VIDEO: UFC 239 Embedded: Vlog Series – Episode 3
MARTIN NGUYEN TO DEFEND ONE FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD TITLE AGAINST KOYOMI MATSUSHIMA IN MANILA ON 2 AUGUST
3 July 2019 – Manila, Philippines: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced that reigning ONE Featherweight World Champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen of Vietnam and Australia will defend his title against top contender Koyomi Matsushima of Japan. The featherweight showdown has been added to ONE: DAWN OF HEROES as the main event, which takes place at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila on Friday, 2 August.
Ticket information for ONE: DAWN OF HEROES is available at www.onefc.com.
VIDEOS: UFC 239 Embedded: Vlog Series – EpisodeS 1&2
HISTORIC 100TH LIVE EVENT ONE: CENTURY ANNOUNCED FOR TOKYO ON 13 OCTOBER
| 1 July 2019 – Tokyo, Japan: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced its return to the iconic Ry?goku Kokugikan in Tokyo for ONE: CENTURY ??, the promotion’s historic 100th live event, scheduled for Sunday, 13 October.
ONE: CENTURY ?? is ONE Championship’s most exciting show to date, featuring three World Championship bouts, and three World Grand Prix Championships, in the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix, ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix, and the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix. ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee of Singapore will defend her title against ONE Women’s Strawweight World Champion “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan of China. ONE Light Heavyweight World Champion “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang of Myanmar will defend his title against ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera of the Philippines. And ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes of Brazil will defend his title against Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon of the Philippines. Also on the card are four Japan Super Bouts, with four Shooto World Champions going head-to-head with four Pancrase World Champions in a never-before-seen showdown. The winner of each contest walks away with a USD $50,000 prize. Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “I am thrilled to announce that ONE Championship is set to throw the biggest martial arts event in history this October in Tokyo, Japan. ONE Championship has come a long way since 2011 and is ushering in a new era for martial arts across the globe. ONE: CENTURY ?? is our historic 100th live event. Set at the iconic Ry?goku Kokugikan, three World Championship bouts are scheduled to take place alongside three World Grand Prix Championships. In addition, ONE Championship will be holding the inaugural World Martial Arts Week, which kicks off with our very first ONE Martial Arts Fan Fest. The biggest and brightest stars of ONE Championship are ready to shine in Tokyo, and fans will surely not want to miss the festivities.” Andy Hata, President of ONE Championship Japan, stated: “I am thrilled and honored to be hosting ONE’s historic 100th event in Japan! In addition to World Championship matches, it will be a special moment to see champions from Japan’s leading mixed martial arts organizations, Shooto and Pancrase, battle each other. Further, the inaugural World Martial Arts Week brings not only additional excitement to fans, but an innovative week-long program that can add value to both the martial arts industry and Japan’s sports business industry as a whole. ONE looks forward to celebrating this milestone and continuing to make history in Japan.” To celebrate ONE Championship’s historic 100th live event, the organization will be holding the inaugural World Martial Arts Week in Tokyo from 5-13 October. It is a week filled with activities and fan engagement, culminating in the blockbuster event, ONE: CENTURY ?? at the Ry?goku Kokugikan. World Martial Arts Week will kick off with the ONE Martial Arts Fan Fest on 5-6 October at Bellesalle Shibuya Garden, which will feature athlete open workouts and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for fans to meet and greet their favorite ONE Championship superstars such as Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, “Unstoppable” Angela Lee, Brandon “The Truth” Vera, legends Miesha Tate and Rich Franklin, and more. The ONE Martial Arts Fan Fest is also the first of its kind, combining the very best of martial arts and esports. A special edition ONE Tekken Tokyo Invitational will be held at the event featuring the best Tekken players in the world. The ONE Martial Arts Fan Fest will be headlined by ONE Warrior Series: Japan vs. the World as Japan’s rising stars take on up-and-coming athletes from all around the world. More details about the ONE Martial Arts Fan Fest and the rest of World Martial Arts Week will be released over the coming months. In addition, limited edition ONE Championship merchandise will be on sale to commemorate this special occasion. Tickets for ONE: CENTURY ?? are available via lottery application to Japanese residents on 1 July 6pm JST exclusively on LINE Ticket at https://ticket.line.me/sp/ONEChampionship. ONE Martial Arts Fan Festtickets are available for regular sale from the same link. For non-Japanese residents, tickets are available for purchase on Boardwalk at https://ticket.tickebo.jp/en/ONE-info/ from 3 July 6pm JST for the ONE Martial Arts Fan Fest and from 27 July 10am JST for ONE: CENTURY ??.For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship. |
| About ONE Championship™ ONE Championship (ONE) is the largest global sports media property in Asian history, and the largest producer of millennial live sports content in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE is the Home of Martial Arts, and is the world’s largest martial arts organization, hosting bouts across all styles of martial arts such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Kung Fu, Silat, Sanda, Lethwei, Mixed Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, Submission Grappling, and more. ONE hosts the biggest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions on the largest global media broadcast in Asia. ONE eSports, a subsidiary of ONE Championship, runs Asia’s largest global eSports Championship Series with some of the biggest blockbuster game titles in the world. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 2.6 billion potential viewers across 140+ countries with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Startimes, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, Great Sports, Tencent, Star TV, Mediaset Italia, ProSiebenSat.1, Dubai Sports, Turner Sports, and more. |
YUSHIN OKAMI TAKES ON JAMES NAKASHIMA IN MANILA ON 2 AUGUST
| 27 June 2019 – Manila, Philippines: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced additional bouts at ONE: DAWN OF HEROES, which takes place 2 August at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila. Japanese legend Yushin “Thunder” Okami returns to action to face top welterweight contender James “Nako” Nakashima of the United States.
Ticket information for ONE: DAWN OF HEROES is available at www.onefc.com. Yushin Okami returns to the ONE Championship ring, this time to face undefeated American James Nakashima in a welterweight contest. Okami is one of the most prolific martial artists to emanate from Japan over the last two decades. With a career that began in 2002, Okami has competed in numerous weight classes — from light heavyweight all the way down to welterweight — in various Japanese promotions including Pride and Pancrase. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Nakashima has built a career around his well-calculated and intelligent bout strategies, which has brought him victory every time he has stepped into the cage. It will be no different against Okami, whom Nakashima plans to dominate from the first round to the last. Team Lakay veteran Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly of the Philippines is set to take on “The Stalker” Xie Bin of China in a featherweight contest. Kelly, a Philippine Featherweight Champion, is well-versed in both the striking and grappling arts. A senior member of the famed Team Lakay of Baguio City, Kelly is best known for his 21-second knockout victory over Cambodia’s Meas Meul in January 2018. He now aims for the same result against Xie Bin. At just 21 years old, Xie Bin has tremendous potential. With skills in boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and Muay Thai, Xie is determined to become China’s first-ever male mixed martial arts world champion. Xie is currently riding an impressive six-bout win streak heading into the showdown with Kelly. Thailand’s Pongsiri “The Smiling Assassin” Mitsatit returns to action against China’s Miao Li Tao in a strawweight contest. Mitsatit is a Chiang Mai Muay Thai Champion who decided to pick up Muay Thai to learn how to protect himself, as well as help to support his family financially. Through his hard work and talent, he soon ran up an impressive 72-17 record. Mitsatit made his professional mixed martial arts debut in 2014, and has rapidly emerged as one of Thailand’s most exciting talents. Miao began training in wushu when he was young in order to protect himself from bullying. Making martial arts his professional career, Miao later moved to Beijing where he now trains at Fight Brothers camp, where he has picked up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and sharpens his growing skills among some of the finest Chinese martial artists today. Lastly, Indonesian veteran “The Terminator” Sunoto takes on rising Malaysian star Muhammad “Jungle Cat” Aiman in a bantamweight showdown. Sunoto is one of the most well-rounded competitors at bantamweight. His training experience includes taekwondo, sanda, sambo, and traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, where he holds the rank of brown belt. Aiman, on the other hand, is one of Malaysia’s fastest rising martial arts talents. Featuring a well-rounded skill set, Aiman has impressed in his time inside the ONE Championship cage thus far, defeating Hisyam Samsudin by unanimous decision in his first match in the promotion before stopping Brazilian grappler Eduardo Novaes in his second outing.For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship. |
| About ONE Championship™ ONE Championship (ONE) is the largest global sports media property in Asian history, and the largest producer of millennial live sports content in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE is the Home of Martial Arts, and is the world’s largest martial arts organization, hosting bouts across all styles of martial arts such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Kung Fu, Silat, Sanda, Lethwei, Mixed Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, Submission Grappling, and more. ONE hosts the biggest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions on the largest global media broadcast in Asia. ONE eSports, a subsidiary of ONE Championship, runs Asia’s largest global eSports Championship Series with some of the biggest blockbuster game titles in the world. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 2.6 billion potential viewers across 140+ countries with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Startimes, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, Great Sports, Tencent, Star TV, Mediaset Italia, ProSiebenSat.1, Dubai Sports, Turner Sports, and more. |
UFC® RETURNS TO NEWARK’S PRUDENTIAL CENTER WITH PIVOTAL WELTERWEIGHT BOUT BETWEEN (#2) COLBY COVINGTON AND (#10) ROBBIE LAWLER
LAS VEGAS – UFC® returns to Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. for the first time in three years with a thrilling welterweight contenders’ bout that sees former interim titleholder and No. 2 ranked Colby Covington take on former champion and No. 10 Robbie Lawler. Among the other highly anticipated bouts will be a top-10 light heavyweight clash featuring former title challenger and No. 7 ranked Volkan Oezdemir against hard-hitting No. 9 Ilir Latifi.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN® will air live from the Prudential Center exclusively on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 3, with the prelims kicking off at 12 p.m. ET. on ESPN and in Spanish on the ESPN App. Doors open at 11 a.m. ET. All UFC live events will also be available in English and Spanish.
Currently riding a six-fight win streak, Covington’s (14-1, fighting out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) last outing saw him secure an impressive decision victory over Rafael Dos Anjos one year ago. A NCAA Division I wrestler known for his relentless pressure, Covington has also netted dominant wins against former title challenger Demian Maia, Dong Hyun Kim and Bryan Barberena. He now aims to take out a former champion en route to earning a shot at the 170-pound belt.
Considered one of the most exciting KO artists in MMA history, Lawler (28-13 1NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) first captured the welterweight championship against Johny Hendricks in late 2014. Lawler then went on to have epic title defenses against Rory MacDonald and Carlos Condit. Lawler has also netted wins over Donald Cerrone, Matt Brown and Josh Koscheck during his career. He now hopes to stop Covington’s momentum and re-assert himself as one of the division’s most dangerous contenders.
A skilled kickboxer with heavy hands, Oezdemir (15-4, fighting out of Fribourg, Switzerland) earned his nickname “No Time” with a pair of rapid-fire knockouts that secured him a light heavyweight title shot in 2017. During his UFC tenure, Oezdemir has netted impressive wins over contenders Ovince Saint Preux, Misha Cirkunov and Jimi Manuwa. He now aims to re-assert himself in the championship picture with yet another highlight-reel finish.
A powerful and gritty grappler, Latifi (15-6 1NC, fighting out of Malmo, Sweden) has proven equally dangerous striking as he is on the mat. The Allstars Training Center standout has utilized relentless pressure to pick up spectacular victories against Ovince Saint Preux, Tyson Pedro and Gian Villante. Latifi now looks to add a former light heavyweight title challenger to his impressive resume to continue his ascent up the 205-pound ladder.
Announced bouts on the card include:
In a spectacular clash of lightweight veterans, New Jersey native Jim Miller (30-13 1NC, fighting out of Sparta, N.J.) locks horns with Clay Guida (35-15, fighting out of Johnsburg, Ill.)
Talented finisher Joaquim Silva (11-1, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil) aims to put on another show-stealing performance against streaking Nasrat Haqparast (10-2, fighting out of Hamburg, Germany)
No. 8 ranked flyweight contender Jordan Espinosa (13-5 1NC, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) looks to keep his momentum going against No. 12 Matt Schnell (13-4, fighting out of Shreveport, La.)
No. 8 ranked Lauren Murphy (10-4, fighting out of Glendale, Ariz.) faces No. 12 Mara Romero Borella (13-5 1NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Ponte dell’Olio, Italy) in a clash of women’s flyweight contenders
Dana White’s Contender Series signee Antonina Shevchenko (7-1, fighting out of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan) looks to put on a striking clinic against gritty Lucie Pudilova (8-4, fighting out of Pribram, Czech Republic) in a battle of flyweight prospects
Trevin Giles (11-1, fighting out of Houston, Tex.) takes on Gerald Meerschaert (28-11, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) in an exciting middleweight bout
Hard-hitting light heavyweights throw down when Darko Stosic (13-2, fighting out of Belgrade, Serbia) faces Kennedy Nzechukwu (6-1, fighting out of Dallas, Tex.)
Ramazan Emeev (18-3, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia) goes for his eighth consecutive win against submission ace Claudio Silva (13-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Scott Holtzman (12-3, fighting out of Knoxville, Tenn.) hopes to return to the win column when he squares off with battle-tested Dong Hyun Ma (16-9, fighting out of Busan, South Korea)
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® go on sale Friday, June 28 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, June 26 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, June 27 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 and the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. UFC boasts more than 300 million fans worldwide, including 70 million social media followers across all of its digital platforms, and its programming is broadcast in over 170 countries and territories to one billion TV households worldwide in 40 different languages. UFC produces more than 40 live events annually and consistently sells out some of the world’s most prestigious arenas. Since 2001, UFC has been proudly headquartered in Las Vegas, supported by a network of employees around the world. UFC’s current roster of athletes features more than 570 men and women representing over 55 countries. UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports, delivers exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand, and original content to fans around the world. UFC was acquired in 2016 by global sports, entertainment, and fashion leader Endeavor, along with strategic investors Silver Lake Partners and KKR, in what is among the largest transactions in sports history. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.
About Prudential Center
Prudential Center is the world-class sports and entertainment venue located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Opened in October 2007, the state-of-the-art arena is the home of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) three-time Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils, Seton Hall University’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball program, and more than 175 concerts, family shows and special events each year. The arena is also home to the GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center, which opened its doors to the public on October 2017. The 8,200-square-foot experience marks the first GRAMMY Museum outpost on the East Coast, and features a dynamic combination of educational programming and interactive permanent and traveling exhibits, including a spotlight on legendary GRAMMY winners from New Jersey. Ranked in the Top 8 nationally by Pollstar, Billboard and Venues Today, Prudential Center is recognized as one of the premier venues in the United States, and hosts over 2 million guests annually. Upcoming shows at Prudential Center include GOT 7 (6/27), Uforia La X LIVE (6/29), New Kids On The Block (7/2), Top Rank Boxing (7/13), The MTV VMAS (8/26) and many more. For more information about Prudential Center, visit PruCenter.com and follow the arena on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @PruCenter. Prudential Center is a Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment property.
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.
SHINECHAGTGA ZOLTSETSEG EARNS SIX-FIGURE ONE CHAMPIONSHIP CONTRACT AFTER KO VICTORY ON RICH FRANKLIN’S ONE WARRIOR SERIES
| 25 June 2019 – Singapore: Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series, a subsidiary of ONE Championship™ (ONE), the largest global sports media property in Asian history, recently concluded its latest season with an action-packed martial arts event in Singapore last Thursday, 20 June.
The brightest young stars in martial arts came out to participate in action-packed bouts. After a series of compelling contests, Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg of Mongolia earned a six-figure ONE Championship contract after his spectacular knockout of opponent Hyun Jin Lee at ONE Warrior Series 6. Also, Xie Xiao Xiang, Michele Ferreira, Satomi Takano, Ji Yeon Seo, Myeong Gu Kim, and Jerry Olsim, each received a Warrior Bonus for their extraordinary performances.Official photos of ONE Warrior Series 6 can be found at this link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/6d5qngcohGjFhvs16Rich Franklin, CEO of ONE Warrior Series, stated: “This was our sixth and most exciting ONE Warrior Series event to date. As the competition continues to grow fierce, the bouts become better and better. This season, we’ve had a steady influx of top-notch talent walk through our doors. In the end, it was Shine who impressed the most and we feel he is ready for the bright lights of the ONE Championship Circle. Shine has shown a warrior spirit from day one in the organization and has been through some wars. He has definitely earned this contract. I look for him to do big things in ONE!” Jonathan Fong, Director of ONE Warrior Series, stated: “This last event showcased the rising level of talent at ONE Warrior Series and Shine earning his ONE Championship contract was further evidence of that. The bouts were the most exciting and action-packed we have seen to date as all the martial artists showcased their best selves. With Shine following the footsteps of other OWS alumni, like Stamp Fairtex, I cannot wait to see who will step up next and look to make a run in ONE Championship!” Born and raised in Mongolia, fast-rising martial arts talent Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg has been competing since 2010. He is a multiple-time national champion in kickboxing, sanda, and boxing. Zoltsetseg also represented Mongolia in boxing at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Known for his tremendous knockout power, Zoltsetseg made his ONE Warrior Series debut in 2018, stopping Akuri Ronda of Japan in just under a minute with strikes. At ONE Warrior Series 6, Zoltsetseg again put forth another spectacular performance, finishing opponent Hyun Jin Lee in just over a minute of action. The win earned Zoltsetseg a six-figure ONE Championship contract.Episodes of Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series can be found on ONE Championship’s official YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/OneFCMMA.For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship. |
| About ONE Championship™ ONE Championship (ONE) is the largest global sports media property in Asian history, and the largest producer of millennial live sports content in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE is the Home of Martial Arts, and is the world’s largest martial arts organization, hosting bouts across all styles of martial arts such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Kung Fu, Silat, Sanda, Lethwei, Mixed Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, Submission Grappling, and more. ONE hosts the biggest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions on the largest global media broadcast in Asia. ONE eSports, a subsidiary of ONE Championship, runs Asia’s largest global eSports Championship Series with some of the biggest blockbuster game titles in the world. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 2.6 billion potential viewers across 140+ countries with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Startimes, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, Great Sports, Tencent, Star TV, Mediaset Italia, ProSiebenSat.1, Dubai Sports, Turner Sports, and more. |
MALAYSIAN MARTIAL ARTS SUPERSTARS FEATURE AT ONE: MASTERS OF DESTINY MEDIA NIGHT
| Ev Ting, ONE Athlete, who will be competing against Daichi Abe at ONE: MASTERS OF DESTINY stated: “Throughout my career, the support Malaysian fans have given me has been invaluable. I am so proud to represent our beautiful country on the biggest global stage of martial arts competition. Malaysia has some of the best martial arts talent in the world, and I take great pride in being counted among them. Each time I step into the ONE Circle, I bring that same pride with me onto the battlefield. I will always do my best to bring glory and honor to Malaysia, to New Zealand, and to the sport of martial arts. I will do my best to champion martial arts and its values in every battlefield.”
Saiful Merican, ONE Athlete, who will be facing Mohammed bin Mahmoud at ONE: MASTERS OF DESTINY stated: “I was born and raised as a true Malaysian. Malaysia is my home and I will do my best to represent my country to the best of my abilities. I may be taking on a fellow Malaysian in my next fight, but we are going to put on an absolute show for all the fans out there. I think by the end of the night, people are going to know what true Malaysian warriors are all about.” Mohammed bin Mahmoud, ONE Athlete, who will be up against Saiful Merican at ONE: MASTERS OF DESTINY stated: “When I go out there and perform, I go all out. I give it my everything because the Malaysian fans deserve it. I wouldn’t be here without the fans, and I owe a lot to them. My next fight is going to be an all-Malaysian spectacle and fans will surely not want to miss it. My time on the ONE Championship stage has been incredible for my career and I’m getting better everyday. My ultimate goal in my career is to become a World Champion and make my country proud.” Jihin Radzuan, ONE Athlete, who will be contesting Jomary Torres at ONE: MASTERS OF DESTINY stated: “It’s one thing to represent women’s mixed martial arts in Asia, but to do the same for Malaysia, it’s a huge responsibility. All throughout the country, there are young girls who have big dreams — whether that’s in martial arts or in another field altogether. My goal is to inspire all the fans to chase their dreams because nothing is impossible when you pour your heart and soul into it. I’m looking forward to my match with Filipino’s Jomary Torres and I will do my best to emerge victorious.” Agilan Thani, victorious against Yoshihiro Akiyama at ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST, stated: “It was a great experience competing in China and against such a legendary martial artist such as [Yoshihiro] Akiyama. Now, I have to keep my head down and work even harder for my upcoming contests in ONE Championship. I hope to slowly make my way back up the charts and hopefully contend for the ONE World Title again soon. I know I have a long road ahead of me, but I’m confident I’ve developed my skills and gained the experience necessary to make another run at the championship.” For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship. |
| About ONE Championship™ ONE Championship (ONE) is the largest global sports media property in Asian history, and the largest producer of millennial live sports content in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE is the Home of Martial Arts, and is the world’s largest martial arts organization, hosting bouts across all styles of martial arts such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Kung Fu, Silat, Sanda, Lethwei, Mixed Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, Submission Grappling, and more. ONE hosts the biggest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions on the largest global media broadcast in Asia. ONE eSports, a subsidiary of ONE Championship, runs Asia’s largest global eSports Championship Series with some of the biggest blockbuster game titles in the world. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 2.6 billion potential viewers across 140+ countries with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Startimes, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, Great Sports, Tencent, Star TV, Mediaset Italia, ProSiebenSat.1, Dubai Sports, Turner Sports, and more. |
UFC® CONTINUES EXPANSION IN CHINA WITH SERIES OF HISTORIC MILESTONES
SHANGHAI and LAS VEGAS – UFC®, the world’s premier Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organization, today announced a series of historic milestones that will continue to drive the company’s ambitious growth plans in China.
The first milestone marks a culmination of more than a year of planning and construction, as UFC celebrates the grand opening of the UFC Performance Institute® Shanghai, the world’s largest, state-of-the-art MMA training and development facility. Nearly three times as large as the original UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas, the 93,000 square-foot facility in Shanghai will serve as a training hub to develop and support the next generation of MMA athletes from mainland China and the greater Asia-Pacific region.
UFC will also utilize the building as its headquarters in Asia, housing UFC employees and UFC Performance Institute staff, including experts in the fields of MMA, strength and conditioning, sports science, physical therapy and nutrition. Additional features will include hospitality suites, dining, retail services, and a fan experience area.
The grand opening of UFC Performance Institute Shanghai comes as UFC prepares for a historic live event in China this August that will mark a series of “firsts” for the company.
On Saturday, August 31, UFC will make its debut in Shenzhen – the company’s third live event in Mainland China in three years. UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: ANDRADE vs. ZHANG, presented by AirAsia, will be held at Universiade Sports Centre and will feature the first-ever UFC championship fight held in China, as well as the first-ever Chinese athlete to compete for a UFC title.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: ANDRADE vs. ZHANG is headlined by a strawweight championship showdown, as newly crowned champion Jessica Andrade looks to defend her title for the first time when she takes on no. 6-ranked contender Weili Zhang. Andrade (20-6, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is the no. 15-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world and is on a mission to build her legacy as the new champion by stopping Zhang’s 19-fight win streak.
Meanwhile, Zhang (19-1, fighting out of Beijing, China) is the highest-ranked Chinese UFC athlete in history and has had 16 of 19 wins via finish, including nine by KO and seven by submission, with ten first-round finishes.
UFC is working together with Endeavor China, a subsidiary of Endeavor, to deliver UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: ANDRADE vs. ZHANG as successfully as UFC’s two previous events in China – Shanghai in 2017 and Beijing in 2018.
Damai Sports is the official co-promoter of UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: ANDRADE vs. ZHANG, which is also supported by China Boxing Federation and Shenzhen Longgang Administration of Culture, Television and Radio, Sports and Tourism.
Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: ANDRADE vs. ZHANG are on-sale now via Damai.cn and Ticketflap.com.
Ticket Prices are as follows: Floor:12,880 RMB/8,880 RMB/4,880 RMB/2,880 RMB; Riser:1,880 RMB/1,280 RMB/880 RMB/680 RMB/480 RMB/380 RMB/280 RMB.
More bouts for UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: ANDRADE vs. ZHANG will be announced in the coming weeks, and fans can keep up to date with the latest event information by following UFC onWeibo: @UFC???????, Wechat: UFC???????(ufcofficial) , Facebook (UFC Asia), Twitter and Instagram (@ufc). For event livecast, please follow PPTV Sports and BesTV.
About UFC®
UFC®, is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization and the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. UFC boasts more than 300 million fans worldwide, including 70 million social media followers across all of its digital platforms, and its programming is broadcast in over 170 countries and territories to one billion TV households worldwide in 40 different languages. UFC produces more than 40 live events annually and consistently sells out some of the world’s most prestigious arenas. Since 2001, UFC has been proudly headquartered in Las Vegas, supported by a network of employees around the world. UFC’s current roster of athletes features more than 570 men and women representing over 55 countries. UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports, delivers exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand, and original content to fans around the world. UFC was acquired in 2016 by global sports, entertainment, and fashion leader Endeavor, along with strategic investors Silver Lake Partners and KKR, in what is among the largest transactions in sports history. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.
8TH ANNUAL UFC INTERNATIONAL FIGHT WEEK TAKES OVER LAS VEGAS FROM JULY 3 – 7
Las Vegas – The 8th annual UFC International Fight Week™ will take place from Wednesday, July 3 through Sunday, July 7, with numerous events throughout Las Vegas, including the Downtown Las Vegas Event Center, The Palms Casino Resort, and T-Mobile Arena.
UFC International Fight Week is highlighted by the prestigious 2019 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and an easily-accessible and fully interactive two-day UFC Fan Experience®, concerts, and more! The week-long festivities are anchored by the highly anticipated UFC® 239: JONES vs. SANTOS,presented by Modelo, which takes place on Saturday, July 6 at T-Mobile Arena. Tickets for UFC 239 are available via AXS.
On Friday, July 5, UFC will host the 2019 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Toyo Tires®, at 7 p.m. at The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort. The annual ceremony honors contributors and athletes that helped shape UFC and left an indelible mark on the sport of mixed martial arts. Tickets to the induction ceremony are priced at $20.00 (does not include fees), with all proceeds benefitting Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster. The ceremony will be streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS®.
Immediately following the ceremony, UFC will host its Official UFC International Fight Week Concert, headlined by multi-platinum recording artist Godsmack, at 10 p.m. at the Joint at Hard Rock Hotel. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.
Spanning more than 85,000 square feet, UFC’s two-day Fan Experience at the Downtown Las Vegas Event Center will be the one-stop shop for all fight fans, providing unparalleled free access to UFC champions, top-ranked contenders, UFC Hall of Famers, UFC personalities, and a UFC store.
UFC fans will have the opportunity to engage with a record-number of athletes and talent during free autograph sessions and meet and greets at the Downtown Las Vegas Event Center. This free of charge event will be part of the two-day UFC Fan Experience at the Downtown Las Vegas Event Center, which will be open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on both Friday, July 5 and Saturday, July 6.
Fans will be able to purchase exclusive UFC merchandise at the UFC store and, while also having the chance to participate in numerous activities with brand partners such as: Assault Fitness, Modelo, Monster Energy, Motel 6, PokerStars, Trifecta and Toyo Tires®.
The UFC International Fight Week app is the official destination for the most updated schedule of events, as well as the only place to secure your spot for autograph sessions. All of these exciting events are in addition to the regularly scheduled fight week activities. The UFC International Fight Week app is available on the App Store and Google Play.
For additional information, please visit UFC.com/fightweek.
About UFC®
UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization and the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. UFC boasts more than 300 million fans worldwide, including 70 million social media followers across all of its digital platforms, and its programming is broadcast in over 170 countries and territories to one billion TV households worldwide in 40 different languages. UFC produces more than 40 live events annually and consistently sells out some of the world’s most prestigious arenas. Since 2001, UFC has been proudly headquartered in Las Vegas, supported by a network of employees around the world. UFC’s current roster of athletes features more than 570 men and women representing over 55 countries. UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports, delivers exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content to fans around the world. UFC was acquired in 2016 by global sports, entertainment, and fashion leader Endeavor, along with strategic investors Silver Lake Partners and KKR, in what is among the largest transactions in sports history. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC atFacebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.
UNDEFEATED DUTCH MUAY THAI SUPERSTAR JORINA BAARS SIGNS WITH ONE CHAMPIONSHIP
| 17 June 2019 – Singapore: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced it has added yet another world-champion martial artist to its elite roster of athletes with the signing of Dutch Muay Thai superstar Jorina Baars.
A native of Den Helder, Netherlands, the 30-year old Baars is easily one of the most sought-after martial artists in the world and has attained success in every stage that she has competed in. Among Baars’ accolades include the ISKA Welterweight World Championship, a National Dutch Muay Thai Championship, the Amazon of K-1 Muay Thai Grand Prix Championship, and the inaugural Lion Fight Muay Thai Women’s Welterweight World Championship. Baars remains undefeated in 49 Muay Thai contests, owning an impressive 46-0-3 record with 16 of those victories coming by way of knockout. The most notable win in Baars’ stellar resumé is a unanimous decision victory over multiple-time mixed martial arts World Champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino to capture the inaugural Lion Fight Muay Thai Women’s Welterweight World Championship. Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “We are more than thrilled to welcome a true world-class martial artist like Jorina Baars to our growing ONE Championship family. Jorina is a great addition to our elite roster of World Champions. She owns the distinction of being a National Champion, a Grand Prix champion, and a two-time World Champion in different promotions. Jorina is a proven winner, and I personally cannot wait to watch her bring her winning attitude and championship mindset into the ONE Super Series platform. Jorina is just the latest World Champion to join the ONE ranks, and you can definitely expect even more world-class talent to come over in the near future.” Jorina Baars, ONE Athlete, stated: “My favorite quote is ‘Winners never quit, and quitters never win’. I am a warrior, and I’m ready to take my career to the next level. I am here in ONE Championship because the best fighters in the world are here. It is an honor to be among so many legends of martial arts. I want to fight the best in the world and I will fight anyone. If the stars are aligned, I would not mind fighting Cris Cyborg again.”For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship. |
| About ONE Championship™ ONE Championship (ONE) is the largest global sports media property in Asian history, and the largest producer of millennial live sports content in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE is the Home of Martial Arts, and is the world’s largest martial arts organization, hosting bouts across all styles of martial arts such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Kung Fu, Silat, Sanda, Lethwei, Mixed Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, Submission Grappling, and more. ONE hosts the biggest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions on the largest global media broadcast in Asia. ONE eSports, a subsidiary of ONE Championship, runs Asia’s largest global eSports Championship Series with some of the biggest blockbuster game titles in the world. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 2.6 billion potential viewers across 140+ countries with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Startimes, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, Great Sports, Tencent, Star TV, Mediaset Italia, ProSiebenSat.1, Dubai Sports, Turner Sports, and more. |
STAMP FAIRTEX RETAINS ONE ATOMWEIGHT MUAY THAI WORLD TITLE WITH UNANIMOUS DECISION OVER ALMA JUNIKU
15 June 2019 – Shanghai, China: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), made a triumphant return to the Baoshan Arena in Shanghai for yet another night of world-class martial arts action. ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST showcased the brightest stars in global martial arts. In the main event, reigning ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Stamp Fairtex retained her title with a unanimous decision victory over Alma Juniku of Australia.
Visit the official ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST photo gallery by clicking: https://bit.ly/onephotos
In the main event of the evening, two-sport World Champion Stamp Fairtex of Thailand overcame a game effort from challenger Alma Juniku of Australia to retain her ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Championship. The two women warriors battled through five action-packed rounds, trading spitfire combinations. Throughout the contest, it was Stamp who established her dominance, often getting the better of striking exchanges. In the end, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Stamp to win by unanimous decision.
In the co-main event, former ONE World Title challenger Agilan “Alligator” Thani of Malaysia spoiled the ONE Championship debut of Japanese legend Yoshihiro “Sexyama” Akiyama to win via unanimous decision. Thani showcased improved striking skills, pressing with a plethora of boxing combinations as Akiyama attempted to retreat to his elite judo. Thani also dominated the grappling sequences throughout the duration of the contest. After a gruelling three-round affair, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Thani.
In a ONE Super Series bantamweight kickboxing contest, local star “Muay Thai Boy” Zhang Chenglong scored a destructive one-punch knockout of Australia’s Tyler Hardcastle to notch a first round finish. Action started off furiously at the sound of the opening bell, with both men meeting at the center of the ONE Championship ring. After a few heated exchanges, Zhang exploded with a leaping uppercut, catching Hardcastle right on the chin as the Australian crashed to the canvas almost immediately.
In a ONE Super Series bantamweight Muay Thai contest, former ONE World Title challenger Han Zi Hao of China turned in a spectacular performance, stopping opponent Andrew “Maddog Fairtex” Miller of Scotland. It was an intense battle of attrition for the duration of the bout, as neither man was willing to take a step backward. Han turned the aggression up towards the end of the first round however, carrying momentum over into the second where he dropped Miller twice en route to the satisfying knockout win.
Rising featherweight contenders Koyomi “Moushigo” Matsushima of Japan and “Pretty Boy” Kwon Won Il of South Korea put together a spirited and competitive three-round battle to the delight of the passionate crowd. Although Kwon brought the punching power, Matushima showcased his superior wrestling skills, controlling the South Korean martial artist on the canvas for the majority of the contest. All three judges scored the bout in favor of the Japanese star to win by unanimous decision.
In a highly-competitive ONE Super Series kickboxing contest, light heavyweights Tarik “The Tank” Khbabez of Morocco and Anderson “Braddock” Silva of Brazil lit up the Baoshan Arena with an action-packed striking showcase. Through three gruelling rounds, the two kickboxing behemoths took each other’s best shots, unloading a series of thunderous combinations at the center of the ring. Neither was willing to take a step back and in the end, it was Khbabez who emerged victorious by unanimous decision.
Reinier “The Dutch Knight” De Ridder of The Netherlands retained his unblemished record, keeping his 100% finishing rate intact with another highlight-reel technical knockout, this time over Brazilian Gilberto “Giba” Galvao. It was all De Ridder from the sound of the opening bell, as the Dutchman was able to close the distance and establish his grappling dominance early. In the second round, De Ridder snatched Galvao’s head in a front headlock position and delivered a series of knees to force a verbal tapout.
In one of the most entertaining bouts of the night, Muay Thai World Champion Rodlek PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym announced his arrival to the ONE Super Series stage with a unanimous decision win over the United Kingdom’s Liam “Hitman” Harrison in a Muay Thai bout. Rodlek appeared to be unfazed as he walked through Harrison’s best shots and punished the Brit with stinging jabs and kicks of his own. Harrison picked up steam in the final round as he tried to rally back, but it was too late as Rodlek walked away with the dominant unanimous decision win.
“Rock Man” Chen Lei of China used a strong third round performance to seal a unanimous decision victory over Indonesia’s Anthony “The Archangel” Engelen to cap off the preliminary card. It was all Chen in the first round, as he took Engelen down with ease and maintained control with superior grappling. After getting rocked early, it was Engelen’s turn to showcase his grappling skills, as he managed to keep Chen down to keep the bout competitive. In the final round, the hometown favorite regained the momentum by once again taking the bout to the ground and controlling Engelen to earn the nod on all three judges’ scorecards.
“King Kong Warrior” Fan Rong put on an impressive display of grappling and striking as he overwhelmed Egypt’s Sherif “The Shark” Mohamed en route to a second round technical knockout victory. Mohamed came out swinging in the opening round, but Fan remained patient and timed a takedown perfectly and kept the action on the ground. In the second round, Fan again took Mohamed down and looked for the submission before eventually posturing up and punishing the Egyptian with some ground and pound for the stoppage win.
China’s own Niu Kang Kang picked up a big win on home soil as he defeated Filipino mixed martial arts veteran Eric “The Natural” Kelly by unanimous decision. Looking to snap a losing skid, Kelly came out aggressive and scored an early takedown, but on the ground however, it was Niu who was in control. Niu repeatedly threatened with submission attempts and kept Kelly grounded for the better part of the three-round contest. After 15 minutes of action, it was Niu who was declared the winner on all three judges’ scorecards.
“The Big Heart” Yoon Chang Min of South Korea remained undefeated in his mixed martial arts career after picking up a quick first-round technical knockout victory over Filipino Trestle “Jun Minion” Tan. Yoon brought the action to the ground almost immediately, but instead found himself in a submission attempt from the Filipino welterweight veteran. Yoon was able to power out of the submission and began to light Tan up with thunderous knees and precise punches to take the Filipino out and earn the highlight-reel stoppage.
Japanese newcomer Itsuki “Strong Heart Fighter” Hirata was spectacular in her ONE Championship debut as she steamrolled through the Philippines’ Angelie “D’Explorer” Sabanal by first round submission. Hirata used her crisp striking to keep Sabanal, a National Muay Thai Silver Medalist, at bay before eventually getting the takedown. On the mat, it was all Hirata as she maneuvered into a tight Americana armlock, leaving Sabanal with no choice but to tap out.
Myanmar’s Phoe “Bushido” Thaw put on an impressive display of dominance to kick off the preliminary card, defeating Indonesian Victorio “Indra” Senduk by knockout in the first round. Phoe Thaw stunned Senduk early and threatened to put a swift end to the bout with a rear naked choke submission attempt. Senduk survived but merely prolonged the inevitable, as Phoe Thaw finished the Indonesian off with strikes for the stoppage victory.
Official results for ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST
ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Championship bout: Stamp Fairtex defeats Alma Juniku by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 5 rounds
Mixed Martial Arts Welterweight bout: Agilan Thani defeats Yoshihiro Akiyama by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds
ONE Super Series Bantamweight Kickboxing bout: Zhang Chenglong defeats Tyler Hardcastle by Knockout (KO) at 1:54 minutes of round 1
ONE Super Series Bantamweight Muay Thai bout: Han Zi Hao defeats Andrew Miller by Knockout (KO) at 2:36 minutes of round 2
Mixed Martial Arts Featherweight bout: Koyomi Matsushima defeats Kwon Won Il by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds
ONE Super Series Light Heavyweight Kickboxing bout: Tarik Khbabez defeats Anderson Silva by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds
Mixed Martial Arts Middleweight bout: Reinier De Ridder defeats Gilberto Galvao by TKO (Verbal Tapout Due to Strikes) at 0:57 minutes of round 2
ONE Super Series Bantamweight Muay Thai bout: Rodlek PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym defeats Liam Harrison by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds
Mixed Martial Arts Catch Weight bout (67.5kg): Chen Lei defeats Anthony Engelen by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds
Mixed Martial Arts Middleweight bout: Fan Rong defeats Sherif Mohamed by TKO (Strikes) at 3:50 minutes of round 2
Mixed Martial Arts Featherweight bout: Niu Kang Kang defeats Eric Kelly by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds
Mixed Martial Arts Lightweight bout: Yoon Chang Min defeats Trestle Tan by TKO (Strikes) at 4:05 minutes of round 1
Women’s Mixed Martial Arts Atomweight bout: Itsuki Hirata defeats Angelie Sabanal by Submission (Americana) at 2:59 minutes of round 1
Mixed Martial Arts Featherweight bout: Phoe Thaw defeats Victorio Senduk by Knockout (KO) at 4:17 minutes of round 1
For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.
About ONE Championship™
ONE Championship (ONE) is the largest global sports media property in Asian history, and the largest producer of millennial live sports content in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE is the Home of Martial Arts, and is the world’s largest martial arts organization, hosting bouts across all styles of martial arts such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Kung Fu, Silat, Sanda, Lethwei, Mixed Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, Submission Grappling, and more. ONE hosts the biggest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions on the largest global media broadcast in Asia. ONE eSports, a subsidiary of ONE Championship, runs Asia’s largest global eSports Championship Series with some of the biggest blockbuster game titles in the world. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 2.6 billion potential viewers across 140+ countries with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Startimes, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, Great Sports, Tencent, Star TV, Mediaset Italia, ProSiebenSat.1, Dubai Sports, Turner Sports, and more.
HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP REMATCH BETWEEN (C) DANIEL CORMIER AND (#1) STIPE MIOCIC HEADLINES UFC® 241 IN ANAHEIM
Las Vegas – UFC® returns to Anaheim with a blockbuster heavyweight championship rematch that will see No.1 ranked pound-for-pound fighter Daniel Cormier defend against former titleholder and No. 1 contender Stipe Miocic. In a can’t miss welterweight thriller, No. 8 ranked Anthony Pettis welcomes back Nate Diaz.
UFC® 241: CORMIER vs. MIOCIC 2 takes place Saturday, August 17 at Honda Center 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. as part of an agreement announced in March and continuing through 2025.
As UFC® 241: CORMIER vs. MIOCIC 2 approaches, fans will be able to purchase it 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 and Spanish on ESPN and ESPN Deportes linear networks 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.
A two-time member of the United States Olympic freestyle wrestling team and one of only four fighters to simultaneously hold championships in two UFC divisions, Cormier (22-1 1NC, fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) dethroned Miocic via KO during their initial encounter at UFC 226 last year. Throughout his legendary career, he has netted spectacular victories over Derrick Lewis, Alexander Gustafsson, Dan Henderson and Anthony Johnson (twice). Cormier now aims to secure his second title defense against the division’s most dominant champion.
Holder of the record for most successful consecutive heavyweight title defenses in UFC history at three, former champion Miocic (18-3, fighting out of Independence, Ohio) looks to even the score with Cormier. After capturing the championship in 2016 via first-round KO against Fabricio Werdum, Miocic went on to earn thrilling wins against Francis Ngannou, Junior Dos Santos and Alistair Overeem. With revenge on his mind, Miocic is now gunning to become only the fourth fighter to reclaim the UFC heavyweight championship.
Former UFC lightweight champion Pettis (22-8, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) made a huge splash at welterweight when he became the first fighter to knock out Stephen Thompson this past March. Known for his flashy striking and slick ground game, he has also finished Charles Oliveira, Gilbert Melendez, Benson Henderson and Donald Cerrone. Pettis now hopes to keep his momentum rolling with another show-stealing performance against one of the most dangerous fighters on the UFC roster.
Winner of The Ultimate Fighter season five, Diaz (20-11, fighting out of Stockton, Calif.) makes his highly anticipated first appearance since his epic double-bill against Conor McGregor. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with a relentless striking attack, Diaz has beaten some of the biggest names in the sport. On top of submitting McGregor, he has bested Michael Johnson, Gray Maynard, Jim Miller and Donald Cerrone. Diaz now looks for another big finish and to remind fans why he is one of the most exciting fighters in MMA.
Additional bouts on the card include:
In a highly anticipated middleweight contenders’ bout, No. 2 ranked Yoel Romero (13-3, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Pinar Del Rio, Cuba) battles undefeated No. 8 Paulo Costa (12-0, fighting out of Contagem, Brazil)
No.3 ranked bantamweight contender Raphael Assuncao (27-6, fighting out of Alpharetta, Ga. by way of Recife, Brazil) looks to re-assert himself in the title picture against surging No. 9 Cory Sandhagen (11-1, fighting out of Aurora, Colo.)
No.9 ranked middleweight contender Derek Brunson (19-7, fighting out of Wilmington, N.C.) hopes to build on his momentum against rising No. 11 Ian Heinisch (13-1, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.)
· Streaking featherweights collide when Gabriel Benitez (21-7, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico) meets Sodiq Yusuff (9-1, fighting out of Bladensburg, Md. by way of Lagos, Nigeria)
Sabina Mazo (6-1, fighting out of Medellín, Colombia) takes on Shana Dobson (3-3, fighting out of Fort Worth, Tex.) in a clash of flyweight prospects
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® 241: CORMIER vs. MIOCIC 2 go on sale Friday, June 14 at 10 a.m. PT. 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, June 12 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, June 13 starting at 10 a.m. PT. 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 and the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. UFC boasts more than 300 million fans worldwide, including 70 million social media followers across all of its digital platforms, and its programming is broadcast in over 170 countries and territories to one billion TV households worldwide in 40 different languages. UFC produces more than 40 live events annually and consistently sells out some of the world’s most prestigious arenas. Since 2001, UFC has been proudly headquartered in Las Vegas, supported by a network of employees around the world. UFC’s current roster of athletes features more than 570 men and women representing over 55 countries. UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports, delivers exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand, and original content to fans around the world. UFC was acquired in 2016 by global sports, entertainment, and fashion leader Endeavor, along with strategic investors Silver Lake Partners and KKR, in what is among the largest transactions in sports history. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.
About Honda Center
Honda Center stands as one of the premier entertainment and sports venues in the country. The arena is home to the 2007 Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks, and the venue annually hosts dozens of top-name concerts such as The Rolling Stones, Justin Timberlake, Ariana Grande, J. Cole, and Foo Fighters. Located at 2695 E Katella Ave. in Anaheim, CA, Honda Center is less than 5 miles away from Disneyland, less than 30 miles from Downtown Los Angeles, and is conveniently positioned right off of the Interstate 5, California State Route 22, and California State Route 57 freeways. The John Wayne Airport (SNA) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) are easily accessible for those traveling from other parts of the U.S. and the globe to attend the festival.
About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the multi-sport, direct-to-consumer video service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN. It reached 2 million subscribers in less than a year and offers fans thousands of live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, along with premium editorial content.
Programming on ESPN+ includes hundreds of MLB and NHL games, exclusive UFC, Top Rank boxing and PFL fights and events, top domestic and international soccer (Serie A, MLS, FA Cup, UEFA Nations League, EFL Championship, EFL Carabao Cup, Eredivisie, and more), thousands of college sports events (including football, basketball and other sports), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby and cricket, new and exclusive series, acclaimed studio shows and the full library of ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 films. Fans can sign up for ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) and can cancel at any time.
ESPN+ is available as an integrated part of the ESPN App (on mobile and connected devices) and ESPN.com. They are the industry-leading all-in-one digital sports platform, delivering a rich, personalized experience to tens of millions of fans every month.
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.
VIDEO: UFC 242 Press Conference: Khabib vs Poirier
STAMP FAIRTEX AND ALMA JUNIKU STARE DOWN AT ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST OFFICIAL FACE-OFF IN SHANGHAI
| 12 June 2019 – Shanghai, China: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), recently held the ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST Official Face-Off at Yunspace in Shanghai.
In attendance were ONE Atomweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion Stamp Fairtex of Thailand and challenger Alma Juniku of Australia. Stamp and Juniku will square off in the main event of ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST, which goes down Saturday, 15 June at the Baoshan Arena. Ticket information for ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST is available at www.onefc.com. Photo: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Qq8WKOMEWQ4A_n46nDj3AemefWBB6yX0?usp=sharing Stamp began her ONE Championship run as a participant in Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series. She competed in mixed martial arts and won her first professional bout by knockout in just 19 seconds. Leaving a lasting impression with her exceptional striking skills, Stamp was tapped to take part in the prestigious ONE Super Series soon thereafter. She made her debut at ONE: KINGDOM OF HEROES in Bangkok where she defeated “Killer Bee” Kai Ting Chuang to capture the ONE Atomweight Kickboxing World Championship. Last February, Stamp battled American Janet “JT” Todd to become a two-sport World Champion, capturing the ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Championship. Stamp now returns to action in the first defense of her Muay Thai title against Alma Juniku of Australia. Stamp Fairtex, ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion, stated: “This is my very first time in China, and I want to thank everyone for the warm welcome. I am really grateful for the opportunities ONE Championship has given me. My opponent this Saturday night is fast and aggressive. She likes to put a lot of pressure on her opponents, and moves with speed. I will try to put the pressure on her as well. I want to give the fans an exciting show. Muay Thai is my way of life and I’ve been training since I was a child. I just want to give my family a better life. I also want to make women all over the world proud.” Alma Juniku, ONE World Title Challenger, stated: “I am excited for this Saturday night’s main event. I’m physically and mentally ready for anything. On the biggest stage of ONE Championship, I want to introduce myself and what I’m all about. I am prepared to go toe-to-toe with Stamp [Fairtex]. She’s a great champion — aggressive and with very good technique. But I’m strong and I’m fast and I like to trade shots. I’m not afraid to mix it up. Of course, I’m going for the knockout. But I can’t predict how this fight will end. Instead, I will do my best from start to finish.” Also in attendance were ONE Championship athletes, including co-main event competitors Agilan “Alligator” Thani of Malaysia and Yoshihiro “Sexyama” Akiyama of Japan.For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship. |
| About ONE Championship™ ONE Championship (ONE) is the largest global sports media property in Asian history, and the largest producer of millennial live sports content in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE is the Home of Martial Arts, and is the world’s largest martial arts organization, hosting bouts across all styles of martial arts such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Kung Fu, Silat, Sanda, Lethwei, Mixed Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, Submission Grappling, and more. ONE hosts the biggest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions on the largest global media broadcast in Asia. ONE eSports, a subsidiary of ONE Championship, runs Asia’s largest global eSports Championship Series with some of the biggest blockbuster game titles in the world. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 2.6 billion potential viewers across 140+ countries with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Startimes, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, Great Sports, Tencent, Star TV, Mediaset Italia, ProSiebenSat.1, Dubai Sports, Turner Sports, and more. |
JONATHAN HAGGERTY TO DEFEND ONE FLYWEIGHT MUAY THAI WORLD TITLE AGAINST RODTANG JITMUANGNON IN MANILA
| 10 June 2019 – Manila, Philippines: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced ONE: DAWN OF HEROES, set for Friday, 2 August. The Mall of Asia Arena in Manila will play host to another electrifying evening of world-class martial arts action. Once again, the world’s greatest martial arts athletes will descend upon the ONE Championship global stage to showcase their incredible skills. In the main event, reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Jonathan “The General” Haggerty of the United Kingdom will defend his title against Rodtang “Iron Man” Jitmuangnon of Thailand.
Ticket information for ONE: DAWN OF HEROES is available at www.onefc.com. Haggerty is already an accomplished martial artist despite his relative youth. He began training in Muay Thai at the age of 7 under the watchful eye of his father, John, who was himself an active competitor. Haggerty quickly racked up multiple accolades in the sport of Muay Thai as an amateur becoming a three-time English Champion, three-time British Champion, and winning a European title as well. As a professional, he has dominated almost everyone he has faced to date, winning almost all of his bouts via knockout while facing the sport’s elite. Last May in Jakarta, Haggerty captured the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship after a stunning performance, upsetting former titleholder Sam-A Gaiyanghadao. He is now set to defend his title against Rodtang Jitmuangnon. Like many Thai warriors before him, two-time Omnoi Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang started training at a young age when he was just 7 years old. He had his first professional Muay Thai bout at the age of 10. Rodtang initially trained at a small camp in his hometown of Pattalung, but soon began traveling to the famed Jitmuangnon Camp in Bangkok in pursuit of better training. He would make the move permanent in order to train full-time and pursue his dreams of becoming a World Champion. Rodtang was highly successful, compiling over 250 wins by the time he turned 21, and he even won the prestigious Omnoi Stadium World Title twice. Seeking redemption, multiple-time World Champion Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez of the United States returns to action against former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang of the Philippines. A four-time Lightweight World Champion, Alvarez is not just an incredibly exciting martial artist – he is also the only man in history to have claimed World Titles in both of North America’s leading promotions. Now that he is on the global stage, he is intent on cementing his status as an all-time great by capturing the ONE Lightweight World Championship to become the first man to conquer the three largest organizations on the planet. He hit a stumbling block in his ONE Championship debut however, when he ran into Russian knockout artist Timofey Nastyukhin. Now Alvarez is on the comeback trail, and will need to defeat Filipino icon Folayang if he hopes to reinvigorate his chances at the ONE World Title. Folayang, on the other hand, is the former ONE Lightweight World Champion. Born in Baguio City, he joined the Philippines Wushu Team, and won several gold medals to become a national hero. “Landslide” then transitioned to mixed martial arts under the instruction of Mark Sangiao at Team Lakay, and captured a Filipino Welterweight Championship in his June 2007 debut. Folayang made his promotional debut in the main event of ONE Championship’s inaugural show in September 2011. Five years later, he returned to Singapore to capture the ONE Lightweight World Title, defeating the legendary Shinya Aoki. After losing the title, and then regaining it once more, Folayang defended the belt last March in a rematch with the Japanese warrior. The Filipino unfortunately fell via first round submission. Up next for Folayang is perhaps the most difficult test of his career in the form of lightweight great Alvarez. In a ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Semi-final round, American sensation Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson takes on Tatsumitsu “The Sweeper” Wada of Japan. A 12-time Flyweight World Champion, Johnson is widely considered one of the greatest pound-for-pound mixed martial artists of all time. In 2018, after completely dominating the highly-competitive North American scene with a record-setting run of 11 World Title defenses, Johnson decided to make ONE Championship his new home as part of a landmark deal. Johnson made his ONE Championship debut last March when he took on Yuya Wakamatsu. “Mighty Mouse” overcame a spirited effort from his opponent to win by submission in the second round, advancing to the tournament semi-finals. Now, another Japanese warrior in Wada awaits. Wada started his training with karate at his father’s insistence, and he later added judo to his growing skill set in high school before taking second place in a state tournament. Wada was inspired to train to compete in mixed martial arts after watching some events on television, and he began training at the famed Yoshida Dojo after relocating to Tokyo in search of better training. Nicknamed “The Sweeper,” he went a stellar 11-1 while twice capturing the Flyweight World Title in Japan’s DEEP organization and took an eight-bout winning streak into his ONE Championship debut. In his most recent outing, Wada overcame a spirited effort from Cuba’s Gustavo Balart, advancing to the semi-final round of the tournament to face Johnson. In another ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Semi-final bout, the Philippines’ Danny “The King” Kingadgoes up against former ONE World Champion Kairat “The Kazakh” Akhmetov of Kazakhstan. Kingad is from Sadanga in the Mountain Province, but he went to school in Baguio. He began training in wushu at the famed Team Lakay in 2012, and went on to win gold medals in several local tournaments. Inspired by the success of his esteemed teammates such as former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang, he then turned his attention to the cage. Kingad made a successful start to his professional career in 2014, debuting with ONE Championship on the way to an impressive 8-0 record. This earned him a shot at the ONE Flyweight World Championship against Adriano Moraes, but the Igorot warrior unfortunately failed in his first bid at World Title glory. Now, “The King” is back on the title hunt, but will have to get past former champion Akhmetov in order to clinch a tournament finals berth. Akhmetov is a three-time National Greco-Roman Wrestling Champion in Kazakhstan. He also took to taekwondo, winning a regional championship. In May 2010, he started his professional cage career in perfect fashion, taking the Eastern European scene by storm and winning his first 22 bouts. He then signed with ONE Championship in November 2015, with his first bout in the organization being against ONE Flyweight World Championship Adriano Moraes for the coveted belt. After five grueling rounds, Akhmetov won the title via split decision in a thrilling affair and reached the pinnacle of his career. He then lost the title in an immediate rematch with Moraes two years later, after a lengthy recovery period from a debilitating back injury. Akhmetov now has the chance to make his way back to title contention as a contestant in the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix. He will have to defeat Kingad first however, who stands firmly in his way. In a ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix Semi-final bout, former ONE Featherweight World Champion Honorio “The Rock” Banario of the Philippines steps in for the injured Lowen Tynanes to take on Russia’s Timofey Nastyukhin. Both men are looking to advance to the final round of the high-profile tournament. Banario is a top contender at lightweight who has won six of his last eight contests in the division. He possesses immense power in his hands, particularly his left hook, which has led to five big victories by knockout throughout his career. A member of Baguio City’s famed Team Lakay, Banario faces one of his toughest opponents to date in Nastyukhin. Nastyukhin, who shocked the world when he defeated Eddie Alvarez in the first round of the tournament via knockout, is a man on a mission. With only Banario standing in his way to the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix Finals, the Russian stalwart will bring his heavy firepower to the ONE Circle, as he looks to end matters early and secure a finals berth. Former ONE World Title Challenger Reece “Lightning” McLaren of Australia is back in action, this time taking on Japan’s Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu in a flyweight contest. Both McLaren and Wakamatsu are looking to bounce back after early exits in the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix last March in Tokyo. A victory for either means redemption, and moving further up the flyweight ladder. McLaren, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, is known in the ONE Circle for his incredible grappling skills. Wakamatsu, on the other hand, is a former Pancrase Flyweight Tournament Champion. This matchup features two high-level martial arts athletes both at the top of their game. Multiple-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion Leandro “Brodinho” Issa of Brazil will face Japanese mixed martial arts standout Daichi Takenaka in a bantamweight contest. Issa, from the famed Evolve Fight Team, has won most of his bouts via submission, in a career spanning over 20 professional bouts since 2006. The combat sports veteran has seen his fair share of tough challenges from the world’s top promotions. Conversely, Takenaka is one of the fastest rising stars on the local Japanese mixed martial arts circuit. A victory for Takenaka here could legitimize him as a top contender in the division. Japanese women’s mixed martial arts sensation Ayaka Miura is back in action, following a successful ONE Championship debut last February to take on former ONE World Title Challenger Samara Marituba” Santos of Brazil. Meanwhile, Neunglanlek Jitmuangnon of Thailand takes on Chris Shaw of Scotland in a ONE Super Series Muay Thai contest.ONE: DAWN OF HEROES ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship Eduard Folayang vs Eddie Alvarez ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Semi-Finals ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Semi-Finals ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix Semi-Finals Reece McLaren vs Yuya Wakamatsu Leandro Issa vs Daichi Takenaka Ayaka Miura vs Samara Santos Neunglanlek Jitmuangnon vs Chris Shaw |
| About ONE Championship™ ONE Championship (ONE) is the largest global sports media property in Asian history, and the largest producer of millennial live sports content in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE is the Home of Martial Arts, and is the world’s largest martial arts organization, hosting bouts across all styles of martial arts such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Kung Fu, Silat, Sanda, Lethwei, Mixed Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, Submission Grappling, and more. ONE hosts the biggest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions on the largest global media broadcast in Asia. ONE eSports, a subsidiary of ONE Championship, runs Asia’s largest global eSports Championship Series with some of the biggest blockbuster game titles in the world. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 2.6 billion potential viewers across 140+ countries with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Startimes, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, Great Sports, Tencent, Star TV, Mediaset Italia, ProSiebenSat.1, Dubai Sports, Turner Sports, and more. |
VIDEO: UFC 238: Post-fight Press Conference
FIGHT BETWEEN DIEGO SANCHEZ AND CLAY GUIDA TO BE INDUCTED INTO UFC® HALL OF FAME
Las Vegas – UFC® today announced that the classic 2009 fight between season one winner of The Ultimate Fighter® Diego Sanchez and former Strikeforce® lightweight champion Clay Guida will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s ‘Fight Wing’ as a part of the class of 2019. The 2019 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Toyo Tires®, will take place on Friday, July 5, at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster. The event will be streamed live and exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS® starting at 7 p.m. PT.
“There are certain guys that when you match them up, there’s no doubt in your mind that it’s going to be a good fight, and this was one of those fights,” UFC President Dana White said. “This fight represents everything that fans around the world love about UFC and the sport of mixed martial arts. Diego and Clay are two maniacs and as soon as the fight began, they both came out blasting each other, it was crazy! This was an absolute war and both guys gave everything they had for all three rounds. This fight was so good it was named the 2009 Fight of the Year. It is one of the best displays of heart, endurance and will to win that you will ever see. Congratulations to Diego Sanchez and Clay Guida on a fight that will always be remembered as one of the best ever!”
As the main event of The Ultimate Fighter®: United States vs. United Kingdom Finale, which took place on Saturday, June 20, 2009, at the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, both athletes entered the highly-anticipated matchup on three-fight winning streaks.
Sanchez entered the Octagon® with an impressive 22-2 record that included victories over former WEC® welterweight champions Nick Diaz and Karo Parisyan, former WEC® middleweight champion Joe Riggs and 2007 Strikeforce middleweight grand prix champion Jorge Santiago.
“The fight with Guida was really fun,” said Sanchez. “My mentality was that it was time to get street on this wrestler and that’s exactly what I did!”
Guida arrived at the Palms with a 25-6 record and wins over season five winner of The Ultimate Fighter® and current UFC welterweight Nate Diaz, season six winner of The Ultimate Fighter® Mac Danzig and former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson.
“When you take a rampaging beast like Diego Sanchez, and a wild Tasmanian devil like me, you get a recipe for Fight of the Year, and that’s what we gave UFC fans that night,” said Guida. “The fans were the true winners and they deserved it more than anyone. Thank you for inducting this prolific battle into the UFC Hall of Fame! On behalf of my team, family, and friends that helped us prepare for that fight, we are truly honored!”
Known for their intense personalities and tenacious fighting styles, both athletes ignited the crowd with their pre-fight antics and met in the center of the Octagon following introductions for an epic staredown that would be an indicator of things to come over the next three rounds.
Sanchez quickly advanced to Guida’s side of the Octagon as the fight began and both athletes stood toe to toe exchanging punches until Diego connected on a right uppercut that almost floored Clay ten seconds into the first round. Sanchez continued his attack with a barrage of flying knees and punches as Guida covered up in an attempt to regain his footing. A third flying knee by Sanchez sent Guida’s mouthpiece out of his mouth and onto the canvas, as he moved to avoid Diego’s punches.
Sanchez continued as the aggressor, bombarding Guida with flying knees, uppercuts and jabs until Clay was able to secure his first takedown, directly into full guard, 69 seconds into the fight. Now with the advantage, Guida began landing a series of elbows while pushing Sanchez into the side of the Octagon as Diego, now bleeding, feverishly scrambled to get up off the canvas. Sanchez was able to shake Guida off as both fighters stood up at the 2:20 mark of the round.
Referee Josh Rosenthal immediately stopped the action to allow Clay to go to his corner and secure his mouthguard before fighting resumed at the center of the Octagon. Both fighters circled the center of the canvas for nine seconds until Sanchez connected on a left head kick that floored Guida, allowing Diego to resume his attack. Sanchez would take Clay down into side control with 37 seconds remaining, maintaining control for the remainder of one of the most explosive rounds in UFC history. At the conclusion of the round, both fighters combined to throw 114 significant strikes and received a standing ovation from the crowd.
The action continued in round two, with Guida taking Sanchez down 30 seconds into the round and controlling the action via ground-and-pound. Known for his jiu-jitsu, Diego attempted various submissions from his back and connected on a series of elbows from guard position. Guida maintained control throughout the round, matching Diego’s opening round success heading into the third.
Having each won one round, both athletes were exhausted entering round three, with Guida starting the action by throwing punches to try and set up a takedown. Both athletes traded punches for the majority of the round, until Guida’s takedown attempt at the 1:50 mark was countered by Sanchez, resulting in Diego taking Clay’s back and trying to submit him via arm triangle. Diego lost his arm triangle bid and Clay ended up on top in full guard with Sanchez maneuvering to attempt a kimura. Guida was able to defend Diego’s submission attempt and the fight ended with a final barrage of punches from both fighters.
Sanchez would win the bout via split decision, earning a title shot against UFC Hall of Famer BJ Penn for the lightweight title in the main event of UFC®107: PENN vs. SANCHEZ. He would lose his title bid against Penn but has continued to fight the best athletes in the world inside the Octagon.
During his career, Sanchez has competed in 29 fights inside the Octagon and is one of only two fighters that have competed in UFC’s middleweight, welterweight, lightweight and featherweight divisions, joining Kenny Florian. Diego is currently on a two-fight winning streak and most recently defeated Mickey Gall via TKO at UFC® 235: JONES vs. SMITH, in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 2, 2019.
Guida has also continued to flourish inside the Octagon following this historic fight, winning 10 of his last 18 fights, including three of his last four. Clay recently earned a unanimous decision victory over Penn at UFC® 237: NAMAJUNAS vs. ANDRADE, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Saturday, May 11, 2019.
The 8th Annual UFC International Fight Week™ will take place from Wednesday, July 3 – Sunday, July 7 in Las Vegas. For more information, download the official UFC International Fight Week app, that is available on the App Store and Google Play.
To view the Hall of Fame fight library, please visit UFCHOF. To see a complete list of UFC athletes and fights enshrined in the UFC Hall of Fame, as well as details regarding the UFC Hall of Fame format, please visit UFCHOFFAQ. For additional information, please visit UFC.com.
About UFC®
UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization and the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. UFC boasts more than 300 million fans worldwide, including 70 million social media followers across all of its digital platforms, and its programming is broadcast in over 170 countries and territories to one billion TV households worldwide in 40 different languages. UFC produces more than 40 live events annually and consistently sells out some of the world’s most prestigious arenas. Since 2001, UFC has been proudly headquartered in Las Vegas, supported by a network of employees around the world. UFC’s current roster of athletes features more than 570 men and women representing over 55 countries. UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports, delivers exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand, and original content to fans around the world. UFC was acquired in 2016 by global sports, entertainment, and fashion leader Endeavor, along with strategic investors Silver Lake Partners and KKR, in what is among the largest transactions in sports history. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram: @UFC.
VIDEO: UFC 238 Embedded: Vlog Series – Episode 5 And 6
VIDEO: UFC 238 Embedded: Vlog Series – Episode 3
VIDEO: UFC 238: Weigh-in
GIORGIO PETROSYAN TO FACE PETCHMORAKOT PETCHYINDEE ACADEMY IN MAIN EVENT OF ONE: MASTERS OF DESTINY
| 7 June 2019 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced the complete card for ONE: MASTERS OF DESTINY, set for the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur on 12 July. Once again, the absolute best in world-class martial arts talent are ready to descend upon the ONE Championship ring.
In the main event, striking superstars Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan of Italy and Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy of Thailand will do battle in a ONE Super Series Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix Quarter-Final bout. Ticket information for ONE: MASTERS OF DESTINY is available at www.onefc.com. A multiple-time Kickboxing World Champion, Petrosyan is one of the greatest and most dominant kickboxers of all time, having already accomplished an incredible amount in his sensational career. This includes two K-1 World MAX World Championships, a Glory Slam Tournament Championship, and several other prestigious titles. Petrosyan joined ONE Super Series in 2018 and has since put together a solid run through the ranks. Now competing in the ONE Super Series Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix, Petrosyan looks to emerge the winner of the tournament and claim the million dollar prize. Hailing from Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand’s northern Isan region, Petchmorakot has already defeated some of the biggest names in Muay Thai, claiming multiple Muay Thai Championships in the process. Petchmorakot has claimed Lumpinee Stadium World Championships in two divisions, as well as a WMC Muay Thai title, in a career spanning almost 200 professional bouts. Incredibly, he is still only at the beginning of his career, and now he hopes to attain international glory on the global stage of ONE Championship. ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee of Singapore returns to action, competing at strawweight once more, this time against grappling superstar Michelle Nicolini of Brazil. Since making her professional mixed martial arts debut in 2015, Lee has taken the world by storm, racking up an impressive succession of remarkable victories on her way to capturing the inaugural atomweight title. Last March, Lee challenged Xiong Jing Nan for the ONE Women’s Strawweight World Championship, and fell just short of her bid to become a simultaneous two-division World Champion. Now Lee starts her journey anew, but will have to get past Nicolini in order to move towards her goal. One of the most decorated champions in the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, eight-time BJJ World Champion Nicolini began her martial arts journey by training in Capoeira at age 14. At age 17, she began training in the grappling arts, not long after winning a series of accolades in BJJ as a black belt, including eight IBJJF World Titles, an ADCC no-gi grappling title, double gold at the BJJ European championships, and three Pan-American championships. She is also one of the few women admitted into the IBJJF Hall of Fame. Malaysian martial arts superstar and former ONE World Title Challenger Ev “E.T.” Ting of Malaysia is back in action against Japanese lightweight contender Daichi Abe. Ting is one of the world’s best lightweights, who blazed a trail across Asia, New Zealand, and Australia before making waves on the global stage of ONE Championship. Originally born in Malaysia, Ting was once a promising soccer player in school. But in 2009, he decided to switch his focus to mixed martial arts and began training at a local gym in Auckland. He made his professional debut in 2011, and has since defeated proven contenders such as former ONE Welterweight World Champion Nobutatsu Suzuki, Ariel Sexton, and Kamal Shalorus. Abe is the former Pancrase Welterweight Champion. He was focused almost exclusively on Judo as a youth, resulting in a national championship in his final year of high school. Apart from mixed martial arts, Abe also owns 10 sensational victories in kickboxing, including seven knockouts, capturing a Heavyweight Championship in RISE as well as the J-Network Light Heavyweight belt in the process. Taking on one of ONE Championship’s top lightweights, Abe wants to shock the world with a victory over Ting. Multiple-time Indonesia Bantamweight Champion Abro Fernandes is scheduled to face former Battlefield Fight League Featherweight Champion Gurdarshan “Saint Lion” Mangat of Canada. Fernandes first began his martial arts journey with Kempo as a teenager to get in better shape. After training for a few years and even competing extensively across boxing, Kempo, and grappling, he decided to test himself even further, and made his professional mixed martial arts debut in a regional Indonesian promotion. Since then, Fernandes has built an incredibly successful career. Now he looks to leave a lasting impression on the global stage of ONE Championship. Mangat, on the other hand, began training in mixed martial arts at the age of 20, after being inspired by the career of mixed martial arts legend Rich Franklin. Within his first year of training, Mangat was already stepping into the cage for his first amateur bout. After a successful amateur career, he made his professional debut and quickly put together an excellent record to earn his place in ONE Championship. Wushu World Champion and former MIMMA Women’s Champion Jihin “Shadow Cat” Radzuan of Malaysia will take on Filipino star Jomary “The Zamboanginian Fighter” Torres in a women’s atomweight contest. Radzuan is one of the finest female martial artists to emerge from Malaysia, having competed in various disciplines such as Wushu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, kickboxing, and boxing. Radzuan made her professional mixed martial arts debut in 2017 and since then, she has certainly impressed with her well-rounded style, racking up a solid professional record. Along the way, Radzuan has defeated top talent Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol and former ONE World Title Challenger Jenny Huang. Her opponent, Torres, is a rising star in the Philippines, who shook up the women’s atomweight division when she upset fan-favorite Rika Ishige in her 2017 ONE Championship debut. Shortly after, Torres went on to claim victory over Indonesian Wushu and wrestling champion Nita Dea, as well as fellow Filipino April Osenio of the renowned Team Lakay. Now seeking international stardom, Torres wants to prove a point with a victory over the talented Radzuan. ONE Warrior Series alumn “Crazy Dog” Dae Sung Park of South Korea will take on Japan’s Kimihiro Eto in a lightweight mixed martial arts contest. Park, who comes from an extensive background in freestyle wrestling, will look to score his third straight victory in ONE Championship, while Eto aims to score a win over a former conqueror. This is a rematch of their March 2018 bout under the ONE Warrior Series umbrella. Unbeaten American mixed martial arts prospect Troy Worthen of the United States is ready to make his ONE Championship debut. He will take on ONE Jakarta Bantamweight Tournament Champion Chen “The Ghost” Rui of China in a bantamweight contest. With both men looking to climb up the bantamweight ranks, one of the deepest divisions in ONE Championship, expect an all-action affair from these two incredible warriors. In a ONE Super Series Kickboxing contest, former WFKO Kyokushin Karate World Champion Hiroki Akimoto of Japan will take on former K1 South Pacific Champion Kenny Tse of Australia. Aside from training in Kyokushin Karate, Akimoto has also competed in kickboxing, amassing an impressive professional kickboxing record in his native Japan while capturing multiple titles such as the WBC Muay Thai Japan Featherweight Championship. In 2018, Akimoto joined the prestigious Evolve MMA in Singapore, following a successful tryout for the Evolve Fight Team. As part of the ONE Super Series, Akimoto has but one goal, and that is to become a World Champion. Born to Chinese immigrants, Tse began training in kickboxing at the age of 13. He competed in his first amateur bout at the age of 15, and has since then turned professional, racking up a solid record en route to his ONE Super Series debut. Training under James Roesler at Ultimate Gym Australia, Tse aims to make his country proud and inspire his people. Like Akimoto, he has his sights set on a ONE World Championship. In a ONE Super Series Kickboxing contest, former ONE Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion Kai Ting Chuang of Chinese Taiwan will take on former ONE World Title Challenger Janet “J.T.” Todd of the United States. Chuang began boxing as a young teenager and showed enough promise in the sport to become a part of a famous high school team in Chinese Taiwan. Her pugilistic prowess eventually earned her a college scholarship to the National Taiwan University of Sport, where she met her current trainer, former K-1 competitor Wang Chung Yaun. After winning three WAKO Kickboxing Titles, Chuang found her way among the world’s best martial artists in ONE Championship. In a perfect promotional debut in 2018, Chuang defeated Yodcherry Sityodtong to capture the inaugural ONE Atomweight Kickboxing World Title. A two-time Pan-American Muay Thai Champion, Todd picked up Muay Thai as a simple hobby in her early 20’s. When she discovered she had a natural talent for the sport, she decided to dedicate her time and effort into her budding professional career. Todd previously trained under the legendary Sangtiennoi Sor Rungroj at his gym. She challenged for the inaugural ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title just recently falling to Stamp Fairtex earlier this year. Now Todd has a chance to redeem herself and claim her second victory with ONE Super Series when she takes on Chuang. Finnish mixed martial arts sensation Aleksi “The Giant” Toivonen is ready to step into the ONE Championship ring for the very first time in his promotional debut against ONE Warrior Series alumn Akihiro “Superjap” Fujisawa of Japan. Toivonen joins a stacked flyweight division looking to make a huge statement in his first bout. But Fujisawa looks to get his career back on track following a slight setback in his latest outing. In a ONE Super Series Muay Thai contest, Malaysian stars Saiful “The Vampire” Merican and Mohammed “Jordan Boy” Bin Mahmoud are set to go at it for three rounds in an all-striking battle. This is Merican’s first bout under the ONE Super Series banner. He had previously competed for ONE Championship under mixed martial arts. Mohammed, on the other hand, has regularly competed for ONE Super Series and is one of the most active competitors on the roster. In the preliminaries, Indonesia’s Adrian “The Papua Badboy” Mattheis is scheduled to lock horns with China’s Liu Peng Shuai in a strawweight mixed martial arts contest, while former WBC Muay Thai World Champion George Mann of Scotland takes on Thailand’s Sorgraw Petchyindee Academy in a ONE Super Series Muay Thai showdown.ONE: MASTERS OF DESTINY Main Event Angela Lee vs Michelle Nicolini Ev Ting vs Daichi Abe Abro Fernandes vs Gurdarshan Mangat Jihin Radzuan vs Jomary Torres Dae Sung Park vs Kimihiro Eto Troy Worthen vs Chen Rui Hiroki Akimoto vs Kenny Tse Kai Ting Chuang vs Janet Todd Aleksi Toivonen vs Akihiro Fujisawa Saiful Merican vs Mohammed Bin Mahmoud Adrian Mattheis vs Liu Peng Shuai George Mann vs Sorgraw Petchyindee Academy |
| About ONE Championship™ ONE Championship (ONE) is the largest global sports media property in Asian history, and the largest producer of millennial live sports content in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE is the Home of Martial Arts, and is the world’s largest martial arts organization, hosting bouts across all styles of martial arts such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Kung Fu, Silat, Sanda, Lethwei, Mixed Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, Submission Grappling, and more. ONE hosts the biggest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions on the largest global media broadcast in Asia. ONE eSports, a subsidiary of ONE Championship, runs Asia’s largest global eSports Championship Series with some of the biggest blockbuster game titles in the world. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 2.6 billion potential viewers across 140+ countries with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Startimes, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, Great Sports, Tencent, Star TV, Mediaset Italia, ProSiebenSat.1, Dubai Sports, Turner Sports, and more. |
VIDEO: UFC 238 Embedded: Vlog Series – Episode 2
VIDEO: UFC 238 Embedded: Vlog Series – Episode 1
Stamp Fairtex Plans To Keep ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title In Thailand
3 June, 2019 – Shanghai, China ; Stamp Fairtex could not be prouder of her Thai heritage, and one of the ways she honors that heritage is by excelling in the country’s national sport of Muay Thai.
Currently, Stamp is the reigning ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion and ONE Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion.
The two-sport world champion has been practicing Muay Thai at a very young age to defend herself from bullies, but years of sacrifices and competitions later, she has become one of the very best Muay Thai competitors in the world.
She will be defending her Muay Thai title in the main event of ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST this coming 15 June at the Baoshan Arena in Shanghai, China against Australian challenger Alma Juniku.
“I am preparing hard for this bout, especially since it will be a title defense,” Stamp said. “I respect Alma and I know what she can bring to the table, but I also know what I am capable of and I have the utmost belief in my skills.”
The 18-year old Juniku has gone toe-to-toe with some of the best Muay Thai athletes in her previous promotions and has held the WBC and IPCC Muay Thai titles in the process.
Stamp will welcome the Australian to the ONE Championship stage, and she has been spending countless hours preparing for her title defense, making sure that she will be ready to overcome her opponent’s strengths.
“Yes, Alma is very patient in her approach, and we have developed a gameplan to be able to use that patience to our advantage,” Stamp stated. “Alma has impeccable timing and her counters are indeed dangerous, but I have nothing but faith in myself, my camp, and my coaches, and I am confident that I can overcome a tough challenger like Alma.”
Stamp believes that Muay Thai is a sport for everyone and not just for the Thai people. She is also excited that “The Art of Eight Limbs” has been spreading internationally. Because it gives her the opportunity to test her skills against the greatest foreign martial artists, Stamp feels motivated even more to successfully defend her title and keep the golden strap in Thailand.
“I am always happy to see other people from other countries get to excel in the sport, and at the same time, I feel that it motivates us from Thailand to do even better, especially since the martial art is part of our culture and our heritage,” Stamp expressed.
“Of course, we would like to show that when it comes to “the Art of Eight Limbs”, we are the best in the world,” she concluded.
UFC RETURNS TO SACRAMENTO, JULY 13 AT GOLDEN 1 CENTER
Las Vegas – The Golden 1 Center in Sacramento prepares to host its second UFC event as the promotion returns to the capital of California for the first time in over two years on July 13. The show will feature an action-packed card with top contenders and hometown favorites in what will be a can’t-miss night for fight fans. The main event is still to be announced.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+® will stream live from Golden 1 Center exclusively on ESPN+ at 5 p.m. PT on Saturday, July 13 (in both English and Spanish), with the prelims kicking off at 2 p.m. PT. Doors open at 1 p.m. PT.
Sacramento’s own Team Alpha Male will have a strong presence on this card, as longtime members Josh Emmett, Andre Fili and Darren Elkins, among others, will look to put on impressive performances in front of their hometown fans. No. 8 ranked featherweight contender Emmett (14-2, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) looks to work his way back into the top-5 rankings by taking out No. 9 ranked Mirsad Bektic(13-1, fighting out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada). Fan favorite Fili (19-6, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) competes at home for the first time in over six years as he battles Brazilian standout Sheymon Moraes(11-3, fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif.). No. 14 ranked featherweight Elkins (25-7, fighting out of Portage, Ind.) aims to bounce back into the win column by being the first person to KO Jiu Jitsu phenom Ryan Hall(7-1, fighting out of Falls Church, Va.).
Announced bouts on the card include:
- No. 11 ranked women’s strawweight contender Cynthia Calvillo (8-1, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) looks to defend her spot in the rankings against former Invicta FC strawweight champion Livinha Souza (12-1, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil)
- Exciting lightweights clash as Beneil Dariush(16-4-1, fighting out of Yorba Linda, Calif.) and Drakker Klose(10-1, fighting out of Glendale, Ariz.) both aim to extend their win streaks to three-in-a-row
- Olympic wrestling silver medalist and No. 10 ranked women’s bantamweight contender Sara McMann (11-5, fighting out of Gaffney, S.C.) returns to action against former UFC women’s flyweight champion Nicco Montano (5-2, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.)
- International middleweights hunt for their first wins of 2019 as Marvin Vettori(12-4-1, fighting out of Mezzocorona, Italy) battles Cezar Ferreira(14-7, fighting out of Miami, Fla. by way of Ibitinga, Sao Paulo, Brazil)
- Light heavyweight knockout artists go to war as Gian Villante (17-11, fighting out of Bellmore, N.Y.) aims to take out Mike Rodriguez (10-3, fighting out of South Easton, Massachusetts)
- Dana White Contender Series signee Karl Roberson(7-2, fighting out of Neptune, N.J.) expects a standup battle when he meets John Phillips (21-9, fighting out of Swansea, Wales) in the UFC
- Top Chinese prospect Pingyuan Liu (12-5, fighting out of Henan, China) intends to remain undefeated in the UFC when he meets Jonathan Martinez(10-2, fighting out of Plainview, Texas)
- Team Alpha Male prospect Benito Lopez(9-1, fighting out of Oroville, Calif.) looks to bounce back from his first professional loss against Dana White Contender Series veteran Martin Day (8-3, fighting out of Kailua, Hawaii)
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+® go on sale Friday, May 31 at 10 a.m. PT. 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, May 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, May 30 starting at 10 a.m. PT. 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 and the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. UFC boasts more than 300 million fans worldwide, including 70 million social media followers across all of its digital platforms, and its programming is broadcast in over 170 countries and territories to one billion TV households worldwide in 40 different languages. UFC produces more than 40 live events annually and consistently sells out some of the world’s most prestigious arenas. Since 2001, UFC has been proudly headquartered in Las Vegas, supported by a network of employees around the world. UFC’s current roster of athletes features more than 570 men and women representing over 55 countries. UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports, delivers exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand, and original content to fans around the world. UFC was acquired in 2016 by global sports, entertainment, and fashion leader Endeavor, along with strategic investors Silver Lake Partners and KKR, in what is among the largest transactions in sports history. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.
About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the multi-sport, direct-to-consumer video service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN. It reached 2 million subscribers in less than a year and offers fans thousands of live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, along with premium editorial content.
Programming on ESPN+ includes hundreds of MLB and NHL games, exclusive UFC, Top Rank boxing and PFL fights and events, top domestic and international soccer (Serie A, MLS, FA Cup, UEFA Nations League, EFL Championship, EFL Carabao Cup, Eredivisie, and more), thousands of college sports events (including football, basketball and other sports), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby and cricket, new and exclusive series, acclaimed studio shows and the full library of ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 films. Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) and can cancel at any time.
ESPN+ is available as an integrated part of the ESPN App (on mobile and connected devices) and ESPN.com. They are the industry-leading all-in-one digital sports platform, delivering a rich, personalized experience to tens of millions of fans every month.
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.
About Golden 1 Center:
Located in the heart of Downtown Sacramento, Golden 1 Center – home of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings – is the world’s most technologically advanced and sustainable arena. It is LEED Platinum certified, the highest level of global recognition for environmentally conscious buildings and organizations, and is the first arena to be 100 percent solar powered. Golden 1 Center operates an unmatched food program that sources 90 percent of the food and beverage served from within 150 miles and partners with local food banks to distribute unserved food items throughout the community. Housing the most powerful WIFI services at any arena, the first esports facility inside a professional sports venue, the NBA’s largest 4K video screen, VSP SKEYE View, and much more, Golden 1 Center is the most connected indoor sports arena and entertainment venue with a focus on overall fan experience. In its three years of operation, Golden 1 Center has profoundly impacted the city of Sacramento and has become a top destination for world-class artists, family-friendly shows, professional sports and more.
FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP THRILLER BETWEEN (C) MAX HOLLOWAY AND (#4) FRANKIE EDGAR HEADLINES UFC® 240 IN EDMONTON
Edmonton, Canada – UFC® returns to Edmonton with a highly anticipated featherweight championship bout that will see titleholder and No. 5 ranked pound-for-pound fighter Max Holloway defend his belt against No. 4 ranked contender Frankie Edgar.
UFC® 240: HOLLOWAY vs. EDGAR takes place Saturday, July 27 at Rogers Place 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 United States as part of an agreement announced last month and continuing through 2025.
Fans will be able to purchase UFC® 240: HOLLOWAY vs. EDGAR online at ESPNPlus.com/PPV and then will be able to watch it via the web or on the ESPN App on any connected device. 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 and Spanish on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes linear networks 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.
Unbeaten at 145 pounds for almost six years, Holloway (20-4, fighting out of Waianae, Hawaii) has utilized dynamic striking to topple the featherweight elite. Over the course of his spectacular run, he has delivered thrilling stoppage wins against Jose Aldo (twice), Brian Ortega, Anthony Pettis and Cub Swanson. Originally scheduled to face Edgar on two previous occasions, Holloway aims to add another legend to his resume and stake his claim as the most dominant featherweight champion in UFC history.
A former lightweight champion, Edgar (23-6-1, fighting out of Toms River, N.J.) looks to join the short list of athletes who have won titles in two UFC divisions. Throughout his legendary career, he has netted spectacular victories over BJ Penn (three times), Cub Swanson (twice), Chad Mendes and Gray Maynard. With history in his sights, Edgar looks to become the first fighter to defeat Holloway at 145 pounds since 2013 and reach the top of the division.
UFC® 240: HOLLOWAY vs. EDGAR will mark the 30th UFC event in Canada, dating back to its inaugural fight card in the Great White North at UFC 83 in 2008. During this time the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization has staged thrilling cards from coast-to-coast in 11 different cities—Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Moncton, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Saskatoon, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg.
Additional bouts on the card include:
- No. 7 ranked flyweight contender Alexis Davis (19-9, fighting out of San Jose, Calif. by way of Niagara Falls, Canada) looks to re-assert herself in the title picture against dangerous prospect Viviane Araujo (7-1, fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil)
- No. 8 ranked Lauren Murphy (10-4, fighting out of Glendale, Ariz.) faces No. 12 Mara Romero Borella (13-5 1NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Ponte dell’Olio, Italy) in a clash of flyweight contenders
- Gillian Robertson (6-3 fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way out Niagara Falls, Canada) goes for another impressive submission win against gritty Sarah Frota (9-1, fighting out of Balneario Camboriu, Brazil)
- Erik Koch (15-6, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) makes his welterweight debut against Kyle Stewart (8-1, fighting out of Tempe, Ariz.)
- More fights to be announced soon
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® 240: HOLLOWAY vs. EDGAR go on sale Friday, May 31 at 10 a.m. MT. 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, May 29 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, May 30 starting at 10 a.m. MT. 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 and the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. UFC boasts more than 300 million fans worldwide, including 70 million social media followers across all of its digital platforms, and its programming is broadcast in over 170 countries and territories to one billion TV households worldwide in 40 different languages. UFC produces more than 40 live events annually and consistently sells out some of the world’s most prestigious arenas. Since 2001, UFC has been proudly headquartered in Las Vegas, supported by a network of employees around the world. UFC’s current roster of athletes features more than 570 men and women representing over 55 countries. UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports, delivers exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand, and original content to fans around the world. UFC was acquired in 2016 by global sports, entertainment, and fashion leader Endeavor, along with strategic investors Silver Lake Partners and KKR, in what is among the largest transactions in sports history. For more information, visitUFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.
About Rogers Place
Rogers Place is an arena built for fans. Among its many significant features are a lower bowl of over 9,000 seats, terrific sightlines, wide concourses, leading food and beverage offerings and the latest in technology. Whether attending a hockey game or the biggest of concerts, guests of Rogers Place will experience it all in the most dynamic of entertainment environments.
About ESPN+
ESPN+, which surpassed one million paying subscribers in just five months, is the premium multi-sport, direct-to-consumer video service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN.
ESPN+ will offer UFC fans 20 exclusive UFC on ESPN+ Fight Nights per year, as well as an extensive lineup of on-demand UFC programming, original shows (including “Dana White’s Contender Series”), classic fights and more. In addition to live and on-demand UFC content included in the ESPN+ subscription, fight fans will be able to purchase and watch UFC PPV events via ESPN+ and within the ESPN app, for a separate cost.
In addition to UFC, ESPN+ offers fans thousands of additional live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, as well as premium editorial content. ESPN+ is an integrated part of the ESPN App, the leading sports app and the premier all-in-one digital sports platform for fans. The ESPN App is available across nearly all major mobile and connected device platforms and delivers a rich, personalized experience that curates ESPN’s content around each fan’s individual tastes. ESPN+ is also be available through ESPN.com.
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.
INITIAL BOUTS ANNOUNCED FOR ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST ON 15 JUNE
20 May 2019 – Shanghai, China: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced the main event for ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST which takes place Saturday, 15 June at the Baoshan Arena in Shanghai. Reigning ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Stamp Fairtex of Thailand will defend her title against Alma Juniku of Australia.
ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST will be held in cooperation with Great Sports, Tencent, Hugo Boss, Boxing Cat Brewery, Spring Airlines, and more.
Ticket information for ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST is available at www.onefc.com.
Stamp Fairtex of Thailand is one of the most talented female martial artists in the world today.
Stamp began her ONE Championship run as a participant in Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series. She competed in mixed martial arts and won her first professional bout by knockout in just 19 seconds. Leaving a lasting impression with her exceptional striking skills, Stamp was tapped to take part in the prestigious ONE Super Series soon thereafter.
She made her debut at ONE: KINGDOM OF HEROES in Bangkok where she defeated “Killer Bee” Kai Ting Chuang to capture the ONE Atomweight Kickboxing World Championship. Last February, Stamp battled American Janet “JT” Todd to become a two-sport World Champion, capturing the ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Championship.
Stamp now returns to action in the first defense of her Muay Thai title against Alma Juniku of Australia.
Set to make his highly-anticipated ONE Championship debut, Asian mixed martial arts veteran Yoshihiro “Sexyama” Akiyama of Japan will face Agilan “Alligator” Thani of Malaysia in the co-main event of the evening.
Akiyama is one of the most iconic Asian mixed martial artists in history. A fourth generation Japanese of Korean descent, he began his martial arts career garnering accolades on the amateur level. Some of those prizes include a gold medal at the 2001 Asian Judo Championships for South Korea and a gold medal at the 2002 Asian Games for Japan.
Known as “Sexyama,” he made his mixed martial arts debut in December 2004 and used his world-class judo stylings as his base. That has led to remarkable success, defeating some of the industry’s most respected names including Melvin Manhoef, Alan Belcher, and former IBF Heavyweight Boxing Champion Francois Botha.
Former ONE Welterweight World Title challenger, Thani is one of the most remarkable athletes Malaysia has ever produced. Ever since making his debut as an amateur, the man they call “Alligator” has torn through the competition.
The top contender trains daily at Monarchy MMA in Kuala Lumpur under well-respected Belgian BJJ coach Samir Mrabet, but also regularly travels to the United States to sharpen his skills at the world-famous Team Quest.
2-time SUPERKOMBAT Heavyweight World Champion Tarik Khbabez of Morocco will go head-to-head with Brazilian National Kickboxing Champion Anderson “Braddock” Silva in a ONE Super Series Kickboxing showdown. Both Khbabez and Silva are known for their knockout power and aggressive styles, which promises non-stop action from start to finish.
2-time European Mixed Martial Arts Champion Reinier De Ridder of The Netherlands will look to keep his unblemished professional record intact when he takes on former Aspera FC Middleweight Champion Gilberto “Giba” Galvao of Brazil. De Ridder made his ONE Championship debut last January at ONE: HERO’S ASCENT, defeating Fan Rong by first-round submission. Galvao, meanwhile, was last in the ONE Circle in March of 2018, defeating American middleweight Jake Butler.
Former Top King Muay Thai World Champion and former ONE World Title contender Han Zi Hao of China will make his much-anticipated return to action opposite Scotland’s Andrew “Maddog Fairtex” Miller in a ONE Super Series Muay Thai matchup.
Han previously competed for the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title last January at ONE: CLASH OF LEGENDS, but fell just short of victory to Thai legend Nong-O Gaiyanghadao. He now returns to his homeland of China to jumpstart another run at the World Title.
Miller, on the other hand, is a WKA British Champion who most recently competed in Jakarta at ONE: FOR HONOR, where he defeated Malaysia’s Mohammed Bin Mahmoud by unanimous decision.
Kyokushin Karate Black Belt Koyomi “Moushigo” Matsushima of Japan will take on South Korea’s “Pretty Boy” Kwon Won Il in a featherweight mixed martial arts contest.
The 26-year-old Matsushima is one of the fastest rising martial artists from Japan. Hailing from Kanagawa prefecture located in the Kant? region of Japan, Matsushima has put together a handful of solid performances while competing in local Japanese martial arts promotions Pancrase and Shooto. In his ONE Championship debut last September, Matsushima scored a stunning first-round technical knockout victory over former ONE World Champion Marat Gafurov, announcing his arrival on the global stage of martial arts competition.
Meanwhile, Korean mixed martial arts prospect Kwon has also made waves during his time so far in the promotion. With highlight-reel knockouts of Anthony Engelen and Eric Kelly, Kwon now faces his toughest test to date in Matsushima.
CH7 Muay Thai World Champion Rodlek PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym of Thailand will face the United Kingdom’s Liam “Hitman” Harrison in a ONE Super Series Muay Thai bout. Rodlek is one of Thailand’s fastest-rising Muay Thai stars, while Harrison is an 8-time Muay Thai World Champion and veteran.
Former WMMAA Champion Fan Rong of China is set to perform in front of his countrymen when he takes on Sherif “The Shark” Mohamed of Egypt in a middleweight mixed martial arts contest.
Fan made his ONE Championship debut last January, and is eager to tally his first victory with the promotion. Mohamed is looking to do the same as both warriors lock horns at the center of the ONE Championship ring.
Shanghai Open Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Champion “Rock Man” Chen Lei of China makes his highly-anticipated return to the ONE Championship stage when he takes on Dutch-Indonesian top contender Anthony “The Archangel” Engelen.
Training out of Equilibrium Beijing, Chen has shown incredible potential during his time so far in ONE Championship. This includes an impressive run with four scintillating finishes since his promotional debut in May of 2017.
Engelen, on the other hand, is one of the most talented featherweights in the promotion. The majority of Engelen’s victories have ended in exciting finishes. He will look to return to the winner’s circle with a victory over Chen Lei.
Former IBC Featherweight Champion Victorio “Indra” Senduk of Indonesia battles Phoe “Bushido” Thaw of Myanmar in a featherweight mixed martial arts contest.
South Korea’s “The Big Heart” Yoon Chang Min takes on the Philippines’ Trestle “Jun Minion” Tan. And kicking off the action at ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST is Japanese women’s mixed martial arts prospect Itsuki Hirata who faces former Philippine National Muay Thai Silver Medalist Angelie “D’ Explorer” Sabanal.
For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.
About ONE Championship™
ONE Championship (ONE) is the largest global sports media property in Asian history, and the largest producer of millennial live sports content in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE is the Home of Martial Arts, and is the world’s largest martial arts organization, hosting bouts across all styles of martial arts such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Kung Fu, Silat, Sanda, Lethwei, Mixed Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, Submission Grappling, and more. ONE hosts the biggest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions on the largest global media broadcast in Asia. ONE eSports, a subsidiary of ONE Championship, runs Asia’s largest global eSports Championship Series with some of the biggest blockbuster game titles in the world. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 2.6 billion potential viewers across 140+ countries with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Startimes, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, Great Sports, Tencent, Star TV, Mediaset Italia, ProSiebenSat.1, Dubai Sports, Turner Sports, and more.
“SUGA” RASHAD EVANS NAMED TO UFC® HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2019
Las Vegas – UFC® today announced that former UFC light heavyweight champion and winner of season two of The Ultimate Fighter®, Rashad Evans, will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s ‘Modern Wing’ as a member of the class of 2019. The 2019 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Toyo Tires®, will take place on Friday, July 5, at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The event will be streamed live and exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS® starting at 7 p.m. PT.
“Rashad and I have been close since season two of The Ultimate Fighter and we’ve had an amazing relationship,” UFC President Dana White said. “It has been fun to see him succeed and grow as a fighter, become a world champion and then a respected coach for up and coming fighters, and then to see him retire last year. I love to see him still involved with UFC. I couldn’t be prouder of Rashad than I am right now with him being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.”
Evans will enter the UFC Hall of Fame as a member of the Modern Wing, joining Forrest Griffin (2013), BJ Penn (2015), Urijah Faber (2017), Ronda Rousey (2018) and Michael Bisping (2019). The “Modern Era” category includes athletes who turned pro on or after November 17, 2000 (when the unified rules of mixed martial arts were adopted), are a minimum age of 35, or have been retired for one year or more.
A veteran of 33 professional fights during his 14-year career, Evans compiled a record of 24-8-1 (14-8-1, UFC), which included wins over UFC Hall of Famers Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin and Tito Ortiz, former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson, former UFC middleweight champion and 2019 UFC Hall of Fame inductee Michael Bisping, UFC® 17: REDEMPTION middleweight tournament champion, and former Strikeforce® light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson and former WEC® light heavyweight champion Jason Lambert.
Evans first made his mark as a heavyweight during the second season of The Ultimate Fighter. During the series, he defeated Tom Murphy, Mike Whitehead and Keith Jardine to advance to the finale against Brad Imes. Rashad defeated Imes via split decision in the co-main event of The Ultimate Fighter®: Team Hughes vs. Team Franklin Finale, to win the heavyweight tournament.
After winning TUF, Rashad moved to light heavyweight and proceeded to win six of his first seven fights at 205 pounds inside the Octagon®, capped off by a highlight reel knockout of UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell in the main event of UFC® 88: BREAKTHROUGH. The win improved his record to 17-0-1 and earned him a title shot against UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin at UFC® 92: THE ULTIMATE 2008.
As the main event of UFC® 92: THE ULTIMATE 2008, which took place on Saturday, December 27, 2008 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Evans and Griffin made history as the first TUF winners to face each other with a title on the line.
Evans and Griffin exchanged several series of punches and kicks during the first two rounds with Forrest applying the majority of the pressure, ending the second round with a jab that opened a cut above Rashad’s left eye at the horn. Griffin continued to apply pressure at the beginning of round three until Evans, down two rounds on the score card, caught one of Forrest’s kicks and took Griffin down for the first takedown of the night :30 seconds into the round. Rashad would capitalize on the takedown with a barrage of hammer fists until Forrest closed guard. Now mounted on top of Griffin, Evans evaded Forrest’s kimura submission attempt and continued landing punches and elbows until the fight was stopped with 2:14 remaining in the round.
After defeating Griffin to capture the UFC light heavyweight title, Evans would lose his next fight to former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida at UFC® 98: EVANS vs. MACHIDA. Rashad would bounce back from his loss to Machida, winning his next four fights and repeatedly facing some of the biggest names in combat sports history before retiring in 2018.
Evans enters the UFC Hall of Fame with a remarkable resume that includes:
1 of 8 TUF winners to become an undisputed UFC champion
20 fights – tied for 1st in modern light heavyweight history
50 takedowns – 2nd in modern light heavyweight history
13 wins – tied for 3rd in modern light heavyweight history
6 KO / TKO – tied for 3rd in modern light heavyweight history
A native of Niagara Falls, New York, Evans began wrestling in high school, advancing to the state finals in 1997 and 1998, placing fourth during both tournaments while also earning All-State honors each year. Following high school, Rashad began his collegiate wrestling career at Niagara County Community College, becoming the 2000 Junior College National Champion in the 165 lbs. weight class. In 2001, Evans transferred to Michigan State University, where he was a member of the Spartans wrestling team for three years, finishing his career with 48 wins, 34 losses and two top five finishes in the Big Ten Conference Championships (2002 – 4th; 2003 – 3rd).
Outside the Octagon, Evans has become an acclaimed combat sports analyst with ESPN and an accomplished coach, as he continues to help train up and coming MMA athletes as a member of Henri Hooft’s Hard Knocks 365 gym in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Now living in his adopted hometown of Boca Raton, Florida, Rashad also spends time giving back to his local community as a board member of Always Progress, a South Florida-based charitable organization that helps at-risk youth overcome obstacles in life by showing the importance of making good decisions.
The remaining inductees of the UFC Hall of Fame class of 2019 will be announced in the coming weeks leading to the 8th Annual UFC International Fight Week™, taking place from Wednesday, July 3 – Sunday, July 7 in Las Vegas.
To view Evans’ UFC FIGHT PASS collection please visit: https://www.ufc.tv/category/ufc-hall-of-fame-rashad-evans-2019. To view the Hall of Fame fight library, please visit UFCHOF. To see a complete list of UFC athletes and fights enshrined in the UFC Hall of Fame, as well as details regarding the UFC Hall of Fame format, please visit UFCHOFFAQ. For additional information, please visit UFC.com.