sports app, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, leading social and digital platforms, ESPN.com, ESPN Audio, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

Edmonton – UFC^® returns to Edmonton for the first time since 2019 with a pair of thrilling flyweight contenders’ clashes. Former UFC flyweight champion and No. 2 ranked Brandon Moreno battles No. 3 Amir Albazi in a pivotal bout. Also, No. 3 ranked flyweight contender Erin Blanchfield squares off with No. 5 Rose Namajunas in the first women’s non-title, five-round co-main event in UFC history.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: MORENO vs. ALBAZI takes place Saturday, Nov. 2 at Rogers Place with the main card at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and TVA Sports. The prelims will be available on Sportsnet and TVA Sports at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT. The night’s action will start at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT with early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: MORENO vs. ALBAZI tickets will go on sale Friday, Sept. 20 at 10 a.m. MT and are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.ca. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 10 a.m. MT via the website UFCFightClub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Sept. 19 starting at 10 a.m. MT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Moreno (21-8-2, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico) looks to cap off his year with a statement-making performance. A two-time UFC flyweight champion, he holds spectacular victories over Deiveson Figueiredo, Kai Kara-France and Brandon Royval. Moreno now aims to halt Albazi’s momentum to set himself up for another world title opportunity.

Albazi (17-1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Baghdad, Iraq) intends to shine in his second UFC main event. Currently riding a six-fight win streak, he has earned impressive victories against Kai-Kara France, Alessandro Costa and Francisco Figueiredo. Albazi now has his sight set on taking out a former UFC titleholder to stake his claim for a shot at the gold.

Blanchfield (12-2, fighting out of Elmwood Park, N.J.) plans to defend her spot in the rankings by taking out another former UFC champion. Victorious in nine of her last 10 bouts, she holds memorable wins over Taila Santos, Jessica Andrade and Molly McCann. Blanchfield now hopes to move closer to a flyweight championship opportunity with a show-stealing outing in the Great White North.

Namajunas (13-6, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) intends to secure her third consecutive victory at 125 pounds. A former two-time strawweight champion, she has delivered exciting finishes against Zhang Weili, Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Michelle Waterson-Gomez. Namajunas now looks to continue her momentum by stopping Blanchfield in emphatic fashion.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Heavyweight KO artists collide when No. 11 ranked contender Derrick Lewis (28-12 1NC, fighting out of Houston, Texas, USA) locks horns with undefeated prospect Jhonata Diniz (8-0, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil)
• Caio Machado (8-3-1, fighting out of Vancouver, B.C.) makes his light heavyweight debut against Brendson Ribeiro (15-7 1NC, fighting out of Curitiba, Parana, Brazil)
• Marc-Andre Barriault (16-8 1NC, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla., USA by way of Gatineau, Que.) collides with Dustin Stoltzfus (15-6, fighting out of Germersheim, Germany) at middleweight
• Mike Malott (10-2-1, fighting out of Burlington, Ont.,) battles Trevin Giles (16-6, fighting out of Houston, Texas, USA) in a welterweight clash
• No. 13 ranked flyweight contender Ariane da Silva (17-9, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil) faces rising No. 14 Jasmine Jasudavicius (11-3, fighting out of Niagara, Ont.)
• Aiemann Zahabi (11-2, fighting out of Montreal, Que.) goes for his fifth consecutive win when he takes on dangerous veteran Pedro Munhoz (20-9, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla., USA)
• Charles Jourdain (15-8-1, fighting out of Beloeil, Que.) makes his bantamweight debut against Victor Henry (24-6 1NC, fighting out of Southgate, Calif., USA)
• No. 13 ranked heavyweight contender Alexandr Romanov (17-3, fighting out of Comrat City, Republic of Moldova) meets No. 15 Rodrigo Nascimento (11-2 1NC, fighting out of Belo Horizonte, Brazil)
• Dana White’s Contender Series signee Serhiy Sidey (10-2, fighting out of Burlington, Ont.) takes on Garrett Armfield (10-4, fighting out of Kansas City, Mo., USA)
• Chad Anheliger (13-7, fighting out of Calgary, Alta.) squares off with Cody Gibson (21-10, fighting out of San Luis Obispo, Calif., USA) in an intriguing bantamweight bout
• Jamey-Lyn Horth (6-1, fighting out of Squamish, B.C.) takes on Ivana Petrovic (7-1, fighting out of Tønsberg, Norway) in a flyweight bout

Fight fans wanting to keep up to date with bout and ticketing information for UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: MORENO vs. ALBAZI can register their interest at UFC.com/Edmonton.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: MORENO vs. ALBAZI marks the first UFC event in Edmonton in over five years. Since debuting in the Great White North with UFC^® 83: SERRA vs. ST-PIERRE 2 in 2008, UFC has held a total of 33 premiere sporting events in Canada that span across 11 cities.

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts are live and subject to change. Please click here to apply for the event.

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 283 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About Rogers Place

Rogers Place is one of the premiere sports and entertainment venues in North America, located in the heart of Edmonton’s ICE District. With capacity up to 20,000 fans, Rogers Place is the venue of choice in Western Canada for live entertainment, including concerts, festivals, NHL and WHL hockey, and other major sporting events. Celebrity performances include Lady Gaga, Drake, Justin Timberlake, Keith Urban, Elton John, Michelle Obama, Cirque du Soleil and nine consecutive sold out shows by Garth Brooks, to name just a few. The International Olympic Committee and International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities have awarded the arena Gold in their Major Venues category for exemplary architecture. Rogers Place is LEED Silver certified and features state-of-the-art broadcast technology, facilities and capabilities, and is fully integrated with the adjoining Ford Hall, Fan Park and ICE District Plaza for multi-site festivals and other major events.

Las Vegas – UFC^® continues its run at UFC APEX with an exciting middleweight matchup between two surging contenders as No. 13 Anthony Hernandezranked takes on No. 14 Michel Pereira. Also on the card, No. 7 ranked flyweight contender Matheus Nicolau aims to defend his spot in the Top 10 against No. 14 Asu Almabayev. 

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UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: HERNANDEZ vs. PEREIRA takes place Saturday, October 19 in Las Vegas. The entire event will stream on ESPN+ (English and Spanish) beginning with the prelims at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT, followed by the main card at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.? 

UFC APEX VIP Experience packages are available via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. Enjoy exclusive access with an official ticket package that includes premium seating, all-inclusive hospitality, in-seat beverage service, meet-and-greets with UFC Octagon Girls and more. Visit UFCVIP.com for more information. 

Dana White’s Contender Series alum Hernandez (12-2 1NC, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) aims to start his run towards the title by clinching the biggest victory of his career. With eight of his 12 wins coming by way of submission, Hernandez has shown off his grappling skills in wins over Roman Kopylov, Marc-Andre Barriault and Rodolfo Vieira. He now has his sights set on snapping Pereira’s win streak and turning his attention towards the top of the division.

Pereira (31-11 2NC, fighting out of Tucuma, Para, Brazil) plans to continue his streak of bonus-earning performances in his first UFC main event opportunity. One of the most unpredictable athletes on the roster, he has delighted fans with highlight-reel finishes of Ihor Potieria, Michal Oleksiejczuk and Andre Petroski. Pereira now looks to remain undefeated in the UFC middleweight division and extend his overall winning streak to nine as he attempts to break into the Top 10. 

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Nicolau (19-5-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) returns to the Octagon for the second time in 2024 hoping to notch his first victory of the year. A perennial top contender, he has established himself as one of the best in the world with wins over Matt Schnell, Tim Elliott and Manel Kape. Nicolau now intends to become the first person to beat Almabayev in the UFC with a vintage performance.

? 

Rising star Almabayev (20-2, fighting out of Almaty Kazakhstan) is just three fights into his UFC career, but has already established himself as one of the top prospects in the flyweight division. Currently on a 16-fight win streak dating back to 2017, he has earned impressive victories over Ode’ Osbourne, C.J. Vergara and Jose Johnson. Almabayev now seeks to add Nicolau to his resume and springboard himself into the title conversation.

Additional bouts on the card include:? 

• Darren Elkins (28-11, fighting out of Portage, Ind.) aims to continue to add to his memorable resume when he faces Daniel Pineda (28-16, 3NC, fighting out of Houston, Texas) in a featherweight bout sure to deliver action
• No. 10 ranked bantamweight contender Rob Font (20-8, fighting out of Woburn, Mass.) takes on No. 11 ranked Kyler Phillips (12-2, fighting out of Glendale, Calif.)
• A bantamweight scrap pits Brady Hiestand (9-2, fighting out of Spokane, Wash.) against Jake Hadley(11-3, fighting out of Oldbury, Sandwell, England)
• The Ultimate Fighter seasons 27 and 31 winner Brad Katona (16-3, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland by way of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) looks to knock Jean Matsumoto (15-0, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) from the ranks of the unbeaten in a bantamweight bout
• Joselyne Edwards (13-6, fighting out of Panama City, Panama) faces Tamires Vidal (7-3, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) at bantamweight
• An exciting flyweight bout sees Charles Johnson (16-6, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) battle Sumudaerji (16-6, fighting out of Chengdu, Sichuan, China)
• Veteran Jessica Penne (14-8, fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif.) meets Elise Reed (7-4, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) in a strawweight contest
• Heavyweight action pits Austen Lane (12-5 1NC, fighting out of Jacksonville, Fla.) against Robelis Despaigne (5-1, fighting out of Orlando, Fla. by way of Santiago de Cuba, Cuba)
• Rayanne Santos (14-8, fighting out of Belem, Para, Brazil) and Alice Ardelean (9-6, fighting out of Birmingham, England) vie to secure their first UFC wins in a strawweight matchup

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit UFC.com. All bouts are live and subject to change. Please click?here?to apply for the event.? 

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About UFC^® ? 

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and approximately 266 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 900 million households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

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About ESPN+? 

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About ESPN? 

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more.?ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.? 

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Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to the APEX with a pivotal flyweight matchup featuring No. 1 ranked contender Brandon Royval taking on No. 5 Tatsuro Taira. In addition, exciting lighweights Grant Dawsonand Rafa Garcialock horns.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: ROYVAL vs. TAIRA takes place Saturday, October 12 in Las Vegas and will be available on ESPN+ (English and Spanish). The prelims will air exclusively on ESPN+ at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET, followed by the main card airing on ESPN and ESPN+ 4 p.m. PT / 7p.m. ET.

UFC APEX VIP Experience packages are available via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. Enjoy exclusive access with an official ticket package that includes premium seating, all-inclusive hospitality, in-seat beverage service, meet-and-greets with UFC Octagon Girls and more. Visit UFCVIP.com for more information.

Division veteran Royval (16-7, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.) steps back into the Octagon determined to be the first fighter to defeat Taira. The former title challenger has secured strong wins against elite competition such as Brandon Moreno, Matheus Nicolau, and Matt Schnell. Royval now looks to secure back-to-back wins and add Taira’s name to his resume.

Japan’s Taira (16-0, fighting out of Okinawa, Japan) looks to remain undefeated and make the most of his second UFC main event. The highly touted rising star has wowed fans with his performances against the likes of Alex Perez, Carlos Hernandez, and Edgar Chairez. Now looking to become undeniable for a shot at the title, Taira sets forth to defeat Royval in emphatic fashion.

Dawson (21-2-1, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) sets out to make a statement this October. A highly skilled grappler with 13 submission wins to his name, the Florida-based athlete has collected wins against Joe Solecki, Damir Ismagulov, and Mark Madsen. Dawson now aims to spoil Garcia’s night and deliver a shutout performance.

Garcia (16-3, fighting out of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico) returns to action for the first time in 2024. The well-rounded mixed martial artist has made a name for himself in the 155-pound division with his wins over Clay Guida, Jesse Ronson and Natan Levy. Garcia plans to remind the lightweight division just how good he is with a statement win against Dawson.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Fireworks are set for the middlweight division as Abdul Razak Alhassan(12-6, fighting out of Denver, Colo. by way of Accra, Ghana)meets Josh Fremd (11-6, fighting out of Englewood, Colo. by way of Pitssburgh, Penn.)
• Dana White’s Contender Series flyweight signees Clayton Carptener(7-0, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.)and Lucas Rocha(17-1, fighting out of Coari, Amazonas, Brazil)square off
• Chris Barnett(23-8, fighting out of Athens, Ga.) battles Dana White’s Contender Series alumn Waldo Cortes Acosta(12-1, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz. By way of Fundacion, Barahona, Dominican Republic) at heavyweight
• Polyana Viana(13-7, fighting out of São Geraldo do Araguaia, Pará, Brazil) takes on Dana White’s Contender Series standout Cory McKenna (8-3, fighting out of Cwmbran, Wales) at strawweight
• Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner CJ Vergara(12-5-1, fighting out of San Antonio, Texas) goes toe-to-toe with divison newcomer Ramazan Temirov (17-2, fighting out of Uzbekistan)
• Welterweights Themba Gorimbo(13-4, fighting out of Johannesburg, South Africa) and Niko Price(16-7 2NC, fighting out of Cape Coral, Fla.) look to steal the show
• Dana White’s Contender Series signee Chidi Njokuani(23-10 1NC, fighting out of Garland, Texas) locks horns with Jared Gooden(23-9, fighting out of Atlanta, Ga.) at welterweight

For the latest information on bout announcements and additional information for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts are subject to change. Please click?here?to apply for the event.

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About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 259 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+?? ??

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more.?ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst. 

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Utah with a stacked Pay-Per-View event, headlined by a pair of thrilling championship bouts. UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira goes for his third successful title defense of 2024 when he collides with No. 8 ranked contender Khalil Rountree Jr. in a battle of KO artists. Also, UFC bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington defends against former titleholder and No. 1 ranked contender Julianna Peña in a grudge match dating back to The Ultimate Fighter season 18 more than a decade ago.

UFC^® 307: PEREIRA vs. ROUNTREE JR. is the result of a continued partnership with Utah Sports Commission and Smith Entertainment Group. The event announcement comes on the heels of Utah being awarded the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, solidifying its reputation as The State of Sport.

“We are headed back to Utah for the third year in a row,” said UFC President and CEO Dana White. “The last two events have been an incredible experience with two of the most iconic knockouts ever. And this main event for the light heavyweight title is between two of the hardest punchers in the division. The fans at the Utah events have been amazing and this is one of the nicest arenas I’ve ever been to. I want to thank the Utah Sports Commission and Smith Entertainment Group for their continued support. Get ready, everybody – UFC 307 is going to be a fun one!”

“This is another great opportunity for Utah: The State of Sport to partner with UFC on one of its premier events,” said Jeff Robbins, president and CEO of the Utah Sports Commission. “UFC is at the crossroads of sport and entertainment and has been a key partner in helping Utah become a global sports destination. The Utah Sports Commission has played a role in bringing over 1,100 key sporting events to the state over the last two decades, as well as playing a key role in bringing back the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to Utah.”

“Delta Center is one of the best destinations for premier sporting events in the world,” said Ryan Smith, founder of Smith Entertainment Group, the parent company of the Utah Jazz and Utah Hockey Club. “We’re excited to welcome UFC fans back to Utah to experience the amazing environment inside Delta Center and to continue this partnership with UFC. Not only does it showcase Utah as one of the best destinations for sports, it also creates incredible economic contribution for our community.”

UFC^® 307: PEREIRA vs. ROUNTREE JR. takes place Saturday, Oct. 5 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City with the main card at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on ESPN+ PPV. The prelims will be available on ESPNEWS and ESPN Deportes, as well as simulcast in English and Spanish on ESPN+, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The night’s action will start at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT with early prelims on ESPN+ (English and Spanish) and UFC Fight Pass.

UFC^® 307: PEREIRA vs. ROUNTREE JR.  tickets will go on sale Friday, August 23 at 10 a.m. MT and are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, August 21 at 10 a.m. MT via the website UFCFightClub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, August 22 starting at 10 a.m. MT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Pereira (11-2, fighting out of Danbury, Conn. by way of Sao Paulo, Brazil) aims to continue his reign atop the 205-pound division. A decorated kickboxer, he has taken MMA by storm with spectacular finishes over Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka and Israel Adesanya. Pereira now plans to halt Rountree Jr.’s momentum and retain his belt by securing another jaw-dropping KO.

Rountree Jr. (13-5 1NC, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) intends to shock the world in his first UFC title opportunity. Currently riding a five-fight win streak, he has netted thrilling knockout wins against Anthony Smith, Chris Daukaus and Modestas Bukauskas. Rountree Jr. now intends to dethrone Pereira and achieve his dream of capturing UFC gold.

Pennington (16-9, fighting out of Colorado Springs, Colo.) is looking to secure her first successful title defense in dominant fashion. Currently riding a six-fight win streak, she has earned impressive victories over Mayra Bueno Silva, Ketlen Vieira and Macy Chiasson. Pennington now hopes to keep her spot atop the 125-pound ladder by getting the last laugh against Peña.

Peña (12-5, fighting out of Chicago, Ill. by way of Spokane, Wash.) intends to settle the score with Pennington by delivering a vintage performance. The winner of The Ultimate Fighter season 18, she holds memorable wins against Amanda Nunes, Sara McMann and Nicco Montano. Peña now plans to steal the show and recapture the UFC bantamweight belt.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• A pivotal bantamweight contenders’ bout sees No. 2 ranked Ketlen Vieira (14-3, fighting out of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil) square off with two-time Olympic gold medal judoka and No. 3 Kayla Harrison (17-1, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.)
• No. 9 ranked welterweight contender Stephen Thompson (17-7-1, fighting out of Simpsonville, S.C.) faces rising No. 11 Joaquin Buckley (19-6, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.)
• UFC Hall of Fame inductee and No. 9 ranked bantamweight contender Jose Aldo (32-8, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) meets No. 12 Mario Bautista (14-2, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.)
• No. 10 ranked middleweight contender Roman Dolidze (13-3, fighting out of Batumi, Georgia) collides with Kevin Holland (26-11 1NC, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas)
• Undefeated No. 6 ranked featherweight contender Movsar Evloev (18-0, fighting out of Sunzha, Republic of Ingushetia, Russia) locks horns with former UFC bantamweight champion and No. 8 featherweight Aljamain Sterling (24-4, fighting out of Uniondale, N.Y.)
• No. 6 ranked strawweight contender Marina Rodriguez (17-4-2, fighting out of Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil) takes on No. 14 Iasmin Lucindo (16-5, fighting out of Fortaleza, CE, Brazil)
• Cesar Almeida (5-1, fighting out of São Paulo, Brazil) faces Ihor Potieria (20-6, fighting out of Kiev, Ukraine) in a middleweight bout
• Former two-time UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza (20-7, fighting out of Irvine, Calif.) battles Tecia Pennington (13-7, fighting out of Colorado Springs, Colo.)

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit UFC.com. All bouts are live and subject to change. Please click here to apply for the event.

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 283 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About Utah Sports Commission

The Utah Sports Commission was created to be a catalyst for Utah in its sport and Olympic legacy efforts and to help enhance Utah’s economy, image, and quality of life through the attraction, promotion, and development of national and international sports. Since the 2002 Olympics and Paralympics, the Utah Sports Commission has attracted nearly 1100 major events to the state. The Sports Commission works closely with communities, sports entities, and organizations to provide event services ranging from the bid process, on-site logistics, volunteer coordination, sponsorships and promotional opportunities, and other related services. It is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization and 501(c)6 Utah Sports Commission Foundation governed by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees consisting of statewide sports, business, community, and government leaders. For more information, visit UtahSportsCommission.com or follow @stateofsport on social media.

About Smith Entertainment Group

Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) is a sports, entertainment, real estate, and technology investment group focused primarily on the state of Utah. SEG’s portfolio includes the Utah Jazz (NBA), Utah Hockey Club (NHL), Delta Center, SEG Media, The Shops at South Town, Real Salt Lake (MLS), Utah Royals (NWSL), America First Credit Union Field, Salt Lake City Stars (NBA G League), Utah Jazz Gaming (NBA 2K League), Real Monarchs (MLS NEXT Pro), and other Utah-centric business ventures. 

About Delta Center

Located in downtown Salt Lake City, Delta Center is home of both the Utah Jazz NBA franchise and the Utah Hockey Club NHL franchise and serves as the region’s premier sports and entertainment venue. Hosting more than 320 days of sports and entertainment events each year, ranging from NBA and NHL games to concerts by world-renowned musicians and other sporting spectacles, Delta Center welcomes approximately 1.8 million guests annually. With the capability of hosting 18,206 fans at Utah Jazz games, nearly 16,000 fans at Utah Hockey Club games, and 13,898 at concerts, the electrifying atmosphere inside the bowl captivates audiences and creates an unforgettable experience. Since its debut in 1991, Delta Center has hosted the 2023 and 1993 NBA All-Star weekends, 2002 Olympic Winter Games, NCAA men’s basketball tournament, and two NBA Finals. For more information about Delta Center, an entity of Smith Entertainment Group, visit www.deltacenter.com.

About ESPN+ 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

Edmonton – UFC^® returns to Edmonton for the first time since 2019 with a thrilling clash of flyweight contenders that will see No. 3 ranked contender Erin Blanchfield battle former strawweight champion and No. 5 flyweight Rose Namajunas. Also, heavyweight finishers collide when No. 11 ranked contender Derrick Lewis locks horns with No. 13 Alexandr Romanov.

“I love Canada! I’m so excited to return to Edmonton,” UFC CEO Dana White said. “The city has played host to some big events in the past and I can’t wait to deliver an awesome night of fights. The Alberta fans are some of the most passionate in Canada and I know they’re going to blow the roof off Rogers Place.”

“We are thrilled to welcome the Ultimate Fighting Championship back to Rogers Place for UFC Fight Night on November 2,” said Stu Ballantyne, President & Chief Operating Officer, Rogers Place and ICE District. “With millions of UFC fans globally, including many here in Alberta, and the best mixed martial artists in the world, we know it’s going to make for another electrifying night in ICE District.”

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: BLANCHFIELD vs. NAMAJUNAS takes place Saturday, Nov. 2 at Rogers Place. Tickets will go on sale Friday, Sept. 20 at 10 a.m. MT and are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.ca. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 10 a.m. MT via the website UFCFightClub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Sept. 19 starting at 10 a.m. MT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

UFC VIP Experience packages are available via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. Enjoy exclusive access with an official ticket package that includes premium seating, all-inclusive hospitality, meet-and-greets with UFC athletes and more. Visit UFCVIP.com for more information.

Fans can register their interest at UFC.com/Edmonton.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Marc-Andre Barriault (16-8 1NC, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla., USA by way of Gatineau, Que.) collides with Dustin Stoltzfus (15-6, fighting out of Germersheim, Germany) at middleweight
• No. 13 ranked flyweight contender Ariane da Silva (17-9, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil) faces rising No. 14 Jasmine Jasudavicius (11-3, fighting out of Niagara, Ont.)
• Chad Anheliger (13-7, fighting out of Calgary, Alta.) squares off with Cody Gibson (21-10, fighting out of San Luis Obispo, Calif.) in an intriguing bantamweight bout
• Jamey-Lyn Horth (6-1, fighting out of Squamish, B.C.) takes on Ivana Petrovic (7-1, fighting out of Tønsberg, Norway) in a flyweight bout

Stay tuned for future bout announcements.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: BLANCHFIELD vs. NAMAJUNAS marks the first UFC event in Edmonton in over five years. Since debuting in the Great White North with UFC^® 83: SERRA vs. ST-PIERRE 2 in 2008, UFC has held a total of 33 premiere sporting events in Canada that span across 11 cities.

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit UFC.com. All bouts are live and subject to change. Please click here to apply for the event.

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 283 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About Rogers Place

Rogers Place is one of the premiere sports and entertainment venues in North America, located in the heart of Edmonton’s ICE District. With capacity up to 20,000 fans, Rogers Place is the venue of choice in Western Canada for live entertainment, including concerts, festivals, NHL and WHL hockey, and other major sporting events. Celebrity performances include Lady Gaga, Drake, Justin Timberlake, Keith Urban, Elton John, Michelle Obama, Cirque du Soleil and nine consecutive sold out shows by Garth Brooks, to name just a few. The International Olympic Committee and International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities have awarded the arena Gold in their Major Venues category for exemplary architecture. Rogers Place is LEED Silver certified and features state-of-the-art broadcast technology, facilities and capabilities, and is fully integrated with the adjoining Ford Hall, Fan Park and ICE District Plaza for multi-site festivals and other major events.

Las Vegas – UFC^® celebrates Mexican Independence Day with a once-in-a-lifetime event at Sphere in Las Vegas, headlined by two blockbuster world championship bouts. UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley collides with surging No. 1 contender Merab Dvalishvili, plus, UFC flyweight champion Alexa Grasso runs it back with former titleholder Valentina Shevchenko.

RIYADH SEASON NOCHE UFC^®: O’MALLEY vs. DVALISHVILI PRESENTED BY BUD LIGHT^® takes place Saturday, Sept. 14 at Sphere in Las Vegas with the main card at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on ESPN+ PPV. The prelims will be available on ESPNEWS and ESPN Deportes, as well as simulcast in English and Spanish on ESPN+, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The night’s action will start at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT with the first fight on ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (English and Spanish).

Tickets for RIYADH SEASON NOCHE UFC^®: O’MALLEY vs. DVALISHVILI PRESENTED BY BUD LIGHT^® will go on sale Wednesday, July 31 at 10 a.m. PT and are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Monday, July 29 at 10 a.m. PT via the website UFCFightClub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Tuesday, July 30 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Riyadh Season Noche UFC, the first live sports event to take place at Sphere, will utilize the venue’s next-generation technologies. This includes Sphere’s 160,000 sq. ft. and 16K x 16K resolution interior display plane – the world’s highest resolution LED display –  that wraps up, over, and around the audience creating a fully immersive visual environment; the world’s most advanced concert-grade audio system, Sphere Immersive Sound, powered by HOLOPLOT, which delivers audio with unmatched clarity and precision to every guest; and the venue’s haptic seats, so fans can “feel” the experience.

No. 6 men’s pound-for-pound fighter O’Malley (18-1 1NC, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) looks to continue his reign atop the bantamweight division. Among the biggest stars in MMA, he has delivered thrilling KO victories against Aljamain Sterling, Thomas Almeida and Eddie Wineland. O’Malley now plans to stop Dvalishvili’s momentum to secure his second successful title defense.

Dvalishvili (17-4, fighting out of Long Island, N.Y. by way of Tbilisi, Georgia) hopes to achieve his dream of capturing UFC gold by securing his 11^th consecutive win. A relentless competitor, he holds victories over former UFC champions Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan and Jose Aldo. Dvalishvili now aims to dethrone O’Malley and become Georgia’s second UFC champion.

No. 1 women’s pound-for-pound fighter Grasso (16-3-1, fighting out of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico) plans to defend her flyweight championship in dominant fashion. Currently riding a six-fight unbeaten streak, she also holds memorable wins over Viviane Araujo, Joanne Wood and Maycee Barber. Grasso now intends to steal the show by once again finishing Shevchenko.

Shevchenko (23-4-1, fighting out of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan) is determined to reclaim her spot atop the 125-pound ladder. Among the greatest fighters in UFC history, she has earned spectacular finishes over Julianna Pena, Jessica Andrade and Jessica Eye. Shevchenko now has her sights set on dethroning Grasso with another highlight-reel performance.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 3 ranked featherweight contender Brian Ortega (15-3 1NC, fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif.) battles rising No. 12 Diego Lopes (24-6, fighting out of Puebla, México by way of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil)
• Raul Rosas Jr. (9-1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) takes on Aoriqileng (25-10 1NC, fighting out of Shanghai, China) in an exciting bantamweight bout
• No. 4 bantamweight contender and former title challenger Irene Aldana (15-7, fighting out of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico) faces No. 10 Norma Dumont (11-2, fighting out of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil)
• Manuel Torres (15-2, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico) goes for his seventh consecutive win when he meets Ignacio Bahamondes (15-5, fighting out of Chicago, Ill. by way of Santiago, Chile) at lightweight
• Daniel Zellhuber (15-1, fighting out of Mexico City, Mexico) goes for his fourth consecutive win when he locks horns with Esteban Ribovics (13-1, fighting out of Cordoba, Argentina) at lightweight
• Edgar Chairez (11-5 1NC, fighting out of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico) looks to build off his recent victory when he takes on Kevin Borjas (9-3, fighting out of Lima, Peru) at flyweight
• Ronaldo Rodriguez (17-2, fighting out of Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico) squares off with Ode’ Osbourne (12-7 1NC, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Milwaukee, Wisc.) in a flyweight bout
• Yazmin Jauregui (11-1, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico) meets Ketlen Souza (14-4, fighting out of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil) at strawweight

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts are live and subject to change. Please click here to apply for the event.

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 283 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About Sphere

Sphere is a next-generation entertainment medium that is redefining the future of live entertainment. A venue where the foremost artists, creators, and technologists create extraordinary experiences that take storytelling to a new level and transport audiences to places both real and imagined. The venue hosts original Sphere Experiences from leading Hollywood directors; concerts and residencies from the world’s biggest artists; and premier marquee events. The first Sphere venue opened in Las Vegas in September 2023, and is a new Las Vegas landmark, powered by cutting-edge technologies that ignite the senses and enable audiences to share experiences at a never-before-seen scale. More information is available at thesphere.com. 

About ESPN+ 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.