Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Barclays Center with one of the most anticipated title fights in UFC history, as undefeated lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov looks to defend his crown against No. 1 ranked contender Tony Ferguson. Also on the card, former strawweight champions rematch as Jessica Andrade and Rose Namajunas aim to secure another shot at the title.

UFC^® 249: KHABIB vs. FERGUSON will take place Saturday, April 18 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. and will stream live nationally on Pay-Per-View, exclusively through ESPN+ in the U.S. at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT in both English and Spanish.

ESPN+ is the exclusive provider of all UFC Pay-Per-View events to fans in the U.S.

Fans will be able to purchase UFC^® 249: KHABIB vs. FERGUSON online at ESPNPlus.com/PPV or on the ESPN App on mobile and connected-TV devices. ESPN+ is available as an integrated part of the ESPN App on all major mobile and connected TV devices and platforms, including Amazon Fire, Apple, Android, Chromecast, PS4, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, X Box One and more.

Preliminary fights will air nationally in English on ESPN2 and on ESPN Deportes (in Spanish) starting at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT with the early prelims simulcast on UFC Fight Pass and ESPN+ at 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT.

One of the most dominant athletes in UFC history, Nurmagomedov (28-0, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia) returns to the arena where he captured the then-vacant UFC lightweight championship. The No. 2-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Nurmagomedov holds victories over Dustin Poirier, Conor McGregor and Rafael Dos Anjos. He now attempts to prove that he is the greatest lightweight of all-time by snapping the impressive winning streak of Ferguson.

A former interim lightweight champion, Ferguson (26-3, fighting out of Orange County, Calif.) aims to finally capture his first undisputed title. Currently on an incredible 12-fight winning streak, Ferguson has defeated the likes of Donald Cerrone, Anthony Pettis and Dos Anjos. He now aims to secure his greatest victory yet by becoming the first man to defeat Nurmagomedov.

The first Brazilian strawweight champion, Andrade (20-7, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) intends to replicate her spectacular knockout victory over Namajunas from 2019. The owner of the most knockouts in strawweight history, Andrade holds stoppage wins over Karolina Kowalkiewicz, Joanne Calderwood and Jessica Penne. She now seeks to get back to her winning ways and earn a shot at revenge against current champion Zhang Weili.

One of the biggest fan favorites on the roster, Namajunas (9-4, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) rose to fame by dethroning longtime strawweight queen Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Throughout her career, she has also delivered thrilling victories against Michelle Waterson, Paige VanZant, and Tecia Torres. She now aims to even the score with Andrade and secure the next shot at the 115-pound crown.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Sijara Eubanks (5-4, fighting out of Toms River, N.J.) and Sarah Moras (6-6, fighting out of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada) clash in a battle of women’s bantamweights
• Khama Worthy (15-6, fighting out of Pittsburgh, Pa.) looks to replicate his incredible knockout debut against the undefeated Ottman Azaitar (12-0, fighting out of Rabat, Morocco)
• Gian Villante (17-11, fighting out of Bellmore, N.Y.) makes his UFC heavyweight debut against veteran Ben Rothwell (37-12, fighting out of Kenosha, Wisc.)
• Top middleweights battle as No. 10-ranked Uriah Hall (16-9, fighting out of Queens, N.Y.) welcomes back Jacare Souza (26-8, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
• No. 10-ranked heavyweight Shamil Adurakhimov (20-5, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia) will try to derail the hype train of undefeated Ciryl Gane (6-0, fighting out of Paris, France)

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

Visit UFC.com for information and content to support your UFC coverage. Please click here to apply for the event.

Tickets for UFC^® 249: KHABIB vs. FERGUSON go on sale Friday, January 31 at 10 a.m. ET. Tickets are available for purchase online at ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.

UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, January 29 at 10 a.m. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, January 30 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 318 million fans and 80 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 nearly one billion TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 65 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC was acquired in 2016 by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, along with strategic investors Silver Lake Partners and KKR. UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.

About Barclays Center

In the heart of Brooklyn, at the crossroads of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues, Barclays Center is home of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets and the NHL’s New York Islanders, and boasts one of the most intimate seating configurations ever designed for a modern multi-purpose arena.

Since its opening on September 28, 2012 with the first of eight consecutive sold-out shows by JAY Z, Barclays Center has continued to host the world’s most renowned performers, including Barbra Streisand, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Madonna and Bruce Springsteen. The success of these events has made Barclays Center one of the most popular arenas in the world, ranked top ten nationally in 2018 for gross revenue and attendance by Billboard and Pollstar.

Barclays Center opened to extensive critical acclaim and was recognized with several major awards, including the 2012 Pollstar Award for Best New Major Concert Venue, 2013 Sports Business Awards Facility of the Year, Architizer A+ Building of the Year Award and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Brooklyn Building Award for Economic Development.

A model for sustainable design and construction, Barclays Center has earned LEED© Silver Certification for New Construction from the U.S. Green Building Congress, becoming the first professional sports and entertainment venue in the New York metro area to achieve this status.

The arena offers 17,732 seats for basketball, 15,795 for hockey, and up to 19,000 seats for concerts, and has 101 luxury suites, and an array of bars, lounges and clubs including the 40/40 CLUB & Restaurant by American Express, and Qatar Airways Courtside Club.

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the leading direct-to-consumer sports streaming service from Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ grew quickly to 3.5 million subscribers in 18 months, offering fans thousands of live events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, as well as premium editorial content.

Programming on ESPN+ includes exclusive UFC and Top Rank boxing events, thousands of college sports events (including football and basketball) from more than a dozen sports at 20 conferences, hundreds of MLB and NHL games, top domestic and international soccer (Serie A, MLS, FA Cup, Bundesliga – beginning in 2020, EFL Championship and Carabao Cup, Eredivisie), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby and cricket, exclusive ESPN+ Original series, acclaimed studio shows and the full library of ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 films.

Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) through the ESPN App, (on mobile and connected devices), ESPN.com or ESPNplus.com.  It is also available as part of a bundle offer that gives subscribers access to Disney+, Hulu (ad-supported), and ESPN+ ¬— all for just $12.99/month.

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment enterprise features more than 50 assets – nine U.S. television networks, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN International, ESPN The Magazine 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 T-Mobile Arena with two thrilling world championship bouts. Undefeated middleweight champion Israel Adesanya goes for another show-stealing performance against No. 3 ranked contender Yoel Romero. Strawweight champion Zhang Weili will take on the toughest test of her career when she meets former titleholder and No. 4 ranked contender Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

UFC^® 248: ADESANYA vs. ROMERO will take place Saturday, March 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will stream live on Pay-Per-View, exclusively through ESPN+ in the U.S. at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT in both English and Spanish.

ESPN+ is the exclusive provider of all UFC Pay-Per-View events to fans in the U.S. as part of an agreement announced in March.

Fans will be able to purchase UFC^® 248: ADESANYA vs. ROMERO online at ESPNPlus.com/PPV or on the ESPN App on mobile and connected-TV devices. ESPN+ is available as an integrated part of the ESPN App on all major mobile and connected TV devices and platforms, including Amazon Fire, Apple, Android, Chromecast, PS4, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, X Box One and more.

Preliminary fights will air nationally in English on ESPN and on ESPN Deportes (in Spanish) starting at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT with the early prelims simulcast on UFC Fight Pass and ESPN+ at 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT.

Among the standout fighters of 2019, Adesanya (18-0, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand by way of Lagos, Nigeria) capped off the year by dethroning middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in front of the largest-ever UFC live audience. The former kickboxer has also earned spectacular victories against Kelvin Gastelum, Anderson Silva and Derek Brunson. Adesanya now looks to kick off his 2020 with another highlight-reel finish to secure his first successful title defense.

A perennial contender at 185 pounds, Romero (13-4, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Pinar Del Rio, Cuba) is considered one of the most dangerous competitors in the entire sport. The 2000 Olympic silver medalist wrestler has delivered sensational knockout wins over former UFC champions Luke Rockhold, Chris Weidman and Lyoto Machida. Romero now aims to achieve his destiny by capturing UFC gold and handing Adesanya his first MMA loss.

The first Chinese UFC champion, Zhang (20-1, fighting out of Beijing, China) made history when she delivered a spectacular 42-second knockout against Jessica Andrade in August to capture the title. Riding a 20-fight win streak, Zhang has also netted impressive victories over Tecia Torres, Jessica Aguilar and Danielle Taylor since joining the UFC roster in 2018. Zhang now aims to secure her first successful title defense against the former strawweight queen.

The most dominant champion in UFC strawweight history, Jedrzejczyk (16-3, fighting out of Olsztyn, Poland) successfully defended her title five times during a reign that lasted more than two years. Throughout her career, she has delivered thrilling victories against Michelle Waterson, Claudia Gadelha (twice), Jessica Penne and Carla Esparza. Jedrzejczyk now aims to further add to her legacy by becoming the first fighter to reclaim the UFC’s 115-pound championship.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• In a pivotal middleweight bout, No. 8 ranked contender Derek Brunson (20-7, fighting out of Wilmington, N.C.) takes on undefeated No. 9 Edmen Shahbazyan (11-0, fighting out of Glendale, Calif.)
• Fan favorite Alex Oliveira (19-8-1 2NC, fighting out of Tres Rios, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) faces Max Griffin (15-7, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) in an exciting welterweight bout
• Unbeaten grappling ace Rodolfo Vieira (6-0, fighting out of Orlando, Fla. by way of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) takes on Saparbek Safarov (9-2, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia)
• No. 15 ranked welterweight contender Neil Magny (21-8, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) meets surging Li Jingliang (16-5, fighting out of Beijing, China)
• In an exciting lightweight bout, Beneil Dariush (17-4-1, fighting out of Yorba Linda, Calif.) squares off with Drakkar Klose (11-1-1, fighting out of Glendale, Calif.)
• Emily Whitmire (4-3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) takes on Polyana Viana (10-4, fighting out of São Geraldo do Araguaia, Para, Brazil) in a strawweight bout
• Danaa Batgerel (6-2, fighting out of Erdenetsagaan, Sukhbaatar, Mongolia) faces Guido Cannetti (8-4, fighting out of San Antonio de Padua, Buenos Aires, Argentina) in a bantamweight bout

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

Visit UFC.com for information and content to support your UFC coverage. Please click here to apply for the event.

Tickets for UFC^® 248: ADESANYA vs. ROMERO go on sale Friday, Jan. 24 at 10 a.m. PT. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.axs.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.

UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 10 a.m. PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Jan. 23 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 318 million fans and 80 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 nearly one billion TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 65 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC was acquired in 2016 by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, along with strategic investors Silver Lake Partners and KKR. UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @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. The city’s newest landmark, recently 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, 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+

ESPN+ is the leading direct-to-consumer sports streaming service from Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ grew quickly to 3.5 million subscribers in 18 months, offering fans thousands of live events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, as well as premium editorial content.

Programming on ESPN+ includes exclusive UFC and Top Rank boxing events, thousands of college sports events (including football and basketball) from more than a dozen sports at 20 conferences, hundreds of MLB and NHL games, top domestic and international soccer (Serie A, MLS, FA Cup, Bundesliga – beginning in 2020, EFL Championship and Carabao Cup, Eredivisie), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby and cricket, exclusive ESPN+ Original series, acclaimed studio shows and the full library of ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 films.

Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) through the ESPN App, (on mobile and connected devices), ESPN.com or ESPNplus.com.  It is also available as part of a bundle offer that gives subscribers access to Disney+, Hulu (ad-supported), and ESPN+ ¬— all for just $12.99/month.

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment enterprise features more than 50 assets – nine U.S. television networks, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN International, ESPN The Magazine 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 – For the first time ever, UFC^® heads to PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. with a pivotal bout in the heavyweight division as No. 3 ranked contender Curtis Blaydes looks to secure the most important victory of his career when he takes on former UFC heavyweight champion and No. 4 ranked Junior Dos Santos.Also on the card, former UFC lightweight champion and featherweight title challenger Frankie Edgar drops down for his first fight at bantamweight when he takes on top up-and-coming contender, No. 3 ranked Cory Sandhagen.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+^®: BLAYDES vs. DOS SANTOS will stream live from PNC Arena with all fights carried exclusively on ESPN+ in English and Spanish. The main card begins at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 25, with the prelims kicking off at 5 p.m. ET.  Doors open at 4 p.m. ET.

The record-holder for most takedowns in UFC heavyweight history, Blaydes (12-2, fighting out of Chicago, Ill.) returns to action following a dominant victory over fellow top-ranked contender Shamil Abdurakhimov in September. Still one of the youngest heavyweights on the roster, Blaydes already holds a number of impressive victories over legendary names such as Alistair Overeem and Mark Hunt. He now looks to secure the first title shot of his career by taking out his first former champion. 

Former champion and perennial fan favorite Dos Santos (21-6, fighting out of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil) looks to get back into the title conversation with another signature knockout victory. The record-holder for the most knockdowns in UFC heavyweight history, Dos Santos has wins over some of the biggest names in the sport, including former UFC champions Fabricio Werdum, Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir, as well as current champion Stipe Miocic. He now aims to secure his 16^th victory in the Octagon and stake his claim as the next title contender.

Undefeated in the UFC, Sandhagen (12-1, fighting out of Aurora, Colo.) goes for the most significant win of his young career. A professional mixed martial artist for less than five years, Sandhagen has already proven himself with wins over Raphael Assuncao, John Lineker and Iuri Alcantara. With his biggest challenge yet in front of him in former champion Edgar, Sandhagen looks to rise to the occasion and secure the next shot at the bantamweight title.

Always looking for a new challenge, Edgar (22-7, fighting out of Toms River, N.J.) wastes no time by jumping straight into the deep end of his new division. One of the biggest fan favorites on the roster, Edgar holds some of the most iconic wins in UFC history, including those over B.J. Penn, Gray Maynard and Urijah Faber. With a win over Sandhagen, Edgar looks to become the first athlete in UFC history to challenge for a title in three different weight classes.

Announced bouts on the card include:

• Top featherweight contenders look to extend their win streaks and climb into the title conversation when No. 10 ranked Josh Emmett (15-2, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) meets No. 14 Arnold Allen (15-1, fighting out of Trimley St. Martin, Suffolk, England)
• Former Olympic silver medalist and No. 9 ranked women’s bantamweight contender Sara McMann (11-5, fighting out of Gaffney, S.C.) returns to the Octagon after almost two years off to take on No. 11 ranked Lina Lansberg (10-4, fighting out of Malmo, Sweden)
• Dana White’s Contender Seriesveterans meet in a battle of ranked flyweights as No. 10 Jordan Espinosa (14-6, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) and No. 11 Alex Perez (22-5, fighting out of Lemoore, Calif.) look to break into the top of the division.
• Hannah Cifers (10-3, fighting out of Durham, N.C.) aims to make her home state fans proud by snapping the win streak of former Invicta FC strawweight champion, Brianna Van Buren (9-2, fighting out of Gilroy, Calif.)
• Debuting featherweights look to impress as Dana White’s Contender Series signee Herbert Burns (9-2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil by way of Lantana, Fla.) takes on Nate Landwehr (13-2, fighting out of Clarksville, Tenn.)
• Brett Johns (15-2, fighting out of Swansea, Wales) intends to bounce back into the win column against debuting Dana White’s Contender Series signee Tony Gravely (19-5, fighting out of Radford, Va.)
• Montel Jackson (9-1, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) and Felipe Colares (9-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) meet in a clash of bantamweight prospects
• Dana White’s Contender Series signee Jamahal Hill (6-0, fighting out of Kentwood, Mich.) looks to remain undefeated when he battles hard-hitting Darko Stosic (13-3, fighting out of Belgrade, Serbia)
• Bevon Lewis (7-2, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) and Alen Amedovski (8-2, fighting out of Rome, Italy) look to snap their losing streaks in a critical middleweight bout
• Women’s flyweight action seesJustine Kish (6-2, fighting out of Cramerton, N.C.) defend her home state against Lucie Pudilova (8-5, fighting out of Pribram, Czech Republic)

Visit the UFC.com for information and content to support your UFC coverage. Please click here to apply for the event.

Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+^®: BLAYDES vs. DOS SANTOS go on sale Friday, December 6 at 10 a.m. ET. Tickets 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, December 4 at 10 a.m. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, December 5 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

To sign up for ESPN+, go to www.ESPNplus.com/UFC.

Lyman Good stopped Chance Rencountre in the 3rd round of their welterweight fight.

Good landed a kick that knocked Renciuntre down and follow up punchs ended it at 2:03.

Good is 21-5. Rencounte is 14-4.

Hakeem Dawodu defeated Julio Arce by split decision in their flyweight fight.

Dawodu won by two counts of 29-28 and Arce took a card 29-28. Dawodu is 11-1-1. Arce is 16-4.

LAS VEGAS and SHANGHAI – UFC^®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, today announced plans to launch the first-ever Asia edition of Dana White’s Contender Series, the groundbreaking mixed martial arts fight series that showcases up-and-coming talent, as well as athletes striving to revive their professional careers.

The inaugural season of Dana White’s Contender Series Asia will launch in 2020 and be hosted from the new, state-of-the-art UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai.  At 93,000 square feet, the building is the world’s largest MMA training and development facility and nearly three times as large as the original UFC Performance Institute^® in Las Vegas.  The structure was built with advanced production capabilities with spectator seating that allows UFC to produce and distribute events, such as Dana White’s Contender Series, and other original programming.

One of my favorite parts of my job is looking for up-and-coming talent,” said UFC President Dana White. “There’s no area in the world right now with more potential MMA talent than Asia. We’re going to use Dana White’s Contender Series to find these fighters, develop them, and give them the opportunity to perform on the biggest stage in combat sports.”

Like its U.S. counterpart, Dana White’s Contender Series Asia will feature both male and female athletes. All 11 UFC weight classes will be considered for the show and bout results will count towards athletes’ professional records.

In the United States, the series has launched UFC careers for notable athletes, including bantamweight Sean O’Malley (10-0); heavyweight Greg Hardy (5-1); and flyweight Maycee Barber (8-0). Additional details concerning fight schedules, format, and participants will be announced at a later date.

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 300 million fans and 70 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 nearly one billion TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 60 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC was acquired in 2016 by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, along with strategic investors Silver Lake Partners and KKR. UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.

LAS VEGAS – For the first time since 2016, UFC^® will return to the AMALIE Arena in Tampa, Fla. with a crucial bout in the women’s strawweight division as former champion and No. 4-ranked contender Joanna Jedrzejczyk looks to earn another shot at her lost crown by stopping the win streak of No. 7-rankedMichelle Waterson. Also on the card, longtime veteran Cub Swanson looks to hand undefeated submission specialist Kron Gracie his first career loss.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+^®: JOANNA vs. WATERSON will stream live from the AMALIE Arena with all fights carried exclusively on ESPN+ in English and Spanish. The main card begins at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 12, with the prelims kicking off at 5 p.m. ET.  Doors open at 4 p.m. ET.

Competing in her adopted home state of Florida for the first time, Jedrzejczyk (15-3, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Olsztyn, Poland) returns to strawweight after recently attempting to become just the second woman to hold UFC championships in two divisions. Before moving up, Jedrzejczyk had established herself as the greatest strawweight champion in UFC history with dominant wins over Jessica Andrade, Claudia Gadelha (twice) and Karolina Kowalkiewicz. She now looks to get back to her winning ways and into the title conversation by taking out yet another top contender.

Currently on the longest win streak of her UFC career, Waterson (17-6, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) looks to add a UFC champion to her resume and insert herself into the title picture. A former Invicta FC champion, Waterson has been a contender from the moment she joined the UFC roster in 2015 and has already proven herself against some of the top competitors in the division, such as Paige VanZant, Felice Herrig and Karolina Kowalkiewicz. She now aims to secure the biggest win of her career and earn her first shot at UFC gold.

With seven UFC post-fight bonuses to his name, Swanson (25-11, fighting out of Palm Springs, Calif.)  has established himself as one the most exciting athletes on the roster. During his career he has claimed impressive wins over the likes of Dooho Choi, Artem Lobov and Jeremy Stephens. Competing in his 18^th UFC bout, Swanson hopes to prove he can still compete with the best in the world and break back into the rankings with another crowd-pleasing performance.

Looking to remain undefeated, Gracie (5-0, fighting out of Culver City, Calif.) aims to secure the most important victory of his career with another signature submission. The latest member of the legendary Gracie family to join the UFC roster, Kron made his debut in impressive fashion by submitting the experienced Alex Caceres in the first round. Now, he looks to take out his second veteran in a row and announce himself as the next prospect to watch in the featherweight division.

Announced bouts on the card include:

• In a clash of top ranked flyweights, No. 3-ranked contender Deiveson Figueiredo (16-1, fighting out of Condor Belem, Para, Brazil) takes on former title challenger and No. 6-ranked Tim Elliott (16-8-1, fighting out of Lee’s Summit, Mo.)
• Middleweight finishers meet as Eryk Anders (12-4, fighting out of Birmingham, Ala.) battles Gerald Meerschaert (29-11, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.)
• Undefeated Mackenzie Dern (7-0, fighting out of Peoria, Ariz.) aims to lock in another submission in her return to action against Amanda Ribas (7-1, fighting out of Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil)
• Max Griffin (15-6, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) and Alex Morono (16-5, fighting out of Houston, Texas) both look to extend their win streaks and move up the welterweight ranks
• Promising women’s flyweight competitors look to bounce back into the win column as JJ Aldrich (7-3, fighting out of Westminster, Colo.) meets Dana White’s Contender Series veteran Lauren Mueller (5-2, fighting out of San Diego, Calif.)
• Dana White’s Contender Series alum Ryan Spann (16-5, fighting out of Beaumont, Texas) aims to remain undefeated in UFC when he takes on Devin Clark (10-3. Fighting out of Sioux Falls, S.D.)

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

Visit the UFC^® Press Portal for information and content to support your UFC coverage. Please click here to apply for the event.

Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+^®: JOANNA vs. WATERSON go on sale Friday, August 23 at 10 a.m. ET. Tickets 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. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, August 22 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

To sign up for ESPN+, go to www.ESPNplus.com/UFC.

LAS VEGAS – UFC^® returns to Boston with a spectacular light heavyweight bout, as undefeated No. 4 ranked contender Dominick Reyeswelcomes former middleweight champion Chris Weidman to the 205-pound division. In a featherweight contenders’ bout guaranteed to deliver fireworks, No. 5 ranked Zabit Magomedsharipov battles No. 11 Calvin Kattar.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN^®: REYES vs. WEIDMAN will air live from the TD Garden exclusively on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, October 18, with the prelims kicking off at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and on ESPN Deportes.  Doors open at 5 p.m. ET.

Reyes (11-0, fighting out of Victorville, Calif.) immediately turned heads upon joining the UFC in 2017 by delivering a Performance of the Night victory over Joachim Christensen. He has since made a rapid ascent up the light heavyweight rankings after securing impressive wins against Jared Cannonier, Ovince Saint Preux and former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir. Reyes now aims to add a former UFC champion to his resume and stake his claim for a title shot.

Weidman (14-4, fighting out of Baldwin, N.Y.) shocked the MMA world in 2013 by dethroning long-reigning middleweight champion Anderson Silva via knockout. He then went on to deliver spectacular title defenses against Silva, Lyoto Machida and Vitor Belfort. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and NCAA Division I wrestler now sets his sights on taking over the light heavyweight class by stopping one of the division’s biggest rising stars.

In less than two years on the UFC roster, Magomedsharipov (17-1, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia) has proven to be a must-watch featherweight contender. Known for his dynamic striking and slick grappling, he has netted memorable victories over Jeremy Stephens, Brandon Davis, Kyle Bochniak and Sheymon Moraes. Magomedsharipov now looks to once again steal the show and secure his 14^th consecutive win.

A thrilling striker, Kattar (20-3, fighting out of Methuen, Mass.) has delivered sensational knockouts in his last three victories. During his UFC tenure, he has stopped Ricardo Lamas, Chris Fishgold and earned Fight of the Night honors for his TKO against Shane Burgos. Kattar is now poised to crack the featherweight top 5 with another highlight-reel finish in his Boston backyard.

Announced bouts on the card include:

• In a clash of surging flyweights, No. 12 ranked contender Maycee Barber (5-0, fighting out of Greeley, Colo.) takes on dangerous finisher and No. 15 ranked Gillian Robertson (7-3, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of  Niagara Falls, Ont., Canada)
• Deron Winn (6-0, fighting out of Gilroy, Calif.) looks to remain undefeated against tough Darren Stewart (10-4 1NC, fighting out of London, England)
• Daniel Spitz (6-2, fighting out of Spokane, Wash.) welcomes newcomer Tanner Boser (16-5-1, fighting out of Edmonton, Alta., Canada) to the UFC heavyweight division

·       Molly McCann (9-2, fighting out of Liverpool, England) goes for her third straight win against Diana Belbita (13-4, fighting out of Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Romania)

·       Dana White’s Contender Series signeeBrendan Allen (11-3, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) debuts against Eric Spicely(12-6, fighting out of Olneyville, R.I.)

·       Massachusetts native Randy Costa (4-1, fighting out of Taunton, Mass.) looks for an impressive win at home against Boston Salmon (6-2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.)

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

Visit the UFC^® Press Portal for information and content to support your UFC coverage. Please click here to apply for the event.

Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN^®: REYES vs. WEIDMAN go on sale Friday, August 23 at 10 a.m. ET. Tickets 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. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, August 22 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

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About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 300 million fans and 70 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 nearly one billion TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 60 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC was acquired in 2016 by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, along with strategic investors Silver Lake Partners and KKR. UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.

About TD Garden

TD Garden, owned and operated by Delaware North, first opened its doors to the public on September 30, 1995. In the 20 plus years since, the venue has generated more than $365 million in direct economic impact to the Greater Boston region from its major national events alone, not including its high-profile Bruins and Celtics tenants.  The arena has played host to countless marquee events, including the Democratic National Convention, NHL All-Star Game, NCAA Frozen Fours, NCAA Women’s Final Four, U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Trials, U.S. Figure Skating Championships and ISU World Figure Skating Championships among others. 

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment enterprise, features more than 50 assets – eight U.S. television networks, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN International, ESPN The Magazine and more.  ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.