Las Vegas – UFC^® today announced that former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua will be inducted into the 2024 Class of the UFC Hall of Fame as a Pioneer. The 2024 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place as part of the 12^th Annual UFC International Fight Week^Ô, on Thursday, June 27, at T-Mobile Arena, and will be streamed live exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS^®.

“Shogun Rua is one of the greatest Brazilian athletes in combat sports history,” said UFC President & CEO Dana White. “Shogun had an incredible run in PRIDE and UFC, and he was fearless inside the Octagon. His fights against Mark Coleman, Chuck Liddell, Lyoto Machida, and Dan Henderson represent some of the most memorable moments in UFC history and helped put Brazilian MMA on the map. It will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer during International Fight Week.”

Rua will enter the UFC Hall of Fame as the 20^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 42 fights during his 21-year professional MMA career, Rua registered a record of 27-14-1 (23-13-1 – UFC / PRIDE), securing notable wins over UFC Hall of Famers Mark Coleman, Chuck Liddell, Kevin Randleman, and Forrest Griffin, former UFC light heavyweight champions Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Lyoto Machida, and former Strikeforce^® heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.

Rua made his professional MMA debut on November 8, 2022, competing as part of Meca World Vale Tudo 7. Rua would win four of his first five fights in Meca World Vale Tudo and IFC, before entering PRIDE FC with a 4-1 record.

Rua made his PRIDE FC debut as part of PRIDE FC: BUSHIDO 1, which took place on October 5, 2003, in Saitama, Japan. Rua defeated Akira Shoji via KO in the first round and immediately became a fan favorite.

Rua would win his next seven fights in PRIDE, which included winning the 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix by defeating Alistair Overeem and Ricardo Arona via first-round knockouts on the same night as part of PRIDE FC: Final Conflict 2005.

Following his first loss in PRIDE to former UFC heavyweight champion Mark Coleman via injury in the co-main event of PRIDE 31: UNBREAKABLE in February 2006, he would return in September and win his next four fights over six months before joining UFC.   

Rua made his UFC debut against Forrest Griffin in the co-main event of UFC^® 76: KNOCKOUT, which took place on September 22, 2007, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Rua would lose his debut to Griffin inside the Octagon^® via third-round submission and take a year off to recover.

Rua returned in 2009 with two wins over Coleman and Chuck Liddell at UFC 93 and UFC 97, respectively, earning his first title shot against undefeated champion Lyoto Machida at UFC 104.

UFC^® 104: MACHIDA vs. SHOGUN took place on October 24, 2009, at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Machida entered the Octagon with an undefeated 15-0 record which included wins over five future UFC Hall of Famers.

Rua and Machida matched evenly throughout the bout, with the champion absorbing more punches than in any of his 15 previous fights. The fight would go all five rounds, and Machida would retain the title with a controversial unanimous decision.

Due to the controversy surrounding the decision, Rua was granted an immediate rematch for the UFC light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 113.

UFC^® 113: MACHIDA vs. SHOGUN 2 took place on May 8, 2010, at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Rua took control of the fight at the opening bell, securing more strikes and kicks during the first round. With 1:38 remaining in the first, Rua landed an overhand right that knocked down the champion. Rua immediately mounted Machida and landed several strikes to win the fight and decisively become the new UFC light heavyweight champion.

Rua would put his title on the line 10 months later against top-ranked contender Jon Jones in the main event of UFC^® 128: SHOGUN vs. JONES in March 2011. Rua would lose the title via third-round TKO.

Over the next 11 years, Rua would compete inside the Octagon 18 times, facing the top contenders of the light heavyweight division while delivering numerous Fight of the Night performances. His fights against James Te Huna, Antonio Rogerio Nogueria, Tyson Pedro and Dan Henderson earned performance honors, with his UFC 139 war against Henderson entering the UFC Hall of Fame’s Fight Wing in 2018.

He retired from competition following his loss to Ihor Potieria during UFC 283, which took place on January 21, 2023, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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

UFC:

• Most fights in UFC light heavyweight history – 24

• Tied for most knockdowns in UFC light heavyweight history – 14

• Second-most knockouts in UFC light heavyweight history – 8

• Third-most knockouts in Zuffa history (UFC / PRIDE / WEC / SF) – 17

• Fifth-most finishes in Zuffa history (UFC / PRIDE / WEC / SF) – 18

PRIDE:

• Tied for most knockouts by soccer kicks/stomps in PRIDE history – 4

Outside the Octagon, Rua has won several awards during his career, receiving Knockout of the Year honors in 2010 during the Fighters Only World MMA Awards for his bout against Lyoto Machida at UFC 113. In 2005, he received Fight of the Year for his bout against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at PRIDE FC: Critical Countdown 2005.

A native of Curitiba, Brazil, Rua began training in Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a member of the famed Chute Boxe Academy. He also trained in wrestling and boxing as a teenager. He currently lives in Curitiba with his wife and children.

To view Rua’s UFC FIGHT PASS collection please visit: https://ufcfightpass.com/playlist/20541

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 UFCHOF. For additional information, please visit UFC.com.

Las Vegas – UFC^® announced today it will return to Louisville, Ky. at the KFC Yum! Center for just the second time in the promotion’s history and the first time in over thirteen years for a stacked fight night event on Saturday, June 8.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^® in Louisville prelims will stream exclusively on ESPN+ in English and Spanish beginning at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT. The main card will be simulcast in English and Spanish on ESPN and ESPN+ starting at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^® in Louisville tickets will go on sale Friday, April 26 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, April 24 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, April 25 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

“Thanks to the generous support of Louisville Tourism and the Louisville Sports Commission, we are honored to welcome UFC back to Louisville and to host such a prestigious event at the KFC Yum! Center,” said ASM Global General Manager Eric Granger “Our venue is known for delivering unforgettable live entertainment experiences, and we can’t wait to host an action-packed night of world-class MMA action.”

“We are thrilled to be returning to the great city of Louisville after such a long time,” said UFC Executive Vice President of Event Development Peter Dropick. “We knew it was time to bring another stacked event to the terrific fans in Kentucky and we can’t wait to put on an amazing show in the KFC Yum! Center on June 8.”

 
“We’re very excited to have a UFC Fight Night card back at the KFC Yum! Center on June 8,” said Louisville Sports Commission President & CEO Greg Fante. “Having the highest level of MMA return to Louisville for the first time in more than a decade will be electric. We know there is a strong fanbase in the region and we anticipate they will come out strong to support this event.” 

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

Current bouts on the card include:

• No. 14 ranked light heavyweight contender Dominick Reyes (12-4, fighting out of Victorville, Calif.) returns to action against Dustin Jacoby (19-8-1, fighting out of Springfield, Ill.)
• A highly-anticipated bout in the bantamweight division sees Raul Rosas Jr. (8-1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) battle The Ultimate Fighter season 29 winner Ricky Turcios (13-3, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.)
• Miguel Baeza (10-3, fighting out of Davie, Fla.) returns to the Octagon to welcome Punahele Soriano (9-4, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) to the welterweight division
• An exciting lightweight bout pits Thiago Moises (18-7, fighting out of Indaiatuba, Brazil) against Ludovit Klein (21-4-1, fighting out of Nove Zamky, Slovakia)
• Charles Radtke (9-3, fighting out of Naples, Fla.) aims to hand Carlos Prates (18-6, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) his first UFC loss in a welterweight contest
• Middleweights Brunno Ferreira (11-1, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil) and Dustin Stoltzfus (Germersheim, Germany) lock horns
• John Castaneda (21-6, fighting out of Minneapolis, Minn.) meets the undefeated Daniel Marcos (15-0 1NC, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla. by way of Lima, Peru) in a bantamweight scrap
• The only two-time winner of The Ultimate Fighter, Brad Katona (15-3, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland by way of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) takes on Jesse Butler (12-5, fighting out of West Monroe, La.) at bantamweight
• Undefeated strawweight Eduarda Moura (10-0, fighting out of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil) seeks another finish when she faces Denise Gomes (8-3, fighting out of Niteroi, Brazil)
• Bantamweights make their case to break into the rankings as Cody Stamann (21-6-1, fighting out of Sparta, Mich.) battlesTaylor Lapilus (19-4, fighting out of Paris, France)
• Julian Marquez (9-4, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) and Zach Reese (6-1, fighting out of Shiner, Texas) go toe-to-toe in an all-action middleweight bout
• Andrea Lee (13-9, fighting out of Shreveport, La.) and Montana De La Rosa (12-9-1, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas) meet in a classic striker versus grappler matchup
• Rayanne dos Santos (14-7, fighting out of Belém, Pará, Brazil) intends to spoil the UFC debut of Puja Tomar (8-4, fighting out of Muzaffarnagar, India)

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

###

About UFC^®

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

About KFC Yum! Center

The KFC Yum! Center is a multi-purpose arena that overlooks the Ohio River in downtown Louisville and attracts approximately 1 million fans to ticketed events annually. It boasts a total of 721,762 square feet while offering an arena bowl exceeding 22,000 seats and eleven bars and lounges all within walking distance of more than 6,000 hotel rooms in downtown Louisville. It is home to the University of Louisville men’s and women’s basketball programs and attracts several top grossing concerts and events annually. The KFC Yum! Center is a state-of-the-art facility with advance technology capabilities that is owned by the Louisville Arena Authority and managed by ASM Global. For more information, visit www.kfcyumcenter.com. 

About ESPN+?? ??

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC International Fight WeekÔ returns to Las Vegas with a blockbuster main event featuring the return of superstar Conor McGregor as he collides with Michael Chandler in a highly anticipated welterweight bout. Also, former UFC light heavyweight champion and No. 3 ranked contender Jamahal Hill makes a quick return to take on rising No. 8 Khalil Rountree Jr. in a pivotal co-main event.

UFC^® 303: MCGREGOR vs. CHANDLER takes place Saturday, June 29 at T-Mobile Arena with the main card at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on ESPN+ PPV. The prelims will be available on ESPN, as well as simulcast in English and Spanish on ESPN+, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The night’s action will start at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT with early prelims on ESPN+ (English and Spanish) and UFC Fight Pass.

UFC^® 303: MCGREGOR vs. CHANDLER tickets will go on sale Friday, April 26 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, April 24 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, April 25 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

UFC X will also be taking place during UFC International Fight WeekÔ on June 28 and 29 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This two-day immersive experience will include autograph sessions, athlete meet and greets, live panels, exclusive activations and more. To purchase tickets and for more information on UFC X, visit UFC.com/IFW.

McGregor (22-6, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland) makes his long-awaited return to settle his rivalry against opposing The Ultimate Fighter season 31 coach Chandler. The first fighter in UFC history to hold two division titles simultaneously, McGregor has become a sports icon through his legendary performances against José Aldo, Eddie Alvarez and Donald Cerrone. The Irishman aims to deliver another iconic moment against Chandler, kickstarting another run at UFC gold.

Chandler (23-8, fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Fla. by way of Nashville, Tenn.) finally gets his shot at the sport’s biggest star. A fan favorite incapable of delivering a dull moment in the Octagon, Chandler has become a must-watch after his highlight-reel finishes against Dan Hooker and former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson. He now looks to secure the biggest win of his career by finishing McGregor in unforgettable fashion.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Hill (12-2 1NC, fighting out of Grand Rapids, Mich.) returns to action with a vengeance. The Michigan-native made a name for himself by delivering three straight knockouts against Jimmy Crute, Johnny Walker and Thiago Santos on his way to capturing the division’s title from Glover Teixiera. Hill plans on reminding the 205-pound division why he’s one of the best in the world by delivering a statement performance against Rountree Jr.

Rountree Jr. (14-5 1NC, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) embarks on his first outing of the 2024 season. An eight-year Octagon veteran, Rountree Jr. has become an unrelenting force and knockout machine, finishing the likes of Anthony Smith, Chris Daukaus and Paul Craig. The rising contender looks to make it six in a row and inch his way closer to a title opportunity by silencing former division champion Hill.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 3 ranked bantamweight contender Mayra Bueno Silva (10-3-1 1NC, fighting out of Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, Brazil) takes on No. 7 Macy Chiasson (10-3, fighting out of Dallas, Texas by way of New Orleans, La.) in a high-stakes matchup
• A thrilling featherweight bout pits UFC Hall of Famer Cub Swanson (29-13, fighting out of Palm Springs, Calif.) against Andre Fili (23-11, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.)
• Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Joe Pyfer (12-3, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.) squares off with Canada’s own Marc-André Barriault (16-7 1NC, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla. by way of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada) at middleweight
• Ranked strawweights No. 14 Michelle Waterson-Gomez (18-12, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) and No. 15 Gillian Robertson (13-8, fighting out of Port St. Lucie, Fla. by way of Niagara Falls, Canada) lock horns
• Road to UFC season two prospect Rei Tsuruya (9-0, fighting out of Chiba, Japan) looks to remain undefeated as he meets Dana White’s Contender Series signee Carlos Hernandez (9-3, fighting out of Chicago, Ill.)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 700 million fans and 259 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About T-Mobile Arena

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

About ESPN+ 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading 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.

Manchester, England: UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organisation, has announced its first European event of 2024, UFC® 304.

Arriving in Manchester on Saturday, July 27, UFC® 304 is the first-ever sporting event announced for Co-op Live, the UK’s largest indoor arena.  The prelims will begin at 11 p.m. BST (6 p.m. ET in the U.S.), followed by the main card airing at 3 a.m. BST (10 p.m. ET in the U.S., the traditional start time for a UFC Pay Per View).

UFC® 304 tickets go on sale from 10:00 a.m. BST on Friday, June 7, via Ticketmaster. UFC Fight Club members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets early on Wednesday, June 5, at 9:00 a.m. BST. Those who registered their interest to the event will gain access to a special pre-sale which starts Thursday, June 6, at 10:00 a.m. BST.

The card marks the first sporting event announced for Co-op Live, the UK’s largest and most sustainable live entertainment arena. With state-of-the-art technology and a carefully curated unique design, the venue promises to bring fans right into the heart of the action.

“I’m so excited to get back to Manchester. And no better time than this summer,” said UFC President and CEO Dana White. “We have two champions from the UK and fans have been dying for a UFC PPV event. So here we come to the largest indoor arena in the UK. See you soon, England!”

Co-op Live Executive Director & General Manager, Gary Roden said: “With the north of England home to so many of the world’s leading fighters, we are primed and ready for UFC and its knowledgeable, passionate fanbase. Offering a state-of-the-art platform for globally broadcast events, Co-op Live is extremely proud to welcome entertainment of this scale and caliber as the future home of combat sports in the UK.”

The UK has always been the home to landmark UFC events and has played host to some of the most memorable Octagon® moments in UFC history, including Michael Bisping’s spectacular defeat of the legendary Anderson “The Spider” Silva in February 2016. UK fans also watched as Leon Edwards successfully defended his title in front of a home crowd last year at UFC® 286, cementing his legacy as one of the UK MMA greats.

UK MMA is currently experiencing what is being described as an unheralded golden era, with stars such as  welterweight champion Leon Edwards, interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, and local favourites, including  Paddy Pimblett, Molly McCann, Muhammad Mokaev, Michael Page, and Arnold Allen, with more rising through the ranks.

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

Fans are advised to register their interest early via ufc.com/Manchester to secure their tickets and to follow @UFCEurope on social media for the latest updates on this event.

ENDS

About UFC®

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

About Co-op Live

Oak View Group (OVG), City Football Group (CFG), Harry Styles, and Co-op are joining forces to create Co-op Live, the biggest and best arena in the UK. Based in Manchester, the project is injecting £365m of private investment into the Northwest. Co-op Live will be one of the world’s premier music and entertainment venues, rivalling New York’s Madison Square Garden, The Forum in LA and The O2 in London. 

World class, planet friendly and at the heart of the local community, Co-op Livewill deliver one of the world’s most pioneering, sustainable, and socially responsible venues, delivering Co-op’s vision of a fairer world into the entertainment industry. The project will create 3,350 constructions jobs and 1,000 roles and apprenticeships on completion of the venue as well as giving over £1m back to national and local good causes.  

Co-op Live will be located on the Etihad Campus, and will host live music, sport, comedy, award shows and family entertainment. Co-op Live’s smart ‘bowl’ design means it is big but intimate with cutting edge visual technology, incredible acoustics and 32 bars, restaurants, lounges, and club spaces. 

Visit cooplive.com, and follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Newark, N.J. with another stellar card, headlined by UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and No. 4 ranked contender Dustin Poirier. Also, an action packed five-round co-main event sees No. 1 middleweight contender Sean Strickland square off with No. 7 ranked Paulo Costa.

UFC^® 302: MAKHACHEV vs. POIRIER takes place Saturday, June 1 at Prudential Center, with the main card available on ESPN+ PPV at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The prelims will be airing on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT. The early prelims will be available for viewing exclusively on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.

UFC^®returns to Prudential Center after setting the venue’s live sporting event gate record in 2023 with UFC^® 288 headlined by Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo. UFC^® 302: MAKHACHEV vs. POIRIERwill mark the tenth UFC event at the famed arena dating back to 2007.

UFC^® 302: MAKHACHEV vs. POIRIER tickets will go on sale this Friday, April 19 at 10 a.m. ET and are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, April 18 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com/newark.

Makhachev (25-1, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia) looks to defend his UFC lightweight championship after his commanding knockout victory over former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. The No. 1 ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world seeks his fourteenth straight victory and a win over another future hall of famer. The world class grappler also holds wins against Charles Oliveira, Bobby Green and Dan Hooker.

Poirier (30-8 1NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Lafayette, La.) returns to action seeking championship gold after a thrilling knockout victory against rising contender Benoit Saint Denis. An Octagon veteran, the former Interim UFC lightweight champion holds wins over elite competition such as Conor McGregor (twice), Michael Chandler, and Dan Hooker. Poirier looks to cement his legacy by claiming the undisputed UFC lightweight championship.

Former UFC middleweight champion Strickland (28-6, fighting out of Corona, Calif.) looks to position himself for another title shot with a win in New Jersey. The relentless striker holds victories over Israel Adesanya, Jack Hermansson, Uriah Hall and Brendan Allen. Strickland now intends to get back in the win column with a victory over fan favorite Paulo Costa.

Costa (14-3, fighting out of Contagem, Minas Gerais, Brazil) returns to action seeking a statement performance. The explosive Brazilian fighter looks to ascend back up the middleweight rankings with a win over the former champion. “The Eraser” has notable wins over Luke Rockhold, Yoel Romero and Uriah Hall.

Current bouts also on the card include:

• No. 7 ranked heavyweight contenderJailton Almeida (20-3, fighting out of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil) squares off against Alexander Romanov (17-2, fighting out of Comrat, Moldova) scheduled for three five minute rounds
• Octagon veteran Randy Brown (18-5, fighting out of Queens, N.Y.) clashes with Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (24-7, fighting out of Curitiba, Parana, Brazil) in a welterweight bout
• HyunSung Park (9-0, fighting out of Phuket, Thailand) and Dana White’s Contender Series alum Andre Lima (8-0, fighting out of Guarulhos, Sao Paulo, Brazil) square off in a battle between undefeated flyweights. 
• Niko Price (15-7, fighting out of Cape Coral, Fla.) battles Alex Morono (24-9, fighting out of Houston, Texas) in a welterweight tilt
• Pivotal matchup scheduled for the middleweight division as No. 9 ranked contender Roman Dolidze (12-3, fighting out of Batumi, Georgia)and No. 12 Anthony Hernandez (12-2 1NC, fighting out of Dunnigan, Calif.) go to battle
• Dana White’s Contender Series alum Cesar Almeida (5-0, fighting out of São Paulo, Brazil) collides with Roman Kopylov (12-3, fighting out of Novosibirsk, Russia) in a middleweight bout
• Looking to put to their rivalry to rest, bantamweights Ailin Perez (9-2, fighting out of Buenos Aires, Argentina)and Joselyne Edwards (13-5, fighting out of Panama City, Panama) square off
• Sumudaerji (16-6, fighting out of Aba, Sichuan, China) looks to stop “The Fearless” Joshua Van (10-1, fighting out of Houston, Texas) in a flyweight bout 
• An action packed bout is set for the 155-pound division as Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Grant Dawson (20-2-1, fighting out of Coconut, Creek, Fla.) locks horns withJoe Solecki (13-4, fighting out of Wilmington, N.C.)
• Well-rounded welterweights Phil Rowe (10-4, fighting out of Orlando, Fla.) and Jake Matthews (19-7, fighting out of Epping Victoria, Australia) slated for three five minute rounds
• New Jersey’s own Mickey Gall (7-5, fighting out of Green Brook, N.J.) makes his return to the Octagon to take on Bassil Hafez (8-4-1, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) at welterweight

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

###

About UFC^®

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

About Prudential Center

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

About ESPN+?? ??

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading 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, April 17, 2024 – UFC^®, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), today announced that UFC 300: PEREIRA vs. HILL, held on Saturday, April 13, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, was one of the most successful and highest-grossing events in UFC history.

Among the highlights:

GATE

• $16.5 million, the third highest-grossing UFC event ever

ATTENDANCE

• 20,067,a new record for a UFC event at T-Mobile Arena
• UFC’s sixth consecutive sellout in 2024 and the eleventh straight sellout dating back to October 2023

VIEWERSHIP

• Most-watched UFC Pay Per View Prelims ever across ESPN platforms (ESPN+, Hulu SVOD, ESPN & ESPN Deportes combined)
• Most-watched UFC Pay Per View Prelims ever on ESPN, with 1.86 million total viewers
• Viewership on ESPN grew every 30 minutes from 8:00p – 10:00p ET, peaking with 2.49 million total viewers at 9:48p ET leading into the main card Pay-Per-View on ESPN+ at 10:00p ET
• Most-viewed sports event of Saturday during primetime (8:00p – 10:00p ET) on cable and network television among total viewers and key demographics, including P18-34, P18-49, P25-54, M18-34, M18-49, M25-54, F18-34, F18-49, and F25-54

MERCHANDISE

• #1 all-time merchandise sales ever for a UFC arena event (*not including stadium shows)
• #2 all-time merchandise sales for any UFC event (*behind only UFC 193: ROUSEY vs. HOLM at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne in 2015)

GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS

• Highest-grossing sponsorship sales for an event in UFC history
• All available inventory sold out

COMMERCIAL PAY PER VIEW IN US, CANADA, AND AUSTRALIA

• U.S.: Highest result since July 2021 (UFC 264)
• Canada: Highest result since March 2020 (UFC 248)
• Australia: Highest result since January 2021 (UFC 257)
• Movie theaters in the U.S. set a record for a UFC event with the highest number of participating locations

SOCIAL: 

• Best performing event on social media in UFC history, breaking records for cross platform video views, impressions, and interactions. Throughout fight week (April 8 – 13), UFC social media amassed more than 1.1 billion video views, with 213 million views coming from Max Holloway’s knockout of Justin Gaethje, which was posted across several platforms.  

# # #

About UFC®

UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and approximately 260 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with a thrilling clash of featherweight contenders that will see legendary KO artist and No. 12 ranked Edson Barboza take on undefeated Lerone Murphy. Also, No. 9 ranked flyweight Tim Elliott aims to become the first fighter to beat No. 13 Tatsuro Taira.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: BARBOZA vs. MURPHY takes place Saturday, May 18 in Las Vegas and will be available on ESPN+ in English and Spanish. The main card will begin at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, with the prelims kicking off at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

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

Barboza (24-11, fighting out of Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) has proven himself among the most devastating strikers in MMA history. Throughout his impressive career, he has delivered spectacular KO victories over Beneil Dariush, Billy Quarantillo and Terry Etim. Barboza now has his sights set on earning his third consecutive win by handing Murphy his first loss.

Murphy (13-0-1, fighting out of Manchester, England) intends to secure the biggest victory of his career. A talented striker with seven knockouts under his belt, he has earned notable wins against Makwan Amirkhani, Douglas Silva de Andrade and Ricardo Ramos. Murphy now hopes to make the most of his first UFC main event by stopping Barboza in emphatic fashion.

Elliott (21-13-1, fighting out of Kansas City, Mo.) looks to utilize his unorthodox style and veteran savvy to turn away another rising contender. A former UFC flyweight title challenger, he holds memorable victories over Sumudaerji, Tagir Ulanbekov and Louis Smolka. Elliott now plans to defend his spot in the rankings and halt Taira’s momentum.

Taira (15-0, fighting out of Okinawa, Japan) has wasted no time climbing the flyweight ladder since joining the roster in 2022. Among the youngest competitors in the UFC at 24 years old, he has netted impressive finishes against Carlos Hernandez, Jesús Santos Aguilar and CJ Vergara. Taira now intends to add a decorated veteran to his resume and continue his undefeated run.

Additional bouts on the card include: 

• Adrian Yanez (16-5, fighting out of Houston, Texas) meets Vinicius Salvador (14-6, fighting out of Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil) in an entertaining bantamweight tilt
• Unbeaten Oumar Sy (9-0, fighting out of Paris, France) debuts agains Rodolfo Bellato (12-2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) at light heavyweight
• Victor Martinez (12-5, fighting out of Pharr, Texas) squares off with Tom Nolan (8-1, fighting out of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) in a lightweight bout
• Themba Gorimbo (12-4, fighting out of Johannesburg, South Africa) goes for his third straight win when he takes on Ramiz Brahimaj (10-4, fighting out of Dallas, Texas by way of the Bronx, N.Y.) at welterweight
• Abus Magomedov (25-6-1, fighting out of Düsseldorf, Germany) locks horns with Warlley Alves (15-7, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in a middleweight tilt
• Khaos Williams (14-3, fighting out of Detroit, Mich.) meets Carlston Harris (19-5, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil by way of Skeldon, Guyana) in an intriguing welterweight matchup
• No. 9 ranked women’s strawweight contender Luana Pinheiro (11-2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) clashes with No. 12 Angela Hill (16-13, fighting out of San Diego, Calif. by way of Clinton, Md.)
• Vanessa Demopoulos (10-5, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) faces Emily Ducote (13-8, fighting out of Oklahoma City, Okla.) at strawweight
• Hailey Cowan (7-3, fighting out of Robinson, Texas) meets Tamires Vidal (7-2, fighting out of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in a bantamweight bout
• Piera Rodriguez (9-1, fighting out of Maracaibo, Venezuela) squares off with Ariane Carnelossi (14-3, fighting out of Presidente Prudente, Sao Paulo, Brazil) at strawweight

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

### 

About UFC^®

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

About ESPN+ 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

About ESPN 

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

Las Vegas ­– UFC^® today announced that the classic 2010 fight between middleweights Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s ‘Fight Wing’ as a part of the class of 2024. The 2024 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place as part of the 12^th Annual UFC International Fight Week^Ô, on Thursday, June 27, at T-Mobile Arena, and will be streamed live exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS^®.

“The first fight between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen was incredible,” said UFC President & CEO Dana White. “This is the fight that made Anderson a star and showed the world that Chael could compete with anyone in the division. This incredible dogfight had everything you want in a five-round title fight, and it will be an honor to induct this fight into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.

As the main event of UFC^® 117: SILVA vs. SONNEN, which took place on August 7, 2010, at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., both Silva and Sonnen entered the event on winning streaks of 12 and three, respectively.

Silva entered the Octagon as UFC middleweight champion with a 28-4 record (11-0 UFC) that included wins over future UFC Hall of Famers Forrest Griffin, Rich Franklin, and Dan Henderson (fight wing); former UFC welterweight champion Carlos Newton; former WEC^® middleweight champion Chris Leben; former WEC heavyweight champion James Irvin; former Strikeforce^® welterweight champion Nate Marquardt; and former Shooto^® welterweight champion Hayato Sakurai.

Sonnen entered the match as the top-ranked middleweight contender with a 26-10-1 record (7-4 UFC / WEC) and previous wins over former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Renato Sobral, former WEC light heavyweight champion Jason Lambert, former WEC middleweight champion Paulo Filho, and former Strikeforce^® welterweight champion Nate Marquardt.   

Both athletes met at the center of the Octagon, exchanging punches and kicks to begin the first round. 52 seconds into the round, Sonnen landed a straight left, stunning the champion and knocking him back to the cage. Sonnen began to pressure Silva, landing several additional punches and takedowns to control the pace of the fight. With 3:23 left in the first, Sonnen took Silva down and mounted him, controlling the action in half guard and landing punches from the top position. Sonnen would move into full guard with 1:45 remaining, staying on top of the champion through the end of the round. Sonnen secured 31 significant strikes in the round, more than any previous opponent landed against Silva in a full UFC fight.

Silva came out firing for the second round, landing several punches and kicks before being taken down by Sonnen. Sonnen controlled the pace of the second round from the full mounted position, landing punches and elbows with Silva responding with shots from his back periodically. With 15 seconds left in the second, Silva would attempt a Kimura on the fence, with Sonnen countering from top position.

Both athletes raced to the center of the Octagon for round three, with Silva immediately landing an overhand right. Sonnen would advance and take Silva down 20 seconds into the round, continuing his dominance on the canvas. Sonnen would continue his ground assault on Silva, landing punches and elbows from the top position.

Silva opened the fourth round by taking control and landing a series of punches, kicks, and an elbow that stunned Sonnen. The two traded punches before Silva took Sonnen down 30 seconds into the round. Sonnen used his wrestling background to secure a reversal and take control via top position with four minutes remaining. Sonnen would control the fourth round via top control, consistently landing punches and elbows.

The fifth round opened with both athletes in the center of the Octagon, measuring each other up until Sonnen landed an overhand left that knocked Silva down. Sonnen secured the top position and attempted to submit Silva via side choke 45 seconds into the round, but Silva evaded the effort. Sonnen continued to control the fight from the ground, consistently landing punches with Silva evading from the ground.

With 2:05 remaining in the fight, Silva began to land several punches from his back and slipped Sonnen into a triangle armbar, submitting Sonnen via TKO with 1:50 seconds remaining to retain the UFC middleweight title. Silva’s triangle armbar submission was only the second in UFC history, and in terms of time elapsed, was the second latest at that time. Silva’s submission came with a -60 significant strike differential and remains the greatest statistical comeback finish in UFC championship history.

Sonnen’s 320 strikes landed against Silva set a UFC record that ranks fourth today. Silva had only absorbed 166 total strikes in his previous 11 fights combined.

Silva’s win earned him his 12^th consecutive UFC victory, breaking Royce Gracie’s UFC record for longest winning streak. The fight also won Fight of the Year honors during the Fighters Only World MMA Awards.

Silva and Sonnen would each win their next two respective fights before meeting in a rematch in the main event of UFC^® 148: SILVA vs. SONNEN II. Silva would win their second meeting via second-round TKO.

To view this fight on UFC FIGHT PASS, please visit: https://ufcfightpass.com/playlist/20542

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 UFCHOF. For additional information, please visit UFC.com.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to St. Louis, Mo. for the first time since 2018 with a thrilling heavyweight showdown as fan favorite and No. 12 ranked heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis faces No. 15 Rodrigo Nascimento. Also on the card, No. 12 ranked light heavyweight contender Alonzo Menifield takes on Carlos Ulberg.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: LEWIS vs NASCIMENTO will take place Saturday, May 11 at Enterprise Center. The entire event will simulcast in English and Spanish on ESPN and ESPN+ starting with the prelims at 4 p.m. ET/ 1 p.m. PT, followed by the main card at 7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: LEWIS vs NASCIMENTO tickets will go on sale Friday, April 5 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, April 3 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, April 4 starting at 10 a.m. CT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

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

UFC knockout king Lewis (27-12, fighting out of Houston, Texas) plans to add to his impressive record number of 14 knockouts in the promotion with another vintage performance. Among the most popular athletes on the roster, Lewis has entertained fans with highlight-reel finishes of Curtis Blaydes, Alexander Volkov and Marcos Rogerio de Lima. He now intends to add a win over Nascimento to his resume and break back into the Top 10.

Nascimento (11-1, fighting out of Belo Horizonte, Brazil) aims to make the most of the biggest opportunity of his MMA career. A signee from season three of Dana White’s Contender Series, he is currently riding a three-fight win streak, which consists of victories over Tanner Boser, Ilir Latifi and Don’Tale Mayes. Nascimento now seeks to start off his 2024 campaign with a career-defining showcase over Lewis.

Menifield (15-3-1, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) has his sights set on securing another dramatic victory. He is currently on a five-fight unbeaten streak, the longest of his UFC career, which includes wins over Dustin Jacoby, Jimmy Crute and Misha Cirkunov. Menifield now plans to defend his spot in the rankings against Ulberg and turn his attention towards a Top 10 matchup.

Ulberg (10-1, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand) looks to make a statement in his first UFC co-main event. The record holder for the most strikes landed per minute in UFC light heavyweight history, Ulberg has finished his last four victories in a row, including those over Da-un Jung, Ihor Potieria and Nicolae Negumereanu. The former professional kickboxer now plans on delivering another bonus-earning performance.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Terrance McKinney (15-6, fighting out of Spokane, Wash.) and Esteban Ribovics (12-1, fighting out of Cordoba, Argentina) meet in an exciting lightweight matchup
• No. 11 ranked strawweight Tabatha Ricci (9-2, fighting out of Ventura, Calif.) faces off with veteran Tecia Pennington (13-6, fighting out of Colorado Springs, Colo.)
• An intriguing featherweight bout matches No. 15 ranked Alex Caceres (21-14 1NC, fighting out of Miami, Fla.) against Sean Woodson (11-1-1, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.)
• Chase Hooper (13-3-1, fighting out of Enumclaw, Wash.) battles Viacheslav Borshchev (7-3-1, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) in a classic grappler versus striker matchup
• Waldo Cortes Acosta (11-1, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz. by way of Fundacion, Barahona, Dominican Republic) looks to derail compelling heavyweight prospect Robelis Despaigne (5-0, fighting out of Orlando, Fla. by way of Santiago de Cuba, Cuba)
• Welterweights Billy Goff (9-2, fighting out of Groton, Conn.) and Trey Waters (8-1, fighting out of Jacksonville, Fla.) vie to remain undefeated in the UFC
• Charles Johnson (14-6, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) and Jake Hadley (10-2, fighting out of Oldbury, England) lock horns in a flyweight bout guaranteed to deliver fireworks
• Jared Gooden (23-9, fighting out of Duluth, Ga.) faces Kevin Jousset (10-2, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand) in a welterweight bout
• Flyweights JJ Aldrich (13-6, fighting out of Westminster, Colo.) and Veronica Hardy (8-4-1, fighting out of Nottingham, England by way of Caracas, Venezuela) go toe-to-toe

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

###

About UFC^®

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

About Enterprise Center

Enterprise Center is a contemporary, 12-story glass and concrete structure located in the heart of downtown St. Louis.  The home of the St. Louis Blues Hockey Club, Enterprise Center also features a full range of arena programming, including concerts, comedy shows, family shows and other professional and college sporting events. 

About ESPN+  

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

Las Vegas – UFC^® announced today it will return to Newark, N.J. on Saturday, June 1 for UFC^® 302 at Prudential Center. The soon-to-be-announced fight card will be available live on ESPN+ Pay-Per-View.

UFC^®returns to Prudential Center after setting the venue’s live sporting event gate record in 2023 with UFC^® 288 headlined by Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo. UFC^® 302will mark the tenth UFC event at the famed arena dating back to 2007.

UFC^® 302 tickets will go on sale Friday, April 12 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, April 10 at 10 a.m. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, April 11 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com/newark.

“The city of Newark and Prudential Center have always been great partners to us,” said UFC President & CEO Dana White. “After setting a new arena record last year, I wanted to bring another huge event back to New Jersey to kick-off the summer with another big UFC event. UFC 302 is going to be fun!”

“After the success of last year’s event, we are proud to welcome the UFC back to New Jersey.” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Providing an excellent experience for the thousands of UFC fans attending will not only generate economic activity for the region, but will also ensure that New Jersey is known as a premium entertainment destination.”

“UFC brings its unique brand of competition and excitement to Prudential Center and Newark for the second straight year, and we are thrilled for their highly anticipated return,” said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. “Our city has a long history as a center for sports, from bicycle racing in the 1890s to the Newark Bears and Eagles of the 1930s, to the New Jersey Devils and Seton Hall basketball of today. UFC is writing another chapter of Newark’s glory here, showcasing our attractions and diversity for the latest wave of visitors. We look forward to welcoming fans from our own city and around the world to enjoy this electrifying event again.”

“After UFC’s triumphant return last year to Prudential Center, which was one of the highest grossing sporting events in the building’s history, we are excited to once again partner with UFC for another global pay-per-view event in Newark,” said Tad Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment. “As The Rock continues to offer one of the most diverse schedule of events in the country, we proudly open our doors to the thrilling and captivating sport of mixed martial arts and its tremendous fans. We can’t wait to add to the storied tradition of UFC events in the State of New Jersey for UFC 302 on June 1.”

Current bouts on the card include:

• Pivotal matchup scheduled for the middleweight division as No. 9 ranked contender Roman Dolidze (12-3, fighting out of Batumi, Georgia)and No. 12 Anthony Hernandez (12-2 1 NC, fighting out of Dunnigan, Calif.) go to battle
• Looking to put to their rivalry to rest, bantamweights Ailin Perez (9-2, fighting out of Buenos Aires, Argentina)and Joselyne Edwards (13-5, fighting out of Panama City, Panama) square off
• An action packed bout is set for the 155-pound division as Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Grant Dawson (20-2-1, fighting out of Coconut, Creek, Fla.) locks horns withJoe Solecki (13-4, fighting out of Wilmington, N.C.)
• Well-rounded welterweights Phil Rowe (10-4, fighting out of Orlando, Fla.) and Jake Matthews (19-7, fighting out of Epping Victoria, Australia) slated for three five minute rounds
• New Jersey’s own Mickey Gall (7-5, fighting out of Green Brook, New Jersey) makes his return to the Octagon to take on Bassil Hafez (8-4-1, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) at welterweight

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

###

About UFC^®

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

About Prudential Center

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

About ESPN+?? ??

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus/

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading 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 pivotal rematch featuring No. 5 ranked flyweight contender Matheus Nicolau taking on No. 6 Manel Kape. In addition, hard-hitting light heavyweights No. 11 Ryan Spann and rising contender Bogdan Guskov square off in a high stakes showdown. 

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: NICOLAU vs. KAPE 2 takes place Saturday, April 27 in Las Vegas and will be available on ESPN+ (English and Spanish) and ESPN. The prelims will air on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT, followed by the main card airing on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT. 

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

Nicolau (19-4-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) looks to make the most of his first UFC main event. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with a strong standup game, Nicolau has earned victories over Matt Schnell, David Dvorak, and Tim Elliott. The veteran contender now aims to secure a second win against Kape and make his case for a title shot later this year.

Kape (19-6, fighting out of Phuket, Thailand by way of Porto, Portugal) returns to action looking to avenge his 2021 loss to Nicolau. The Angolan-born fighter has made waves in the 125-pound division by delivering dominant performances against Felipe dos Santos, Zhalgas Zhumagulov, and Ode’ Osbourne. Kape now looks to finish Nicolau in emphatic fashion and cement his spot in the Top 5.

Veteran Spann (19-7, fighting out of Beaumont, Texas by way of Memphis, Tenn.) sets out to remind the world why he’s among the best at 205 pounds. A dominant force for the past six years, Spann has delivered highlight finishes against Dominick Reyes, Ion Cutelaba, and Misha Cirkunov. He now hopes for another first-round finish to derail Guskov’s momentum.

Guskov (15-3 fighting out of Dukent, Uzbekistan) looks to put the division on notice by taking out a top-ranked opponent. Making just his second Octagon appearance, Guskov wowed fight fans with his first-round knockout against The Ultimate Fighter season 30 finalist Zac Pauga. Uzbekistan’s own now sets forth to secure the biggest win of his career by getting his hand raised against Spann.

Additional bouts on the card include: 

• No. 11 ranked flyweight Ariane Lipski (17-8, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil) and No. 12 Karine Silva (17-4, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil) go toe-to-toe in a thrilling matchup
• WelterweightsTim Means (33-15-1, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) and Uroš Medi? (9-2, fighting out of Anchorage, Alaska by way of Novi Sad, Serbia) square off
• Joel Álvarez (20-3, fighting out of Asturias, Spain) looks to secure back-to-back wins as he takes on Dana White’s Contender Series signee Mateusz R?becki (19-1, fighting out of Szczecin, Poland) at lightweight
• Bantamweight veteran Rani Yahya (28-11-1 1 NC, fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil)collides with Dana White’s Contender Series alumnusVictor Henry (23-6, fighting out of Southgate, Calif.)
• Dana White’s Contender Series heavyweight contract winners Don’Tale Mayes (10-6 1 NC, fighting out of Louisville, Ken.) and Caio Machado (8-2-1, fighting out of Vancouver, B.C., Canada) look to steal the show
• Gabriel Benitez (23-12, fighting out of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico)takes on Maheshate (9-3, fighting out of Sichuan, China)at lightweight
• Marnic Mann (6-2, fighting out of Bozeman, Mont.) locks horns with Brazil’s Ketlen Souza (13-4, fighting out of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil) at strawweight
• Ivana Petrovic (6-1, fighting out of Tønsberg, Norway) faces Liang Na (17-1, fighting out of Heilongjiang, China) in a flyweight tilt
• Gabe Green (11-5, fighting out of San Pedro, Calif.) welcomes Dana White’s Contender Series signee James Llontop (14-2, fighting out of Lima, Peru) to the UFC 155-pound division
• Dana White’s Contender Series heavyweight contract winners Austen Lane (12-4 1NC, fighting out of Jacksonville, Fla.) and Jhonata Diniz (6-0, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil) are set to deliver fireworks
• The Ultimate Fighter season 31 finalist Austin Hubbard (16-6, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) clashes with Michal Figlak (8-1, fighting out of Worcester, England by way of Poznan, Poland) in an electric lightweight matchup

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

### 

About UFC^®

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

About ESPN+ 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus/

About ESPN 

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® today announced that former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s ‘Modern Wing’ as a member of the Class of 2024. Joanna will enter the Hall of Fame as the second female inductee in UFC history and first from the strawweight division.

The 2024 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place as part of the 12^th Annual UFC International Fight Week^Ô, on Thursday, June 27, at T-Mobile Arena, and will be streamed live exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS^®.

“Joanna is one of the greatest athletes in combat sports history,” UFC CEO Dana White said. “Joanna is an amazing person who has been an incredible champion, ambassador, and role model for women’s MMA, as well as an absolute killer inside the Octagon. She fought the best of the best in her division and never backed down from an opponent. Joanna is one of the toughest athletes we’ve ever seen, and it will be an honor to induct her into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer during International Fight Week.”

Joanna will enter the UFC Hall of Fame as the 13^th member of the Modern Wing, joining former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar as part of this year’s class. The “Modern Era” category includes athletes who turned pro on or after November 17, 2000 (when the first UFC event under the unified rules of MMA was held), are a minimum age of 35, or who have been retired for one year or more.A veteran of 21 fights during her 10-year professional MMA career, Joanna compiled a record of 16-5 (10-5 UFC), securing victories over former UFC strawweight champions Carla Esparza and Jessica Andrade. 

Joanna made her professional MMA debut on May 19, 2021, winning her first fight via unanimous decision. She would win her next five fights across five MMA promotions for the next two years before joining UFC with a 6-0 record.

Joanna made her UFC debut on the FIGHT PASS prelims of UFC^® ON FOX: LAWLER vs. BROWN, which took place on July 26, 2014, at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. Joanna defeated Juliana Lima via unanimous decision to continue her winning streak.

She returned to the Octagon^® five months later in December to face Claudia Gadelha on the prelims of UFC^® ON FOX: DOS SANTOS vs. MIOCIC in a strawweight title elimination bout.

Joanna defeated Gadelha via split decision to become the number-one contender of the division and face then-champion Carla Esparza at UFC^® 185: PETTIS vs. DOS ANJOS.

UFC^® 185: PETTIS vs. DOS ANJOS took place on March 14, 2015, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Tex. Joanna took control of the fight early and scored TKO in the second round to become UFC’s first Polish-born champion and first female European UFC champion. She would defend the strawweight championship five times over the next two years, setting a record for most title defenses in the division and decisively winning each fight.

Joanna would lose her next two fights against former UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas in the co-main events of UFC^® 217 and UFC^® 223, ending a streak of 14 consecutive victories as a professional MMA athlete.

Joanna returned to the Octagon on July 28, 2018, to face Tecia Torres on the main card of UFC^® ON FOX: ALVAREZ vs. POIRIER 2. She would defeat Torres via a unanimous decision and move to flyweight to vie for the vacant title against Valentina Shevchenko.

Joanna would lose to Shevchenko and return to strawweight to face Michelle Waterson-Gomez, headlining UFC^® FIGHT NIGHT: JOANNA vs. WATERSON on October 19, 2019, at Amalie Arena in Orlando. Fla. She would win via unanimous decision and earn a title shot against then-UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili in the co-main event at UFC^® 248: ADESANYA vs. ROMERO.

UFC^® 248: ADESANYA vs. ROMERO took place on March 7, 2020, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Both athletes consistently traded punches back and forth for five rounds, with Zhang winning via split decision in what is widely considered to be one of the greatest fights in UFC history. During the fight, Joanna landed 186 significant strikes on Zhang, which marks the third-most in UFC strawweight history. She retired in June 2022 after losing her rematch to Weili at UFC^® 275: TEIXEIRA vs. PROCHAZKA.

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

UFC:

• Most significant strikes landed in UFC women’s history – 1,754

• Most title fight wins in UFC strawweight history – 6

• Highest rate of significant strikes per minute in UFC strawweight history – 6.59

• Highest significant strike differential per minute in UFC strawweight history – +3.37

• Longest winning streak in UFC strawweight history – 8

• Tied for most wins in UFC strawweight history – 10

• Recorded six of the top 10 most significant strikes landed in a fight in UFC strawweight history

• 225 vs. Andrade (UFC 211)
• 220 vs. Letourneau (UFC 193)
• 186 vs. Zhang (UFC 248)
• 180 vs. Waterson – Gomez (UFC FN: Joanna vs. Waterson)
• 176 vs. Gadelha (TUF Finale: Joanna vs. Claudia 2)
• 171 vs. Kowalkiewicz (UFC 205)

Outside the Octagon, Joanna has been honored with numerous awards throughout her career, receiving Female Fighter of the Year in 2015 by MMA Junkie. Joanna’s unforgettable 2020 fight against then-UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili during UFC 248 won Fight of the Year honors from MMA Junkie, MMA Fighting, BT Sport, The Athletic, and the Fighters Only World MMA Awards.

A native of Olsztyn, Poland, Joanna began competing in Muay Thai at the age of 16. She competed in 40 amateur Muay Thai fights, compiling a 37-3 record before turning pro. Her only three losses were to future UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko. As an amateur, she captured four consecutive gold medals (2009-13) and a silver medal (2008) during the IFMA World Championships. As a professional Muay Thai and kickboxer, she fought in 31 matches, registering a 27-3 record with one draw, and became the World Kickboxing Federation’s European champion in 2010.

A philanthropist in her native Poland, Joanna is an ambassador for several children’s hospitals and food banks, raising funds and awareness for families in need.

To view Joanna’s UFC FIGHT PASS collection please visit: https://ufcfightpass.com/playlist/20540

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

Las Vegas – UFC today announced that The Ultimate Fighter^® is returning for an historic 32^nd season and will feature UFC flyweight champion Alexa Grasso coaching opposite former champion and No. 1 contender Valentina Shevchenko. Following the series, which exclusively debuts Tuesday, June 4 on ESPN, the two coaches will prepare to square off for the third time at a future date.

The Ultimate Fighter: Team Grasso vs. Team Shevchenko will feature the most international cast ever assembled for the show, with 14 nations being represented by the 16 rising prospects in the men’s featherweight (145 lbs.) and middleweight (185 lbs.) divisions, who have put everything else in their lives aside to pursue their UFC dreams.

The entire 12-episode season of TUF 32 will be available exclusively on ESPN, with one episode dropping each Tuesday beginning June 4at 10pm ET/7pm PT. Episodes will be available to stream on demand on ESPN+. In addition, UFC fans can re-watch all 31 previous seasons of TUF on ESPN+.

Produced by Lionsgate Alternative Television’s Pilgrim Media Group, The Ultimate Fighter is the iconic reality television series that has introduced millions of new and die-hard fans to future UFC champions and top contenders. Those whose careers have been shaped by their participation in The Ultimate Fighter include: Julianna Peña, Kamaru Usman, Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Rose Namajunas, Michael Bisping, Robert Whittaker, Nate Diaz, Tony Ferguson, T.J. Dillashaw, Amanda Nunes, Matt Serra, Michael Chiesa, Al Iaquinta, Kelvin Gastelum, Uriah Hall and many others.

No. 1 ranked women’s pound-for-pound fighter Grasso (16-3-1, fighting out of Guadalajara, Mexico) intends to make a statement in her coaching debut. She will look to pass on the skills and experience that have earned her notable victories over Shevchenko, Maycee Barber and Joanne Wood. Grasso now has her sights set on shutting out Shevchenko as coach and building momentum towards their inevitable rematch later this year.

Former UFC flyweight champion Shevchenko (23-4-1, fighting out of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan) is considered by many to be one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. A Master of Sport in taekwondo, boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai, Shevchenko has claimed highlight-reel victories over Lauren Murphy, Jéssica Andrade, and Katlyn Chookagian. She now plans on adding a successful TUF coaching season to her impressive resume on the way to reclaiming her belt from Grasso.  

Coaches and athletes participating in The Ultimate Fighter^® Season 32: Grasso vs. Shevchenko will appear in an invite-only media day on Monday, March 11 at UFC APEX.

WHO:            Alexa Grasso, UFC^® flyweight champion,

                        Valentina Shevchenko, No. 1 ranked UFC^® flyweight,

MEN’S FEATHERWEIGHTS (145)

Edwin Cooper Jr | 31 | 6-1 | Albuquerque, N.M.

Nathan Fletcher | 26 | 8-1 | Liverpool, England

Zygimantas Ramaska | 27 | 9-2 | Ukmerg?, Lithuania

Roedie Roets | 27 | 7-1 | Polokwane, South Africa

Bekhzod Usmonov | 28 | 12-4 | Tajikistan

Guillermo Torres | 37 | 7-1 | Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

Kaan Ofli | 30 | 11-2-1 | Melbourne, Australia

Mairon Santos | 23 | 13-1 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

MEN’S MIDDLEWEIGHTS (185)

Omran Chaaban | 23 | 6-1 | Finland

Shamidkhan Magomedov | 29 | 8-1 | Gubkinsky, Russia

Robert Valentin | 28 | 10-3 | Switzerland

Mark Hulme | 29 | 12-3 | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Ryan Loder | 31 | 6-1 | Sacramento, Calif.

Giannis Bachar | 33 | 9-2 | Athens, Greece

Thomas Theocharis | 30 | 9-5 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Paddy McCorry | 26 | 4-1 | West Belfast, Ireland

WHEN:          Monday, March 11 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. PT

WHERE:       UFC APEX

                        6650 El Camino Rd.

                        Las Vegas, NV 89118

RSVP for this event is mandatory. Please respond as soon as possible to Gabriella Bain gbain@ufc.com

*All athletes are subject to change

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

About UFC^®

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

About ESPN+?? ??

ESPN+ is the No. 1 sports streaming platform, serving fans in the U.S. with exclusive access to more than 32,000 live sports events each year, an unmatched library of on-demand replays and acclaimed original content, and premium written articles by the top reporters and analysts from ESPN.com. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $10.99 a month (or $109.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or in the ESPN App on mobile and connected devices. For more visit the ESPN+ Press Kit

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.

About Lionsgate

Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) encompasses world-class motion picture and television studio operations aligned with the STARZ premium global subscription platform to bring a unique and varied portfolio of entertainment to consumers around the world. The Company’s film, television, subscription and location-based entertainment businesses are backed by an 20,000-title library and a valuable collection of iconic film and television franchises. A digital age company driven by its entrepreneurial culture and commitment to innovation, the Lionsgate brand is synonymous with bold, original, relatable entertainment for audiences worldwide.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with an action-packed five-round main event featuring No. 5 ranked middleweight contender Marvin Vettori and No. 7 Brendan Allen. In addition, an exciting battle in the bantamweight division sees No. 11 ranked Norma Dumont take on returning former featherweight champion Germaine de Randamie.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: VETTORI vs. ALLEN takes place Saturday, April 6 in Las Vegas and will be available exclusively on ESPN+ (English and Spanish). The prelims will start at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT, followed by the main card at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT. 

Former title challenger Vettori (19-7-1, fighting out of Mezzocorona, Italy) intends to start the year strong with a win in his pocket. Vettori is a versatile competitor who has claimed victories over Roman Dolidze, Paulo Costa, and Jack Hermansson. “The Italian Dream” now looks to deliver a finishing performance against Allen in the hope of gaining momentum for another shot at the title.

Allen (23-5, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) is currently on a hot streak with six straight wins under his belt. A powerful grappler with a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, he owns impressive submissions over Paul Craig, Bruno Silva, and Andre Muniz. Allen now hopes to prolong his win streak with a powerful showing against Vettori.

Brazil’s Dumont (10-2, fighting out of Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil)is determined to break into the bantamweight Top 10 with a stellar performance. Securing six wins in her last seven fights, Dumont has quickly risen through the rankings as she collected victories against Chelsea Chandler, Karol Rosa, and Danyelle Wolf. She’s now determined to make her mark with a big win.

De Randamie (10-4, fighting out of Utrecht, Netherlands) returns to action for the first time since 2020 in hopes for a chance at redemption for the bantamweight title. A former UFC featherweight champion, de Randamie boasts triumphs over Julianna Pena, Aspen Ladd, and Holly Holm. She’s now ready to assert her dominance in the Octagon once again in search of victory.

Additional bouts on the card include: 

• Trevor Peek (9-1 1NC, fighting out of Chattanooga, Tenn.) sets his sights on fellow lightweight Charlie Campbell (8-2, fighting out of Long Island, N.Y.)
• Featherweights Alexander Hernandez (14-7, fighting out of Denver, Colo. by way of San Antonio, Texas) and Damon Jackson(22-6-1, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) collide
• Alatengheili (16-9-2, fighting out of Beijing, China) squares off with Victor Hugo (24-4, fighting out of Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil) in a bantamweight bout
• Josh Fremd (11-5, fighting out of Pittsburgh, Penn.) meets undefeated Dana White’s Contender Series signee Cesar Almeida (4-0, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) at middleweight
• Piera Rodriguez (9-1, fighting out of Maracaibo, Venezuela) takes on Cynthia Calvillo (9-6-1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) at strawweight
• Welterweights Court McGee (22-12, fighting out of Orem, Utah) and Alex Morono (23-9, fighting out of Houston, Texas) battle it out
• Undefeated Valter Walker (11-0, fighting out of Moscow, Russia. by Rio das Ostras, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) looks to take down Lukasz Brzeski (8-4-1 1NC, fighting out of Nowy Targ, Poland) at heavyweight
• Bantamweights Jose Johnson (16-8, fighting out of Copperas Cove, Texas) and Lucas Rocha (17-1, fighting out of Coari, Amazonas, Brazil) meet
• Dan Argueta (9-1 2NC, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) faces off with undefeated Dana White’s Contender Series signee Jean Matsumoto (14-0, fighting out of Braganca Paulista, Sao Paulo, Brazil) in a bantamweight bout
• Nora Cornolle (7-1, fighting out of Epinay Sur Seine, France) and Melissa Dixon (6-0, fighting out of Coventry, England) look to impress in an exciting bantamweight battle
• Ignacio Bahamondes (14-5, fighting out of Chicago, Ill. by way of Santiago, Chile) clashes with Christos Giagos (20-11, fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Fla.) at lightweight

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 243 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 part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC. 

About ESPN+ 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus/

About ESPN 

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® today announced that the 12^th Annual UFC International Fight Week^™ will take place in Las Vegas from Monday, June 24, through Sunday, June 30, headlined by UFC^® 303 with numerous events taking place throughout the city at venues including T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas Convention Center, and Resorts World Las Vegas.

UFC International Fight Week, the organization’s week-long celebration of combat sports, will be highlighted by the 2024 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and the two-day UFC X fan experience. The week will be anchored by UFC^® 303, which takes place on Saturday, June 29, at T-Mobile Arena.

The prestigious 2024 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, held annually as part of International Fight Week, honors the contributors and athletes who helped shape UFC while leaving an indelible mark on the sport of mixed martial arts.

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

UFC X will take place on Friday, June 28, and Saturday, June 29, at the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, one of the premier meeting and conference venues in Las Vegas. Fans who attend the two-day experience will have access to purchase exclusive merchandise at the UFC Store, while also participating in numerous interactive fan-favorite activities.

General admission tickets for UFC X start at $25 for one-day access and $45 for two-day access. All children ages 12 and under will receive free entry. Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. PT on Friday, March 1 via AXS.com.VIP packages will also be made available for UFC X through UFC’s Official VIP Experiences partner, On Location, at UFCVIP.com. UFC X will be produced by global full-service cultural marketing agency 160over90.

Fans from around the world who attend International Fight Week will also be able to enjoy the activities of a traditional Fight Week, including ceremonial weigh-ins and press conferences, leading to the schedule’s culminating event, UFC^® 303, on Saturday, June 29, at T-Mobile Arena.

UFC fans can also enter for their chance to win an unforgettable UFC Dream Week travel package for International Fight Week. One lucky winner and a guest will win a one-of-a-kind VIP experience that includes premium tickets to UFC^® 303, the UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, and UFC X, as well as airfare and hotel accommodations. To learn more and enter, please visit DREAMWEEK.

Details regarding the fight card for UFC^® 303, as well as event locations and additional activities for UFC International Fight Week will be announced at a later date. For more information, please visit UFCFIGHTWEEK.COM.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to T-Mobile Arena for one of the biggest events in combat sports history, headlined by a light heavyweight championship bout that will see Alex Pereira go for his first title defense against former titleholder and No. 1 ranked contender Jamahal Hill. UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili defends against No. 1 contender Yan Xiaonan in the first ever all-Chinese UFC title bout. Also, Justin Gaethje puts his BMF belt on the line against former featherweight champion Max Holloway in a highly anticipated Fight of the Year candidate.

UFC^® 300: PEREIRA vs. HILL takes place Saturday, April 13 at T-Mobile Arena, with the main card available on ESPN+ PPV at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The prelims will air on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The early prelims will be available on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN + and UFC Fight Pass at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.

UFC^® 300: PEREIRA vs. HILL tickets will go on sale Friday, February 23 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, February 21 at 10 a.m. PT via www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, February 22 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^® 300: PEREIRA vs. HILL fight week credentials may sign up here.

Pereira (9-2, fighting out of Danbury, Conn. by way of Sao Paulo, Brazil) aims to make a statement in his first light heavyweight title defense. A two-division UFC champion and decorated kickboxer, he holds exciting KO wins over former titleholders Israel Adesanya, Jiri Prochazka and Sean Strickland. Pereira now intends to earn another highlight-reel finish to send a message to the 205-pound division.

Former titleholder Hill (12-1 1NC, fighting out of Grand Rapids, Mich.) looks to reclaim the belt he vacated due to injury last year. A Dana White’s Contender Series signee, he has delivered thrilling victories against Glover Teixeira, Thiago Santos and Johnny Walker. Hill now aspires to dethrone Pereira to prove he is the best light heavyweight on the planet.

Zhang (24-3, fighting out of Beijing, China) is riding the momentum from her dominant title defense against Amanda Lemos in August. A versatile finisher, she holds impressive wins against Carla Esparza, Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Tecia Torres. Zhang plans to deliver another spectacular performance to further cement her spot atop the strawweight division.

Yan (17-3 1NC, fighting out of Beijing, China) strives to steal the show in her first UFC title opportunity. A talented striker, she has earned notable victories over Mackenzie Dern, Claudia Gadelha and Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Yan now hopes to achieve her dream of becoming the second Chinese-born UFC champion by dethroning Zhang.

Gaethje (25-4, fighting out of Denver, Colo. by way of Safford, Ariz.) took home the BMF belt with a thrilling KO victory over Dustin Poirier in July. A former interim lightweight champion, he has also secured legendary KO wins against Tony Ferguson, Donald Cerrone and Edson Barboza. Gaethje now has his sights set on defending his title by becoming the first fighter to knock out Holloway.

Holloway (25-7, fighting out of Waianae, Hawaii) moves up to 155 pounds, looking to add another belt to his already legendary resume. A perennial fan favorite, he has netted memorable finishes over Chan Sung Jung, Brian Ortega and Jose Aldo. Holloway now intends to utilize his relentless pace to stop Gaethje in emphatic fashion.

Current official bouts on the card include:

• Former UFC lightweight champion and current No. 1 ranked contender Charles Oliveira (34-9 1NC, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) squares off with No. 4 Arman Tsarukyan (21-3, fighting out of Yerevan, Armenia)
• Former UFC light heavyweight and No. 2 ranked contender Jiri Prochazka (29-4-1, fighting out of Brno, Czech Republic) faces No. 5 Aleksandar Rakic (14-3, fighting out of Vienna, Austria)
• No. 8 ranked featherweight contender Calvin Kattar (23-7, fighting out of Methuen, Mass.) welcomes former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling (23-4, fighting out of Uniondale, N.Y.) to the 145-pound division
• Undefeated Bo Nickal (5-0, fighting out of State College, Penn.) takes on Dana White’s Contender Series veteran Cody Brundage (10-5, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.) at middleweight
• Former UFC champions collide when No. 8 ranked bantamweight Deiveson Figueiredo (22-3-1, fighting out of Soure, Pará, Brazil) locks horns with Cody Garbrandt (14-5, fighting out of Uhrichsville, Ohio)
• Former women’s bantamweight champion and No. 5 ranked contender Holly Holm (15-6 1NC, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) looks to spoil the UFC debut of two-time Olympic gold medal winning judoka Kayla Harrison (16-1, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.)
• No. 12 ranked featherweight contender Sodiq Yusuff (13-3, fighting out of Bladensburg, Md. by way of Lagos, Nigeria) battles surging Diego Lopes (23-6, fighting out of Puebla, México by way of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil)
• Former strawweight champion and No. 4 ranked contender Jessica Andrade (25-12, fighting out of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) takes on No. 6 Marina Rodriguez (17-3-2, fighting out of Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil)
• No. 14 ranked lightweight contender Bobby Green (31-15-1 1NC, fighting out of Fontana, Calif.) faces Jim Miller (37-17, fighting out of Sparta, N.J.) in a clash of fan favorites

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

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 259 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 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 part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About T-Mobile Arena

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

About ESPN+ 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus/

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading 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 Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall for the first time since 2018 with a stacked event headlined by top ranked flyweights as No. 2 ranked contender Erin Blanchfield faces No. 3 Manon Fiorot with title aspirations on the line. Also, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman battles Bruno Silva.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: BLANCHFIELD vs. FIOROT will take place Saturday, March 30 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The entire card will stream on ESPN+ in English and Spanish, with the prelims also airing on ESPN2 beginning at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT followed by the main card on ESPN at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: BLANCHFIELD vs. FIOROT tickets will go on sale Friday, February 23 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, February 21 at 10 a.m. ET via www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, February 22 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^®: BLANCHFIELD vs. FIOROT fight week credentials may sign up here.

No. 4 ranked women’s pound-for-pound fighter Blanchfield (12-1, fighting out of Elmwood Park, N.J.) looks to secure the biggest win of her MMA career in front of her home state fans. Still only 24 years old, she has cemented herself as one of the top prospects in the UFC with wins over Jessica Andrade, Taila Santos and Molly McCann. Blanchfield now plans to clinch her first title shot with a dominant performance.

French striker Fiorot (11-1, fighting out of Nice, France) intends to make a statement in her first UFC main event. A Karate black belt, Fiorot burst onto the UFC scene with highlight finishes of Victoria Leonardo and Tabatha Ricci before announcing herself as a top contender with her most recent win over former champion Rose Namajunas. She now aims to become the first to finish Blanchfield in the UFC and earn her spot as the top contender in the division.

Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman (15-7, fighting out of Baldwin, N.Y.) seeks to deliver a vintage performance. Considered among the greatest UFC middleweights of all time, Weidman holds historic wins over Anderson Silva (twice), Lyoto Machida and Vitor Belfort. He now has his sights set on adding to his record for most takedowns in UFC middleweight history with a commanding victory over Silva.

Always exciting Silva (23-10, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil) hopes to add Weidman’s notable name to his resume with a signature knockout. Having finished 20 of his 23 wins via strikes, Silva has entertained fans with triumphs over Brad Tavares, Jordan Wright and Andrew Sanchez. He now looks to start his 2024 campaign off on a high note by stopping Weidman.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Welterweight strikers lock horns as No. 9 ranked Vicente Luque (22-9-1, fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil) faces Joaquin Buckley (17-6, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.)
• No. 4 ranked strawweight Virna Jandiroba (19-3, fighting out of Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil) aims to defend her spot in the rankings against No. 10 Loopy Godinez (12-3, fighting out of Vancouver, B.C., Canada by way of Aguascalientes, Mexico)
• Nursultan Ruziboev (35-8-2 2NC, fighting out of Tashkent, Uzbekistan) aims to stay undefeated in the UFC as he takes on Dana White’s Contender Series signee Sedriques Dumas (9-1, fighting out of Pensacola, Fla.) at middleweight
• Julio Arce (18-6, fighting out of Bayside, N.Y.) locks horns with Herbert Burns (11-4, fighting out of Lantana, Fla. by way of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in an exciting featherweight bout
• All-action featherweights Pat Sabatini (18-5, fighting out of Bristol, Penn.) and Nate Landwehr (17-5, fighting out of Clarksville, Tenn.) aim to put on a show
• Bill Algeo (18-7, fighting out of King of Prussia, Penn.) and Kyle Nelson (15-5-1, fighting out of Huntsville, Ontario, Canada) meet in an all-action featherweight bout
• Dana White’s Contender Series signee Ibo Aslan (12-1, fighting out of Istanbul, Turkey) looks to impress in his UFC debut again Anton Turkalj (8-3, fighting out of Gothenburg, Sweden) at light heavyweight
• Featherweights Dennis Buzukja (11-4, fighting out of Merrick, N.Y.) and Connor Matthews (7-1, fighting out of Fall River, Mass.) collide
• Angel Pacheco (7-2, fighting out of Rice, Minn.) and Caolan Loughran (8-1, fighting out of Anfield, England) vie for their first UFC wins in a bantamweight bout
• A battle of middleweight grapplers sees Andre Petroski (10-3, fighting out of Springfield, Penn.) go toe-to-toe with Jacob Malkoun (7-3, fighting out of Oran Park, NSW, Australia)
• Chidi Njokuani (22-10 1NC, fighting out of Saginaw, Texas) and Rhys McKee (13-5 1NC, fighting out of Ballymena, Northern Ireland) meet in an intriguing welterweight bout
• Flyweight contenders Viktoriia Dudakova (8-0, fighting out of Volgograd, Russia) and Melissa Gatto (8-2, fighting out of Parana, Brazil) aim for a statement win

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 700 million fans and 259 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 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 part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall

Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall and the Atlantic City Convention Center are operated by OVG360 and owned and funded by the CRDA. OVG360, a division of Oak View Group, is a full-service venue management and hospitality company that helps client-partners reimagine the sports, live entertainment, and convention industries for the betterment of the venue, employees, artists, athletes, and surrounding communities. With a portfolio of more than 240 client-partners spanning arenas, stadiums, convention centers, performing arts centers, cultural institutions, and state fairs around the globe, OVG360 provides a set of services, resources and expertise designed to elevate every aspect of business that matters to venue operators. Service-oriented and driven by social responsibility, OVG360 helps facilities drive value through excellence and innovation in food services, booking and content development, sustainable operations, public health and public safety and more.

About ESPN+

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus/

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® today announced that former PRIDE FC middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva will be inducted into the 2024 Class of the UFC Hall of Fame as a Pioneer. The 2024 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place this summer in Las Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS^®.

“Wanderlei Silva is one of the true pioneers of the sport of MMA,” UFC CEO Dana White said. “Wanderlei was an absolute savage who left his mark by delivering some of the most memorable fights in combat sports history. He had legendary fights against Mirko Cro Crop, Chuck Liddell, Dan Henderson, Brian Stann, and his fights against Rich Franklin, as they were absolute wars! He was also one of the early superstars of PRIDE who helped grow the MMA fanbase on a global scale, and it will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.”

Silva will enter the UFC Hall of Fame as the 19^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 51 fights during his 22-year professional MMA career, Silva registered a record of 35-14-1 Draw / 1 NC (27-11-1-1, – UFC / PRIDE), securing victories over UFC Hall of Famers Kazushi Sakuraba, Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson (Fight Wing); UFC^® 13 lightweight tournament winner Guy Mezger; former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson; former Pancrase middleweight, light heavyweight, and open weight champion Yuki Kondo; former Strikeforce U.S. middleweight champion Eugene Jackson; and former WEC^® light heavyweight champion Brian Stann.

Silva made his professional MMA debut on November 1, 1996, by competing in Brazilian Vale Tudo 6. He defeated his opponent via knockout in the first round and would win four of his next five fights across Vale Tudo before entering UFC with a 5-1 record.

Silva made his UFC debut as part of UFC^® BRAZIL: ULTIMATE BRAZIL, which took place on October 16, 1998, in Sao Paulo. He faced UFC^® 12 heavyweight tournament champion and future UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort, losing via punches 44 seconds into the first round.

Following his loss to Belfort, Silva would return to Vale Tudo and earn two wins before returning to the Octagon^® and defeating Tony Petarra via first-round knockout at UFC^® 20: BATTLE FOR THE GOLD on May 7, 1999.

Silva left UFC and won his next three fights in PRIDE FC, a legendary Japanese MMA promotion, before returning to the Octagon to face future UFC Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz for the vacant UFC light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC^® 25: ULTIMATE JAPAN 3. Silva and Ortiz would go the distance with Tito capturing the title via unanimous decision.

After losing his shot at the UFC light heavyweight title, Silva spent the next seven years competing primarily in Japan for PRIDE FC. During this time, he fought 25 times for Japan, becoming the PRIDE FC middleweight champion by defeating future UFC Hall of Famer Kazushi Sakuraba during PRIDE 17 in 2001. Silva successfully defended his title four times, and his reign would last for 1,939 days, the longest title run in PRIDE FC history. 

During his tenure as middleweight champion, Silva also entered the 2003 PRIDE FC Middleweight Grand Prix, defeating Sakuraba, as well as four-time World Judo Champion and three-time Olympic medalist Hidehiko Yoshida and former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson to become the Grand Prix Champion. His win would make history as the first athlete to win a PRIDE Championship and Grand Prix. He would also enter the 2005 and 2006 Grand Prix, advancing to the semi-finals each year.

Silva returned to UFC in 2007 to face former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell in the co-main event of UFC^® 79: NEMESIS. Silva would lose via unanimous decision, but he would become a fan favorite as the bout won several “Fight of the Year” accolades from media outlets.

For the next six years, Silva would compete against the top contenders in the UFC middleweight and light heavyweight divisions. He defeated former WEC^® light heavyweight champion Brian Stann via knockout in the main event of UFC on FUEL TV: SILVA vs. STANN on March 3, 2013. This would serve as his final UFC fight. He would compete two more times outside of the Octagon before retiring on September 29, 2018.
Silva enters the UFC Hall of Fame with an impressive resume that includes:

UFC:

• Most knockouts in Zuffa history (PRIDE / UFC / WEC / Strikeforce) – 19

• Most knockdowns in Zuffa history (PRIDE / UFC / WEC / Strikeforce) – 27

PRIDE:

• Most wins in PRIDE history – 22

• Most knockouts in PRIDE history – 15

• Most knockdowns in PRIDE history – 18

• Most significant strikes in PRIDE history – 720

• Longest undefeated fight streak in PRIDE history – 20 (18-0-1, 1 NC)

• Longest title reign in PRIDE history as middleweight champion – 1,939 days

• Tied for most knockouts by soccer kicks/stomps in PRIDE history – 4

Outside the Octagon, Silva has been honored with numerous awards during his career, receiving Knockout of the Decade honors in 2004 by Sports Illustrated for his KO of Quinton Jackson at PRIDE 28. In 2008, he received Fight of the Year for his bout against UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell at UFC 79, and Knockout of the Year for his KO of Keith Jardine at UFC 84 during the Fighters Only World MMA Awards. In 2020, Sem Coleira, a Portuguese biography of his life, was published.

A native of Curitiba, Brazil, Silva began training in Muay Thai and kickboxing when he joined the Chute Boxe Academy. As a member of the Brazilian army, he also began to train in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He currently lives in Curitiba, with his wife and children. To view Silva’s UFC FIGHT PASS collection please visit: https://ufcfightpass.com/playlist/20539

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 UFCHOF. For additional information, please visit UFC.com.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with a heavyweight contenders’ bout that will see No. 12 ranked Jairzinho Rozenstruik square off with undefeated Shamil Gaziev. Also, No. 7 ranked flyweight contender Alex Perez battles unbeaten No. 8 Muhammad Mokaev.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: ROZENSTRUIK vs. GAZIEV will take place Saturday, March 2 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The entire card will stream exclusively on ESPN+ in English and Spanish, with the prelims beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT followed by the main card at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

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

Rozenstruik (13-5, fighting out of Paramaribo, Suriname) looks to kick off his 2024 campaign with another spectacular finish. A hard-hitting kickboxer, he has secured exiting KO wins against legends Junior Dos Santos, Alistair Overeem and Andrei Arlovski. Rozenstruik now aims to defend his spot in the rankings by stopping Gaziev in emphatic fashion.

Gaziev (12-0, fighting out of Kingdom of Bahrain) intends to make the most of his first UFC main event by dispatching Rozenstruik with a dominant performance. A Dana White’s Contender Series signee, he earned a Performance of the Night bonus for his KO win over Martin Buday in December. Gaziev now vies for a thrilling finish to crack the heavyweight Top 15.

Perez (24-7, fighting out of Lemore, Calif.) returns to the Octagon for the first time in almost two years looking for a statement victory. A former UFC title challenger, he holds notable finishes against Jussier Formiga, Jordan Espinosa and Jose Torres. Perez now plans to hand Mokaev his first career loss and prove that he is still one of the best flyweights in the world.

Mokaev (11-0 1NC, fighting out of Manchester, England) hopes to continue his ascent up the 125-pound ladder with an impressive victory. A talented striker and grappler, he has earned memorable submissions over Tim Elliott, Malcolm Gordon and Cody Durden. Mokaev now has his sights set on turning heads with another highlight-reel finish.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Undefeated Vitor Petrino (10-0, fighting out of Santa Luzia, Minas Gerais, Brazil) locks horns with Tyson Pedro (10-4, fighting out of Sydney, Australia) at light heavyweight
• No. 9 ranked contender Matt Schnell (16-7 1NC, fighting out of Shreveport, La.) meets rising No. 12 Steve Erceg (11-1, Perth, Western Australia) in an exciting flyweight tilt
• Dana White’s Contender Series veterans collide when Josefine Knutsson (7-0, fighting out of Stockholm, Sweden) faces Julia Polastri (12-3, fighting out of Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) at strawweight
• Joel Alvarez (20-3, fighting out of Asturias, Spain) takes on Ludovit Klein (20-4-1, fighting out of Nove Zamky, Slovakia) in an intriguing lightweight matchup
• Undefeated No. 13 ranked bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov (16-0, fighting out of Kizilyurt, Russia) faces UFC newcomer Bekzat Almakhan (17-1, fighting out of Uzynagash, Kazakhstan)
• Hard-hitting middleweights battle when Eryk Anders (15-8 1NC, fighting out of Birmingham, Ala.) meets Jamie Pickett (13-10, fighting out of Wilmington, N.C.)
• Christian Leroy Duncan (9-1, fighting out of Gloucester, England) clashes with Claudio Ribeiro (11-4, fighting out of Jundiaí, São Paulo, Brazil) at middleweight
• Mohammad Yahya (12-4, fighting out of Dubai, UAE) and Brendon Marotte (8-2, fighting out of Haverhill, Mass.) both vie for their first UFC victory in a featherweight bout
• Aiemann Zahabi (10-2, fighting out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada) goes for his fourth consecutive win when he takes on undefeated Javid Basharat (14-0 1NC, fighting out of London, England by way of Paktia, Afghanistan) at bantamweight
• Dana White’s Contender Series signee Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady (15-3, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) debuts against Loik Radzhabov (17-5-1, fighting out of Dushanbe, Tajikistan) at lightweight
• Vinicius Oliveira (19-3, fighting out of Lomba Do Pinheiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) squares off with Yanis Ghemmouri (12-2, fighting out of Lyon, France) at bantamweight

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 700 million fans and 259 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 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 part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus/

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to the APEX with an action-packed bout featuring No. 10 ranked flyweight contender Amanda Ribas against fan-favorite Rose Namajunas in the five-round main event. In addition,  Kurt Holobaugh and Trey Ogden square off in a pivotal lightweight showdown. 

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: RIBAS vs. NAMAJUNAS takes place Saturday, March 23 in Las Vegas and will be available on ESPN+ (English and Spanish) and ESPN. The prelims will air exclusively on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, followed by the main card airing on ESPN and ESPN+ 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. 

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

Brazil’s Ribas (13-4, fighting out of Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil) looks to deliver a statement win in her first UFC main event. A judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who isn’t shy about keeping it on the feet, Ribas has delivered impressive wins against Luana Pinheiro, Viviane Araújo, and Mackenzie Dern. The seasoned contender now aims to secure the biggest win of her career against a former champion in Namajunas.

Former UFC strawweight champion Namajunas (12-6, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) returns to action with intentions of proving that she’s still one of the best in the world. The Colorado-based fighter has entertained fans with her trademark wins against the likes of Zhang Weili (twice), Joanna J?drzejczyk (twice), and Jessica Andrade. Namajunas now aims to break into the flyweight rankings by defeating Ribas in impressive fashion.

Holobaugh (21-7, fighting out of Amite, Loui.) sets out to secure a fourth straight victory. The Louisiana native has seen a resurgence ever since joining the cast of The Ultimate Fighter season 31, where he finished all three of his opponents to win the show. Finishing his last four opponents inside two rounds, Holobaugh aims to keep the momentum going against Ogden.

Ogden (16-6 1 NC fighting out of Kansas City, Miss.) makes his first appearance of the new year. Competing inside the Octagon for a fourth time, his most notable win came was against rising star Daniel Zellhuber. He now intends to kickstart a successful 2024 by delivering a statement win against Holobaugh.

Additional bouts on the card include: 

• Billy Quarantillo (18-5, fighting out of Tampa, Fla.) looks to secure back to back wins as he takes on Gabriel Miranda (17-6, fighting out of Telemaco Borba, Parana, Brazil) at featherweight
• At heavyweight The Ultimate Fighter season 30 winner Mohammed Usman (11-2, fighting out of Auchi, Nigeria by way of Denver, Colo.)collides with undefeated Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus Mick Parkin (8-0, fighting out of Castletown, England)
• Ricardo Ramos (16-5, fighting out of Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil) is slated to take on Julian Erosa (28-12, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev., by way of Yakima, Wash.) at featherweight
• A bantamweight tilt pits England’s Davey Grant (15-7, fighting out of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, England) against The Ultimate Fighter season 31 finalist Cody Gibson (20-9, fighting out of San Luis Obispo, Calif.)
• Featherweights Jarno Errens (13-5-1, fighting out of Heerlen, the Netherlands) and Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Steven Nguyen (9-1, fighting out of Wichita, Kan.) face off
• Dana White’s Contender Series prospects Edmen Shahbazyan (12-4, fighting out of Glendale, Calif.) and Dusko Todorovic (12-4, fighting out of Belgrade, Serbia) are scheduled for a middleweight tilt
• Versatile competitor Fernando Padilla (15-5, fighting out of Irvine, Calif. by way of Chihuahua, Mexico) welcomes Dana White’s Contender Series signee Luis Pajuelo (8-1, fighting out of Lima, Peru) to the UFC’s 145-pound division
• Heavyweight sluggers Karl Williams (9-1, fighting out of Gwinnet, Georgia, by way of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands) and Junior Tafa (5-1, fighting out of Brisbane, Australia) are scheduled for three five-minute rounds
• Montserrat Rendon (6-0, fighting out of Cancun, Mexico) aims to stay perfect as she collides with UFC newcomer Dariya Zgeleznykova (8-1, fighting out of St. Petersburg, Russia) at bantamweight

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

### 

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 259 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 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 part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+ 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus/

About ESPN 

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to the APEX with a card headlined by a collision of top-ranked heavyweights that will see No. 8 Tai Tuivasa take on No. 11 Marcin Tybura. Also on the card, an exciting lightweight bout pits Thiago Moises against Brad Riddell. 

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: TUIVASA vs. TYBURA will take place Saturday, March 16 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The entire card will stream exclusively on ESPN+ in English and Spanish with the prelims beginning at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT followed by the main card at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.

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

Tuivasa (14-6, fighting out of Western Sydney, NSW, Australia) looks to deliver another signature finish in his third UFC main event. A fan favorite, Tuivasa has finished all but one of his bouts by KO, including victories over Derrick Lewis, Augusto Sakai and Greg Hardy. He now aims to begin his 2024 campaign with a statement victory and build momentum for another run at the title.

Tybura (24-8, fighting out of Uniejow, Poland) intends to break back into the Top 10 of the division with a vintage performance. A well-rounded veteran, he holds notable wins over Andrei Arlovski, Stefan Struve and Walt Harris. Tybura now has his sights set on taking out Tuivasa and putting together another long win streak.

Moises (17-7, fighting out of Indaiatuba, Brazil) plans to put his submission skills to use in a classic striker versus grappler matchup. Still only 28 years old, Moises cemented himself as a top prospect ever since he joined the UFC six years ago with victories over Michael Johnson, Bobby Green and Alexander Hernandez. He now seeks to impress against Riddell and once again crack the Top 15.

Riddell (10-4, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand) looks to add another post-fight bonus to his resume. An entertaining striker, he burst onto the UFC scene with standout performances against Jamie Mullarkey, Magomed Mustafaev and Drew Dober. Ridell now hopes to return to the win column in highlight-reel fashion. 

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Light heavyweight action sees former title challenger Ovince Saint Preux (26-17, fighting out of Knoxville, Tenn.) face off with Kennedy Nzechukwu (12-4, fighting out of Dallas, Texas)
• Natan Levy (8-1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) meets Mike Davis (10-2, fighting out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) for a thrilling clash at lightweight
• No. 7 ranked bantamweight contender Pannie Kianzad (17-7, fighting out of Helsingborg, Sweden) looks to defend her spot in the rankings in a rematch against No. 9 Macy Chiasson (9-3, fighting out of Dallas, Texas)
• Josh Culibao (11-2-1, fighting out of Botany, NSW, Australia) and Danny Silva (8-1, fighting out of Santa Ana, Calif.) go toe-to-toe in an exciting featherweight bout
• Christian Rodriguez (10-1, fighting out of West Allis, Wisc.) returns to the featherweight division to take on Isaac Dulgarian (6-0, fighting out of Kansas City, Mo.)
• No. 14 ranked bantamweight contender Josiane Nunes (10-1, fighting out of Gralha Azul, Parana, Brazil) meets No. 15 Chelsea Chandler (5-2, fighting out of Stockton, Calif.) in an intriguing bout
• Middleweight veterans collide as Gerald Meerschaert (35-17, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) locks horns with Bryan Barberena (18-11, fighting out of Gastonia, N.C.)
• A thrilling welterweight bout pits Bryan Battle (11-2, fighting out of Matthews, N.C.) against Ange Loosa (10-3, fighting out of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland by way of Kinshasa, DR Congo)
• Flyweights Jafel Filho (15-3, fighting out of Fuazeiro, Bahia, Brazil) and Ode’ Osbourne (12-6 1 NC, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) battle in an early Fight of the Night candidate
• Jaqueline Amorim (7-1, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Manaus, Brazil) and Cory McKenna (8-2, fighting out of Cwmbran, Wales) look to impress in a strawweight matchup
• Dana White’s Contender Series signee Charalampos Grigoriou (8-3, fighting out of Queens, N.Y.) aims to impress in his UFC debut against Chad Anheliger (12-7, fighting out of Airdrie, Alberta, Canada) in a bantamweight 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 700 million fans and 233 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 active fighter 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 sports and entertainment 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+

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus/

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® today announced that former UFC lightweight champion Frankie “The Answer” Edgar will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s ‘Modern Wing’ as a member of the Class of 2024. The 2024 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place this summer in Las Vegas and will be streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS^®.

“Frankie Edgar is one of the greatest athletes in UFC history,” UFC CEO Dana White said. “Frankie had an amazing career and consistently fought the best athletes in the world across multiple weight classes for more than 15 years. He is a legend, and it will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame as part of International Fight Week this summer.”

Edgar will enter the UFC Hall of Fame as a member of the Modern Wing, joining others in this distinguished category, including Forrest Griffin (2013), BJ Penn (2015), Urijah Faber (2017), Ronda Rousey (2018), Michael Bisping (2019), Rashad Evans (2019), Georges St-Pierre (2020), Khabib Nurmagomedov (2022), Daniel Cormier (2022), Jose Aldo (2023) and Donald Cerrone (2023). The “Modern Era” category includes athletes who turned pro on or after November 17, 2000 (when the first UFC event under the unified rules of MMA was held), are a minimum age of 35, or who have been retired for one year or more.

A veteran of 35 fights during his 17-year professional MMA career, Edgar compiled a record of 23-11-1, securing victories over UFC Hall of Famers BJ Penn, Urijah Faber, and Cub Swanson (Fight Wing), as well as notching wins against former WEC^® lightweight champion Hermes Franca, and former UFC lightweight champions Sean Sherk, Charles Oliveira, and Yair Rodriguez (interim). 

Edgar made his professional MMA debut in 2005, winning his first six fights across four MMA promotions before joining UFC.

Edgar made his UFC debut on February 3, 2007, on the prelims of UFC^® 67: ALL OR NOTHING, which took place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Edgar defeated Tyson Griffin via unanimous decision and earned his first “Fight of the Night” bonus during his debut inside the Octagon^®.

Following the victory in his debut, Edgar would win five of his next six fights inside the Octagon, including impressive wins over former WEC lightweight champion Hermes Franca, and former UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk, en route to earning a title shot against former UFC welterweight champion and then-UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn at UFC^® 112: INVINCIBLE.

UFC^® 112: INVINCIBLE, took place on April 10, 2010, and served as the mixed martial arts organization’s first-ever event in the Middle East. Edgar entered the fight as a +620 underdog against Penn, who recently broke the record for the most consecutive UFC lightweight title defenses in his most recent bout as the main event of UFC 107.

The co-main event matchup would go the distance, with Edgar pulling off the upset by winning on each of the judge’s scorecards. At the time, the win served as the largest championship underdog victory in UFC history (ranks 3^rd today). His victory would also earn a nominee for “Best Upset of the Year” at the 2010 ESPY Awards.

Edgar and Penn would meet in an immediate rematch four months later at UFC^® 118: EDGAR vs. PENN 2 at TD Garden in Boston. This fight card made history as the first UFC event held in Massachusetts. Edgar would defeat Penn via unanimous decision to retain the UFC lightweight title.

His next title defense would come against a familiar opponent, Gray Maynard, at UFC^® 125: RESOLUTION. Maynard had defeated Edgar via unanimous decision in 2008, which served as his first loss as a professional.

UFC^® 125: RESOLUTION, took place on January 1, 2011, at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Edgar and Maynard fought a close match for five rounds with the fight ending in a split draw. The fight marked only the second time in UFC history that a title fight ended in a draw and is widely regarded as one of the greatest MMA fights in history. The two would meet for a trilogy fight in the main event of UFC^® 136: EDGAR vs. MAYNARD 3, with Edgar defeating Gray via KO in the fourth round.

In 2012, Edgar fought former WEC^® and UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson in consecutive events (UFC 144 / UFC 150) with the title on the line, before moving to featherweight to face champion Jose Aldo for the title in the main event of UFC 156. Edgar would lose his bid for the featherweight title but remained a contender in the division.

Over the next nine years, Edgar would compete in 16 bouts across the bantamweight, lightweight, and featherweight divisions, fighting in a rematch with Jose Aldo for the interim featherweight title at UFC 200 and the featherweight title against Max Holloway at UFC 240, respectively. He retired in November 2022 after a loss to Chris Gutierrez at UFC 281.

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

UFC:

• Second in total Octagon fight time in UFC history – 7:57:10 (1^st at time of retirement)

• Tied for second-most Fight of the Night bonuses in UFC history – 8

• Third-most significant strikes landed in UFC history – 1,801 (2^nd at time of retirement)

• Sixth in takedowns landed in UFC history – 73 (4^th at time of retirement)

• Sixth in championship fight time in UFC history – 3:38:54

UFC lightweight division:

• Best significant strike defense in UFC lightweight history – 71.8%

Outside the Octagon, Frankie has been honored with several awards during his career, receiving Fight of the Year honors in 2011 by the Fighters Only World MMA Awards for his bout against Gray Maynard (UFC 125) and Fight of the Year honors in 2012 by ESPN for his championship match against Benson Henderson (UFC 144).

A native of Toms River, New Jersey, Edgar began wrestling at Toms River High School East. Following high school, he continued to wrestle at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, qualifying for the NCAA Division I Nationals each year. He resides in Toms River with his wife, Renee, and their three children.

To view Edgar’s UFC FIGHT PASS collection please visit: https://ufcfightpass.com/playlist/20312

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 UFCHOF. For additional information, please visit UFC.com.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Miami, Fla. with another electric card, headlined by a highly anticipated rematch between UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley and No. 6 ranked contender Marlon Vera. Also, an action packed five-round co-main event sees No. 3 lightweight contender Dustin Poirier square off with No. 12 ranked Benoit Saint Denis.

UFC^® 299: O’MALLEY vs. VERA 2 takes place Saturday, March 9 at the Kaseya Center, with the main card available on ESPN+ PPV at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The prelims will be airing on ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT, and will join in progress on ESPN starting at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT. The early prelims will be available for viewing exclusively on ESPN + and UFC Fight Pass at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.

UFC^®299: O’MALLEY vs. VERA tickets will go on sale Friday, January 12 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, January 10 at 10 a.m. ET via www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, January 11 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

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

Media members wishing to apply for UFC^®299: O’MALLEY vs. VERA 2 fight week credentials may sign up here.

UFC bantamweight champion O’Malley (17-1 1 NC, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) looks to finally settle the score against the only man to hand him a loss. The Arizona-based fighter has delivered highlight performances against top talent such as Aljamain Sterling, Petr Yan, and Raulian Paiva. O’Malley now aims to build upon his legacy as champion by finishing his rival, Vera, in emphatic fashion.

Vera (21-8-1, fighting out of Chone, Manabi, Ecuador) intends to make the most of his first championship fight by defeating O’Malley for a second time. A versatile finisher and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, Vera has claimed strong victories against Dominick Cruz, Frankie Edgar, and Pedro Munhoz. He now sets his sights on gold as he attempts to become the first ever Ecuadorian UFC champion.  

Poirier (29-8 1 NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Lafayette, Louis.) returns to action seeking redemption. An Octagon veteran, the former Interim UFC lightweight champion holds wins over elite competition such as Conor McGregor (x2), Michael Chandler, and Dan Hooker. Poirier looks to nullify Saint Denis’ title ambitions with a dominant victory over the rising contender.

France’s Saint Denis (13-1 1 NC, fighting out of Paris, France) seeks to further his climb up the lightweight rankings by delivering a highlight finish against a top name. A Judo black belt with impressive striking, the Frenchmen is currently on a five-fight win steak and has finished the likes of Matt Frevola, Thiago Moises, and Ismael Bonfim in his last three outings. Saint Denis now looks to secure the biggest win of his career by defeating Poirier in an unforgettable showing.

Current official bouts on the card include:

• Heavyweight contenders No. 5 Curtis Blaydes (17-4 1NC, fighting out of Chicago, Ill.) and No. 7 ranked Jailton Almeida (20-2, fighting out of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil) battle in a pivotal matchup
• Exciting welterweights No. 4 ranked Gilbert Burns (22-6, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla. by way of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Dana White’s Contender Series alumni No. 11 Jack Della Maddalena (16-2, fighting out of Perth, Western Australia) look to deliver fireworks
• Welterweights attempt to steal the show as fan-favorite Kevin Holland (25-10 1NC, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas) welcomes UFC newcomer Michael Page (21-2, fighting out of London, England) in what promises to be an epic standup clash.
• No. 4 ranked flyweight contender Katlyn Chookagian (18-5, fighting out of Amity Harbor, N.Y. by way of Quakertown, Penn.) clashes with No. 7 Maycee Barber (13-2, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) in a pivotal matchup
• No. 6 ranked lightweight Mateusz Gamrot (23-2 1 NC, fighting out of Poznan, Poland) takes on No.11 Rafael Dos Anjos (32-15, fighting out of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil) in a high-level bout
• Former UFC champion and the current No. 5 bantamweight contender Petr Yan (16-5, fighting out of Yekaterinburg, Russia) meets No. 7 Song Yadong (21-7-1 1 NC, fighting out of Heilongjiang, China) in a highly anticipated matchup
• No. 11 ranked bantamweight contender Pedro Munhoz (20-8 2 NC, fighting out of São Paulo, Brazil) goes toe-to-toe with Kyler Phillips (11-2, fighting out of Glendale, Ariz.)
• The always exciting Michel Pereira (28-11, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) takes on knockout specialist Michal Oleksiejczuk (19-6, fighting out of Barki, Poland) at middleweight
• Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus CJ Vergara (12-4-1, fighting out of San Antonio, Texas) collides with Assu Almabayev (18-2, fighting out of Almaty, Kazakhstan) at flyweight
• Heavyweight Robelis Despaigne (4-0, fighting out of Santiago de Cuba, Cuba) makes his UFC debut againstJosh Parisian (15-7, fighting out of Escanaba, Mich.)

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 233 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 active fighter 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 sports and entertainment 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 KASEYA CENTER 

Located in the center of booming downtown Miami and the Entertainment District, Kaseya Center—home of the NBA Champion Miami HEAT—hosts 80+ non-basketball events each year including A-list concerts, family shows, sporting events, national conferences and more. Built with state-of-the-art sound and lighting and HD and electronic media signage inside and out, the impressive 19,600-seat Kaseya Center is currently ranked the #1 arena in Florida for the ninth consecutive year—and the 12th time during the past 13 years—according to both Pollstar and Billboard’s 2023 year-end rankings. Kaseya Center is also among the leading facilities in the country for hosting Latin entertainment. The Center has led the renaissance of downtown Miami over the past two decades, helping to transform the area into a thriving arts and entertainment district. The facility has hosted more than 1,200 events including diverse musical superstars such as Marc Anthony, Celine Dion, Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, The Killers, Bad Bunny, Carrie Underwood, Dua Lipa, Tool, Imagine Dragons, Kane Brown, Karol G, Drake, Andrea Bocelli and Paul McCartney, just to name a few. In 2009, Kaseya Center became among the first existing buildings in the country to have achieved LEED certification by the United States Green Building Council for its commitment to sustainability practices. More recently, in 2021, the Arena achieved its second LEED gold recertification. For more information about Kaseya Center, visit kaseyacenter.com. 

About ESPN+ 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus/

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to the APEX with an action-packed bout featuring No. 10 ranked middleweight contender Jack Hermansson and rising star Joe Pyfer. In addition, an intriguing matchup in the 185-pound weight class sees Brad Tavares take on Gregory Rodrigues. 

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: HERMANSSON vs. PYFER takes place Saturday, February 10 in Las Vegas and will be available exclusively on ESPN+ (English and Spanish). The prelims will start at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, followed by the main card at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. 

Octagon veteran Hermansson (23-8, fighting out of Oslo, Norway, by way of Uddevalla, Sweden) sets out with intentions of securing a statement victory. A versatile competitor, Hermansson has collected impressive wins against Chris Curtis, Edmen Shahbazyan, and Kelvin Gastelum. The Swedish-born fighter now looks to deliver a shutout performance against Pyfer.

Pyfer (12-2, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.) returns to action looking to secure the biggest win of his career over a top ranked contender in his first UFC main event. The Dana White’s Contender Series signee has entertained fans with highlight reel finishes over Abdul Razak Alhassan, Gerald Meerschaert, and Alen Amedovski. Pyfer now aims to break into the rankings by defeating Hermansson in emphatic fashion.

Tavares (20-9, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Kailua, Hawaii)looks to secure back-to-back wins. Competing in the UFC for over a decade, Tavares’ resume contains victories over former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman, Omari Akhmedov, and Antônio Carlos Júnior. He now aims to kick off the year with a strong performance over Rodrigues. 

Brazil’s Rodrigues (14-5, fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Fla. by way of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) makes his third appearance in 12 months. Rodrigues’s elite hands have aided him in knockouts against Denis Tiuliulin, Chidi Njokuani, and Julian Marquez. He now looks to deliver another jaw-dropping finish against Tavares.  

Additional bouts on the card include: 

• Michael Johnson (22-19, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) squares off with Darrius Flowers (19-6, fighting out of Mason City, Iowa) at lightweight
• Top ranked featherweights Dan Ige (17-7, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Haleiwa, Hawaii)and Lerone Murphy (13-0-1, fighting out of Manchester, England)battle
• Middleweights Rodolfo Vieira (9-2, fighting out of Orlando, Fla. by way of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)and Armen Petrosyan (9-2, fighting out of Yerevan, Armenia)collide
• Exciting welterweights Trevin Giles (16-5, fighting out of Houston, Tex.) and Carlos Prates (17-6, fighting out of Taubate, Sao Paulo, Brazil) meet
• Loma Lookboonmee (8-3, fighting out of Phucket, Thailand) sets her sights on fellow strawweight Bruna Brasil (9-3-1, fighting out of Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil)
• The Ultimate Fighter season 30 finalist Zac Pauga (7-2, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) battles Bogdan Guskov (14-3, fighting out of Moscow, Russia) at light heavyweight
• Devin Clark (14-8, fighting out of Sioux Falls, S.D.) faces off with Marcin Prachnio (16-7, fighting out of Warsaw, Poland)
• Shayilan Nuerdanbieke (39-11, fighting out of Beijing, China) is determined to hand Dana White’s Contender Series prospect Hyder Amil (8-0, fighting out of San Francisco, Calif. by way of San Rafael, Calif. ) his first loss
• Exciting welterweights Max Griffin (19-10, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) and Jeremiah Wells (12-3-1, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.) lock horns
• Damir Hadzovic (14-7, fighting out of Copenhagen, Denmark by way of Gorazde, Bosnia) takes on Dana White’s Contender Series signee Bolaji Oki (8-1, fighting out of Copenhagen, Denmark by way of Gorazde, Bosnia) at lighweight
• Bantamweights Daniel Marcos (19-10, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) and Aoriqileng (19-10, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) set for collision

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 243 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 part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC. 

About ESPN+ 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus/

About ESPN 

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to the APEX with a middleweight clash that will see No. 7 ranked Roman Dolidze battle No. 12 Nassourdine Imavov. Also on the card, No. 13 ranked lightweight contender Renato Moicano meets No. 15 Drew Dober.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: DOLIDZE vs. IMAVOV will take place Saturday, February 3 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The entire card will stream exclusively on ESPN+ in English and Spanish with the prelims beginning at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT followed by the main card at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.

Additionally, the finals for ROAD TO UFC Season 2 will air live at 11:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. PT on UFC Fight Pass from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas on Saturday, February 3, following the broadcast of UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: DOLIDZE vs. IMAVOV.

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

ROAD TO UFC is a ground-breaking “win and advance” tournament that takes top MMA prospects from Asia and gives them a pathway to a UFC contract. Season 2 started with 32 mixed martial arts athletes, with eight competing in each of four men’s weight classes: flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight and lightweight. The athletes in ROAD TO UFC came from China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Thailand.

The opening round took place on May 27 and 28 at the UFC Performance Institute Shanghai, and the semifinals took place following UFC FIGHT NIGHT: HOLLOWAY VS THE KOREAN ZOMBIE in Singapore on August 27. Following the conclusion of the finals for ROAD TO UFC Season 2, the four winners will be awarded UFC contracts.

Dolidze (12-2, fighting out of Batumi, Georgia) looks to deliver another signature KO in his first UFC main event. Known for his highlight-reel finishes, Dolidze rose through the middleweight ranks with bonus-earning stoppages of Jack Hermansson, Phil Hawes and Kyle Daukaus. He now aims to begin his 2024 campaign with a statement victory and break into the Top 5.

Imavov (12-4, fighting out of Paris, France) returns to the Octagon planning to reignite his run towards the title. A well-rounded competitor who has finished nine of his 12 victories, he holds notable wins over Joaquin Buckley, Edmen Shahbazyan and Ian Heinisch. Imavov now has his sights set on becoming the first person to finish Dolidze in impressive fashion.

Grappling ace Moicano (17-5-1, fighting out of Brasília, Federal District, Brazil) aims to build another win steak by defending his spot in the rankings. A high-level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, all 10 of his finishes have come via submission, including wins over Brad Riddell, Alexander Hernandez and Cub Swanson. Moicano now seeks to make quick work of Dober and turn his attention to the top of the division.

Knockout artist Dober (27-12 1NC, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) looks to add to his record for most knockouts in UFC lightweight history. Among the most exciting athletes in the division, Dober’s last seven wins have come by KO, including finishes of Ricky Glenn, Bobby Green and Terrance McKinney. He now plans to notch his biggest victory yet and insert himself into the title conversation. 

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 8 ranked flyweight contender Viviane Araujo (12-5, fighting out of Brasília, Federal District, Brazil) aims to hand No. 11 Natalia Silva (16-5, fighting out of Pingo D’Agua, Minas Gerais, Brazil) her first UFC loss
• William Gomis (13-2, fighting out of Paris, France) returns to action against Melsik Baghdasaryan (8-2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif.) in a featherweight bout
• Gilbert Urbina (7-3, fighting out of Mercedes, Texas) meets Charles Radtke (8-3, fighting out of Naples, Fla.) in a welterweight contest
• Flyweight action sees Luana Carolina (9-4, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) take on Julija Stoliarenko (11-8-2, fighting out of Visaginas, Luthuania)
• Aliaskhab Khizriev (14-0, fighting out of Makhachkala, Dagestan) defends his undefeated record against Makhmud Muradov (26-8, fighting out of Bukhara, Uzbekistan) in an exciting middleweight tilt
• Fan favorite Molly McCann (13-6, fighting out of Liverpool, England) aims for another signature KO against fellow striker Diana Belbita (15-8, fighting out of Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada) at strawweight
• Welterweights Themba Gorimbo (11-4, fighting out of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa) and Kiefer Crosbie (10-4, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland) collide in an all-action bout
• JeongYeong Lee (10-1, fighting out of Daegu, South Korea) looks to remain undefeated in the UFC when he faces Blake Bilder (8-1-1, fighting out of Costa Mesa, Calif.) at featherweight
• Nate Maness (15-3, fighting out of Henderson, Ky.) plans to knock Azat Maksum (17-0, fighting out of Rayimbek, Almatinskaia Oblast, Kazakhstan) from the ranks of the unbeaten in a flyweight matchup
• Landon Quinones (7-2-1, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla.) seeks to spoil the UFC debut of Dana White’s Contender Series signee MarQuel Mederos (8-1, fighting out of Littleton, Colo.)
• Heavyweight Dana White’s Contender Seriesalums clash as Thomas Petersen (8-1, fighting out of Webster, Minn.) meets Jamal Pogues (10-4, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.)

ROAD TO UFC Season 2 Finale Bouts:

·         Flyweight Final: 22-year old dedicated finisher Jiniushiyue “Little King Kong” (13-2, fighting out of Sichuan, China) faces decorated national wrestler 21-year old Rei Tsuruya (8-0, fighting out of Chiba, Japan).

·         Bantamweight Final: Experienced, aggressive striker Xiao Long (26-7, fighting out of Hunan, China) faces well-rounded grinder Chang Ho Lee (9-1, fighting out of Goyang, South Korea).

·         Featherweight Final: Iconic aggressive strikerKaiwen (12-5, fighting out of Hunan, China) faces seasoned, intelligent tactician Yizha (24-4, fighting out of Sichuan, China).

·         Lightweight Final: Former UFC athlete and strong finisher Rongzhu (24-5, fighting out of Sichuan, China) faces power wrestler Shin Haraguchi (7-0 1NC, fighting out of Kagoshima, Japan).

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 700 million fans and 233 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 active fighter 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 sports and entertainment 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+

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus/

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Honda Center with a blockbuster featherweight championship bout that will see Alexander Volkanovski defend against undefeated No. 5 ranked contender Ilia Topuria. Also, No. 2 ranked contender Merab Dvalishvili collides with No. 3 Henry Cejudo in a pivotal bantamweight clash.

UFC^® 298: VOLKANOVSKI vs. TOPURIA takes place Saturday, Feb. 17 in Anaheim, Calif. with the main card at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on ESPN+ PPV. The prelims will be available on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, as well as simulcast in English and Spanish on ESPN+, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The early prelims will kick off at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass.

UFC^® 298: VOLKANOVSKI vs. TOPURIA tickets will go on sale Friday, Dec. 15 at 10 a.m. PT and are available for purchase at ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Dec. 13 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, Dec. 14 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 fight week credentials may sign up here.

Volkanovski (26-3, fighting out of Windang, NSW, Australia) plans to kick off his 2024 campaign by securing his sixth UFC featherweight title defense. Unbeaten at 145 pounds, he holds impressive victories over Yair Rodriguez, Max Holloway and Brian Ortega. Volkanovski now intends to hand Topuria his first career loss in emphatic fashion.

Topuria (14-0, fighting out of Alicante, Spain) hopes to keep his undefeated record intact by dethroning Volkanovski with a career-defining performance. A well-rounded competitor with heavy hands, he holds memorable wins against Josh Emmett, Bryce Mitchell and Ryan Hall. Topuria now aims to finish Volkanovski and begin his reign atop the featherweight ladder.

Surging Dvalishvili (16-4, fighting out of Long Island, N.Y. by way of Tbilisi, Georgia) has his sight set on taking out another former UFC champion. A relentless grappler and striker, he has earned notable victories over Petr Yan, Jose Aldo and Marlon Moraes. Dvalishvili now looks to stake his claim for a title shot by securing his 10^th consecutive win.

Former two-division champion Cejudo (16-3, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) plans to hand Dvalishvili his first loss in six years. A 2008 Olympic gold medal wrestler, he has delivered exciting victories against Dominick Cruz, T.J. Dillashaw and Demetrius Johnson. Cejudo now aims to make his case for a championship opportunity by halting Dvalishvili’s momentum with a dominant performance.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 3 ranked strawweight contender Tatiana Suarez (11-0, fighting out of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) hopes to remain undefeated when she takes on No. 4 Amanda Lemos (13-3-1, fighting out of Pará, Brazil)
• No. 9 ranked heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa (15-6, fighting out of Western Sydney, NSW, Australia) locks horns with No. 10 Marcin Tybura (24-8, fighting out of Uniejow, Poland)
• No. 15 ranked middleweight contender Anthony Hernandez (11-2 1NC, fighting out of Dunnigan, Calif.) squares off with rising Ikram Aliskerov (15-1, fighting out of Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia)
• No. 14 ranked flyweight contender Andrea Lee (13-8, fighting out of Shreveport, La.) battles Miranda Maverick (14-5, fighting out of Denver, Colo. by way of Buffalo, Mo.)
• Marcos Rogerio de Lima (21-10-1, fighting out of Ribeirâo Pires, Brazil) faces Justin Tafa (7-3 1NC, fighting out of Brisbane, Australia) in a hard-hitting heavyweight tilt
• Zhang Mingyang (16-6, fighting out of Qingdao, China) takes on Brendson Ribeiro (15-5 1NC, fighting out of Curitiba, Parana, Brazil) in a clash of debuting light heavyweights
• Yusaku Kinoshita (6-3, fighting out of Osaka, Japan) meets fellow Dana White’s Contender Series signee Danny Barlow (7-0, fighting out of Memphis, Tenn.) at welterweight

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

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 243 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 part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC. 

About Honda Center

Located in the heart of Orange County, Honda Center has remained a premier entertainment and sports venue since its opening in 1993. Home to the 2007 Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks, the arena hosts a variety of events, including sold-out concerts, family entertainment, and thrilling sports competitions. Over the past three decades, the Honda Center has remained an iconic and beloved destination for live entertainment in Southern California, with over 4,500 events and 44 million guests, paving the way for an even more exciting future. It will serve as the anchor of the innovative ocV!BE community, a 100-acre one-of-a-kind, immersive district designed to bring people together through shared experiences.

About ESPN+ 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus/

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® kicks off 2024 at UFC APEX with an action-packed rematch featuring No. 3 ranked light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev and No. 7 Johnny Walker. In addition, an intriguing matchup in the lightweight division sees Jim Miller take on Gabriel Benitez. 

UFC FIGHT NIGHT: ANKALAEV vs. WALKER takes place Saturday, January 13 in Las Vegas and will be available exclusively on ESPN+ (English and Spanish). The prelims will start at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT, followed by the main card at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT. 

Ankalaev (17-1-1 1NC, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia) sets out with the intention of delivering a statement performance. An International Master of Sport in Amateur MMA and Master of Sport in Combat Sambo, Ankalaev has delivered dominant wins against Anthony Smith, Thiago Santos, and Volkan Oezdemir. Now slated to rematch Walker, Ankalaev plans on leaving no doubt that he is one of the best light heavyweights in the world. 

Walker (21-7, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland by way of Rio das Ostras, Brazil) returns to action seeking redemption from his last outing against Ankalaev. His impressive resume contains highlight reel finishes over top ranked contenders Paul Craig, Ion Cutelaba, and Ryan Spann. The always exciting Walker now looks to get pass Ankalaev in emphatic fashion and make his case for a title shot in 2024.

Octagon veteran Miller (36-17 1NC, fighting out of Sparta, N.J.) is a UFC record holder for most fights (42) and most wins (25) in company history, Miller’s legendary career has seen him defeat the likes of Donald Cerrone, Joe Lauzon, and former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira. He now aims to kick off the year with a strong performance over Benitez. 

Benitez (23-11, fighting out of Tijuana, Baja, Mexico) finally makes his return to competition. A versatile competitor, he’s entertained fight fans with memorable knockouts against Charlie Ontiveros, Justin Jaynes, and Humberto Bandenay. Benitez now looks to secure the biggest win of his career by making his name off Miller.  

Additional bouts on the card include: 

• A high-stakes flyweight matchup pits No. 6 Matheus Nicolau (19-4-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) against No. 8 Manel Kape (19-6, fighting out of Phuket, Thailand by way of Porto, Portugal) 
• Featherweights Gabriel Santos (10-2, fighting out of Curitiba, Parana, Brazil)and Westin Wilson (16-8, fighting out of Curitiba, Parana, Brazil)collide
• No. 3 ranked bantamweight Ketlen Vieira (14-3, fighting out of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil) squares off with No. 9 Macy Chiasson (9-3, fighting out of Dallas, Texas by way of New Orleans, La.)
• A pivotal bantamweight bout sees No. 7 ranked contender Yana Santos (14-8, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Saint Petersburg, Russia) compete against No. 10 Norma Dumont (10-2, fighting out of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil)
• Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski (34-23, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) takes on Waldo Cortes Acosta (10-1, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz. by way of Fundacion, Barahona, Dominican Republic)
• Bantamweights Farid Basharat (11-0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Paktia, Afghanistan) and Taylor Lapilus (19-3, fighting out of)look to steal the show
• Bassil Hafez (8-4-1, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) collides with Preston Parsons (10-4, fighting out of Jacksonville Beach, Fla.) at welterweight
• An action-packed middleweight bout features Phil Hawes (12-5, fighting out of North Bergen, N.J. by way of Deerfield Beach, Fla.) and Brunno Ferreira (10-1, fighting out of Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil) is scheduled for the APEX
• Highly skilled bantamweights Ricky Simon (20-4, fighting out of Vancouver, Wash.) and Mario Bautista (13-2, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) clash
• Felipe Bunes (13-6, fighting out of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte Brazil)makes his UFC debut against Ukraine’s Denys Bondar (16-5, fighting out of Kharkiv, Ukraine) at flyweight
• An intriguing bantamweight bout sees Marcus McGhee (8-1, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) take on Gaston Bolanos (7-3, fighting out of Dublin, Calif. by way of Lima, Peru)

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 243 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 part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC. 

About ESPN+ 

About ESPN 

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

Toronto – UFC^® returns to Toronto with a thrilling world championship doubleheader, headlined by a highly anticipated middleweight championship bout between Sean Strickland and No. 2 ranked contender Dricus Du Plessis. Also, a new women’s bantamweight champion will be crowned when No. 2 ranked contender Raquel Pennington battles Mayra Bueno Silva.

UFC^® 297: STRICKLAND vs. DU PLESSIS takes place Saturday, January 20 at Scotiabank Arena, with the main card at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Pay-Per-View. The prelims will be available on Sportsnet and TVA Sports at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The early prelims will kick off at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on UFC Fight Pass.

UFC^® 297: STRICKLAND vs. DU PLESSIS tickets will go on sale Friday, November 17 at 10 a.m. ET and are available for purchase at ticketmaster.ca. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, November 15 at 10 a.m. ET via the website ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, November 16 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 fight week credentials may sign up here.

Strickland (28-5, fighting out of Corona, Calif.) is coming off his stunning UFC middleweight championship win over Israel Adesanya in September. A relentless striker, he also holds wins over Jack Hermansson, Uriah Hall and Brendan Allen. Strickland now intends to secure a successful title defense by becoming the first fighter to defeat Du Plessis in the UFC.

Du Plessis (20-2, fighting out of Pretoria, South Africa) plans to dethrone Strickland by earning his ninth consecutive victory. Unbeaten since 2019, he holds thrilling stoppage wins against Robert Whittaker, Derek Brunson and Darren Till. Du Plessis now looks for another highlight-reel finish to achieve his dream of winning UFC gold.

Former title challenger Pennington (15-8, fighting out of Colorado Springs, Colo.) plans to stop Bueno Silva to claim the bantamweight belt. Currently riding a five-fight win streak, she holds memorable victories over Macy Chiasson, Miesha Tate and Ketlen Vieira. Pennington now has her sights set on a career-defining performance.

Bueno Silva (10-2-1 1NC, fighting out of Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, Brazil) hopes to add her name to the list of Brazilian UFC champions. A talented grappler, she has delivered notable submission wins against Lina Lansberg, Stephanie Egger and Mara Romero Borella. Bueno Silva now intends to continue her unbeaten streak by stopping Pennington to take home the title.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 13 ranked welterweight contender Neil Magny (28-12, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) looks to halt the momentum of surging Canadian Mike Malott (10-1-1, fighting out of Burlington, Ont.)
• A pivotal light heavyweight contenders’ bout will see former champion and No. 4 ranked Jan Blachowicz (29-10-1, fighting out of Warsaw, Poland) rematch No. 5 Aleksandar Rakic (14-3, fighting out of Vienna, Austria)
• No. 4 ranked featherweight contender Arnold Allen (19-2, fighting out of Trimley St. Martin, Suffolk, England) squares off with undefeated No. 9 Movsar Evloev (17-0, fighting out of Sunzha, Republic of Ingushetia, Russia)
• Former light heavyweight title challenger and current No. 13 ranked contender Dominick Reyes (12-4, fighting out of Victoriaville, California, USA) locks horns with rising Carlos Ulberg (10-1, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand)
• Two-time The Ultimate Fighter winner Brad Katona (15-2, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland by way of Winnipeg, Man.) collides with Garrett Armfield (9-3, fighting out of Kansas City, Missouri, USA) in a bantamweight bout
• No. 14 ranked middleweight contender Chris Curtis (30-10 1NC, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada, USA by way of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA) takes on heavy-handed Marc-Andre Barriault (16-6 1NC, fighting out of Boca Raton, Florida, USA by way of Gatineau, Que.)
• Charles Jourdain (15-6-1, fighting out of Beloeil, Que.) meets Sean Woodson (10-1-1, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) in an exciting featherweight tilt
• Dana White’s Contender Series contract winners rematch when Serhiy Sidey (10-1, fighting out of Burlington, Ont.) faces Ramon Taveras (9-2, fighting out of Duval County, Florida, USA) at bantamweight
• Submission ace Gillian Robertson (12-8, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Florida, USA by way of Niagara Falls, Ont.) meets Polyana Viana (13-6, fighting out of São Geraldo do Araguaia, Pará, Brazil) at flyweight
• Hometown flyweight Malcolm Gordon (14-7, fighting out of Toronto, Ont.) takes on Jimmy Flick (16-6, fighting out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA)
• Yohan Lainesse (9-2, fighting out of St-Bruno, Que.) meets Sam Patterson (10-2-1, fighting out of Watford, England) in a battle of welterweight Dana White’s Contender Series signees

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

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 243 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 part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About Scotiabank Arena

Scotiabank Arena is Canada’s premier sports and entertainment venue and home to the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club and the NBA’s Toronto Raptors Basketball Club. Owned and operated by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), Scotiabank Arena opened its doors in February 1999 and has been recognized with dozens of industry awards. Scotiabank Arena is often ranked the #1 Canadian arena, is often within the top 10 in the world for live event ticket sales and has also hosted over 80 million fans at over 5,000 events including multiple NHL and NBA playoff runs, hub city for the Eastern Conference teams during the return of the 2020 NHL season, 2019 WWE SummerSlam, 2017 Invictus Games, the 2016 NHL World Cup of Hockey, 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend, 2015 IIHF World U20 Championship, 2000 NHL All-Star Game and looking ahead to the 2024 NHL All-Star Game.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Austin, Texas with one of the most stacked fight nights of the year, headlined by a pivotal lightweight matchup between No. 4 Beneil Dariush and No. 8 Arman Tsarukyan. Also on the card, lightweight strikers collide as No. 9 ranked contender Dan Hooker takes on No. 12 Bobby Green in a five-round co-main event.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: DARIUSH vs TSARUKYAN will take place Saturday, December 2 at Moody Center. The prelims will be simulcast in English and Spanish on ESPN+ starting at 4 p.m. ET/ 1 p.m. PT, followed by the main card on ESPN and ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: DARIUSH vs TSARUKYAN tickets will go on sale Friday, November 3 at 12 p.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, November 1 at 12 p.m. CT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday November 2 starting at 12 p.m. CT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

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

Perennial top contender Dariush (22-5, fighting out of Yorba Linda, Calif.) has his sights set on securing another dramatic victory to return to the title conversation. A high-level grappler with knockout power, he has won eight of his last nine bouts, including wins over Mateusz Gamrot, Tony Ferguson and Drew Dober. Dariush now intends to show that he is still one of the best in the world by taking out Tsarukyan.

Rising star Tsarukyan (20-3, fighting out of Erevan, Armenia) looks to make the most of his second UFC main event by securing the biggest win of his career. Among the most well-rounded athletes on the UFC roster, Tsarukyan has impressed with finishes over Joel Alvarez, Joaquim Silva and Christos Giagos. He now aims to announce himself as the next challenger for the lightweight belt with a defining victory over Dariush. 

Hooker (23-12, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand) plans to deliver another vintage highlight-reel performance. An all-action fighter who is no stranger to post-fight bonuses, Hooker has established himself as a favorite amongst fans with thrilling victories over Paul Felder, Gilbert Burns and Jim Miller. He now looks to defend his spot in the Top 10 of the division and set himself up for a championship run in 2024.

Always entertaining, Green (31-14-1 1NC, fighting out of Fontana, Calif.) aims to keep the momentum going from his main event first-round KO of rising prospect Grant Dawson from just under one month ago. A member of the UFC roster since 2013, Green currently holds the record for the most significant strikes landed in UFC lightweight history with 1,644, a total he amassed from wins over Tony Ferguson, Lando Vannata and Clay Guida. He now seeks to make it three victories by finish in a row and break into the Top 10 for the first time.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• An intriguing bantamweight bout pits No. 8 ranked contender Rob Font (20-7, fighting out of Woburn, Mass.) against former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo (21-3-1, fighting out of Condor Belem, Para, Brazil)
• A high stakes welterweight bout sees No. 9 ranked contender Sean Brady (15-1, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.) welcome No. 11 ranked middleweight Kelvin Gastelum (18-1 1NC, fighting out of Yuma, Ariz.) back to the division
• Former UFC bantamweight champion and current No. 12 ranked contender Miesha Tate (19-9, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) takes on fellow veteran No. 13 ranked Julia Avila (9-2, fighting out of Oklahoma City, Ok.)
• UFC Hall of Famer Clay Guida (38-20, fighting out of Johnsburg, Ill.) plans to start another long win streak against Joaquim Silva (12-5, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil) at lightweight
• No. 11 ranked light heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree Jr. (13-5 1 NC, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) aims to make a statement against undefeated No. 12 ranked Azamat Murzakanov (13-0, fighting out of Fairfield, N.J. by way of Nalchik, Russia)
• Punahele Soriano (9-3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) and Dustin Stoltzfus (14-5, fighting out of Lancaster, Penn.) collide in a middleweight tilt
• Dana White’s Contender Series signee Zach Reese (6-0, fighting out of Houston, Texas by way of Shiner, Texas) debuts against Cody Brundage (9-5, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.) in a middleweight bout
• Lightweights Drakkar Klose (13-2-1, fighting out of Glendale, Ariz.) and Joe Solecki (13-3, fighting out of Wilmington, N.C.) lock horns
• Steve Garcia (14-5, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) meets Melquizael Costa (20-6, fighting out of Baura, Para, Brazil) for a featherweight scrap
• Dana White’s Contender Series signee Rodolfo Bellato (11-2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) makes his UFC debut against Ihor Potieria (20-4, fighting out of Kiev, Ukraine)
• Welterweights Wellington Turman (18-7, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil) and Jared Gooden (18-8, fighting out of Duluth, Ga.) aim to steal the show
• Veronica Hardy (7-4-1, fighting out of Nottingham, England by way of Caracas, Venezuela) and Jamey-Lyn Horth (6-0, fighting out of Squamish, British Columbia, Canada) face off in a flyweight matchup

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 243 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 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 Moody Center

Moody Center provides the nation’s 11th-largest city with a premier venue to host the biggest artists and acts on the planet. Designed specifically for concerts, the new arena replaces the 46-year-old Frank C. Erwin Jr. Center at The University of Texas and is home to The University of Texas Women’s and Men’s basketball games, family shows, and other sporting and community events. Moody Center is the first of its kind in the industry with an unrivaled partnership between Oak View Group, Live Nation/C3 Presents, The University of Texas at Austin, and Minister of Culture, Matthew McConaughey. In 2022, Moody Center ranked #1 highest-grossing venue in its category by Billboard Magazine and received the 2022-23 New Concert Venue of the Year Award by Pollstar Magazine and Arena of the Year by the Academy of Country Music. For additional information and news, follow @moodycenteratx on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, YouTube, and Tik Tok.

Las Vegas – UFC^® will hold its final event of 2023 in the Fight Capital of the World, headlined by a highly anticipated welterweight championship bout that will see Leon Edwards defend against No. 2 ranked contender Colby Covington. Also, newly crowned flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja makes his first title defense when he rematches No. 4 ranked contender Brandon Royval.

UFC^® 296: EDWARDS vs. COVINGTON takes place Saturday, Dec. 16 at T-Mobile Arena with the main card at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on ESPN+ PPV. The prelims will be available on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, as well as simulcast in English and Spanish on ESPN+, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The early prelims will kick off at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass with the action also continuing on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

UFC^® 296: EDWARDS vs. COVINGTON tickets will go on sale Friday, Oct. 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, Oct. 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, Oct. 19 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 fight week credentials may sign up here.

Edwards (21-3 1NC, fighting out of Birmingham, England) looks to continue his momentum following winning his trilogy bout against former titleholder Kamaru Usman. Currently riding a 12-fight unbeaten streak, he has also earned spectacular victories over Nate Diaz, Rafael Dos Anjos and Gunnar Nelson. Edwards now intends to further cement himself as the top welterweight on the planet.

Former interim welterweight champion Covington (17-3, fighting out of Miami, Fla.) returns to action following his dominant win against heated rival Jorge Masvidal. An NCAA Division I All-American, he has also delivered notable victories over Tyron Woodley, Robbie Lawler and Rafael Dos Anjos. Covington now has his sights set on stopping Edwards in emphatic fashion.

Pantoja (26-5, fighting out of Arraial Do Cabo, Brazil) is coming off his Fight of the Year contender victory over Brandon Moreno to capture the flyweight belt. A talented Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, he also holds wins against Alex Perez, Manel Kape and Wilson Reis. Pantoja now hopes to finish Royval for a second time to continue his run atop the 125-pound ladder.

Royval (15-6, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.) intends to steal the show with another highlight-reel finish. Among the most exciting competitors in the flyweight division, he has earned memorable victories over Matheus Nicolau, Matt Schnell and Kai Kara-France. Royval now plans to even the score with Pantoja and achieve his dream of becoming UFC champion.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Undefeated No. 6 ranked welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov (17-0, fighting out of Kokshetau, Kazakhstan) battles former title challenger and No. 7 Stephen Thompson (17-6-1, fighting out of Simpsonville, S.C.)
• Former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson (26-9, fighting out of Orange County, Calif.) collides with Paddy Pimblett (20-3, fighting out of Liverpool, England) in a highly anticipated matchup
• No. 10 ranked welterweight contender Vicente Luque (22-9-1, fighting out of Brasília, Brazil) locks horns with unbeaten No. 11 Ian Machado Garry (13-0, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland by way of Belo Horizonte, Brazil)
• No. 6 ranked contender Josh Emmett (18-4, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) meets No. 8 Giga Chikadze (15-3, fighting out of Tbilisi, Georgia) in an exciting featherweight bout
• No. 15 ranked Alonzo Menifield (14-3-1, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) faces No. 15 Dustin Jacoby (19-7-1, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.) in a clash of light heavyweight contenders
• Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt (13-5, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) faces Brian Kelleher (24-14, fighting out of Selden, N.Y.) in a bout guaranteed to deliver fireworks
• Streakingheavyweight Martin Buday (13-1, fighting out of Trnava, Slovakia) takes on undefeated Dana White’s Contender Series signee Shamil Gaziev (11-0, fighting out of Kingdom of Bahrain)
• No. 5 ranked women’s bantamweight contender Irene Aldana (14-7, fighting out of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico) returns against No. 9 Karol Rosa (17-5, fighting out of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
• Randy Brown (17-5, fighting out of Queens, N.Y. by way of Spanish Town, Jamaica) faces Muslim Salikhov (19-4, fighting out of Buynaksk, Dagestan, Russia) in an all-action welterweight tilt
• No. 13 ranked flyweight contender Tagir Ulanbekov (15-2, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia) looks to defend his spot in the rankings against Cody Durden (16-4-1, fighting out of Covington, Ga.)
• No. 14 ranked women’s flyweight contender Casey O’Neill (9-1, fighting out of Gold Coast, Australia) squares off with Ariane Lipski (16-8, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil)

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

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 243 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 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+ 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus/

About ESPN

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