Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Miami, Fla. for the first time in almost 20 years with a blockbuster middleweight championship rematch that will see Alex Pereira go for his first successful title defense against former titleholder and No. 1 ranked contender Israel Adesanya. Also, former welterweight title challengers collide when current No. 5 ranked contender Gilbert Burns battles No. 11 Jorge Masvidal.

UFC^® 287: PEREIRA vs. ADESANYA 2 takes place Saturday, April 8 from Miami-Dade Arena with the main card at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on ESPN+ PPV. The prelims will be seen on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT with the night’s action starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT with Early Prelims on ESPN+ (English and Spanish) and UFC Fight Pass.

UFC^® 287: PEREIRA vs. ADESANYA 2 tickets will go on sale Friday, Feb. 24 at 12 p.m. ET and are available for purchase at ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 12 p.m. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Feb. 23 starting at 12 p.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Media members wishing to apply for UFC^® 287: PEREIRA vs. ADESANYA 2fight week credentials may sign up here.

Newly crowned champion Pereira (7-1, fighting out of Danbury, Conn. by way of Sao Paulo, Brazil) stunned the world by dethroning Adesanya via dramatic comeback KO in November. A former kickboxing titleholder, he also holds memorable KO wins over Sean Strickland and Andreas Michailidis. Pereira now intends to secure his first successful title defense by once again stopping Adesanya in emphatic fashion.

Former champion Adesanya (23-2, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand) plans to earn a measure of revenge against Pereira. Among the greatest middleweights in UFC history, he holds spectacular victories against Robert Whittaker (twice), Paulo Costa and Anderson Silva. Adesanya now has his sights set on reclaiming the belt with another highlight-reel finish.

Burns (21-5, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla. by way of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) wastes no time getting back in the Octagon following his January win over Neil Magny. A submission ace with heavy hands, Burns also holds impressive victories against Tyron Woodley, Stephen Thompson and Demian Maia. Burns now hopes to stake his claim for another title shot by taking out Masvidal.

Miami’s Masvidal (35-16, fighting out of Miami, Fla.) attempts to steal the show in front of his hometown fans and start his 2023 campaign off with a vintage performance. A perennial fan favorite, he has secured thrilling victories over Nate Diaz, Ben Askren and Darren Till. Masvidal now looks to deliver another incredible KO to re-enter the welterweight Top 10.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 6 ranked Rob Font (19-6, fighting out of Woburn, Mass.) meets No. 13 Adrian Yanez (16-3, fighting out of Houston, Texas) in an intriguing clash of bantamweight contenders
• Kevin Holland (23-9 1NC, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas) squares off with Santiago Ponzinibbio (30-6, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) in a welterweight bout guaranteed to deliver fireworks
• Raul Rosas Jr. (7-0, fighting out Las Vegas, Nev.) aims to remain undefeated when he faces Christian Rodriguez (8-1, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) in an exciting bantamweight tilt
• No. 13 ranked middleweight contender Kelvin Gastelum (17-8 1NC, fighting out of Yuma, Ariz.) battles No. 14 Chris Curtis (30-9, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Cincinnati, Ohio)
• No. 13 ranked welterweight contender Michael Chiesa (18-6, fighting out of Spokane Valley, Wash.) faces Li Jingliang (19-8, fighting out of Beijing, China)
• No. 11 strawweight contender Michelle Waterson (18-10, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) takes on No. 13 Luana Pinheiro (10-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
• Chris Barnett (23-8, fighting out of Athens, Ga.) locks horns with Chase Sherman (16-11, fighting out of D’Iberville, Miss.) in an exciting heavyweight tilt
• Gerald Meerschaert (35-15, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) squares off with streaking Joe Pyfer (9-2, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.) at middleweight
• No. 14 ranked flyweight contender Cynthia Calvillo (9-5-1, fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) returns to strawweight when she meets Loopy Godinez (8-3, fighting out of Vancouver, B.C., Canada by way of Aguascalientes, Mexico)
• Dana White’s Contender Series signees face off when Ignacio Bahamondes (13-4, fighting out of Chicago, Ill. by way of Santiago, Chile) takes on Nikolas Motta (13-4, fighting out of Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil) at lightweight
• Shayilan Nuerdanbieke (39-10, fighting out of Beijing, China) goes for his fourth consecutive win when he takes on Steve Garcia (13-5, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) at featherweight
• Undefeated prospect Jaqueline Amorim (6-0, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil) makes her UFC debut against Sam Hughes (7-5, fighting out of Dallas, Texas)

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

###

About UFC^®

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

About Miami-Dade Arena

Located in the center of booming downtown Miami and the Entertainment District, Miami-Dade Arena hosts 80+ non-basketball events each year including A-list concerts, family shows, sporting events, national conferences and more. Built with state-of-the-art sound and lighting and HD and electronic media signage inside and out, the impressive 19,600-seat Miami-Dade Arena is ranked the #1 venue in Florida and #1 for Latin entertainment. The Arena has led the renaissance of downtown Miami over the past two decades, helping to transform the area into a thriving arts and entertainment district. The facility has hosted more than 800 events including diverse musical superstars such as Marc Anthony, Celine Dion, Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, The Killers, Bad Bunny, Travis Scott, Drake, Andrea Bocelli and Paul McCartney, just to name a few. Miami-Dade Arena leads the industry in sustainability achieving its second LEED Recertification. For more information about the facility, visit MiamiDadeArena.com.

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

About ESPN

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 24.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).  

Las Vegas – UFC^® delivers another thrilling night of fights at UFC APEX, headlined by a light heavyweight contenders’ bout between No. 6 ranked Nikita Krylov and No. 8 Ryan Spann. Also,No. 11 ranked middleweight contender Andre Muniz battles Brendan Allen in a clash of Dana White’s Contender Series signees.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: KRYLOV vs. SPANN will take place Saturday, February 25 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The entire card will be available on ESPN+ in English and Spanish, with the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT and the prelims at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

Krylov (29-9, fighting out of Donetsk, Ukraine) intends to start his 2023 season off with another memorable finish. Among the most exciting fighters at light heavyweight, he holds wins over former title challengers Volkan Oezdemir, Alexander Gustafsson and Ovince Saint Preux. Krylov now aims to stop Spann and set himself up for a shot at the division’s Top 5.

Spann (21-7, fighting out of Beaumont, Texas) looks to continue his ascent to the top of the 205-pound ladder with a statement victory. A submission specialist with KO power, he has secured impressive finishes against Dominick Reyes, Ion Cutelaba and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Spann now hopes to make the most of his second main event opportunity by taking out Krylov in impressive fashion.

Muniz (23-4, fighting out of Montes Claros, MG, Brazil) plans to continue his hot streak with another statement performance. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, he has earned memorable victories over Uriah Hall, Eryk Anders and Jacare Souza. Muniz now has his sights set on defending his spot in the rankings by securing his 10^th consecutive win.

Allen (20-5, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) looks to break into the middleweight Top 15 with a show-stealing finish. A talented grappler currently riding a three-fight win streak, he has turned heads with notable submission victories against Krzysztof Jotko, Sam Alvey and Kevin Holland. Allen now plans to halt Muniz’s momentum and establish himself as a middleweight title threat.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Augusto Sakai (15-5-1, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil) locks horns with Don’Tale Mayes (10-4, fighting out of Louisville, Ken.) in a clash of hard-hitting heavyweights
• Undefeated Tatiana Suarez (9-0, fighting out of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) makes her long awaited return against Montana De La Rosa (12-7-1, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas) in a flyweight bout
• Dana White’s Contender Series signees collide when Mike Malott (8-1-1, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif. by way of Waterdown, Ontario, Canada) faces Yohan Lainesse (9-1, fighting out of St-Bruno, Quebec, Canada) at welterweight
• Unbeaten Trevor Peek (7-0 1NC, fighting out of Chattanooga, Tenn.) aims to turn heads in his UFC debut against returning Alex Reyes (13-3, fighting out of Victorville, Calif.) at lightweight
• Dana White’s Contender Series signee Jasmine Jasudavicius (7-2, fighting out of Niagara, Ontario, Canada) faces debuting Gabriella Fernandes (7-1, fighting out of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil) in a flyweight bout
• Jordan Leavitt (10-2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) meets Victor Martinez (13-4, fighting out of Pharr, Texas) at lightweight
• Ode’ Osbourne (11-5 1NC, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Milwaukee, Wisc.) squares off with Charles Johnson (13-3, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) in a 130-pound catchweight bout
• Rafael Alves (20-11, fighting out of Miami, Fla. by way of Para, Brazil) takes on Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Nurullo Aliev (7-0, fighting out of Dushanbe, Tajikistan) in a lightweight bout
• UFC newcomer Hailey Cowan (7-2, fighting out of Robinson, Texas) meets Ailin Perez (7-2, fighting out of Buenos Aires, Argentina) in a bantamweight bout
• Dana White’s Contender Series contract winnerJose Johnson (15-7, fighting out of Copperas Cove, Texas by way of La Romana, Dominican Republic) debuts against Garrett Armfield (8-3, fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Fla.) at bantamweight
• Erick Gonzalez (14-7, fighting out of Torrance, Calif.) faces undefeated Trevor Peek (7-0 1NC, fighting out of Chattanooga, TN) in a lightweight bout

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

###

About UFC^®

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

About ESPN+

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

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® today announced that former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver will be inducted into the 2023 Class of the UFC Hall of Fame as a Pioneer. The 2023 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Toyo Tires^®, will take place during the 11^th Annual UFC International Fight Week^Ô this summer in Las Vegas and will be streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS^®.

“Jens Pulver is a pioneer of the sport who was not only the first lightweight champion in UFC history, but someone who delivered some of the sport’s most memorable moments,” said UFC President Dana White. “No one will ever forget his knockout of John Lewis or his win over BJ Penn in their first fight, and his fight against Urijah Faber in 2008 was the biggest fight in WEC history at the time. Jens could do it all in the Octagon, and it will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.”

Pulver will enter the UFC Hall of Fame as the 18^th member of the Pioneer Era Wing. The Pioneers Era category includes athletes who turned professional before November 17, 2000 (when the unified rules of mixed martial arts were adopted), are a minimum age of 35, or who have been retired for one year or more.

A veteran of 47 fights during his 14-year professional MMA career, Pulver registered a record of 27-19-1 Draw (11-9-1, – UFC / PRIDE / Shooto / WEC), securing victories over UFC Hall of Famers BJ Penn and Cub Swanson, former Shooto lightweight champion Caol Uno, The Ultimate Fighter^® Season 2 tournament winner Joe Stevenson, and former WEC^® featherweight champion Cole Escovedo. 

Pulver made his professional MMA debut by competing as part of two Bas Rutten Invitationals on April 24 and June 1, 1999. Produced by UFC Hall of Famer Bas Rutten, the invitational was an MMA tournament, where Pulver recorded a 3-1 record over two events before joining UFC.

Jens made his UFC debut as part of UFC^® 22: ONLY ONE CAN BE CHAMPION, which took place on September 24, 1999, in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Pulver faced Alfonso Alcarez, fighting to a draw. After his UFC debut, he would bounce back from his fight against Alcarez, winning five of his next six fights, which included a 2-0 record inside UFC.

Jens returned to the Octagon for his fourth UFC bout against John Lewis at UFC^® 28: HIGH STAKES, which took place on November 17, 2000. Pulver defeated Lewis via knockout 15 seconds into the first round and earned his first title shot at UFC 30. His quick knockout of Lewis ranks as the fifth fastest in the history of the lightweight division.

UFC^® 30: BATTLE ON THE BOARDWALK took place on February 23, 2001, in Atlantic City, New Jersey and served as the first UFC event under the Zuffa banner.

Jens faced Caol Uno in the co-main event with the inaugural UFC 155-pound (then called bantamweight) title on the line. Pulver would earn a unanimous decision victory over Uno and become the organization’s first bantamweight champion. After the event, the division was renamed to lightweight, making Jens UFC’s first lightweight champion. 

Pulver returned to the Octagon on September 28, 2001, in the co-main event of UFC^® 33: VICTORY IN VEGAS. This event would serve as the first UFC event sanctioned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Jens would defeat Dennis Hallman via unanimous decision and become the first UFC lightweight champion to defend their title.

His next title defense would take place on January 11, 2002, against future UFC Hall of Famer BJ Penn in the main event of UFC^® 35: THROWDOWN. Still regarded as one of the most exciting fights in UFC history, Jens defeated Penn via majority decision in an event that would also make history as the first UFC event headlined by athletes competing in the lightweight division.

Pulver would vacate his title and leave UFC after this event. During his first tenure inside the Octagon (1999 – 2002), he set lightweight division records for total (482) and significant (222) strikes landed.

Jens would compete 13 times across a number of MMA promotions over the next four years, most notably PRIDE and Shooto, before returning to UFC to face Joe Lauzon at UFC^® 63: HUGHES vs. PENN 2. Pulver would lose his return bout against Lauzon and his next fight, a rematch against Penn as the main event of The Ultimate Fighter^® Season 5 Finale. He would leave UFC for a second and final time following this event.

During the final six years of his career, Pulver would continue to face the best of the best across numerous MMA promotions, such as WEC and Titan FC, before retiring on November 23, 2013.

A native of Sunnyside, Washington, Pulver joined a youth wrestling program in the sixth grade and competed through high school, earning two state titles as a member of Tahoma Senior High School in Maple Valley. He also began boxing during his time in high school.

Jens began his collegiate wrestling career at Highline Community College in Des Moines, Washington, where he became an NJCAA All-American. He then transferred to Boise State University, where he competed before an injury ended his collegiate wrestling career. Pulver would continue his education at Boise State and earn his degree in criminal justice.

Following his graduation, Jens transitioned from wrestling to mixed martial arts, training with various camps before joining UFC Hall of Famer Pat Miletich at the Miletich Fighting Systems Academy. He currently resides in Iowa with his wife and two kids.

Jens is also the full-time host of UFC’s official Twitch channel, where he streams live with fans three times per week, as well as joining Watch Alongs for every UFC event.

To view Pulver’s UFC FIGHT PASS collection please visit: https://ufcfightpass.com/playlist/13234/jens-pulver-ufc-hall-of-fame.

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 UFC.com/HOF. For additional information, please visit UFC.com.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with a matchup of top flyweights as No. 1 ranked contender Taila Santos returns against No. 10 Erin Blanchfield. In the co-main event, exciting light heavyweight collide as Jordan Wright faces Zac Pauga.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: SANTOS vs. BLANCHFIELD will take place Saturday, February 18 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The entire card will be available on ESPN+ in English and Spanish, with the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT and the prelims at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

Former UFC flyweight title challenger Santos (19-2, fighting out of Balneário Camboriú, SC, Brazil) returns to action looking to impress in her first UFC main event. A knockout artist with 11 first-round finishes, Santos earned her UFC stripes with victories over Molly McCann, Roxanne Modafferi and Joanne Wood. She now seeks to halt the momentum of Blanchfield and earn another crack at the championship.

Blanchfield (10-1, fighting out of Elmwood Park, N.J.) is considered one of the top prospects in MMA. Still only 23 years old, Blanchfield is undefeated in the UFC with notable wins over Miranda Maverick, JJ Aldrich and Molly McCann. She now aims to earn the biggest victory of her career and soar to the top of the flyweight ranks.

Wright (12-4 1NC, fighting out of Lake Sherwood, Calif.) enters the Octagon with his sights set on delivering another spectacular finish. The owner of an impressive 100 percent finishing rate, he holds first-round knockout wins over Jamie Pickett and Ike Villanueva. Wright now seeks to start 2023 off with another addition to his highlight reel.

The Ultimate Fighter season 30 heavyweight finalist Pauga (6-1, fighting out of Lakewood, Colo.) drops down in weight with the intention of putting the light heavyweight division on notice. A former NFL player, Pauga climbed his way to The Ultimate Fighter finale with victories over Nyle Bartling and Jordan Heiderman. He now plans to earn his first UFC win in dominant fashion.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• A heavyweight bout sees Josh Parisian (15-5, fighting out of Howell, Mich.) lock horns with Dana White’s Contender Seriessignee Jamal Pogues (9-3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.)
• William Knight (11-4, fighting out of Vernon, Conn.) seeks to start 2023 off on a high note when he faces Marcin Prachnio (15-6, fighting out of Warsaw, Poland) at light heavyweight
• UFC legend Jim Miller (35-16 1 NC, fighting out of Sparta, N.J.) returns to the Octagon to add more records to his name when he matches up with Alexander Hernandez (13-6, fighting out of San Antonio, Texas)
• No. 12 ranked women’s bantamweight Lina Lansberg (10-7, fighting out of Malmo, Sweden) meets No. 14 ranked Mayra Bueno Silva (9-2-1, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) in an all-action bout
• Jamall Emmers (18-6, fighting out of Mentone, Calif.) plans to spoil the UFC debut of undefeated newcomer Khusein Askhabov (23-0, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Chechnya, Russia) at featherweight
• Light heavyweight veteran Ovince Saint Preux (26-16, fighting out of Knoxville, Tenn.) looks to secure another signature finish against Philipe Lins (15-5, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil)
• Dana White’s Contender Seriessignee Nazim Sadykhov (7-1, fighting out of Brooklyn, N.Y.) intends to make a statement against Evan Elder (7-1, fighting out of Hillsboro, Mo.) at lightweight
• AJ Fletcher (9-2, fighting out of Lafayette, La.) battles Themba Gorimbo (10-3, fighting out of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa) in a welterweight clash
• Dana White’s Contender Seriessignee Clayton Carpenter (6-0, fighting out of Gilbert, Ariz.) has his sights set on making a statement against Juancamilo Ronderos (4-1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) in a flyweight scrap

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

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 688 million fans and 207 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 24.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).  

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to San Antonio, Texas, for the first time in almost four years with a pair of thrilling 135-pound matchups. Surging No. 4 ranked bantamweight contender Marlon Vera goes for his fifth consecutive win when he takes on exciting finisher and No. 5 ranked Cory Sandhagen. Also, former women’s bantamweight champion and current No. 3 ranked Holly Holm battles No. 6 Yana Santos in the co-main event.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: VERA vs. SANDHAGEN will take place Saturday, March 25 at AT&T Center. The main card will be available on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, as well as simulcast in English and Spanish on ESPN+, starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT. The prelims will kick off streaming exclusively on ESPN+ at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT, before also being broadcast on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 4:30pm ET / 1:30pm PT.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: VERA vs. SANDHAGEN tickets will go on sale Friday, Feb. 10 at 10 a.m. CT and are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. CT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Feb. 9 starting at 10 a.m. CT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

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

Vera (20-7-1, fighting out of Chone, Manabi, Ecuador) aims to deliver another show-stealing performance in his third consecutive main event. A diverse finisher, he holds spectacular KO victories over Dominick Cruz, Frankie Edgar and Sean O’Malley. Vera now hopes to secure a title shot by becoming the first fighter to knock out Sandhagen.

Former interim bantamweight title challenger Sandhagen (15-4, fighting out of Aurora, Colo.) is no stranger to highlight-reel performances. Since joining the UFC roster in 2018, he has delivered incredible KO wins against Frankie Edgar, Marlon Moraes and Iuri Alcantara. Sandhagen now looks to halt Vera’s momentum and stake his claim for a shot at the belt.

Holm (14-6, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) intends to start her year with a vintage KO win. Among the greatest women’s combat sports athletes of all-time, she holds memorable victories over Ronda Rousey, Megan Anderson and Bethe Correia. Holm now plans to stop her former teammate and defend her spot in the rankings.

Former UFC title challenger Santos (14-6 1NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Saint Petersburg, Russia) looks to secure the biggest win of her career. A talented striker, she has earned notable wins against Ketlen Vieira, Marion Reneau and Lina Lansberg. Santos now has her sights set on cracking the division’s Top 5 by finishing Holm.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 6 ranked flyweight contender Alex Perez (24-7, fighting out of Lemoore, Calf.) faces No. 9 Manel Kape (18-6, fighting out of Phuket, Thailand by way of Porto, Portugal) in a bout guaranteed to delivered fireworks
• No. 8 ranked contender Sean Brady (15-1, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.) locks horns with No. 14 Michel Pereira (28-11 2 NC, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) in an intriguing welterweight tilt
• No. 15 ranked featherweight contender Alex Caceres (20-13 1 NC, fighting out of Miami, Fla.) aims to defend his spot in the rankings when he meets rising Nate Landwehr (16-4, fighting out of Clarksville, Tenn.)
• Dana White’s Contender Series signees collide when Chidi Njokuani (22-8 1 NC, fighting out of Garland, Texas) faces Albert Duraev (15-4, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Grozny, Russia) at middleweight
• Daniel Pineda (27-14 2 NC, fighting out of Houston, Texas) takes on Tucker Lutz (12-2, fighting out of Baltimore, Md.) in a featherweight bout
• Steven Peterson (19-10, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) meets Lucas Alexander (7-3, fighting out of Orlando, Fla. by way of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) at featherweight
• Trevin Giles (15-4, fighting out of Houston, Texas) looks to build off the momentum of his most recent victory when he takes on Preston Parsons (10-3, fighting out of Jacksonville Beach, Fla.) in a welterweight bout
• Liang Na (17-6, fighting out of Heilongjiang, China) goes for her first UFC win when she faces Brogan Walker (8-3, fighting out of Hagatna, Guam) at flyweight
• San Antonio’s own CJ Vergara (10-4-1, fighting out of San Antonio, Texas) aims to steal the show when he squares off with Daniel Da Silva (11-4, fighting out of Valença, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in a flyweight matchup
• No. 9 ranked women’s flyweight contender Andrea Lee (13-6, fighting out of Shreveport, La.) battles No. 12 Maycee Barber (11-2, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.)

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

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About UFC^®

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

About AT&T Center

The premier entertainment venue in South Texas, the AT&T Center is the home of the San Antonio Spurs (NBA) and the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. The Bexar County-owned arena has also hosted hundreds of concerts and special events since opening in 2002 and underwent a $110+ million renovation in 2015 to enhance the fan experience at all levels. For more information go to ATTCenter.com.

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 24.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).  

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^Ò, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, today announced the launch of its annual celebration of Black History Month in which UFC will commemorate the achievements made by African American and Black UFC athletes. Throughout the month of February, UFC will highlight the personal stories of African American and Black UFC athletes, past and present, while celebrating their significance in promoting and growing UFC and the sport of mixed martial arts. 

Former UFC heavyweight title challenger Derrick Lewis, currently ranked no. 7 in the division, will headline the first event of Black History Month when he faces Serghei Spivac in the main event of UFC^Ò FIGHT NIGHT: LEWIS vs. SPIVAC on Saturday, February 4 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas.

In addition, numerous top-ranked African American and Black UFC athletes will compete as part of UFC^Ò 284: MAKHACHEV vs. VOLKANOVSKI, which takes place on Saturday, February 11, in Perth, Australia, and UFC^Ò FIGHT NIGHT: VERA vs. SANDHAGEN, which takes place on Saturday, February 18 at UFC APEX.

UFC’s Black History Month celebration will conclude on Saturday, February 25, as UFC light heavyweight Ryan Spann, currently ranked no. 11 in the division, will headline the card against Nikita Krylov in the main event of UFC^Ò FIGHT NIGHT: KRYLOV vs. SPANN at UFC APEX.

UFC will also commemorate Black History Month across its digital and social platforms with exclusive content such as an interactive timeline, features, and vignettes published weekly to UFC.com/black-history. UFC will also include special content during its broadcasts via watermark inclusion, athlete features, and vignettes throughout the month.

In addition, UFC will produce special content as part of ESPN’s Black History Month-themed programming, by looking at some of 2022’s most exciting fights to feature African American and Black athletes competing on the roster. UFC Unleashed: Black History Month will debut on Sunday, February 5 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

UFC FIGHT PASS^Ò, the world’s leading streaming service for combat sports, will also highlight the accomplishments of top African American and Black UFC athletes as part of its “Fighter of the Day” feature.

LAS VEGAS – UFC^®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, today announced the signing of Bella Mir, University of Iowa freshman and member of the women’s wrestling team, as the brand’s first NIL ambassador. 

“Bella was destined to become a member of the UFC family her entire life, and I’m proud that she’s making history as our first NIL ambassador in one of the best programs at the University of Iowa,” UFC President Dana White said. “She’s a four-time state high school wrestling champion who has won jiu-jitsu tournaments and three professional MMA fights before turning 19. Bella is an incredible role model for young women who are not only looking to get into sports, but also pursue their dreams. She’s on another level, and we can’t wait to see what she does next.” 

Mir, the daughter of two-time UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir, joined the women’s Hawkeyes wrestling team after capturing four consecutive Nevada state high school wrestling titles. During her high school career, she ranked sixth nationally in the 144 lbs. division and was a 2021 USA Wrestling Junior Folkstyle National Champion. A decorated jiu-jitsu practitioner, Mir also won the 2022 American National Jiu-Jitsu and 2021 International Jiu-Jitsu Con Championships.

“I’m super grateful and I honestly couldn’t be more thankful to Dana and UFC for giving me this opportunity,” said Mir. “I’m going to make sure I do my best to represent UFC and show the world what I’m all about.”

As a combat sports athlete, she made her professional MMA debut on October 10, 2020, securing a unanimous decision victory while competing as a member of iKon Fighting Federation. She is currently 3-0 and was named the 2022 Female Fighter of the Year by UFC FIGHT PASS^®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports.

In 2021, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors approved an interim name, image and likeness (NIL) policy. This policy was updated in 2022 and allows all NCAA Division I, Division II and Division III student-athletes to be compensated for their NIL.

Las Vegas – UFC^® debuts at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, part of Curio Collection by Hilton, headlined by a high-stakes bantamweight matchup that will see No. 2 ranked contender Petr Yan collide with No. 3 Merab Dvalishvili. Fireworks are guaranteed in the co-main event as No. 8 ranked heavyweight Alexander Volkov battles No. 13 Alexandr Romanov.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: YAN vs. DVALISHVILI takes place Saturday, March 11 in Las Vegas with the entire card available exclusively on ESPN+ in English and Spanish.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: YAN vs. DVALISHVILI tickets will go on sale Friday, Jan. 27 at 10 a.m. PT and are available for purchase at axs.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 10 a.m. PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Jan. 26 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

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

Former UFC bantamweight champion Yan (16-4, fighting out of Omsk, Russia) sets forth to deliver a statement performance and find his way back to the championship . A Master of Sport in Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts, Yan has secured dominant victories over Cory Sandhagen, former UFC featherweight champion José Aldo, and UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber. He now looks to rkick off 2023 in style by halting surging contender Dvalishvili.

Dvalishvili (15-4, fighting out of Long Island, N.Y. by way of Tbilisi, Georgia) intends to make the most of his first UFC main event by defeating another former champion. The recordholder for most takedowns landed at 135 pounds (50), Dvalishvili has claimed wins over José Aldo, Marlon Moraes and Cody Stamann. The Georgia native now has his eyes set on adding Yan to his already impressive resume and staking his claim for a title shot.

Knockout artist Volkov (35-10, fighting out of Moscow, Russia)aims on breaking into the top five by delivering another highlight finish. Proven to be a dangerous striker, he has put away formidable opponents such as Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Alistair Overeem, and former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum. Volkov looks to add Romanov’s name to his long list of impressive knockouts and find himself in the mix for a title shot.

Rising contender Romanov (16-1, fighting out of Comrat, Moldova)enters the Octagon determined to secure the biggest win of his career in undeniable fashion. A versatile heavyweight, Romanov put the division on notice when he secured notable wins against Chase Sherman, Jared Vanderaa, and Juan Espino. Romanov now plans on starting a big 2023 season by delivering a statement victory over top contender Volkov.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist Ricardo Ramos (16-4, fighting out of Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil) takes on Taekwondo black belt Austin Lingo (9-1, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) in a stylistic thriller at featherweight
• Raphael Assunção (28-9, fighting out of Alpharetta, Ga.) clashes with Kyler Phillips (10-2, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) in an intriguing bantamweight tilt
• Kicking off the main card, Vitor Petrino (7-0, fighting out of Santa Luzia, Minas Gerais, Brazil) puts his perfect record on the line against Anton Turkalj (8-1, fighting out of Göteborg, Sweden) in an exciting light heavyweight bout
• Dana White’s Contender Series alums Karl Williams (7-1, fighting out of Atlanta, Ga.) and Lukasz Brzeski (8-2-1, fighting out of Kraków, Poland) meet in a heavyweight clash
• Mario Bautista (10-2, fighting out of Glendale, Ariz.) looks to extend his winning streak to four when he collides with Guido Cannetti (10-7, fighting out of Buenos Aires, Argentina) at bantamweight
• Victor Henry (22-6, fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif.) goes toe-to-toe with Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus Tony Gravely (23-8, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) in a bantamweight bout
• Undefeated Dana White’s Contender Series signee Sedriques Dumas (7-0, fighting out of Pensacola, Fla.) has his sights set on securing his first UFC win against Abu Azaitar (14-3-1, fighting out of Rabat, Morocco) at middleweight
• Bantamweights look to steal the show as Ariane Lipski (14-8, fighting out Curitiba, Parana, Brazil) faces JJ Aldrich (11-5, fighting out of Denver, Colo.)
• A thrilling flyweight contest sees Tyson Nam (21-12-1, fighting out of Portland, Ore.) lock horns with Bruno Silva (22-8, fighting out of Curitiba, Parana, Brazil)

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

###

About UFC^®

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

About The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas

Exclusively booked and managed by AEG Presents, The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is a premier live entertainment venue featuring the most highly regarded talents in music and comedy. Formerly The Joint, the venue has hosted some of the top names in entertainment across countless genres since its inception, including iconic acts such as Paul McCartney, Bert Kreischer, Blink-182, Drake, Guns N’ Roses, Imagine Dragons, Journey, Karol G, Kenny Chesney, The Killers, Machine Gun Kelly, Nine Inch Nails, Prince, Rex Orange County, Santana, The 1975, and countless others. 

The Theater provides an immersive setting for guests to experience both legendary and groundbreaking artists on a variety of levels, from intimate performances with 1,800 guests to large-scale, full-capacity experiences with 4,600 guests. Setting the bar for the most luxury in-venue concert experience, The Theater offers exclusive VIP offerings, including luxury private suites tended by dedicated VIP hosts, top-shelf spirits, a private expedited entry, in-venue merchandise delivery, custom swag, VIP social lounges and more, guaranteed to give guests an unparalleled live entertainment and VIP experience at every touchpoint. To learn more about the venue’s VIP service or to book, please email TheTheaterVIP@aegpresents.com. For tickets or more information on The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, visit virginhotelslv.com/venue/the-theater.

About Virgin Hotels Las Vegas

Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is a reimagined and re-conceptualized casino resort. The property is part of Curio Collection by Hilton and has been awarded the AAA Four Diamond Award in its first year of operation. The integrated resort intermixes a passion for food and beverage with music and culture and features three hotel towers totaling over 1,500 Chambers and suites; the 60,000 sq. ft. Mohegan Casino Las Vegas, operated by Mohegan; a five-acre desert pool oasis including Élia Beach Club and a multi-functional event lawn; live music and entertainment theater with 4,600 capacity operated by AEG Presents; 24 Oxford showroom accommodating 650 guests; immersive sports viewing venue Skybox and an exclusive portfolio of twelve food and beverage venues including Todd English’s Olives, Kris Yenbamroong’s Night + Market, the legendary Nobu, Michael Morton and David Morton’s ONE Steakhouse, Kassi Beach House from restauranteur Nick Mathers, Casa Calavera by global hospitality company TAO Group, famous Afters Ice Cream, Pizza Forte by the Ferraro Family and signature Virgin Hotels restaurants and bars including The Kitchen at Commons Club, The Bar at Commons Club, The Shag Room and Funny Library Coffee Shop. The property is owned by JC Hospitality, LLC, in partnership with Juniper Capital Partners, Virgin Group, LiUNA, Fengate Asset Management, Dream and Orlando Development. The off-Strip playground is located at 4455 Paradise Road. For more information, visit www.virginhotelslv.com.

About Curio Collection by Hilton

Curio Collection by Hilton is a global portfolio of more than 120 one-of-a-kind hotels and resorts handpicked for their distinct character. Curio Collection properties offer guests the ability to experience independent hotels, offering authentic, curated experiences through local offerings and elevated amenities, while providing the benefits of Hilton and its award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors. Experience Curio Collection by Hilton by booking at curiocollection.com or through the industry-leading Hilton Honors app. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits. Learn more about Curio Collection by Hilton at stories.hilton.com/curio, and follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 22.8 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).

About ESPN

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

London, UK – UFC^® returns to London for the third time in 12 months on Saturday, March 18, with a rematch of one of the most exhilarating fights of 2022. The O2 hosts once again as British UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards headlines the card against No. 1 ranked Kamaru Usman in a trilogy bout. In the co-main, No. 3 contender Justin Gaethje faces off against No. 6 ranked Rafael Fiziev in a lightweight battle.

UFC^® 286: EDWARDS vs. USMAN 3 ticketsgo on sale from 10:00 a.m. GMT on Friday, January 27 via AXS and Ticketmaster. Fight Club members can purchase tickets early at 10:00 a.m. GMT on Wednesday, January 25, whilst those who registered their interest early in this event will gain priority access at 10:00 a.m. GMT Thursday 26.

The UK’s second UFC champion, Edwards (20-3, fighting out of Birmingham, England) returns to the Octagon^® looking to defend his title after a stunning knockout of Kamaru Usman last August. A well-rounded fighter known for his technical striking, he comes into this fight aiming to extend his 11-fight unbeaten streak in front of a home crowd as he takes on the last man to defeat him in the UFC.

Usman (20-2, fighting out of Florida, United States by way of Auchi, Nigeria) will be focused on avenging his sole UFC defeat at the hands of his next opponent. A dominant wrestler with knockout power in both hands, Usman was the pound for pound best fighter in the UFC prior to the defeat and was riding a 19-fight winning streak. Recently starring in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, he’ll be looking forward to making his hands do the talking this time.  

Gaethje (23-4, fighting out of Colorado, United States), the No. 3 lightweight, will be hoping to get his name back in title contention with a big win in London. The American is an all-action fighter, securing 19 wins by knockout, including nine first-round finishes. Known as “The Highlight,” he will be looking to steal the show with only one decision needed in his last 14 fights.

Fiziev (12-1, fighting out of Phuket, Thailand by way of Baku, Azerbaijan) is on a six-fight win streak and is coming off a ‘Performance of the Night’ knockout of former lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos last September. A Muay Thai fighter with lethal striking, the No. 6 ranked contender is rapidly making a name for himself and has three knockouts in his last four bouts.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No.4 ranked middleweight contender Marvin Vettori (18-6-1, fighting out of Mezzocorona, Italy) takes on No. 8 ranked Roman Dolidze (11-1, fighting out of Batumi, Georgia) in what should be a high-intensity clash. 
• No.15 ranked Welshman Jack Shore (16-1, fighting out of Abergavenny, Wales) faces Finland’s Makwan Amirkhani (17-8, fighting out of Turku, Finland) in a featherweight match up.
• Undefeated Muhammad Mokaev (8-0, fighting out of Manchester, England by way of Dagestan) made his UFC debut in March last year in England’s capital. He returns to the O2 as No. 13 ranked flyweight to take on Brazil’s own Jafel Filho (14-2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).
• UFC veteran and submission specialist, Gunnar Nelson (18-5-1, fighting out of Reykjavik, Iceland), will face off against heavy handed Daniel Rodriguez (17-3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada) in an all-action welterweight fight.
• In an all-British battle, Nathaniel Wood (19-5, fighting out of London, England) meets Lerone Murphy (11-0-1, fighting out of Manchester, England) in a matchup of rising prospects looking to make their mark in the featherweight division. 
• Birmingham’s Jake Hadley (9-1, fighting out of Birmingham, England) will look to maintain his reputation as one of Britain’s most promising contenders in a collision with Malcolm Gordon (14-6, fighting out of Ontario, Canada).
• Scotland’s Joanne Wood (15-8, fighting out of Glasgow, Scotland) takes on Luana Carolina (8-3, fighting out Sao Paulo, Brazil) in a fiery contest between Muay Thai specialists.
• UFC debutant Christian Leroy Duncan (7-0, fighting out of Gloucester, England) plans to make his mark on the middleweight division as he faces Dusko Todorovic (12-3, fighting out of Belgrade, Serbia).
• Edwards’ teammate Jai Herbert (12-4, Wolverhampton, England) returns to the Octagon to lock horns with Ludovit Klein (19-4, Nitra Region, Slovakia).
• Dana White’s Contender Series alumni Sam Patterson (10-1-1, fighting out of Watford, England) takes on Yanal Ashmoz (6-0, fighting out of New Jersey, USA, by way of Israel) in a lightweight bout.
• Juliana Miller (3-1, fighting out of California, USA) faces Veronica Macedo (6-4-1, fighting out of Poznan, Poland) in a women’s flyweight bout.

This year coincides with the 30^th anniversary of the world’s premier MMA organisation, which continues to innovate and demonstrate its commitment to growth in Europe. Following two sellout events last year, fans are advised to register their interest early via ufc.com/London to secure their tickets and to follow @UFCEurope on social media for the latest updates on this event.

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

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

ENDS

About UFC^®

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to T-Mobile Arena with one of the biggest fights in UFC history as No. 1 ranked heavyweight contender Ciryl Gane and former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones collide in a Super Fight for the vacant undisputed heavyweight title.

UFC^® 285: JONES vs. GANE takes place Saturday, March 4 in Las Vegas with the main card at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on ESPN+ PPV. The prelims will be seen on ESPN, ESPNNEWS and ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT with the night’s action starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT with Early Prelims on ESPN+ (English and Spanish) and UFC Fight Pass.

UFC^® 285: JONES vs. GANE tickets will go on sale Friday, Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. PT and are available for purchase at axs.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Jan. 19 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Jones (26-1, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) returns to the Octagon for the first time since February 2020 with his sights set on cementing himself as the greatest of all time. Considered by many to be the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in all of MMA, he holds the UFC records for most title fight wins (14), most light heavyweight wins (20) and the longest light heavyweight win streak (13). Jones now plans to make a statement against Gane and secure a second divisional crown for his legacy.

Former interim UFC heavyweight champion Gane (11-1, fighting out of Paris, France) intends to make the most of his second shot at gold by delivering a career-defining performance. A high-level striker, Gane has entertained fans with impressive knockouts of Tai Tuivasa, Derrick Lewis and former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos. He now aims to add his name to the history books by becoming the first man to finish Jones.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 7 ranked flyweight Viviane Araujo (11-4, fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil) looks to defend her spot in the rankings against No. 15 Amanda Ribas (11-3, fighting out of Varginha, Brazil)
• Bo Nickal (3-0, fighting out of Pleasant Gap, Penn.) makes his highly anticipated UFC debut against Jamie Pickett (13-8, fighting out of Wilmington, N.C.) at middleweight
• A thrilling welterweight contest sees No. 7 ranked Geoff Neal (15-4, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) battle No. 10 Shavkat Rakhmonov (16-0, fighting out of Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan)
• No. 5 ranked middleweight Derek Brunson (23-8, fighting out of Wilmington, N.C.) aims to halt the momentum of No. 10 Dricus Du Plessis (18-2, fighting out of Pretoria, South Africa)
• Former UFC bantamweight king Cody Garbrandt (12-5, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) returns to action against Julio Arce (18-6, fighting out of Bayside, N.Y.)
• Julian Marquez (9-3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) locks horns with Marc-Andre Barriault (14-6, 1 NC, fighting out of Quebec, Canada) in a middleweight bout
• Exciting lightweights Kamuela Kirk (12-5, fighting out of Goodyear, Ariz.) and undefeated Dana White’s Contender Series alum Esteban Ribovics (11-0, fighting out of Cordoba, Argentina) plan to steal the show
• Da’Mon Blackshear (12-4-1, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) has his sights on securing his first UFC win against undefeated Dana White’s Contender Series alum Farid Basharat (9-0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.)
• Former strawweight title challenger Jessica Penne (14-7, fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif.) faces Tabatha Ricci (7-1, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil)

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

###

About UFC^®

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

About T-Mobile Arena

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

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 22.8 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® kicks the year off with a thrilling middleweight contenders’ clash that will see No. 12 ranked Nassourdine Imavov battle No. 13 Kelvin Gastelum. Also, No. 13 ranked featherweight contender Dan Ige squares off with streaking Damon Jackson.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: IMAVOV vs. GASTELUM will take place Saturday, January 14 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The entire card will be available on ESPN+ in English and Spanish, with the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT and the prelims at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

Rising star Imavov (12-3, fighting out of Paris, France) hopes to make the most of his first UFC main event opportunity. A well-rounded competitor who is currently riding a three-fight win streak, he holds notable victories over Joaquin Buckley, Edmen Shahbazyan and Ian Heinisch. Imavov now goes for the biggest win of his career to prove he is a threat in the middleweight title picture.

Former interim middleweight title challenger Gastelum (17-8 1NC, fighting out of Yuma, Ariz.) looks to start his 2023 campaign on the right track. The winner of The Ultimate Fighter season 17, he has delivered spectacular finishes over Michael Bisping, Tim Kennedy and Jake Ellenberger. Gastelum now intends to halt Imavov’s momentum with another vintage win.

Ige (15-6, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Haleiwa, Hawaii) aims to begin the year with a vintage performance. A gritty and well-rounded competitor, he has secured impressive wins against Gavin Tucker, Edson Barboza and Danny Henry. Ige now plans to defend his spot in the rankings by turning back another budding contender.

Jackson (22-4-1 1NC, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) looks to make the most of his first UFC co-main event opportunity. An exciting submissions specialist, he has earned memorable victories over Pat Sabatini, Charles Rosa and Mirsad Bektic. Jackson now has his sights set on stopping Ige to enter the UFC featherweight Top 15.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Exciting middleweights collide when Punahele Soriano (9-2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Oahu, Hawaii) takes on Roman Kopylov (9-2, fighting out of Bachatsky, Kemerovo, Russia)
• No. 2 ranked bantamweight contender Ketlen Vieira (13-2, fighting out of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil) looks to stake her claim for a title shot when she takes on former title challenger and current No. 5 Raquel Pennington (14-9, fighting out of Colorado Springs, Colo.)
• No. 11 ranked bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov (15-0, fighting out of Kizilyurt, Russia) battles Raoni Barcelos (17-3, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
• Dana White’s Contender Seriescontract winner Claudio Ribeiro (10-2, fighting out of Jundiai, São Paulo, Brazil) faces Abdul Razak Alhassan (11-5, fighting out of Denver, Colo. by way of Accra, Ghana) in an intriguing middleweight bout
• Dana White’s Contender Series signee Mateusz Rebecki (16-1, fighting out of Szczecin, Poland) locks horns with short-notice replacement Nick Fiore (6-0, fighting out of Windham, N.H.) in a clash of debuting lightweights
• Javid Basharat (13-0, fighting out of London, England by way of Paktia, Afghanistan) takes on Mateus Mendonca (10-0, fighting out of Pindare Mirim, Maranhao, Brazil) in a battle of unbeaten bantamweights
• Allan Nascimento (19-6, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) meets Carlos Hernandez (8-1, fighting out of Chicago, Ill.) at flyweight
• Undefeated newcomer Isaac Dulgarian (5-0, fighting out of Kansas City, Mo.) squares off with Daniel Argueta (8-1, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M. by way of Orland Park, Ill.) at featherweight
• Charles Johnson (12-3, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) takes on returning Jimmy Flick (16-5, fighting out of Tulsa, Okla.) at flyweight
• Priscila Cachoeira (12-4, fighting out of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) faces Sijara Eubanks (8-7, fighting out of Brick, N.J. by way of Springfield, Mass.) in a hard-hitting flyweight matchup

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

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 688 million fans and 207 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 24.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).

About ESPN

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

NEW YORK (January 5, 2023) – Professional Fighters League (PFL) today announced a historic two-part exclusive partnership with Jake Paul which will accelerate PFL’s mission to innovate and grow the global sport of MMA.

First, Jake Paul begins his MMA journey with PFL by signing as the first fighter in the new Pay-Per-View division he co-created with PFL called “PFL PPV Super Fights.”  Second, Jake Paul, along with his business partner Nakisa Bidarian, will utilize their expertise and platforms to help recruit, market, and promote the new PFL PPV Super Fight Division for the benefit of all top fighters. 

The new PFL PPV Super Fight Division is open for business effective immediately. The league is in the process of signing top PPV fighters, who want to become true economic partners. Fighters in the PFL PPV Super Fight Division will earn 50% of the revenue from PPV events, which is groundbreaking pay in MMA.  

As the first fighter under contract for PFL PPV Super Fights, Paul is partnering with PFL due to its “fighter-first” culture to co-create this new 50-50 revenue partnership model for all PPV fights.  As a long-time advocate for fighter-pay, Paul has also been appointed Head of Fighter Advocacy and will continue to work towards a business model that benefits all top fighters. 

PFL PPV Super Fights are stand-alone events separate from the PFL League Season.  PFL will stage two PPV Super Fights starting in 2023, scaling to more PPV events in following years. 

PFL is entering its next phase of expansion by launching the PFL PPV Super Fight Division and is welcoming Paul and Bidarian as minority equity owners in its parent company.  Paul and Bidarian will deploy their expertise, creativity, network, and platform to help promote fights, produce content, and recruit talent to help build PFL and the grow the awareness of its great fighters.  

“I’ve proven myself in and out of the boxing ring and now I am going to do the same in MMA, and there is no limit to the positive impact I can make on the sport,” said Jake Paul. “I plan to enter the PFL SmartCage and once again show the world that that anything is possible with hard work and dedication. Outside of the cage, equal fighter-pay and advocating for female fighters has been my passion, and I am aligned with PFL to evolve the sport.  I believe in PFL, their mission, and what they have accomplished in a very short period of time. That is why I chose to partner with PFL exclusively, both as a fighter and a businessperson. As Head of Fighter Advocacy, I will consistently promote PFL fighters and I invite all top MMA fighters, both men and women, to join the PFL and get a payday like they’ve never had before.”

“I founded PFL to innovate, professionalize, and grow MMA, and we have done that with our disruptive sport-season format which put “fighters-first” as they control their own destiny,” said PFL Chairman and Founder Donn Davis. “Today, we begin our next phase of growth by disrupting the MMA pay-per-view market, with an unprecedented new model where fighters will be true 50-50 economic partners in PPV revenues.   I’m gratified that Jake and Nakisa chose to join PFL, and I can’t wait to see what Jake does as a fighter, creator, and promoter in MMA with PFL.” 

 “Jake and I have proven our ability to successfully promote and stage major international PPV events.  We look forward to having a similar result with PFL within the sport of MMA.” said Nakisa Bidarian. “Our creativity and expertise, paired with PFL’s great reputation and strong position, will push MMA into a new phase of growth and one with more freedom and economic opportunity for fighters. Through our years of experience, we have developed a unique network of people and a novel approach to promotion and content, which we plan to bring to PFL with full force.” 

“Jake Paul begins his journey to fight in MMA today by signing exclusively with the PFL for our global capabilities, innovative platform, and fighters-first culture,” said PFL CEO Pete Murray. “PFL built a great roster of world-ranked fighters for our PFL League, and PFL is now open for business to partner with the best MMA PPV fighters on the planet to be part of our new PFL PPV Super Fight Division.”

Further information regarding the PFL PPV Super Fight Division and this historic exclusive partnership will be announced in the coming months. 

PFL is the #1 fastest growing company in MMA and the #2 MMA company on worldwide basis.  PFL is the only in MMA with the sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in sports-season “win and advance” meritocracy like all other major sports.  The PFL fighter roster is global and world-class, with fighters from over 20 countries and 25% independently ranked in the top 25.   PFL leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage powering real-time betting and next-gen viewing experience.   PFL airs live primetime in the U.S. on ESPN and ESPN+ and via 25 distribution partners is broadcast and streamed to 140 countries worldwide.
 

ABOUT PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE 

Professional Fighters League (PFL) is the fastest growing and most innovative sports league.  PFL is the #2 MMA company worldwide on all key metrics and the only with the sports-season format where individual fighters compete in Regular Season, Playoffs, and Championship.  

The Company has four global live fight franchises:  PFL League Season, PFL Challenger Series, PFL PPV Super Fights, and PFL Europe.  PFL airs primetime in the U.S on ESPN and ESPN+ and is broadcast and streamed to 140 countries with 25 international leading media partners, including DAZN, DirectTV, Viaplay, Sky Sports, and MBC.  PFL has dozens of major brand sponsors such as Anheuser-Busch, GEICO, Bose, US Marine Corps, and Celsius Energy Drink.  

PFL is backed by blue-chip investors including Ares, Luxor Capital, Elysian Park Ventures, Knighthead, Legends, and numerous NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS team owners. MMA is the growth sport of this decade, with over 600 million fans worldwide, the youngest audience demo of any sport, and true global revenue streams.

PFLmma.com; Instagram (@PFLmma); Twitter (@PFLMMA); Facebook (/PFLmma)

Las Vegas – UFC^® caps off 2022 with another exciting event at UFC Apex that will be headlined by a pair of thrilling strikers as No. 3 ranked middleweight contender Jared Cannonier collides with No. 7 Sean Strickland. Also on the card, rising lightweight contenders lock horns as No. 9 ranked Arman Tsarukyan faces No. 12 Damir Ismagulov.  

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: CANNONIER vs. STRICKLAND will take place Saturday, December 17 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The entire card will be available on ESPN+ in English and Spanish, with the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT and the prelims at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

Former middleweight title challenger Cannonier (15-6, fighting out of Anchorage, Alaska) returns to the Octagon aiming to make a statement to the division. A former heavyweight and 205-pound standout, Cannonier found his groove at 185-pounds where he has finished all but one of his wins by knockout, including victories over Anderson Silva, Derek Brunson and Kelvin Gastelum. He now sets out to defend his spot in the rankings and reinsert himself into the championship conversation.

Strickland (25-4, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) looks to break into the middleweight Top 5 for the first time in his career. A volume striker with relentless pressure, he has entertained fans with wins over Jack Hermansson, Uriah Hall and Brendan Allen. Strickland now intends to make the most of his third UFC main event by becoming the first middleweight to stop Cannonier.

Rising star Tsarukyan (18-3, fighting out of Krasnodar, Russia) seeks to end the year on a high note and begin his run for title contention. A Master of Sports in MMA and freestyle wrestling, Tsarukyan has established himself as one of the top prospects on the UFC roster with victories over Joel Alvarez, Christos Giagos and Davi Ramos. He now plans to hand Ismagulov his first UFC loss in dominant fashion. 

Ismagulov (24-1, fighting out of Udarnyi, Russia) has his sights set on breaking into the Top 10 for the first time if he can score the biggest win of his UFC career. Currently on an impressive 19 fight win streak, he earned his spot in the rankings with victories over Guram Kutateladze, Rafael Alves and Thiago Moises. Ismagulov now aims to secure his first UFC finish and declare himself as the next top contender in the division.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 8 ranked flyweight contender Amir Albazi (15-1, fighting out of Baghdad, Iraq) looks to spoil the UFC debut of Dana White’s Contender Series veteran Alessandro Costa (12-2, fighting out of San Pedro Cholula, Pueblo, Mexico)
• No. 15 ranked featherweight contender Alex Caceres (19-13, 1 NC, fighting out of Miami, Fla.) squares off with the always exciting Julian Erosa (28-10, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.)
• No. 9 ranked flyweight contender David Dvorak (20-4, fighting out of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic) steps into the Octagon to defend his spot in the rankings against No. 12 Manel Kape (17-6, fighting out of Phuket, Thailand)
• Drew Dober (25-11, 1 NC, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) meets Bobby Green (29-13-1, fighting out of Fontana, Calif.) in a battle of lightweight veterans
• Cody Brundage (8-2, fighting out of Littleton, Colo.) faces Michal Oleksiejczuk (17-5, 1 NC, fighting out of Lublin Voivodeship, Poland) at middleweight
• Rising strawweight contenders collide as Cheyanne Vlismas (7-2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) takes on Cory McKenna (7-2, fighting out of Wales, United Kingdom)
• Jake Matthews (18-5, fighting out of Epping, Victoria, Australia) plans to remain undefeated in 2022 as he matches up with Matthew Semelsberger (10-4, fighting out of Ijamsville, Md.) at welterweight
• An exciting middleweight bout sees Julian Marquez (9-3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) and Deron Winn (7-3, fighting out of Gilroy, Calif.) collide
• Said Nurmagomedov (16-2, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia) and Saidyokub Kakhramonov (10-2, fighting out of Spokane, Wash. by way of Samarkand, Uzbekistan) face off at bantamweight
• The Ultimate Fighter season 29 middleweight weight Bryan Battle (9-1, fighting out of Matthews, N.C.) returns to 170-pounds seeking another highlight reel KO against Rinat Fakhretdinov(20-2, fighting out of Moskva, Russia)
• Lightweights Rafa Garcia (14-3, fighting out of Imperial, Calif.) and Maheshate (9-1, fighting out of Shanghai, China) look to steal the show
• Sergey Morozov (18-5, fighting out of Aktobe, Kazakhstan) looks to make a statement against Journey Newson (10-3, 1 NC, fighting out of Portland, Ore.) in a bantamweight bout

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

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 688 million fans and 207 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 24.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).

About ESPN

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

Perth, Australia – The world will be watching when the Octagon® makes its historic return to Australia on Sunday, February 12, with UFC® 284: MAKHACHEV vs. VOLKANOVSKI booked for Perth’s RAC Arena. Australia’s UFC featherweight champion and No. 1 Men’s Pound-for Pound, Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski will take on newly crowned UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev in a five round championship bout.

In partnership with the Western Australian Government, through Tourism Western Australia, this event marks UFC’s return to Perth with a Pay-Per-View event following the success of UFC® 221: ROMERO vs. ROCKHOLD in February 2018 in front of a capacity crowd.

Tickets for UFC® 284: MAKHACHEV vs. VOLKANOVSKI go on sale on Friday, November 18 at 10 a.m. AWST/ 1 p.m. AEDT and are available to purchase at ticketek.com.au . Tickets are limited to six (6) tickets per person. UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, November 16 at 10 a.m. AWST via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, November 17, starting at 10 a.m. AWST.

Tickets limited to four (4) tickets per person. To access this presale, fans may register at UFC.com/Perth.

Aussie legend, Alex Volkanovski (25-1, fighting out of Windang, NSW) will attempt to make history yet again by becoming the first Australian to reach double champ status. Volk is set to take on UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev (23-1, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia) who claimed an impressive submission win over Brazilian Charles Oliveira to gain the undisputed lightweight championship title only last month.

For the co-main event of the afternoon, top UFC featherweights Yair “El Pantera” Rodríguez and Josh Emmett will compete for the interim UFC featherweight title, with the winner taking on UFC featherweight champ, Volkanovski, at a later date. No.2 UFC featherweight, Rodriguez (14-3, 1 NC, fighting out of Chicago, IL) is coming off a victory over Brian Ortega at UFC Long Island this past July. The Mexican-born striker has just one loss in his past five fights. Californian native, Emmett (18-2, fighting out of Sacramento, CA), currently ranked No.5 UFC featherweight, has five straight wins and is coming off a split decision win over Calvin Kattar in June.

In another highlight for the Aussie fans, No.1 UFC middleweight and former champion, Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker (25-6-0, fighting out of Sydney Australia) will take on No.6 ranked middleweight,Paulo “The Eraser” Costa (14-2-0, fighting out of Contagem, Minas Gerais, Brazil) in the three round middleweight bout. The beloved Bobby Knuckles was originally due to face the Brazilian powerhouse in April 2021, however, Costa withdrew due to illness, leaving Whittaker to finally face Californian, Kelvin Gastelum. Whittaker has been on an absolute tear since his loss to Adesanya, keeping him at that No.1 spot and no doubt ready to put on another showstopper for the fans.

Also joining two of Australia’s best on the stacked summer card will be:

• Making his return to the Octagon, UFC heavyweight Justin Tafa (5-3, fighting out of Brisbane, Australia) will face American, Parker Porter (13-7, fighting out of Hartford, Connecticut)
• UFC light heavyweight and Western Sydney fan favourite, Tyson Pedro (9-3, fighting out of Sydney, Australia) will take on debutant Zhang Mingyang (16-6, fighting out of Qingdao, China) coming off UFC’s Road to UFC 
• UFC light heavyweight, Jimmy Crute (12-3, fighting out of Melbourne, Australia) making his return to the Octagon post injury to go for the win against Alonzo Menifield (13-3, fighting out of Dallas, Texas)
• Sydney’s Josh Culibao (10-1-1, fighting out of Sydney, Australia) will take on Melsik Baghdasaryan (7-1, fighting out of Glendale, California) in a three round featherweight bout
• Also joining his fellow Aussies and making his UFC debut, Gold Coast’s Shannon Ross (13-6, fighting out of Gold Coast, Australia) will take on Kleydson Rodrigues. (7-2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Ross fought through a ruptured appendix to win a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series earlier this year
• Melbourne boy Jack Jenkins (10-2, fighting out of Melbourne, Australia) will make his UFC debut after winning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series earlier this year. Jenkins will face Don Shainis (12-4, fighting out of Stoughton, Massachusetts) at featherweight 

The current performance schedule for Sunday, February 12, has UFC 284 kicking off at 7:15 a.m. AWST with the UFC Fight Pass Prelims. The action will continue with the Prelims at 9:00 a.m. and the Main Card at 11:00 a.m. Please note, this is subject to change.

Fans tuning in at home will be able to keep up with all the action live from the Early Prelims on UFC Fight Pass to the Prelims on UFC Fight Pass and ESPN. From 11 a.m. AWST, UFC 284 will be available live on PPV via UFC Fight Pass, Main Event, Kayo and Fetch for Australian viewers and Sky Sport and Spark in New Zealand.

Additional bouts UFC® 284: MAKHACHEV vs. VOLKANOVSKI will be announced in the coming weeks.

While in Perth, UFC featherweight champion, Alex Volkanovski and No.1 UFC middleweight Robert Whittaker will be at Yagan Square Amphitheatre from 5 p.m. tonight, Wednesday November 16, for a Fan Q&A Session. This event is free and open to the public.

UFC’s last show on Aussie shores, UFC® 243: WHITTAKER vs. ADESANYA broke the world MMA attendance record with a packed stadium of 57,127 fans at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium in October 2019.

Since 2010, UFC has presented 15 live events in Australia, including sold-out shows at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, Perth Arena, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Entertainment Centre and Gold Coast Convention Centre. Collectively, these events have seen over 265,000 fans in attendance and millions worldwide watching on PPV and broadcast television. The six host cities to date – Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth – have produced a cumulative gross gate of more than $45 million and hundreds of millions more in economic impact.

All bouts are live and subject to change.

Visit the UFC.com for information and content to support your UFC coverage.

Media accreditation is now open for UFC 284, please click here to apply for the event.

About UFC®

UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 688 million fans and 211 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with an adrenaline-filled bout that will see No. 7 ranked heavyweight Derrick Lewis and No. 12 Serghei Spivac collide in a thrilling main event. Exciting light heavyweights Kennedy Nzechukwu and Ion Cutelaba lock horns in the co-main event.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: LEWIS vs. SPIVAC will take place Saturday, November 19 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The entire card will be available on ESPN+ in English and Spanish, with the main card starting at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT and the prelims at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT.

Fan favorite Lewis (26-10 1 NC, fighting out of Houston, Texas) returns to the Octagon looking to add to his record as the UFC’s all-time knockout king. The Texas contender’s heavy hands have earned him highlight reel finishes over Chris Daukaus, Curtis Blaydes, and Aleksei Oleinik. Lewis now sets out to stop Spivac in impressive fashion and find his way back to title contention.

Spivac (15-3, fighting out of Chisinau, Moldova) looks to crack the heavyweight Top 5 for the first time in his career. A well-rounded finisher, the “Polar Bear” holds victories over Tai Tuivasa, Greg Hardy and Augusto Sakai. Spivac aims to make the most of his first UFC main event spot by delivering a statement win against a household name in Lewis. 

Dana White’s Contender Series signee Nzechukwu (10-3, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) plans to steps up to the challenge of his first UFC co-main event. The powerful 205-pounder has delivered knockout finishes in each of his last three wins, against Karl Roberson, Danilo Marques, and Carlos Ulberg. The Nigeria native is determined to stop Cutelaba in emphatic fashion and secure the biggest win of his career.

Cutelaba (16-8-1 1NC, fighting out of Chisinau, Moldova) looks to recapture his momentum by breaking into the light heavyweight rankings. The Moldovan’s exciting fight style has led him to wins against Devin Clark, Khalil Rountree Jr., and Gadzhimurad Antigulov. Cutelaba intends to bring a firefight to Nzechukwu and deliver a show-stealing finish.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Exciting middleweights Cody Brundage(8-2, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.) and Rodolfo Vieira(8-2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) collide
• In the heavyweight division Chase Sherman (16-10, fighting out of D’Iberville, Miss.) takes on undefeated Waldo Cortes-Acosta (8-0, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz. by way of Fundación, Barahona, Dominican Republic)
• Andre Fiahlo(16-5, fighting out of Cascais, Portugal) meets Muslim Salikhov(18-3, fighting out of Buynaksk, Russia)in an intriguing welterweight matchup
• Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus Jack Della Maddalena(12-2, fighting out of Perth Australia) squares off with Danny Roberts(18-6, fighting out of Liverpool, England)
• At flyweight, Charles Johnson(11-3, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) looks to secure his first UFC win against Zhalgas Zhumagulov(14-7, fighting out of Aktobe, Kazakhstan)
• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Jennifer Maia(19-9-1, fighting out of Curitiba, Parana, Brazil) aims to halt the streaking Maryna Moroz(11-3, fighting out of Volnogorsk, Ukraine) at flyweight
• An exciting matchup in the bantamweight division pits Vince Morales(11-6, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) against Miles Johns(12-2, fighting out of Dallas, Texas)
• At bantamweight, The Ultimate Fighter Season 30 winner Ricky Turcios(12-3, fighting out of Houston, Tex.) takes on Kevin Natividad(9-3, fighting out Tempe, Ari.)
• Vanessa Demopoulos(8-4, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) clashes with Maria Oliveira(13-5, fighting out of São João de Meriti, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in a strawweight bout
• Bantamweight prospect Brady Heistand(6-2, fighting out of Spokane Valley, Wash.) looks to bounce back in the win column with a win against Fernie Garcia(10-2, fighting out of Dallas, Texas)
• Kicking off the event at flyweight, Natalia Silva(13-5-1, fighting out of Ipatinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil) welcomes undefeated newcomer Tereza Bleda(6-0, fighting out of Prague, Czech Republic)

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

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 688 million fans and 207 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+ 

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 24.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).  

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® continues its run of events at UFC APEX with an intriguing strawweight bout that will see No. 3 ranked contender Marina Rodriguez battle No. 7 Amanda Lemos. The co-main event will feature Top 15 welterweights, as No. 13 ranked contender Neil Magny locks horns with No. 14 Daniel Rodriguez.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: RODRIGUEZ vs. LEMOS will take place Saturday, November 5 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The entire card will be available on ESPN+ in English and Spanish, with the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT and the prelims at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

Surging Marina Rodriguez (16-1-2, fighting out of Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil) aims to stake her claim for a title shot with another impressive performance. Currently riding a five-fight unbeaten streak, she holds wins over Yan Xiaonan, Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas. Rodriguez now looks to stop Lemos and defend her spot on the strawweight ladder.

Exciting finisher Lemos (12-2-1, fighting out of Pará, Brazil) plans to shine in her second UFC main event opportunity. Victorious in six of her last seven outings, she has secured memorable wins against Michelle Waterson, Angela Hill and Montserrat Conejo. Lemos now intends to crack the strawweight Top 5 by stopping Marina Rodriguez in emphatic fashion.

Perennial contender Magny (26-10, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) has his sights set on breaking the UFC record for most welterweight victories. Currently tied with all-time great Georges St-Pierre at 19, he holds notable wins over former champions Robbie Lawler, Carlos Condit and Johny Hendricks. Magny now hopes to halt Rodriguez’s momentum and prove he is still among the best at 170 pounds.

Rising star Daniel Rodriguez (17-2, fighting out of Alhambra, Calif.) plans to continue his momentum by securing the biggest win of his career. Currently on a four-fight win streak, he has netted impressive victories against Li Jingliang, Kevin Lee and Mike Perry. Rodriguez now aims to finish Magny to continue his ascent up the welterweight rankings.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Gritty heavyweights collide when Chase Sherman (16-10, fighting out of D’Iberville, Miss.) takes on Josh Parisian (15-5, fighting out of Escanaba, Mich.)
• Tagir Ulanbekov (14-2, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia) squares off with Nate Maness (14-2, fighting out of Morganfield, Ken.) at flyweight
• Grant Dawson (18-1-1, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) aims to hand Mark O. Madsen (12-0, fighting out of Maribo, Denmark by way of Nykøbing Falster, Denmark) his first professional loss in an exciting lightweight tilt
• Jailton Almeida (17-2, fighting out of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil) squares off with Maxim Grishin (32-9-2, fighting out of Grozny, Chechen Republic, Russia) in a 220-pound catchweight bout
• Darrick Minner (26-13, fighting out of Nebraska City, Neb.) meets Shayilan Nuerdanbieke (38-10, fighting out of Beijing, China) at featherweight
• Miranda Maverick (12-4, fighting out of Denver, Colo. by way of Buffalo, Mo.) faces Shanna Young (9-5, fighting out of Knoxville, Tenn.) in a flyweight contest
• Mario Bautista (10-2, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) goes for his third consecutive win when he meets Benito Lopez (10-1, fighting out of Oroville, Calif.) in an exciting bantamweight bout
• Polyana Viana (12-5, fighting out of São Geraldo do Araguaia, Pará, Brazil) takes on Jinh Yu Frey (11-7, fighting out of Arlington, Texas) at strawweight
• The Ultimate Fighter season 29 alum Liudvik Sholinian (9-3-1, fighting out of Kiev, Ukraine) locks horns with Johnny Munoz (11-2, fighting out of Norco, Calif.) in a bantamweight tilt
• Dana White’s Contender Series veteran Carlos Candelario (8-2, fighting out of Springfield, Mass.) faces Jake Hadley (8-1, fighting out of Oldbury, Sandwell, England) at flyweight
• Tamires Vidal (6-1, fighting out of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) debuts against Ramona Pascual (6-4, fighting out of Hong Kong) in a bantamweight bout

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

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 688 million fans and 207 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 22.8 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). 

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® closes out its final Pay-Per-View of 2022 with a rematch of one of the best fights of all-time as UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka defends his newly won crown against former title-holder and No. 1 ranked contender Glover Teixeira. Also on the card, more top-ranked light heavyweight action sees former champion and No. 2 contender Jan Blachowicz attempt to stop the momentum of No. 3 Magomed Ankalaev.

UFC^® 282: PROCHAZKA vs. TEIXEIRA 2 takes place Saturday, Dec. 10 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with the main card at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on ESPN+ PPV.  The prelims will be seen on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT with the night’s action starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT with Early Prelims on ESPN+ (English and Spanish) and UFC Fight Pass.

UFC^® 282: PROCHAZKA vs. TEIXEIRA 2 tickets will go on sale Friday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PT and are available for purchase at axs.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 10 a.m. PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Oct. 27 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

The Czech Republic’s first UFC champion, Prochazka (29-3-1, fighting out of Brno, Czech Republic) intends to make his reign on top of the light heavyweight division a long and historic one. An exciting finisher who has more UFC post-fight bonuses than he does fights, Prochazka quickly rose through the rankings with statement wins over Volkan Oezdemir and Dominick Reyes. He now looks to leave no doubt in his rematch with Teixeira by delivering another vintage performance.

Teixeira (33-8, fighting out of Danbury, Conn. by way of Minas Gerais, Brazil) aims to recapture his lost title and add a new chapter to his storied UFC career. An MMA legend who has been competing for over 20 years, he has earned notable wins over former champions Quinton Jackson and Rashad Evans. Teixeira now plans to leave it all in the Octagon and end the year with his hand raised.

Former champion Blachowicz (29-9, fighting out of Warsaw, Poland) plans to defend his spot in the rankings and stake his claim as the next contender for the belt. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with knockout power, he has shown off his well-rounded skills in victories over Dominick Reyes, Corey Anderson and Luke Rockhold. He now seeks to snap Ankalaev’s win streak by becoming the first person to knock him out.

Ankalaev (18-1, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia) has cemented himself as one of the most feared athletes in the light heavyweight division. A Master of Sport in Combat Sambo, Ankalaev is currently on the second-longest win streak in the division’s history, which stands at nine victories and includes defeats of Anthony Smith, Thiago Santos and Volkan Oezdemir. He now looks to make it 10 in a row and secure his first shot at UFC gold.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Breakout star Paddy Pimblett (19-3, fighting out of Liverpool, England) intends to keep his momentum going against gritty veteran Jared Gordon (19-5, fighting out of Queens, N.Y.)
• Former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler (29-16, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) and Santiago Ponzinibbio (29-6, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) meet in a Fight of the Night contender
• Former light heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson (18-8, fighting out of Stockholm, Sweden) battles Ovince Saint Preux (26-16, fighting out of Knoxville, Tenn.)
• Fan favorite and No. 9 ranked middleweight Darren Till (18-4, fighting out of Liverpool, England) takes on No. 13 ranked Dricus du Plessis (17-2, fighting out of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa)
• Edmen Shahbazyan (11-3, fighting out of Glendale, Calif.) locks horns with Dalcha Lungiambula (11-5, fighting out of Cape Town, South Africa) in a middleweight contest
• Heavyweight action sees No. 9 ranked Jairzinho Rozenstruik (12-4, fighting out of Paramaribo, Suriname) lock horns with No. 11 ranked Chris Daukaus (Philadelphia, Penn.)
• Billy Quarantillo (16-4, fighting out of Tampa, Fla.) plans to spoil the featherweight debut of Alexander Hernandez (13-5, fighting out of San Antonio, Texas)
• TJ Brown (16-9, fighting out of Little Rock, Ark.) and Dana White’s Contender Series signee Erik Silva (9-1, fighting out of Alajuela, Costa Rica) collide in a featherweight tilt
• No. 14 ranked middleweight Chris Curtis (29-9, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) meets the always exciting Joaquin Buckley (15-5, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.)
• Ronnie Lawrence (8-2, fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Fla.) returns to action against undefeated Dana White’s Contender Series signee Cameron Saaiman (6-0, fighting out of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa)
• Dana White’s Contender Series signee Vinicius Salvador (14-4, fighting out of Minas Gerais, Brazil) intends to steal the show in his UFC debut against Daniel Silva (11-4, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) at flyweight

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

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 688 million fans and 207 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About T-Mobile Arena

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

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 22.8 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with a featherweight contenders’ bout that will see No. 5 ranked Calvin Kattar and No. 6 Arnold Allen collide in what promises to be an explosive main event. In the co-main event, hard-hitting Tim Means and Max Griffin square off in a pivotal bout at 170 pounds.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: KATTAR vs. ALLEN will take place Saturday, October 29 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The entire card will be available on ESPN+ in English and Spanish, with the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT and the prelims at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

Fan-favorite Kattar (23-6, fighting out of Methuen, Mass.) sets out to defend his spot in the featherweight rankings. The Boston native’s slick boxing and grit has earned him strong wins over Giga Chikadze, Dan Ige, and Jeremy Stephens. Kattar now sets out to halt Allen’s momentum and put himself back on the road to title contention.

Allen (18-1, fighting out of Trimley St. Martin, Suffolk, England) looks to crack the featherweight Top 5 for the first time in his career. Undefeated inside the Octagon, the Englishman holds wins over Dan Hooker, Sodiq Yusuff, and Nik Lentz. Allen now aims to capitalize on his first UFC main event spot by delivering a statement win against another notable name at 145 pounds.

Octagon veteran Means (32-13-1, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) returns to deliver another action-packed bout. Always game to scrap with the toughest at 170 pounds, Means holds wins over Mike Perry, Thiago Alves, and Dhiego Lima, and is determined to stop Griffin in impressive fashion and add another big win to his resume.

Griffin (18-9, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) looks to restart his win streak and crack the welterweight rankings. The West Coast native’s durable fighting style has led him to wins against Carlos Condit, Mike Perry, and Song Kenan. Griffin intends to bring a firefight to the veteran Means and deliver a show-stealing finish.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Dana White’s Contender Series signees Waldo Cortes-Acosta (7-0, fighting out of Phoenix, Arizona by way of Fundacion, Barahona, Dominican Republic) and Jared Vanderaa (12-9, fighting out of Hemet, Calif.) meet in a hard-hitting heavyweight bout
• Josh Fremd (9-3, fighting out of Pittsburgh, Penn.) squares off  Tresean Gore (4-2, fighting out of Lawrenceville, Ga.) at middleweight
• No. 13 light heavyweight Dustin Jacoby (18-5-1, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) and Khalil Rountree Jr. (10-5 1NC, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) collide in a thrilling matchup of elite strikers
• Middleweights face off as Phil Hawes (12-3, fighting out of Little Ferry, N.J.) meets Roman Dolidze (10-1, fighting out of Batumi, Georgia)
• Heavyweight legend Andrei Arlovski (34-20, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Flo.) battles Marcos Rogerio de Lima (19-8, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil)
• Joseph Holmes (8-2, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) faces Junyong Park (13-5, fighting out of Seoul, South Korea)
• Dana White’s Contender Series signeeChase Hooper (11-2-1, fighting out of Enumclaw, Wash.) meets Steve Garcia (12-5, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) at featherweight
• An exciting flyweight bout pits Kleydson Rodrigues (7-2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) against Cody Durden (13-4-1, fighting out of Covington, Ga.)
• Christian Rodriguez (7-1, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin) and Garrett Armfield (8-3, fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Flo.) clash at bantamweight

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

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 688 million fans and 207 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 22.8 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). 

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Orlando, Fla. for the first time in over four years with an intriguing welterweight tilt that will see No. 7 ranked contender Stephen Thompson battle Kevin Holland. Heavyweight KO artists collide in the co-main event when No. 4 ranked contender Tai Tuivasa meets No. 5 Sergei Pavlovich.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: THOMPSON vs. HOLLAND will take place Saturday, December 3 at Amway Center. The entire card will be available on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, as well as simulcast on ESPN+ in English and Spanish, with the main card starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT and the prelims at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: THOMPSON vs. HOLLAND tickets will go on sale Friday, October 14 at 10 a.m. ET and are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, October 12 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, October 13 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

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

Former title challenger Thompson (16-6-1, fighting out of Simpsonville, S.C.) returns to action for the first time in a year, looking to deliver a vintage performance. Throughout his UFC run, he has earned memorable KO wins over former UFC champions Johny Hendricks and Robert Whittaker, as well as Jake Ellenberger. Thompson now has his sights on defending his spot in the rankings by stopping Holland in emphatic fashion.

Holland (23-8 1NC, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas) aims to cap off his 2022 campaign by cracking into the welterweight Top 10. An exciting striker, he holds notable finishes against Tim Means, Jacare Souza and Joaquin Buckley. Holland now hopes to steal the show and secure the biggest win of his UFC career.

Fan favorite Tuivasa (15-4, fighting out of Western Sydney, NSW, Australia) intends to close out the year with a bang. A heavy-handed striker, he has netted spectacular KO victories over Derrick Lewis, Augusto Sakai and Greg Hardy. Tuivasa now hopes to turn heads and stop Pavlovich’s momentum with a highlight-reel finish.

Rising contender Pavlovich (16-1, fighting out of Moscow, Russia) plans to continue his hot streak by taking out Tuivasa. Currently on a four-fight KO run, he holds impressive victories against Derrick Lewis, Shamil Abdurakhimov and Maurice Greene. Pavlovich now looks to take another step towards title contention by adding Tuivasa to his resume.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 7 ranked contender Matheus Nicolau (18-3-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) takes on No. 8 Matt Schnell (16-6 1NC, fighting out of Shreveport, La.) in a pivotal flyweight bout
• Middleweight contenders collide when No. 5 ranked Derek Brunson (23-8, fighting out of Wilmington, N.C.) faces No. 8 Jack Hermansson (23-7, fighting out of Oslo, Norway by way of Uddevalla, Sweden)
• Eryk Anders (14-7 1NC, fighting out of Scottsdale, Ariz. by way of Birmingham, Ala.) meets Kyle Daukaus (11-3 1NC, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.) in a clash of exciting middleweights
• Michael Johnson (21-18, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) squares off with Marc Diakiese (16-5, fighting out of Doncaster, England by way of the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in an all-action lightweight bout
• No. 13 ranked flyweight contender Tracy Cortez (10-1, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) battles Amanda Ribas (11-3, fighting out of Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil)
• Natan Levy (7-1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Herzliya, Israel) faces Genaro Valdez (10-1, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico) at lightweight
• No. 12 ranked strawweight contender Angela Hill (14-12, fighting out of San Diego, Calif.) takes on rising No. 13 Emily Ducote (12-6, fighting out of Oklahoma City, Okla.)
• UFC Hall of Famer Clay Guida (37-19, fighting out of Johnsburg, Ill.) locks horns with Scott Holtzman (14-5, fighting out of Knoxville, Tenn.) at lightweight
• Gritty veteran Darren Elkins (28-10, fighting out of Portage, Ind.) faces Jonathan Pearce (13-4, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz. by way of Johnson City, Tenn.) in an exciting featherweight tilt
• Marcelo Rojo (16-9, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico by way of Rio Cuarto, Cordoba, Argentina) meets undefeated Dana White’s Contender Series signee Francis Marshall (6-0, fighting out of Jersey City, N.J.) at featherweight

Visit the UFC.com for information and content to support your UFC coverage.

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 688 million fans and 207 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About Amway Center

Amway Center, owned and operated by the City of Orlando on behalf of the Central Florida community, hosts major national events, concerts and family shows since its opening in fall 2010. The Orlando Magic served as the developer and the facility was designed to reflect the character of the community, meet the goals of the users and build on the legacy of sports and entertainment in Orlando. The building’s exterior features a modern blend of glass and metal materials, along with ever-changing graphics via a monumental wall along one facade. A 180-foot tall tower serves as a beacon amid the downtown skyline. The 875,000 square foot, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certified building features a sustainable, environmentally-friendly design and unmatched technology, including 1,100 digital monitors, the tallest high-definition video board in an NBA venue and multiple premium amenities available to all patrons in the building. Amway Center was honored with the International Association of Venue Managers’ 2017 Venue Excellence Award, which is bestowed upon facilities that excel in the management and operation of public assembly venues. Amway Center was the only arena to garner this distinction. Additionally, the arena has earned numerous awards, which most notably includes TheStadiumBusiness Awards’ 2013 Customer Experience Award and was named SportsBusiness Journal’s 2012 Sports Facility of the Year. For more information about the Amway Center, visit AmwayCenter.com.

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 22.8 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). 

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with an intriguing women’s flyweight contenders’ bout that will see No. 5 ranked Alexa Grasso and No. 6 Viviane Araujo look to make a statement in their first UFC main event. Also on the card, all-action bantamweights meet as Cub Swanson faces Jonathan Martinez.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: GRASSO vs. ARAUJO will take place Saturday, October 15 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The entire card will be available on ESPN+ in English and Spanish, with the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT and the prelims at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

Highly touted contender Grasso (14-3, fighting out of Guadalajara, Mexico) intends to rise to the occasion and deliver her most emphatic performance yet. Grasso is currently on the longest win streak of her UFC career, earning victories over Joanne Wood, Maycee Barber and Ji Yeon Kim. She now plans to become the first person to finish Araujo in the UFC and cement herself as a title threat.

Araujo (11-3, fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil) looks to crack into the flyweight Top 5 for the first time in her career. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with dangerous hands, she has secured notable wins over Andrea Lee, Roxanne Modafferi and Alexis Davis. Araujo now aims to make the most of her first UFC main event opportunity with another dominant showing.

Fan favorite Swanson (28-12, fighting out of Palm Springs, Calif.), who was recently inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s Fight Wing for his epic win over Dooho Choi, strives to a make a successful bantamweight debut in his first 2022 appearance. Currently tied for the most total fight night bonuses in UFC featherweight history with nine, Swanson has delighted fans with victories over Darren Elkins, Kron Gracie and Artem Lobov. He now hopes to vanquish another rising prospect and prove he can still compete with the best in the world. 

Martinez (16-4, fighting out of Plainview, Texas) seeks to extend the longest win streak of his UFC career and make a run at the bantamweight rankings. At 28 years old, he is in his athletic prime and has found his groove with recent wins over Vince Morales, Alejandro Perez and Zviad Lazishvili. Martinez now intends to add Swanson’s legendary name to his resume with a signature finish.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 4 ranked UFC flyweight contender Askar Askarov (14-1-1, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia) looks to defend his spot in the rankings against No. 5 Brandon Royval (14-6, fighting out of Lakewood, Colo.)
• Exciting middleweights Jordan Wright (12-3 1NC, fighting out of Lake Sherwood, Calif.) and Dusko Todorovic (11-3, fighting out of Belgrade, Serbia) lock horns
• No. 13 ranked welterweight Neil Magny (26-10, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) aims to defend his spot in the rankings against No. 14 Daniel Rodriguez (17-2, fighting out of San Gabriel, Calif.).
• Light heavyweight finishers face off as Misha Cirkunov (15-8, fighting out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada) faces Alonzo Menifield (12-3, fighting out of Dallas, Texas)
• Mana Martinez (9-3, fighting out of Houston, Texas) and Brandon Davis (14-9, fighting out of D’lberville, Miss.) collide in a bantamweight bout
• Middleweight grapplers clash as Nick Maximov (8-1, fighting out of Chico, Calif.) takes on Jacob Malkoun (6-2, fighting out of Oran Park, New South Wales, Australia)
• Veteran Raphael Assuncao (27-9, fighting out of Alpharetta, Ga.) clashes with Victor Henry (22-5, fighting out of South Gale, Calif.) at bantamweight
• Piera Rodriguez (8-0, fighting out of Malaga, Spain) and Sam Hughes (7-4, fighting out of Everett, Wash.) intend to steal the show in a women’s strawweight bout
• Tatsuro Taira (11-0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Okinawa, Japan) plans to keep his undefeated record intact against CJ Vergara (10-3-1, fighting out of San Antonio, Texas)
• Mike Jackson (1-1 1 NC, fighting out of Houston, Texas) and Pete Rodriguez (4-1, fighting out of Tucson, Ariz.) open up the card in a welterweight bout

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

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 688 million fans and 207 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 22.8 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). 

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with an exciting strawweight contenders’ bout that will see No. 5 ranked Mackenzie Dern clash with No. 6 Yan Xiaonan. An action-packed co-main event will see a showdown between exciting welterweights Randy Brown and Francisco Trinaldo.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: DERN vs. YAN will take place Saturday, October 1 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The entire card will be available exclusively on ESPN+ (English and Spanish), with the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT and the prelims at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

Fan favorite Dern (12-2, fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif.) returns to the Octagon to continue her impressive climb up the 115-pound rankings. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt has secured impressive wins against Tecia Torres, Nina Nunes, and Randa Markos. Dern will now set out to stop Yan and stake her claim for a title shot.

Yan (13-3, fighting out of Beijing, China) looks to steal the show by adding another notable name to her resume. Proven to be a dangerous striker, she has secured victories over Cláudia Gadelha, Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Angela Hill. Yan now looks to become the first fighter to finish Dern with a statement victory.

Due to injuries to both athletes, the bantamweight bout between Cody Garbrandt and Rani Yahya has been removed from the card.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Randy Brown (15-4, fighting out of Queens, N.Y.) looks to continue his win-streak when he meets Francisco Trinaldo (28-8, fighting out of Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil) at welterweight
• Maxim Grishin (32-9-2, fighting out of Grozny, Chechen Republic, Russia) squares off with Philipe Lins (15-5, fighting out of Warsaw, Poland) at light heavyweight
• Middleweights battle, as Krzysztof Jotko (24-5, fighting out of Orneta, Poland) meets Brendan Allen (19-5, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.)
• A thrilling featherweight bout will see Sodiq Yusuff (12-2, fighting out of Bladensburg, Md.) face newcomer Don Shainis (12-3, fighting out of Easton, Mass.)
• Raoni Barcelos(16-3, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) clashes with Trevin Jones(13-8, fighting out of Maite, Guam) at bantamweight
• Heavyweights collide as Ilir Latifi (16-8-1, fighting out of Malmo, Sweden) meets grappling specialist Aleksei Oleinik (60-16-1, fighting out of Moscow, Russia)
• Jessica Penne (14-7, fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif.) takes on Tabatha Ricci (7-1, fighting out of Ventura, Calif.) at strawweight
• An exciting lightweight matchup pits Mike Davis (9-2, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) against Dana White’s Contender Series signee Viacheslav Borshchev (6-2, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.)
• John Castaneda (19-5, fighting out of Minneapolis, Minn.) battles Daniel Santos (10-2, fighting out of Uberlandia, Brazil) at bantamweight
• Lightweights face off as Joaquim Silva (11-4, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil) meets Jesse Ronson (21-11, London, Ontario, Canada)
• Julija Stoliarenko (10-7-1, fighting out of Kaunas, Lithuania) and Octagon newcomer Chelsea Chandler (4-1, fighting out of Stockton, Calif.) are set to compete in a 140-pound catchweight bout
• An exciting bantamweight bout sees Guido Cannetti (9-7, fighting out of San Antonio de Padua, Buenos Aires, Argentina) face off against Randy Costa (6-3, fighting out of Taunton, Mass.)

Visit the UFC.com for information and content to support your UFC coverage.

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 688 million fans and 207 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+ 

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 22.8 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with an action-packed bantamweight contenders’ bout that will see No. 4 ranked Cory Sandhagen battle No. 10 Song Yadong.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: SANDHAGEN vs. SONG will take place Saturday, September 17 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The entire card will be available on ESPN+ in English and Spanish, with the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT and the prelims at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

Former interim bantamweight title challenger Sandhagen (14-4, fighting out of Aurora, Colo.) has his sights set on delivering another show-stealing performance. A dynamic striker with KO power, he has secured impressive wins against Frankie Edgar, Marlon Moraes and Raphael Assuncao. Sandhagen now intends to defend his spot in the rankings by stopping Song.

Rising contender Song (19-6-1 1NC, fighting out of Heilongjiang, China) looks to crack into the bantamweight Top 5 for the first time in his career. A heavy-handed striker, he has secured memorable victories over Marlon Vera, Marlon Moraes and Casey Kennedy. Song now attempts to become the first fighter to knock out Sandhagen and stake his claim for a title shot.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Chidi Njokuani (22-7 1NC, fighting out of Garland, Texas) looks to keep his momentum going when he meets Gregory Rodrigues (12-4, fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Fla. by way of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ) at middleweight
• Andre Fili (21-9 1NC, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) meets Bill Algeo (16-6, fighting out of King of Prussia, Penn.) in a featherweight tilt guaranteed to deliver fireworks
• Tanner Boser (20-8-1, fighting out of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) goes for another highlight-reel KO when he clashes with Rodrigo Nascimento (9-1, fighting out of Belo Horizonte, Brazil) at heavyweight
• Anthony Hernandez (9-2 1NC, fighting out of Dunnigan, Calif.) takes on Marc-Andre Barriault (114-5 1NC, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla. by way of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada) in an exciting middleweight bout
• Damon Jackson (21-4-1 1NC, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) faces Pat Sabatini (17-3, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.) in a clash of featherweight grapplers
• Trevin Giles (14-4, fighting out of Houston, Texas) meets Louis Cosce (7-1, fighting out of Arcata, Calif.) at welterweight
• Recent Dana White’s Contender Series signee Joe Pyfer (9-2, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.) debuts against Alen Amedovski (8-3, fighting out of Rome, Italy) at middleweight
• No. 7 ranked women’s bantamweight contender Aspen Ladd (9-3, fighting out of El Dorado Hills, Calif.) squares off with No. 8 Sara McMann (13-6, fighting out of Gaffney, S.C.)
• Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Denise Gomes (6-1, fighting out of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) steps in to face Loma Lookboonmee (6-3, fighting out of Phuket, Thailand) in a strawweight bout
• Trey Ogden (15-5, fighting out of Lee’s Summit, Mo.) meets Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Daniel Zellhuber (12-0, fighting out of Tlalnepantla de Baz, Estado de México, Mexico) at lightweight
• Mariya Agapova (10-3, fighting out of Pavlodar, Kazakhstan) takes on Gillian Robertson (10-7, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Niagara Falls, Canada) in an intriguing flyweight bout
• Tony Gravely (23-7, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) locks horns with unbeaten Javid Basharat (12-0, fighting out of London, England) in a meeting of promising bantamweights
• Nikolas Motta (12-4, fighting out of Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil) battles Cameron VanCamp (15-6-1 1NC, fighting out of Indianapolis, Ind.) at lightweight

Visit the UFC.com for information and content to support your UFC coverage.

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 688 million fans and 207 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 22.8 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). 

About ESPN

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