UFC® RETURNS TO TORONTO WITH PAIR OF BLOCKBUSTER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS

Toronto, Canada – UFC® hits Toronto with a pair of thrilling world title fights, headlined by featherweight champion Max Holloway going for his second defense against undefeated No.1 contender Brian Ortega. Also, in a bout for the vacant women’s flyweight championship, former strawweight titleholder Joanna Jedrzejczyk battles No.1-ranked contender Valentina Shevchenko. UFC® 231: HOLLOWAY vs. ORTEGA takes place Saturday, Dec. 8 from Scotiabank Arena and will air live on Pay-Per-View.

Currently riding one of the most impressive win streaks in UFC history, Holloway (19-3, fighting out of Waianae, Hawaii) secured his first successful title defense with a spectacular TKO win over former titleholder Jose Aldo in December. During his run, he’s earned victories against former lightweight champ Anthony Pettis, Ricardo Lamas, Jeremy Stephens and Cub Swanson. Holloway aims to continue his dominant ways by dispatching an undefeated title threat.

Ortega (14-0 1NC, fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif.) has been on a tear since joining the UFC in 2014. In his last three outings, he’s taken home four Fight Night bonuses, and in March, he became the first fighter to finish former lightweight champ Frankie Edgar. Known for his incredible grappling and evolving striking, he’s also finished Cub Swanson, Renato Moicano, Clay Guida and Thiago Tavares. With a UFC title in his sights, Ortega plans to hand Holloway his first loss in more than five years.

In the co-main event, former kickboxing rivals throw down for UFC gold.

The most dominant strawweight champ in UFC history, Jedrzejczyk (15-2, fighting out of Olsztyn, Poland) focuses her attention on the burgeoning 125-pound division. An aggressive and devastating Muay Thai striker, she’s delivered crowd-pleasing victories against Tecia Torres, Jessica Andrade, Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Claudia Gadelha (twice). She’s now on the cusp of becoming the first female two-division champion in UFC history.

A former bantamweight title challenger, Shevchenko (15-3, fighting out of Lima, Peru by way of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan) put the flyweight division on notice with a vicious submission win over Priscila Cachoeira in February. The 17-time world Muay Thai champion also holds spectacular victories against former women’s bantamweight champ Holly Holm, Julianna Pena and Sarah Kaufman. She now looks to make good on her second UFC championship opportunity.

Additional bouts on the card include:

No.5-ranked light heavyweight contender Jimi Manuwa (17-4, fighting out of London, England)battles fellow KO artist Thiago Santos (19-6, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Strawweight contenders collide when No.3-ranked Claudia Gadelha (16-3, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) takes on No.11 Nina Ansaroff (9-5, fighting out of Weston, Fla., USA)
No.13-ranked Elias Theodorou (16-2, fighting out of Toronto, Canada) battles hard-hitting Eryk Anders (11-2, fighting out of Birmingham, Ala., USA)
In an exciting lightweight bout, Olivier Aubin-Mercier (12-3, fighting out of Montreal, Canada) meets Gilbert Burns (14-3, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla., USA by way of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER: UNDEFEATED® winner Brad Katona (8-0, fighting out of Winnipeg, Canada) locks horns with Matthew Lopez (10-4, fighting out of Denver, Colo., USA)
Chad Laprise (14-3, fighting out of Chatham, Ont., Canada) faces Dhiego Lima (14-7, fighting out of Atlanta, Ga., USA) in a clash of welterweight strikers
John Makdessi (16-6, fighting out of Montreal, Canada) goes for his third straight victory when he takes on Diego Ferreira (13-2, fighting out of Pharr, Texas, USA by way of Amazonas, Brazil)
Hakeem Dawodu (8-1-1, fighting out of Calgary, Canada) aims to keeps momentum rolling against gritty Kyle Bochniak (8-3, fighting out of Boston, Mass., USA)
Devin Clark (9-2, fighting out of Sioux Falls, S.D., USA) looks to turn back surging Aleksandar Rakic (9-1, fighting out of Vienna, Austria)

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change. Holloway is currently pending medical examination by the Ontario Athletics Commission.

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

UFC® 231: HOLLOWAY vs. ORTEGA will air live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Saturday, Dec. 8, with the prelims kicking off the evening on FS1 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and on UFC FIGHT PASS® at 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m. PT.

Tickets for UFC® 231: HOLLOWAY vs. ORTEGA go on sale Friday, Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. ET and are priced at $378.50, $288.50, $193.50, $153.50, $133.50, $98.50, $83.50 CAD (does not include fees). Tickets are available for purchase online at www.ticketmaster.ca. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.

UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Oct. 10 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, Oct. 11 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

###

About UFC®

UFC® is a premium global sports brand and the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. Celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2018, UFC boasts more than 284 million fans worldwide and has produced over 440 events in 22 countries since its inception in 1993. Acquired in 2016 by global sports, entertainment and fashion leader Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG), together with strategic partners Silver Lake Partners and KKR, UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas with a network of employees around the world. UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell-out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe, while programming is broadcast in over 160 countries and territories to 1.1 billion TV households worldwide in 40 different languages. UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service, delivers exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content to fans around the world. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.

About Scotiabank Arena

Scotiabank Arena is Canada’s premier sports and entertainment venue and home to the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, NBA’s Toronto Raptors and the NLL’s Toronto Rock. Owned and operated by MLSE, Scotiabank Arena opened its doors in February 1999 and has been recognized with more than 40 industry awards highlighting the venue’s security, accessibility, fan service, environmental commitment, sales and box office service. It has also hosted over 39 million fans at over 2,600 events including multiple NHL and NBA playoff runs, the 2016 NHL World Cup of Hockey, 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend, 2015 IIHF World U20 Championship, 2003 Liberal Party Convention and 2000 NHL All-Star Game. Scotiabank Arena’s external space has also become a Toronto entertainment destination with the installation of the Leafs Legends Row, bronzed statues honouring the hockey club’s greatest players, the gathering of thousands of Raptors fans in ‘Jurassic Park’ for each of the team’s post season games and other significant international events.




LIVE VIDEO: UFC 229 POST-FIGHT PRESS CONFERENCE




Khabib chokes out McGregor in 4th; Khabib starts brawl in stands and in cage

In what should have been the most shining moment in the career of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s career might very well be it’s darkest moment.

Nurmagomedov choked out UFC superstar Conor McGregor in the 4th round to retain the lightweight championship, but what happened after well overshadow a great performance from the undefeated Russian.

Nurmagomedov took McGregor down in round’s one, two and four, almost getting a coveted stoppage in round two as he pounded away at a prone McGregor.  McGregor inched back in the fight in round three by landing some good left hands.

In round four, Khabib got McGregor down and was able to get the rear choke and McGregor tapped out at 4:04.

After the fight, Khabib climbed the cage and leaped into the crowd where McGregor’s cornermen where situated.  A melee ensued and spilled out into the crowd, causing a scary situation.  Then part of Khabib’s entourage leaped into the cage and a couple landed sucker punches on McGregor.

The situation should produce major infractions Khabib, risking his title because a lengthy suspension is warranted.

Khabib is 27-0.  McGregor is 21-4.

Tony Furguson stopped Anthony Pettis after round two of their lightweight war.

After a good round one, Furguson got caught with a huge right hand the jaw but Pettis’ head was bleeding..  The doctor came into check, but Pettis was allowed to continue.  Furgison came back to land some hard punches which caused a massive cut around the left eye of Pettis.

After the round, Pettis claimed he may have broke his hand, and the fight was stopped.

Furguson, 155 lbs of Orange County, CA is 25-3.  Pettis, 156 lbs of Milwaukee, WI is 21-8.

Dominick Reyes won a unanimous decision over former world title challenger Ovince Saint Preux in a light heavyweight bout.

In round one, Reyes rocked Saint Preux several times with hard kicks and punches.  In round three, Saint Preux was cut over his left eye from an elbow.  Reyes drilled Saint Preux with a massive left hand just as the bell sounded to end the fight.

Reyes, 204.5 lbs of Victorville, CA won by scores of 30-27 and is now 10-0.  Saint Preux, 205 lbs of Knoxville, TN is 23-12.

Derrick Lewis saw his UFC title shot going down the drain until he was somehow able comeback and same Alexander Volkoff in the final round of their heavyweight fight.

Lewis was lethargic and losing the first two-plus rounds until he landed a massive right hand the rocked Volkoff to the canvas.  Lewis pounded Volkoff until the bout was stopped at 4:49.

Lewis of Houston is now 21-5-1.  Volkoff is now 30-7.

Michelle Waterson won a unanimous decision over Felice Herrig in a strawweightbout.

Waterson won by scores of 30-27, 30-26 and 29-28 to raise her mark to 16-6.  Herrig is 14-8.

Justin Formiga won a unanimous decision over Sergio Pettis in a flyweight bout.

Formiga won by tallies of 30-26 and 29-28 twice and is now 22-5.  Pettis is 17-4.

Vicente Luque stopped Jalin Turner in the 1st round of their welterweight bout.

Luque dropped Turner with a left hand and perched to land several hard and unanswered punches until the bout was stopped at 3:47.

Luque is now 14-6-1. Turner is 7-4.

Aspen Ladd stopped Tonya Evinger in round one of their bantamweight bout.

Ladd got Evinger on the ground and pounded away until the bout was stopped at 3:26.

Ladd is now 7-0. Evinger is 19-7-1.

Scott Holtzman stopped Alan Patrick at in round three of their lightweight bout.

Holtzman pounded Patrick while on the ground, and the bout was stopped at 3:42.

Holtzman is 12-2. Patrick is 15-2.




VIDEO: UFC 229 Embedded: Vlog Series – Episode 5




Video: UFC 229 Embedded: Vlog Series – Episode 4




LIVE VIDEO: UFC 229: Khabib vs McGregor Weigh-in




Video: UFC 229 Pre-fight Press Conference: Khabib vs McGregor




VIDEO: UFC 229 Embedded: – Episode 3




VIDEO: UFC 229 Embedded: – Episode 2 (kHABIB VS MCGREGOR)




(#3) RAFAEL DOS ANJOS vs. (#6) KAMARU USMAN WELTERWEIGHT WAR HEADLINES THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER®: HEAVY HITTERS FINALE

Las Vegas – UFC® announced today that a pivotal welterweight contender battle between No.3-ranked welterweight contender Rafael Dos Anjos and No.6 Kamaru Usman will headline THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER®: HEAVY HITTERS FINALE. The culmination of this season of the popular reality series will see heavyweight and women’s featherweight tournament winners crowned. The event goes down Friday, Nov. 30 and will air live from The Pearl on FS1.

A former lightweight champion, Dos Anjos (28-10, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) found new life upon jumping to the welterweight division last year. He immediately tore through the ranks by earning impressive wins over former champ Robbie Lawler, Neil Magny and Tarec Saffiedine. After coming up short in his bid to capture the interim title earlier this year, Dos Anjos now aims to reassert himself among the top welterweights in the world.

The winner of the 21st season of THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER®, Usman (13-1, fighting out of Dallas, Tex. by way of Auchi, Nigeria) has turned heads in the 170-pound weight class since joining the UFC roster in 2015. During this run, he’s netted dominant victories against Demian Maia, Emil Meek, Sergio Moraes, Sean Strickland and Warlley Alves. He now looks to add a former world champion to his resume and secure a shot at the welterweight title.

Additional bouts on the card include:

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER® heavyweight tournament final
THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER® women’s featherweight tournament final
No.9-ranked bantamweight contender Pedro Munhoz (16-3 1NC, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) locks horns with Bryan Caraway (21-9, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.)
Former Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez (22-7, fighting out of San Francisco, Calif.) returns against surging Arnold Allen (13-1, fighting out of Suffolk, England)
No.11-ranked women’s flyweight contender Ashlee Evans-Smith (6-3, fighting out of Santa Ana, Calif.) welcomes DANA WHITE’S TUESDAY NIGHT CONTENDER SERIES contract earner Antonina Shevchenko (6-0, fighting out of Lima, Peru by way of Bishkek,Kyrgyzstan)
Debuting DWTNCS winner Roosevelt Roberts (6-0, fighting out of San Bernardino, Calif.) takes on Darrell Horcher (13-3, fighting out of Shermansdale, Penn.)
Darren Stewart (9-3 1NC, fighting out of London, England) looks to keep his momentum rolling against DWTNCS victor Edmen Shahbazyan (6-0, fighting out of Glendale, Calif.)
Tim Means (27-10 1NC, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) aims to rebound against tough Ricky Rainey (13-5, fighting out of Gastonia, N.C.)

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.

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER®: HEAVY HITTERS FINALE will air live on FS1 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Friday, Nov. 30, with the prelims kicking off the evening on FS1 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and on UFC FIGHT PASS® at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. Doors open at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.

Tickets for THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER®: HEAVY HITTERS FINALE go on sale Friday, Oct. 5 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $330.50, $230.50 and $155.50 (does not include fees). Tickets are available for purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.

UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Oct. 3 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, Oct. 4 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

###

About UFC®

UFC® is a premium global sports brand and the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. Celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2018, UFC boasts more than 284 million fans worldwide and has produced over 440 events in 22 countries since its inception in 1993. Acquired in 2016 by global sports, entertainment and fashion leader Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG), together with strategic partners Silver Lake Partners and KKR, UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas with a network of employees around the world. UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe, while programming is broadcast in over 160 countries and territories to 1.1 billion TV households worldwide in 40 different languages. UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service, delivers exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content to fans around the world. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.

About Pearl Concert Theater

The Pearl is Las Vegas’ premier concert theater boasting accommodations for up to 2,500 ticket holders. The newly renovated venue features a stage just four feet from the floor with the farthest seat a mere 120 feet back, offering the utmost in intimate concert viewing. Private and semi-private skyboxes are located on each side of the venue offering private bars, lounges, and restrooms. The Pearl is a marvel of modern technology boasting top-of-the-line sound and video equipment throughout. Hard wired to Studio at the Palms, The Pearl allows artists to create a cost-effective live album with efficiency. For more information, please visit www.palms.com.




VIDEO: UFC 229 Embedded: Vlog Series – Episode 1–KHABIB VS MCGREGOR




LIVE VIDEO: MCGREGOR – KHABIB PRESS CONFERENCE




Video: UFC 229: Khabib vs McGregor – It’s About to Go Down




VIDEO: UFC 229: Khabib vs McGregor – The Wait is Over




UFC® DEBUTS IN MONCTON WITH CLASH BETWEEN LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT KNOCKOUT ARTISTS (#2) VOLKAN OEZDEMIR AND (#9) ANTHONY SMITH

Moncton, Canada – UFC® will debut in Moncton, New Brunswick with a battle of light heavyweight contenders between No.2-ranked Volkan Oezdemir and No.9 Anthony Smith. UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: VOLKAN vs. SMITH goes down Saturday, October 27 from Avenir Centre and will air live on FS1. The event will broadcast in Canada on TSN and RDS.

A former 205-pound title challenger, Oezdemir (15-2, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla., USA by way of Fribourg, Switzerland) tore through the UFC ranks following his arrival in early 2017. After earning a short-notice decision win against Ovince Saint Preux, he scored rapid-fire knockouts over Misha Cirkunov and Jimi Manuwa. He now aims to stop a surging contender and stake his claim among the division’s elite.

Previously a middleweight mainstay, Smith (30-13, fighting out of Omaha, Neb., USA) has wasted no time since moving up to light heavyweight this June. Over the course of a seven-week span, he delivered spectacular first-round knockout wins over former champions Rashad Evans and Mauricio Rua. With momentum on his side, he now aims to continue his ascent up the light heavyweight ranks.

Additional bouts on the card include:

Light heavyweight contenders collide when No.10-ranked Misha Cirkunov (13-4, fighting out of Toronto, Canada by way of Riga, Latvia) faces No.13 Patrick Cummins (10-4, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla., USA)
In a clash of dangerous finishers, Gian Villante (16-10, fighting out of Bellmore, N.Y., USA) takes on Ed Herman (24-13 1NC, fighting out of Portland, Ore., USA)
Artem Lobov (14-14-1 1NC, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland by way of Nizhny Novgorod, Russia) returns to action against Zubaira Tukhugov (18-4, fighting out of Grozny, Chechen Republic, Russia)
Atlantic Canada’s Gavin Tucker (10-1, fighting out of Halifax, Canada) moves down to bantamweight against Andre Soukhamthath (12-6, fighting out of Lake Worth, Fla. USA)
Nordine Taleb (14-5, fighting out of Montreal, Canada by way of St. Tropez, France) meets Sean Strickland (19-3-1, fighting out of Corona, Calif., USA) in a welterweight bout
No.14 women’s bantamweight Sarah Moras (5-4, fighting out of Kelowna, B.C., Canada) squares off with Talita Bernardo (5-2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Thibault Gouti (12-4, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M., USA by way of Roulouse, France) locks horns with Nasrat Haqparast (9-2, fighting out of Montreal, Canada by way of Hamburg, Germany)
Alex Garcia (15-4, fighting out of Montreal, Canada by way of Santiago, Dominican Republic) battles Court McGee (19-6-1, fighting out of Orem, Utah, USA)
Stevie Ray (21-7, fighting out of Fife, Scotland) welcomes Jessin Ayari (16-4, fighting out of Nuremberg, Germany) to the lightweight division
Indo-Canadian heavyweight Arjan Bhullar (7-1, fighting out of Vancouver, Canada) looks to defend home soil against fellow prospect Marcelo Golm (6-1, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Calvin Kattar (18-3, fighting out of Metheun, Mass., USA) looks to rebound against UFC newcomer Chris Fishgold (17-1-1, fighting out of Liverpool, England)
Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series contract winner Te Edwards (6-1, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz., USA) will make his UFC debut against Don Madge (7-3-1, fighting out of Cape Town, South Africa)

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.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: VOLKAN vs. SMITH will air live on FS1 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Saturday, Oct. 27, with the prelims kicking off the evening on FS1 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and on UFC FIGHT PASS® at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT.

Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: VOLKAN vs. SMITH go on sale Friday, Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. ADT and are priced at $197.87, $158.30, $118.72, $92.34 and $65.96 CAD (does not include fees). Tickets are available for purchase online at www.ticketmaster.ca/. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.

UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 10 a.m. ADT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Sept. 13 starting at 10 a.m. ADT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

###

About UFC®

UFC® is a premium global sports brand and the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. Celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2018, UFC boasts more than 284 million fans worldwide and has produced over 440 events in 22 countries since its inception in 1993. Acquired in 2016 by global sports, entertainment and fashion leader Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG), together with strategic partners Silver Lake Partners and KKR, UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas with a network of employees around the world. UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell-out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe, while programming is broadcast in over 160 countries and territories to 1.1 billion TV households worldwide in 40 different languages. UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service, delivers exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content to fans around the world. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.

About SMG:

Since 1977, SMG has provided management services to more than 220 public assembly facilities worldwide, including arenas, stadiums, theatres and performing arts centers, equestrian facilities, convention, congress and exhibition centers, science centers and a variety of other venues. Across the globe, SMG manages more than 14 million square feet of exhibition space and more than 1.75 million arena and theatre seats. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides venue management, sales, marketing, event booking and programming, construction and design consulting, and pre-opening services. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through its concessions and catering company SAVOR, currently serving more than 100 accounts worldwide. For more information visit www.smgworld.com




Video: UFC 228: Weigh-in




Video: UFC 228 Embedded: Vlog Series – Episode 4




VIDEO: UFC 228 Embedded: Vlog Series – Episode 3




VIDEO: UFC 228 Countdown: Full Episode




Video: UFC 228 Embedded: Vlog Series – Episode 1




UFC® CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY WITH ACTION-PACKED CARD HEADLINED BY (#3) FRANKIE EDGAR VS. (#10) CHAN SUNG JUNG

Las Vegas, Nevada – UFC® will celebrate its 25th anniversary by returning to where it all began—Denver, Colo. In a thrilling featherweight contenders’ bout, No.3-ranked Frankie Edgar will battle No.10 Chan Sung Jung. Also, No.12-ranked welterweight Donald Cerrone will throw down with Mike Perry in a fight guaranteed to deliver fireworks. UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: EDGAR vs. KOREAN ZOMBIE takes place Sat., November 10 at Pepsi Center and will air live on FS1.

A former lightweight champion and two-time featherweight title challenger, Edgar (21-6-1, fighting out of Toms River, N.J.) has beaten some of the biggest names in MMA. Over the course of his storied career, he’s earned impressive victories over B.J. Penn (three times), Cub Swanson (twice), Urijah Faber, Chad Mendes and Jeremy Stephens. He now aims to steal the show and stake his claim for another title shot against one of the division’s most aggressive and dynamic finishers.

Among the most exciting fighters on the UFC roster, Jung (14-4, fighting out of Seoul, South Korea) is known for his spectacular highlight-reel finishes. The Korean Zombie is the only fighter in UFC history to win by twister submission and holds one of the fastest KO wins at seven seconds. He returned to action last year following mandatory military service with a first-round KO over Dennis Bermudez. Jung hopes to continue his climb up the featherweight ranks and earn the biggest victory of his career.

The co-main event will feature two perennial fan favorites in a bout that could take home Fight of the Night honors.

Former lightweight title challenger and Denver native Cerrone (33-11 1NC, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) has delivered some of the most thrilling fights inside the Octagon®. Since moving to welterweight in 2016, he’s earned impressive stoppage wins against Yancy Medeiros, Matt Brown, Rick Story and Patrick Cote. He now looks to rebound with a victory in his hometown.

A hard-hitting KO artist, Perry (12-3, fighting out of Orlando, Fla.) immediately turned heads when he joined the UFC in 2016. Known for his aggressive striking, Perry’s netted impressive KO victories over Jake Ellenberger, Danny Roberts, Hyun Gyu Lim and Alex Reyes. On the heels of his first decision win, over Paul Felder in July, he’s poised to add a MMA superstar to his resume.

Additional bouts on the card include:

Recent women’s bantamweight title challenger and No.4-ranked contender Raquel Pennington (9-7, fighting out of Colorado Spring, Colo.) squares off with former women’s featherweight champion and No.5-ranked bantamweight contender Germaine de Randamie (7-3, fighting out of Utrecht, The Netherlands)
In a clash of former flyweight title challengers, No.3-ranked contender Joseph Benavidez (25-5, fighting out of Las Cruces, N.M.) locks horns with No.4 Ray Borg (11-3, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.)
Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series contract winner and Colorado native Maycee Barber (4-0, fighting out of Fort Collins, Colo.) makes her UFC debut against Maia Stevenson (6-5, fighting out of San Diego, Calif.)
The Ultimate Fighter 27 winner Mike Trizano (8-0, fighting out of Ramsey, N.J.) faces castmate Luis Pena (5-0, fighting out of Saint Charles, Mo.
Ashley Yoder (5-4, fighting out of Temecula, Calif.) takes on Amanda Cooper (4-4, fighting out of Bath, Mich.) in a strawweight bout
Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series alum Alonzo Menifield (7-0, fighting out of Dallas, Tex.) debuts against Saparbeg Safarov (8-2, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia)
Chas Skelly (17-2, fighting out of Arlington, Tex.) returns against Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series contract earner Bobby Moffett (12-3, fighting out of Homewood, Ill.)

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.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: EDGAR vs. KOREAN ZOMBIE will air live on FS1 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Saturday, Nov. 10, with the prelims kicking off the evening on FS1 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and on UFC FIGHT PASS® at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT.

Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: EDGAR vs. KOREAN ZOMBIE go on sale Friday, Sept. 7 at 10 a.m. MT and are priced at $150, $120, $90, $70 and $50 (does not include fees). Tickets are available for purchase online at www.altitudetickets.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.

UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 10 a.m. MT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Sept. 6 starting at 10 a.m. MT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

###

About UFC®

UFC® is a premium global sports brand and the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. Celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2018, UFC boasts more than 284 million fans worldwide and has produced over 440 events in 22 countries since its inception in 1993. Acquired in 2016 by global sports, entertainment and fashion leader Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG), together with strategic partners Silver Lake Partners and KKR, UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas with a network of employees around the world. UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe, while programming is broadcast in over 160 countries and territories to 1.1 billion TV households worldwide in 40 different languages. UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service, delivers exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content to fans around the world. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.




Audio: UFC 228: Media Conference Call




Video: UFC 228: Montano vs Shevchenko – Championship Dreams




TOP-RANKED HEAVYWEIGHTS NGANNOU AND BLAYDES COLLIDE TO HEADLINE UFC BEIJING ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24

BEIJING, CHINA – UFC® today confirmed its first-ever event in Beijing, China, will be headlined by top-tier heavyweights, with both men eagerly planning to use this matchup to enter the title contention zone. In a highly anticipated rematch between no. 4-ranked heavyweight Francis Ngannou (11-3, fighting out of Las Vegas, USA) and no. 3-ranked Curtis Blaydes (10-1, fighting out of Chicago, USA), these two standout competitors will be looking to make a statement on Saturday, November 24 at the Cadillac Arena. Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT® BEIJING: NGANNOU vs. BLAYDES, Presented by General Tire, are on-sale now via Damai.cn and 247tickets.com.

This will be the second time that “The Predator” Ngannou and “Razor” Blaydes meet inside the world-famous Octagon®, with their first fight ending with Ngannou, a native of Cameroon capturing the victory by TKO after the second round in April 2016. Since this win, Ngannou has decisively won four of his last six fights, with three knockouts and one submission, all in the first round.

Two years later, Blaydes has gone on to defeat heavyweight legends including Mark Hunt and former Strikeforce® heavyweight champion and interim DREAM heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem. With a four-fight winning streak powering him, the Chicago standout will be looking to continue his rise to the top and potentially earn his place in front of heavyweight champion and UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier.

“After our sellout debut in Shanghai last November, we are thrilled to host our second event in Mainland China,” UFC VP of Asia Pacific Kevin Chang said. “Our main event features two top ranked heavyweights with huge title implications, and together with our rising Chinese stars, UFC Fight Night Beijing on November 24th will be a night to remember.”

UFC is working together with Endeavor China, a subsidiary of Endeavor, to deliver the live event.

“Endeavor China is excited to once again bring UFC – the world’s premier professional MMA organization – to Chinese audiences. After the great success of last year’s event in Shanghai, we are happy to announce that this year’s UFC Fight Night event will take place in the country’s capital, Beijing,” said Michael Ma, Endeavor China CEO. He continued, “MMA’s popularity is quickly rising in China, and we look forward to bringing our growing fanbase the best that UFC has to offer.”

Fans in China will be given a night to remember as the heavyweight stars lead an international card of skilled mixed martial artists. Each athlete will demonstrate their abilities and eagerness to impress the Beijing crowd and UFC fans around the world.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT® BEIJING: NGANNOU vs. BLAYDES, Presented by General Tire also includes the following matchups. Bouts are subject to change:

· Chinese heavyvweight prospect Yaozhong Hu (3-1, fighting out of Beijing, China) meets knockout artist Rashad Coulter (8-4, fighting out of Dallas, , USA)

· In a women’s flyweight showdown, well-rounded Yanan Wu (9-2, fighting out of Xi’an, China) faces Shana Dobson (3-3, fighting out of Fort Worth, USA)

More fights will be announced in the coming weeks, and fans can keep up to date with the latest event information by following us on Weibo: @UFC???????, Wechat: UFC???????(ufcofficial) Youku, QQ, Facebook (UFC Asia), Twitter and Instagram (@ufc), and use our official hashtag: #UFCBEIJING

Tickets are on sale now for UFC Fight Night® BEIJING: NAGANNOU vs. BLAYDES, Presented by General Tire via Damai.cn and 247tickets.com. Ticket categories are Lower Bowl 1 RMB1,480, Lower Bowl 2 RMB1,280, Lower Bowl 3 RMB880, Lower Bowl 4 RMB680, Upper Bowl 1 RMB480, Upper Bowl 2 RMB380, Upper Bowl 3 RMB280.

UFC VIP Experience packages and floor seats are now available. VIP Packages start at RMB 9,880 (row 3), RMB 13,880 (row 2), to RMB 16,680 (row 1), each with exclusive VIP privileges. Remaining floor seats are RMB 3,880.

About UFC®

UFC® is a premium global sports brand and the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. Celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2018, UFC boasts more than 284 million fans worldwide and has produced over 440 events in 22 countries since its inception in 1993. Acquired in 2016 by global sports, entertainment and fashion leader Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG), together with strategic partners Silver Lake Partners and KKR, UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas with a network of employees around the world. UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe, while programming is broadcast in over 160 countries and territories to more than 1.1 billion TV households worldwide in 40 different languages. UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service, delivers exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content to fans around the world. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.

About Endeavor China

Endeavor China is a subsidiary of Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG), a global leader in sports, entertainment and fashion operating in more than 30 countries. Formed through an investment group that includes Sequoia Capital China, Tencent, FountainVest Partners and Focus Media, Endeavor China is focused on building upon Endeavor’s longstanding presence in the region and advancing its growth across entertainment and sports.

About General Tire

The General Tire brand originated from Fort Mill, South Carolina in 1915 and owns the world’s largest tire site in Uvalde, Texas. The brand is part of Continental Tires, a company of Germany-based Continental AG. For over a century, General Tire has been passionately committed to its core values of Performance, Reliability, and American Heritage. The brand offers consumers a wide range of tire products, including high-performance tires, passenger car tires and off-road tires. General Tire strives to unleash the potential of every SUV, providing a fearless driving experience to adventure-loving APAC drivers – Anywhere is Possible with General Tire.




UFC® TO LAUNCH 25-PART SHORT FILM SERIES TO CELEBRATE 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Las Vegas – UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, today announced details of a 25-part documentary series that will debut in September to celebrate the company’s silver anniversary. Entitled UFC 25 Years in Short, the compilation of short films will present 25 captivating UFC stories, one for each year of the promotion’s existence, which will examine UFC’s amazing evolution, fascinating characters, and lasting influence.

UFC 25 Years in Short will launch on Monday, September 17 on UFC FIGHT PASS®, the promotion’s digital subscription streaming service. Films will premier one at a time, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT. The series will be rolled out in just over an eight-week span, culminating with the final film on Monday, November 12, UFC’s official 25th anniversary.

Many of the shorts will be helmed by award-winning directors and producers, including several alums of ESPN’s landmark 30 for 30 film series, including Nick and Colin Barnicle, Adam Condal, Jason Hehir, Rory Karpf, Dan Marks, and Matt Ogens.

“This project is a fun way to tell the history of UFC,” said UFC President Dana White. “Each one of these films is linked to a pivotal moment in the UFC timeline, and together they represent our complete story. We’re working with some amazingly talented directors and producers on this project, and I think UFC fans will really enjoy these films.”

UFC 25 Years in Short will have a special, worldwide preview on UFC’s YouTube channel on Friday, September 14, with the episode entitled ‘COUNTRY BOY CAN SURVIVE: The Story of Matt Hughes’ Fight for Survival.’ The film, directed by Emmy Award-winning documentarian and ESPN Films veteran Rory Karpf, recounts the emotional and inspiring story of Hall of Famer and dominant two-time UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes, who had a meteoric rise through the ranks and later fought a critical battle for survival after a near-fatal automobile accident.

UFC 25 Years in Short – September Premiere Dates and Summaries*

Film #1 – OCTO: The Disputed Origin Story of the UFC Octagon
In 1993, the UFC was born in an 8-sided cradle of combat, and promoters, TV producers, and Hollywood set designers still dispute who is the Octagon’s true creator.
Premier Date: Monday, September 17

Film #2 – THE LION’S DEN: The Story of the First Mixed Martial Arts Team
In 1994, Ken Shamrock assembled the first ever MMA team, the Lion’s Den, and showed that success in the ultimate individual sport was a team effort.
Premiere Date: Wednesday, September 19

Film #3 – ULTIMATE ACCESSORY: The Story of the UFC Championship Belt
Since 1995, UFC belts have become the ultimate accessory prized by all MMA fighters, but their history is a little known, and often surprising, story.
Premiere Date: Friday, September 21

Film #4 – BLACKOUT: The Story of the Political Crusade to Keep UFC Off TV
In 1996, a political crusade to ban ultimate fighting successfully pressured the cable TV industry to stop airing UFC events, nearly extinguishing the new sport.
Premiere Date: Monday, September 24

Film #5 – JUDGEMENT DAY: The Story of the UFC Getting Run Out of Town
In 1997, UFC 12 was set to take place in Buffalo. However, the day prior, New York changed its laws to effectively ban MMA in the state for the next 20 years. The event then found a new home in Dothan, Alabama.
Premiere Date: Wednesday, September 26

Film #6 – THE ICE AGE: The Story of Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell, UFC’s Breakthrough Star
Chuck Liddell, who connected with knockout punches and with fans around the world like no UFC fighter before him, became UFC’s first true crossover superstar.
Premiere Date: Friday, September 28

*October and November schedules will be announced at a later date

About UFC®
UFC® is a premium global sports brand and the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. Celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2018, UFC boasts more than 284 million fans worldwide and has produced over 440 events in 22 countries since its inception in 1993. Acquired in 2016 by global sports, entertainment and fashion leader Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG), together with strategic partners Silver Lake Partners and KKR, UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas with a network of employees around the world. UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe, while programming is broadcast in over 160 countries and territories to 1.1 billion TV households worldwide in 40 different languages. UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service, delivers exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content to fans around the world. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.




UFC® RETURNS TO CHINA WITH FIRST-EVER EVENT IN BEIJING ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24

BEIJING, CHINA – UFC® today confirmed its first-ever event in Beijing, China, will be held at the Cadillac Arena on Saturday, November 24. Limited early bird tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT® BEIJING, Presented by General Tire, are on-sale now via Damai.cn and 247tickets.cn.

Following last year’s highly successful sell-out debut in mainland China, UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, is primed to deliver another thrilling night of action to fans in Beijing. Over the past few years, UFC has worked to identify and nurture the talents of top tier Chinese athletes who have shown great strength, skill and determination to succeed inside the Octagon®. UFC fans around the world have witnessed the sharp rise of local athletes such as Li Jingliang, Song Yadong, Yan Xiaonan, Song Kenan, and Pingyuan Liu, who have put their respective divisions on notice.

“China is the next frontier for the growth of UFC and the sport of mixed martial arts, and this market is paramount to our success internationally,” UFC Vice President of Asia-Pacific Kevin Chang said. “We are excited to bring our next live event to China’s capital and show the world just how far we have come. Our loyal fans in China demand nothing but the best, and one year on since our debut in Shanghai, UFC Fight Night® BEIJING, Presented by General Tire, is set to be a night to remember.”

UFC will be working together with Endeavor China, a subsidiary of Endeavor to deliver the live event.

“Endeavor China is excited to once again bring UFC – the world’s premier professional MMA organization – to Chinese audiences. After the great success of last year’s event in Shanghai, we are happy to announce that this year’s UFC Fight Night event will take place in the country’s capital, Beijing,” said Michael Ma, Endeavor China CEO. He continued, “MMA’s popularity is quickly rising in China, and we look forward to bringing our growing fanbase the best that UFC has to offer.”

Once again the live UFC event in China will be presented by General Tire, Mitchell Golledge, Head of Marketing RE PLT Tyres APAC stated, “The General Tire brand speaks to consumers that possess an adventurous spirit who believe that Anywhere is Possible. We are thrilled to take this next adventure to Beijing, a city where tradition meets the contemporary – just as martial arts now meets UFC.”

A limited amount of discounted Early Bird Tickets in riser categories for UFC Fight Night® BEIJING, Presented by General Tire are on sale now via Damai.cn and 247tickets.com. Riser ticket categories are Lower Bowl 1 RMB1,480, Lower Bowl 2 RMB1,280, Lower Bowl 3 RMB880, Lower Bowl 4 RMB680, Upper Bowl 1 RMB480, Upper Bowl 2 RMB380, Upper Bowl 3 RMB280.

UFC VIP Experience packages and floor seats are available at a later date. VIP Packages start at RMB 9,880 (row 3), rmb 13,880 (row 2), to rmb 16,680 (row 1), each with exclusive VIP privileges. Remaining floor seats are rmb 3,880.

Further details on UFC FIGHT NIGHT® BEIJING, Presented by General Tire will be announced in coming weeks. Keep up to date with all the latest news by following us on Weibo: @UFC???????, Wechat: UFC???????(ufcofficial) Youku, QQ, Facebook (UFC Asia), Twitter and Instagram (@ufc), and use our official hashtag: #UFCBEIJING

About UFC®

UFC® is a premium global sports brand and the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. Celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2018, UFC boasts more than 284 million fans worldwide and has produced over 440 events in 22 countries since its inception in 1993. Acquired in 2016 by global sports, entertainment and fashion leader Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG), together with strategic partners Silver Lake Partners and KKR, UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas with a network of employees around the world. UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe, while programming is broadcast in over 160 countries and territories to more than 1.1 billion TV households worldwide in 40 different languages. UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service, delivers exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content to fans around the world. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.

About Endeavor China

Endeavor China is a subsidiary of Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG), a global leader in sports, entertainment and fashion operating in more than 30 countries. Formed through an investment group that includes Sequoia Capital China, Tencent, FountainVest Partners and Focus Media, Endeavor China is focused on building upon Endeavor’s longstanding presence in the region and advancing its growth across entertainment and sports.

About General Tire

The General Tire brand originated from Fort Mill, South Carolina in 1915 and owns the world’s largest tire site in Uvalde, Texas. The brand is part of Continental Tires, a company of Germany-based Continental AG. For over a century, General Tire has been passionately committed to its core values of Performance, Reliability, and American Heritage. The brand offers consumers a wide range of tire products, including high-performance tires, passenger car tires and off-road tires. General Tire strives to unleash the potential of every SUV, providing a fearless driving experience to adventure-loving APAC drivers – Anywhere is Possible with General Tire.




VIDEO: UFC 227 Embedded: Vlog Series – Episode 4




Video: UFC 227 Embedded: Vlog Series – Episode 1




AUSTRALIAN MMA FIGHTER JIM “THE BRUTE” CRUTE LANDS COVETED SPOT ON UFC FIGHT PASS ORIGINAL SERIES “DANA WHITE’S TUESDAY NIGHT CONTENDER SERIES”

SYDNEY – UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization and AirAsia today announced that undefeated Australian prospect Jim “the Brute” Crute (7-0), will compete on an upcoming episode of the exciting UFC FIGHT PASS® original series “Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series.”

The original series, now in its second season and available exclusively on Fight Pass, is focused on finding the next generation of athletes ready to compete on the global brand’s active roster. Crute’s journey to the United States has been made possible by UFC’s partnership with AirAsia, as he will also receive the opportunity to train at the UFC Performance Institute®, the world’s first mixed martial arts multi-disciplinary research, innovation and performance center.

Debuting on Episode 6 of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series, Crute’s bout on Tuesday, July 24, will see the Bendigo born, now Melbourne local fight for his chance to potentially earn a contract with UFC.

“I have been training in MMA since I was four years old, with the intent to one day be a part of UFC,” says Crute. “Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series gets me another step closer to that lifelong dream. The support from AirAsia with flights and accommodations is amazing, as they have made this trip possible. My journey as a mixed martial artist is only at the very beginning, but this opportunity catapults my career. To fight on the world stage, in front of a global audience, it is what I’ve been asking for. I will do whatever is necessary to get the job done.”

AirAsia’s integrated partnership showcases how innovative brands can come together to create authentic life-changing opportunities for athletes around the world and at the same time giving audiences engaging content they can enjoy and Crute is the prime example.

With a #DaretoDream philosophy, the airline’s commitment to development and the future of MMA is sky high, showcased not only through this opportunity but the introduction of the UFC Scholarship program with the inaugural award going to Indonesian women’s strawweight, Linda Darrow last month.

Fans can tune in to watch the program on UFC Fight Pass®, the global brand’s digital subscription service.

For more information on AirAsia, please visit airasia.com or follow AirAsia on Facebook and YouTube (AirAsia), Twitter and Instagram (@airasia).

For more information on UFC, please visit UFC.com. Follow us on, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@ufc).

About UFC®

UFC® is a premium global sports brand and the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. Celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2018, UFC boasts more than 284 million fans worldwide and has produced over 400 events in 21 countries since its inception in 1993. Acquired in 2016 by global sports, entertainment and fashion leader Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG), together with strategic partners Silver Lake Partners and KKR, UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas with a network of employees around the world. UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe, while programming is broadcast in over 165 countries and territories to more than 1.1 billion TV households worldwide in 40 different languages. UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service, delivers exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content to fans around the world. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.

About AirAsia

AirAsia, the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia by passengers carried, services an extensive network of more than 130 destinations. Since starting operations in 2001, AirAsia has carried more than 500 million guests and grown its fleet from just two aircraft to over 200. The airline is proud to be a truly Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) airline with established operations based in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines as well as India and Japan, servicing a network stretching across Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the Middle East and the US. AirAsia has been named the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline at the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards nine times in a row from 2009 to 2017. AirAsia was also awarded World’s Leading Low-Cost Airline for the fourth consecutive year at the 2016 World Travel Awards, where it beat a field of full-service carriers to become the first ever low-cost carrier to win World’s Leading Inflight Service.




UFC MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION ROBERT WHITTAKER AND NO. 4 CONTENDER KELVIN GASTELUM TO COACH ‘THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER: HEAVY HITTERS’

Las Vegas – The highly anticipated 28th season of The Ultimate Fighter® will see UFC® middleweight champion Robert Whittaker coach opposite No. 4 ranked contender Kelvin Gastelum. Following the series, which debuts Wednesday, August 29 on FS1, the two will clash for the middleweight title at a date that will be determined in the near future.

The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters will also feature a dynamic cast of men’s heavyweights and women’s featherweights. Each tournament winner will receive a six-figure UFC contract. Following the series, the live finale will take place on Friday, November 30 at The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, NV.

Whittaker (21-4) won The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes as a welterweight and has gone on to become one of the most successful TUF winners in the UFC. He is the reigning UFC middleweight champion and has claimed five post-fight bonus awards in his last four fights.

Gastelum (16-3, 1 NC) also won The Ultimate Fighter, claiming the middleweight trophy during the 17th season of the show. He has been dominant at 185 pounds, taking out former champions and superstars such as Michael Bisping, Jacare Souza and Tim Kennedy.

Below is a full list of competitors (name, age, professional record and fighting out of):

FEMALE FEATHERWEIGHTS

Leah Letson | 25 | 4-1 | Milwaukee, WI

Larissa Pacheco | 23 | 11-2 | Belem, Brazil

Marciea Allen | 36 | 7-2 | Wood Dale, IL

Pannie Kianzad | 26 | 9-3 | Copenhagen, Denmark

Bea Malecki | 26 | 2-0 | Stockholm, Sweden

Julija Stoliarenko | 25 | 4-2-1 | Kaunas, Lithuania

Katharina Lehner | 28 | 7-1 | Cologne, Germany

Macy Chiasson | 26 | 2-0 | New Orleans, LA

MALE HEAVYWEIGHTS

Ben Sosoli | 28 | 6-2 | Melbourne, Australia

Maurice Greene | 31 | 5-2 | St. Cloud, MN

Michel Batista | 34 | 4-0 | Miami, FL

Juan Francisco Espino Diepa | 37 | 8-1 | Las Palmas, Spain

Justin Frazier | 28 | 10-2 | Cave City, AR

Anderson Da Silva | 31 | 3-0-1 | Sao Paulo, Brazil

Przemyslaw Mysiala | 35 | 22-9-1 | Maidenhead, England

Josh Parisian | 28 | 7-2 | Brighton, MI

For more information or current fight news, 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.

About UFC®

UFC® is a premium global sports brand and the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. Celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2018, UFC boasts more than 284 million fans worldwide and has produced over 400 events in 21 countries since its inception in 1993. Acquired in 2016 by global sports, entertainment and fashion leader Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG), together with strategic partners Silver Lake Partners and KKR, UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas with a network of employees around the world. UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe, while programming is broadcast in over 165 countries and territories to more than 1.1 billion TV households worldwide in 40 different languages. UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service, delivers exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content to fans around the world. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.

About Pilgrim Media Group
Pilgrim Media Group, a Lionsgate company, produces a wide variety of unscripted and scripted content for television and digital platforms, as well as feature films. The company’s series include Discovery’s Street Outlaws (and spinoffs Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings and Street Outlaws: Memphis), Fast N’ Loud, Misfit Garage, Garage Rehab and Shifting Gears with Aaron Kaufman; My Big Fat Fabulous Life for TLC; two-time NAACP Award-winner Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s for OWN; Two time MMA Award-winner The Ultimate Fighter for FS1, in its 27th season; Wicked Tuna and Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks for National Geographic; and Bring It! and Love at First Flight for Lifetime. Pilgrim also produced the scripted series Recovery Road for Freeform, multiple original movies for Lifetime, and is in development on numerous other scripted projects for TV, film and streaming outlets. Pilgrim’s feature documentary, Soufra (which won two awards at Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival), premiered in North America at DOC NYC, with theatrical runs in New York and Los Angeles, and invitations to screen at international film festivals, including Cannes. The company also continues to produce award-winning content via its digital studio, 1620 Media.




LIVE VIDEO: UFC 226: Post-fight Press Conference




Video: UFC 226 Embedded: Vlog Series – Episode 6




VIDEO: UFC 226 Embedded: Vlog Series – Episode 4 & 5




LIVE VIDEO: UFC 226: Weigh-in




Video: UFC 226: Pre-fight Press Conference