Las Vegas – The 7th annual UFC International Fight Week™ will take place from Tuesday, July 3 through Sunday, July 8, with numerous events taking place throughout Las Vegas, including the Downtown Las Vegas Event Center, The Palms Casino Resort, and T-Mobile Arena.

UFC International Fight Week is highlighted by the prestigious 2018 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, an easily-accessible and fully interactive two-day UFC Fan Experience® and THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER® FINALE: TAVARES vs. ADESANYA. The week-long festivities are anchored by the highly anticipated Superfight between UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier in the main event of UFC® 226: MIOCIC vs. CORMIER, presented by Modelo, which takes place on Saturday, July 7 at T-Mobile Arena. Tickets for UFC 226 are available via AXS.

On Thursday, July 5, UFC will host the 2018 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at 7 p.m. at The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort. The annual ceremony honors contributors and athletes that helped shape UFC and left an indelible mark on the sport of mixed martial arts. Tickets to the induction ceremony are priced at $20.00 (does not include fees), with all proceeds benefitting Three Square Foodbank, southern Nevada’s largest hunger-relief organization. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster. The ceremony will also be streamed live and exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS®.

Spanning more than 85,000 square feet, UFC’s two-day Fan Experience at the Downtown Las Vegas Event Center will be the one-stop shop for all fight fans, providing unparalleled free access to UFC champions, top-ranked contenders, UFC Hall of Famers, celebrities, legendary fighters, Octagon Girls®, UFC letters and a UFC store dome. This year, the UFC Fan Experience will also host several activations centered around UFC’s 25th anniversary, which is being celebrated throughout the year.

UFC fans will have the opportunity to engage with a record-number of athletes and talent during free autograph sessions and meet and greets at the Downtown Las Vegas Event Center. These sessions will be from 12:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 6, and 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 7. This free event will be part of the two-day UFC Fan Experience at the Downtown Las Vegas Event Center, which will operate from 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Friday, July 6, and 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 7.

Fans will be able to purchase exclusive UFC merchandise at the UFC store dome and at other UFC store locations, while also having the chance to participate in numerous activities with brand partners such as: BODYARMOR, Modelo, Toyo Tires®, Monster Energy, MetroPCS® and Motel 6.

The 27th season of UFC’s landmark reality series, The Ultimate Fighter®, will conclude on Friday, July 6, with THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER® FINALE: TAVARES vs. ADESANYA at T-Mobile Arena. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.

UFC will also host two official pool parties during the week at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino’s Rehab Beach Club on Wednesday, July 4 (11 a.m. – 4 p.m.) and Sunday, July 8 (11 a.m. – 4 p.m.). On Saturday, July 7, the official UFC 226 after party will take place at Hakkasan beginning at 11 p.m.

The UFC International Fight Week app will be the official destination for the most updated schedule of events, as well as the only place to secure your spot for autograph sessions. The app is scheduled to launch on Monday, June 25. All of these exciting events are in addition to the regularly scheduled fight week activities. For additional information, please visit UFC.com/fightweek.

About UFC®

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

Las Vegas – UFC® today announced that tickets to the 2018 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be available at 10 a.m. PT on Friday, June 15, via Ticketmaster. The 2018 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Thursday, July 5, at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Tickets to the 2018 UFC Hall of Fame Induction ceremony are priced at $20.00 (does not include fees), with all proceeds benefitting Three Square Foodbank, southern Nevada’s largest hunger-relief organization.

The UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony stands as one of the marquee events during the 7th annual UFC International Fight Week™, which takes place from Tuesday, July 3 through Sunday, July 8.

The 2018 UFC Hall of Fame class of 2018 includes:

Ronda Rousey (Modern) – Former UFC and Strikeforce bantamweight champion and the first and only UFC women’s champion to successfully defended her title six times.

Bruce Connal (Contributor) – Pioneering television producer who led the production of more than 300 UFC televised events during his 19-year tenure with UFC.

Art Davie (Contributor) – UFC creator and co-founder who partnered with legendary Brazilian jiu-jitsu master Rorian Gracie on a project that would eventually be rebranded to the Ultimate Fighting Championship®.

Matt Serra (Pioneer) – Former UFC welterweight champion and winner of Season four of The Ultimate Fighter®.

Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (Fight) – Classic 2011 fight between former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and UFC 17 middleweight tournament champion and former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson.

To see a complete list of UFC athletes and fights currently enshrined in the UFC Hall of Fame, as well as details regarding the UFC Hall of Fame format, please visit UFCHOFFAQ.

Established in 2007 to provide hunger relief, Three Square Food Bank offers wholesome, nutritious food to nonprofit and faith-based organizations, schools and feeding sites that serve a wide range of Southern Nevadans. Three Square’s mission is to provide wholesome food to hungry people, while passionately pursuing a hunger-free community. For more information, please visit THREESQUAREFOODBANK.

To view the UFC Hall of Fame fight library, please visit UFCHOF. For additional information, please visit UFC.com.

About UFC®

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

Las Vegas – UFC® will return to Los Angeles with a blockbuster bantamweight championship rematch that will see T.J. Dillashaw defend against former champ and No.1 contender Cody Garbrandt. In the co-main event, UFC flyweight champion and No.1 pound-for-pound fighter Demetrious Johnson will run it back with No.2-ranked contender Henry Cejudo. UFC® 227: DILLASHAW vs. GARBRANDT 2 goes down Saturday, August 4 at STAPLES Center and will air live on Pay-Per-View.

Among the most heated rivals in UFC history, Dillashaw (16-3, fighting out of Angels Camp, Calif.) and Garbrandt (11-1, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) first locked horns last November. Following a series of exciting back-and-forth exchanges, Dillashaw delivered a spectacular second-round KO to recapture the 135-pound title.

Dillashaw now looks to get the last laugh over his former teammate. A diverse striker and talented grappler, he’s earned victories over a who’s who in the bantamweight division. Over the course of his UFC career, he’s bested Renan Barao (twice), Raphael Assuncao and John Lineker. Another impressive victory will allow him to close the book on his feud with Garbrandt.

As for Garbrandt, the former titleholder aims for a measure of revenge. Known for his highlight-reel knockouts, he tore a path of destruction through the division en route to dethroning Dominick Cruz in 2016. During his UFC stint, the heavy-handed striker has stopped Takeya Mizugaki, Thomas Almeida and Augusto Mendes. Garbrandt now aims to even the score and reclaim the bantamweight championship.

Also, at UFC® 227: DILLASHAW vs. GARBRANDT 2, flyweight champion Johnson (27-2-1, fighting out of Parkland, Wash.) will see a familiar face in Cejudo (12-2, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.), as he goes for his record 12th consecutive title defense. The two originally met two years ago, with Johnson defending his title via impressive TKO.

Since then, Johnson has picked up three more sensational wins, including highlight-reel submissions against Wilson Reis and Ray Borg. The latter set a new record for UFC title defenses. Johnson has also bested Joseph Benavidez (twice), John Dodson (twice) and Kyoji Horiguchi. He now plans to notch another defense and continue building his already impressive legacy.

An Olympic gold medalist wrestler, Cejudo is gunning for his first UFC championship. A decorated grappler with heavy hands, he’s topped Sergio Pettis, Henry Cejudo and Jussier Formiga during his climb up the flyweight ranks. With the 125-pound title in his sights, Cejudo not only plans to reach his destiny, but also plans to hand Johnson his first loss in almost seven years.

Additional bouts on the card include:

In a clash of featherweight contenders, No.5-ranked Cub Swanson (25-8, fighting out of Palm Springs, Calif.) faces No.9 Renato Moicano (12-1-1, fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil).
No.6-ranked middleweight contender Derek Brunson (18-6, fighting out of Wilmington, N.C.) looks to turn back surging No.12 Antonio Carlos Junior (11-2 1NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Joao Pessoa, Brazil)
Former women’s bantamweight title challenger and No.10-ranked contender Bethe Correia (10-3-1, fighting out of Campina Grande, Brazil) locks horns with No.12 Irene Aldana (7-4, fighting out of Culiacan, Mexico)
Polyana Viana (10-1, fighting out of Sao Geraldo do Araguaia, Brazil) looks to keep the momentum going when she meets rising star JJ Aldrich (6-2, fighting out of Westminster, Colo.)
Ricardo Ramos (11-1, fighting out of Campinas, Brazil) goes for another highlight-reel KO against streaking Kyung Ho Kang (13-7 1NC, fighting out of Busan, South Korea)
Danielle Taylor (9-3, fighting out of Van Nuys, Calif.) aims to get back in the win column against debuting Weili Zhang (16-1, fighting out of Hebei, China)
Buren Wuliji (10-5, fighting out of Beijing, China) takes on fellow prospect Bharat Khandare (5-3, fighting out of Mumbai, India)
In a battle of exciting prospects, Benito Lopez (9-0, fighting out of Oroville, Calif.) meets Ricky Simon (10-1, fighting out of Vancouver, Wash.)

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

Visit the UFC® Press Portal for information and content to support your UFC coverage.

UFC® 227: DILLASHAW vs. GARBRANDT 2 will air live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Saturday, August 4, with the prelims kicking off the evening on FS1 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and on UFC FIGHT PASS® at 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m. PT.

Tickets for UFC® 227: DILLASHAW vs. GARBRANDT 2 go on sale Friday, June 15 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $362.25, $284.60, $232.90, $196.65, $165.60, $134.55, $103.50, $82.80 and $62.10 (does not include fees). Tickets are available for purchase online at www.axs.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.

UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, June 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, June 14 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

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About UFC®

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

Las Vegas – The week is finally here as UFC FIGHT PASS® exclusive, DANA WHITE’S TUESDAY NIGHT CONTENDER SERIES, returns live on Tuesday, June 12 at 8pm ET. 10 promising MMA athletes will enter the Octagon® looking to capitalize on the world’s toughest job interview as they vie to fulfill their dreams of earning a UFC contract.

Undefeated light heavyweight prospects Dashawn Boatwright (3-0, fighting out of Richmond, Va.) and Alonzo Menifield (6-0, fighting out of Dallas, La.) headline an incredible card setting the tone for the rest of the competition. Coming off two straight finishes, Boatwright has started his pro career with a vengeance in keeping his record unblemished. Menfield, a Contender Series season 1 veteran, has continued his winning ways since his victory in front of Dana White in July of last year, with dominant stoppages against dangerous opponents.

Also featuring on the first episode is a clash of giants when former NFL players Greg Hardy (0-0, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) matches up against Austen Lane (2-0, fighting out of Jacksonville, Fla.) in a heavyweight tilt that could steal the show. For Hardy, this opportunity marks his first professional bout after an undefeated amateur career saw him reel off three straight wins. Looking to sour his welcome to the professional ranks is Lane, an undefeated former Defensive End, who’s four wins have all come via first round KO.

A star-studded broadcast team returns for the series. Former NFL Network’s Total Access host and Emmy award winner Dan Hellie will be handling play-by-play duties, sharing the call on alternating weeks with former ESPN host and current UFC broadcaster Brendan Fitzgerald, whom both earned rave reviews in last summer’s edition of Contender Series. The show’s color commentary panel will be manned by current 155-pound standout Paul Felder and the debut of former middleweight champion of the world Michael Bisping.

Get your access pass to the entire second season of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series and all live & exclusive events on UFC Fight Pass this summer, as well as the largest MMA library in the world by visiting http://fightpass.ufc.tv/fp/contender/summer All bouts live and subject to change.

Visit the UFC® Press Portal for information and content to support your UFC coverage.

About UFC®

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

Las Vegas – UFC® today announced that former UFC and Strikeforce® women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s ‘Modern Wing’ as a member of the class of 2018. The 2018 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Thursday, July 5, at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The event will be streamed live and exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS® starting at 7 p.m. PT.

“There would be no women in UFC without Ronda Rousey,” UFC President Dana White said. “Ronda is an absolute pioneer who helped me personally, and a lot of other people, look at women in combat sports differently. She accomplished everything she set out to do with UFC and became a global icon and role model in the process. Today, the women’s divisions are packed with incredibly talented fighters and they produce some of the best fights you’ll ever see. We’re proud to announce Ronda as the first woman to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.”

Rousey will enter the UFC Hall of Fame as a member of the Modern Wing, joining Forrest Griffin (2013), BJ Penn (2015) and Urijah Faber (2017) as the only members of this distinguished category. Rousey also joins Faber as only the second athlete to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame from the bantamweight division. 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.

“This is an immense honor, to not only take part in bringing women to the forefront of this sport, but now the UFC Hall of Fame,” Rousey said. “May I be the first of many.”

As the first female fighter signed to UFC following the global brand’s purchase of Strikeforce, Rousey was named the promotion’s first-ever women’s bantamweight champion in November of 2012, and she debuted inside the world-famous Octagon® at UFC® 157: ROUSEY vs. CARMOUCHE, on February 23, 2013 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Ronda defeated Liz Carmouche in the first round via armbar, becoming the first woman to win a UFC bout while defending her title in the process.

A veteran of 14 professional fights during her five-year career, Rousey, the last Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion and first-ever UFC women’s champion, compiled a record of 12-2, setting numerous records, highlighted by her six consecutive successful title defenses, the most by any female champion in UFC history. During her tenure in UFC and Strikeforce, Ronda secured seven submission victories via armbar, tying UFC Hall of Famer Minotauro Nogueria for most armbar submissions in the combined history of UFC, PRIDE, Strikeforce and WEC.

A prolific finisher, Rousey owns records for four of the five fastest finishes in UFC women’s bantamweight history, while her three wins by KO / TKO rank as the second most in UFC women’s bantamweight history. No other fighter in UFC history owns more than two of the five fastest finishes in their respective division.

Rousey’s average cumulative UFC fight time of 3:06 ranks as the second shortest in UFC history (min. five fights) and her collective Strikeforce fight time of 1:36 ranked as the shortest in company history (min. three fights). Ronda’s 14 second armbar submission victory over Cat Zingano at UFC® 184: ROUSEY vs. ZINGANO, was the fastest submission of the Modern Era and of any title fight in UFC history. Rousey also holds the record for fastest submission in Strikeforce history with her 25-second victory over Sarah D’Alelio during her debut at Strikeforce Challengers: Gurgel vs. Duarte on August 12, 2011.

As one of the most complete mixed martial artists in combat sports history, Ronda also holds numerous records for finishing her opponents via knockout. Her 16 second knockout of Alexis Davis at UFC® 175: WEIDMAN vs. MACHIDA is tied as the third-fastest knockout in a title fight in UFC history. Lastly, her 34-second knockout of Bethe Correia at UFC® 190: ROUSEY vs. CORREIA and 1:06 knockout of Sara McMann at UFC® 170: ROUSEY vs. MCMANN, are the second and fourth-fastest knockouts in UFC women’s bantamweight history, respectively.

Ronda headlined six UFC events during her career, including UFC® 193: ROUSEY vs. HOLM, which was held at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia on November 15, 2015. UFC 193 recorded a total attendance of 56,214 fight fans, which stands as the largest-attended event in UFC history.

Outside the Octagon, Rousey’s global popularity continued to rise as she was recognized by both her peers and the media with some of the most highly acclaimed awards in sports.

In 2015, Ronda became the first mixed martial artist to win an ESPY award for “Best Fighter,” and she was also acknowledged by ESPN with the ESPY for “Best Female Athlete” in 2014 and 2015, and in 2012 for “Submission of the Year” after her first victory over former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate.

In May of 2015, Sports Illustrated recognized Ronda as “World’s Most Dominant Athlete” as she graced the cover of that month’s issue. Later that month, Rousey also became a published author with the release of her autobiography entitled, “My Fight, Your Fight”, which chronicled her inspiring path from Olympic judo medalist to Hollywood star.

In November of 2015, Ronda became Electronic Arts’ first female global cover athlete with the release of EA SPORTS UFC 2 and also made history as the first woman to be featured on the cover of Men’s Fitness Australia.

While an active UFC athlete, Rousey also became a global movie star, appearing in films such as The Expendables 3, Furious 7 and Entourage, which collectively grossed more than $1.8 billion dollars combined in worldwide sales. She has also headlined popular television shows and series in primetime, hosting Saturday Night Live in 2016 and making a cameo appearance on Blindspot in 2017. Later this year, Rousey will co-star in Mile 22 with Mark Wahlberg and Academy-Award nominated actor John Malkovich.

Along with acting, Rousey is also currently a performer with World Wrestling Entertainment, where she competes weekly as one of the company’s top superstars on Monday Night Raw.

A native of Riverside, California, Rousey’s martial arts career began at age 11, when she started training judo with her mother, AnnMaria, a highly-decorated judoka who became the first American to capture a World Judo Championship in 1984. In 2004, at the age of 17, Ronda won the Gold medal at the World Junior Judo Championships. That same year, she qualified for the 2004 Olympic Games, becoming the youngest judoka to compete in the games that year. In 2006, Rousey won the Bronze medal at the World Junior Judo Championships, becoming the first U.S. athlete to capture two medals at the World Junior Judo Championships. Her ascent as a judoka continued in 2007, as she won the Gold medal at the Pan American Games and Silver medal at the World Judo Championships. In 2008, Ronda captured the Bronze medal at the Olympic Games, making history as the first American to win an Olympic medal in women’s judo since the sport joined Olympic competition in 1992. Overall, Ronda won more than 30 medals and represented the U.S. Judo team in over a dozen international tournaments. She currently resides in California with her husband, UFC heavyweight Travis Browne.

To view Rousey’s UFC FIGHT PASS collection please visit: https://www.ufc.tv/category/ufc-hall-of-fame-ronda-rousey-2018.

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

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

EPISODE 2

EPISODE 3

Calgary, Canada – UFC® makes its long-awaited return to Calgary with a thrilling lightweight rematch between former champion and No.3-ranked contender Eddie Alvarez and No.4 Dustin Poirier. Also, former featherweight champion and No.2-ranked contender Jose Aldo will battle No.4 Jeremy Stephens in a co-main event guaranteed to deliver fireworks. UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: ALVAREZ vs. POIRIER 2 takes place Saturday, July 28 at Scotiabank Saddledome and will air live on FOX. The event will broadcast live in Canada on CTV Two.

Alvarez (29-5 1NC, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn., USA) and Poirier (23-5 1NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla., USA) originally met one year ago, in an exciting bout that ended in a no contest. They now get to pick up where they left off in front of a packed house in Calgary.

An MMA veteran for almost 15 years, Alvarez’s most recent outing saw him become the first fighter to finish Justin Gaethje this past December. Not only did the bout win Fight of the Night honors at UFC 218, it also took the No.2 spot on UFC.com’s Top 10 fights of 2017 list. Over the course of his career, he’s earned victories over Anthony Pettis, Gilbert Melendez and Tatsuya Kawajiri. In 2016, he knocked out Rafael Dos Anjos to capture the UFC lightweight championship. Alvarez now looks for another show-stealing performance to stake his claim for a title shot.

A former featherweight mainstay, Poirier has been on a tear since moving back to lightweight in 2015. During his run in the UFC’s stacked 155-pound division, he’s taken home five fight night bonuses. He’s netted sensational wins against Antony Pettis, Jim Miller, Bobby Green, Yancy Medeiros and Joseph Duffy and in his last appearance, he delivered an incredible TKO victory over Justin Gaethje in a Fight of the Year contender last month. Poirier now plans to settle the score with Alvarez and earn his first shot at UFC championship gold.

The UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: ALVAREZ vs. POIRIER 2 co-main event will feature a pair of featherweight KO artists.

The most dominant 145-pound titleholder in UFC history, Aldo (26-4, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) looks to get back on track following losses to current champ Max Holloway. During his legendary 10-year win streak, he beat the best the featherweight division had to offer. Among his victims are former lightweight champ Frankie Edgar, Chad Mendes and UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber. The all-time great is now gunning to reclaim momentum against one of the division’s heaviest hitters.

A 13-year MMA veteran, Stephens (28-14, fighting out of San Diego, Calif., USA) has been on a tear in the featherweight division. Currently riding a three-fight win streak – with each bout netting him a fight night bonus – he plans to use Aldo as a stepping-stone to a title shot. Known for his powerful hands, Stephens has delivered exciting knockouts against Josh Emmett, Dooho Choi, Dennis Bermudez and Rony Jason. A win over the Brazilian legend would thrust Stephens straight into the title mix.

Additional bouts on the card include:

Former women’s strawweight champion and No.1-ranked contender Joanna Jedrzejczyk (14-2, fighting out of Olsztyn, Poland) throws down with No.5 Tecia Torres (10-2, fighting out of Colorado Springs, Colo., USA)
No.4-ranked women’s flyweight contender Alexis Davis (19-7, fighting out of San Jose, Calif., USA by way of Niagara Falls, Ont., Canada) looks to stake her claim for a title shot against No.8 Katlyn Chookagian (10-1, fighting out of Kenilworth, N.J., USA)
In a clash of surging lightweights, No.13-ranked contender Alexander Hernandez (9-1, fighting out of San Antonio, Tex., USA) squares off with No.15 Olivier Aubin-Mercier (12-2, fighting out of Montreal, Canada)
Strawweight contenders collide when No.12-ranked Randa Markos (8-6, fighting out of Windsor, Ont., Canada) takes on No.13 Nina Ansaroff (8-5, fighting out of Weston, Fla., USA)
No.10-ranked flyweight contender Dustin Ortiz (18-7, fighting out of Franklin, Tenn., USA) battles No.12 Matheus Nicolau (13-2-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
In a battle of talented strikers, John Makdessi (15-6, fighting out of Montreal, Canada) locks horns with Ross Pearson (22-14 1NC, fighting out of Sunderland, England)
Kajan Johnson (22-12-1, fighting out of Vancouver, Canada) goes for his fifth straight win against rising prospect Islam Makhachev (15-1, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia)
Alberta native Jordan Mein (30-12, fighting out of Lethbridge, Alta, Canada) looks to blow the roof off the Saddledome when he meets Alex Morono (14-4 1NC, fighting out of Houston, Tex., USA)
Hometown favorite Hakeem Dawodu (7-1-1, fighting out of Calgary, Canada) aims for his first UFC victory when he faces Austin Arnett (15-5, fighting out of Clarkston, Wash., USA)
In light heavyweight action, Gadzhimurad Antigulov (20-4, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia) takes on Ion Cutelaba (13-3 1NC, fighting out of Chisinau, Republic of Moldova)

For more information or current fight news, visit ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: ALVAREZ vs. POIRIER 2 go on sale Friday, June 1 at 10 a.m. MT and will be priced at $320.25, $236.25, $189.00, $152.25, $120.75, $99.75, $78.75 and $56.25 CAD. Tickets are available for purchase via Ticketmaster.ca and limited to eight (8) per person.

UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, May 30 at 10 a.m. MT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, May 31 starting at 10 a.m. MT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: ALVAREZ vs. POIRIER 2 will air live on Saturday, July 28 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on FOX. In Canada, the main card will be broadcast on CTV TWO and RDS 2.

Since 2008, the UFC has staged 25 events in the Great White North, across 10 different cities – Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Saskatoon, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg.

Visit the UFC® Press Portal for information and content to support your UFC coverage.

UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, and The Walt Disney Company’s new Direct-To-Consumer and International segment along with ESPN, today announced the full scope of the historic multi-year agreement that makes ESPN-branded media platforms the exclusive digital and television home of the UFC in the United States, further expanding streaming rights to UFC on ESPN+ and building upon the agreement revealed earlier this month.

Starting in January 2019, ESPN+ and ESPN become the exclusive digital and linear distributors in the United States for UFC, showcasing 42 live events, 30 of which will feature a full card of 12 UFC bouts. ESPN linear networks will broadcast 10 exclusive events as well as all UFC pay-per-view preliminary fights, while ESPN+, the recently-launched multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service, will offer 20 exclusive events and all preliminary fights for “UFC on ESPN Fight Night” programs. Events broadcast on ESPN will be branded “UFC on ESPN Fight Night,” while events streamed live on ESPN+ will carry the “UFC on ESPN+ Fight Night” moniker. With this agreement, the only destination where fans can watch all UFC programming is the ESPN app, and in the future, the full breadth of content will be available on ESPN+.

Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN President and Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks said, “ESPN’s unparalleled multimedia platform is the perfect home for the UFC and will deliver tremendous value to both parties. UFC fans are passionate and loyal and we plan to bring the full power of ESPN’s live coverage, powerful storytelling and unmatched distribution to serve them in an unprecedented fashion. We can’t wait to get started.”

Added Kevin Mayer, Chairman, Direct-To-Consumer and International, The Walt Disney Company, “The expansion of our relationship with UFC is an exciting development for fight fans. Delivering 20 exclusive UFC fight nights per year and a host of original content to UFC’s young, passionate and tech-savvy fan base, makes ESPN+ the clear new digital home for UFC and further establishes our new service as the leading platform for direct-to-consumer sports streaming.”

Dana White, President, UFC said, “Every year for the last 18 years, we have taken this sport and brand to another level. We find innovative ways to promote our athletes and build stars. Today is another monumental day for UFC, our athletes, and our fans. We are now part of the ESPN family, recognized around the world as the pinnacle in sports broadcasting. I am very excited for this next chapter for UFC.” With more than 280 million fans around the world, UFC boasts the youngest fan base among major professional sports organizations in the US with a median age of 40 and an audience comprising 40% millennials.

UFC on ESPN
Fight Nights Platform # of Events
UFC on ESPN+ Fight Night ESPN+ 20
UFC on ESPN Fight Night * ESPN networks 10
UFC PPV Preliminary Fights ESPN networks 12
* Prelims for UFC on ESPN Fight Night will be streamed live on ESPN+

Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year). To subscribe, fans simply download or open the ESPN App (or visit ESPNPlus.com). In addition to live, exclusive events, the lineup of UFC content available to ESPN+ subscribers will include:
Exclusive, all new-seasons of “Dana White’s Contender Series” beginning in June 2019
A new original, all-access series produced by IMG Original Content
Exclusive pre- and post-event shows for all 30 “UFC on ESPN Fight Night” programs on ESPN and ESPN+
Non-exclusive access to UFC’s full archive of programming, including historic events, classic bouts, and original programming
Additional UFC-branded content, including “UFC Countdown” shows, press conferences, weigh-ins, and pre-and post-shows

In addition to the live events and content included in the ESPN+ subscription, fight fans will be able to purchase and watch UFC FIGHT PASS® (UFC’s DTC streaming offering) and UFC PPV events via ESPN+ and within the ESPN app, for a separate cost.

ESPN will also bring fans a variety of UFC content across ESPN’s widely consumed linear and digital platforms, including an exclusive, 30-minute special on ESPN’s linear networks previewing upcoming bouts and breaking down match ups leading up to each UFC PPV; hundreds of hours of UFC library programming on linear networks; and re-airs of current UFC PPV events.

The ESPN App and ESPN+ are available on mobile and TV-connected devices and on ESPN.com. The new ESPN App with ESPN+ are available on devices and platforms including Amazon (Fire TV, Fire Stick, Fire Smart TVs, Fire tablets), Android (Android phones, Android TV), Apple (iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and supported in the Apple TV App), Chromecast and Roku.

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About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the first-ever multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International segment and ESPN. It offers fans thousands of additional live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks. This includes hundreds of MLB, NHL and MLS games, Grand Slam tennis, Top Rank boxing, PGA Tour golf, college sports, international rugby, cricket, the full library of ESPN Films (including 30 for 30) and more. Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) and cancel at any time.

ESPN+ is an integrated part of a completely redesigned ESPN App. Already the leading sports app, the new ESPN App is the premier all-in-one digital sports platform for fans and a showcase of the company’s culture of innovation. With a richer, increasingly more personalized experience, the new ESPN App curates all of ESPN’s incredible content into an experience unique to each fan’s individual tastes. ESPN+ is also available through ESPN.com.

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

UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, and The Walt Disney Company’s new Direct-To-Consumer & International segment along with ESPN, have reached an immersive, multi-year media rights agreement for exclusive live UFC content on ESPN+, as well as across a variety of ESPN’s television, social and digital platforms, in English and Spanish, taking effect in January 2019.

This first-ever rights and distribution agreement between the two companies provides for 15 live UFC events to stream exclusively on ESPN+ — the recently-launched multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International segment, in partnership with ESPN. Each event will be branded “UFC on ESPN+ Fight Night” and will deliver a full card of 12 UFC bouts.

Kevin Mayer, Chairman, Direct to Consumer and International, The Walt Disney Company said, “One of our goals for ESPN+ is to bring sports fans of all genres content they love and are passionate about, and this agreement with UFC is illustrative of exactly that. We look forward to providing UFC’s enthusiastic, growing fan base with a wide array of live events and building a lasting relationship with the industry leader in mixed martial arts.”

Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN President and Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks said: “UFC is a premier global sports property with legions of incredibly avid fans. We are excited to be able to bring their world-class events and content to ESPN+ and the ESPN networks. This agreement shows the commitment we have to delivering fans the very best across our entire platform.”

Dana White, President, UFC said: “I couldn’t be more excited to partner with The Walt Disney Company and ESPN on an agreement that will continue to grow our sport. UFC has always done deals with the right partners at the right time and this one is no exception. We will now have the ability to deliver fights to our young fan base wherever they are and whenever they want it. This deal is a home run for ESPN and UFC.”

UFC has the youngest fan base among major U.S. sports properties, with a median age of 39, and also comprises a much higher concentration of millennials than its peers, with 41% falling into the adult 18-34 demographic.

Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year). To subscribe, fans simply download or open the ESPN App (or visit ESPNPlus.com). In addition to live, exclusive events, the lineup of UFC content available to ESPN+ subscribers will include:

· Exclusive, all new-seasons of “Dana White’s Contender Series” beginning in June 2019

A new original, all access series produced by IMG Original Content
· Exclusive pre- and post-event shows for all 15 “UFC on ESPN+ Fight Nights”

· Non-exclusive access to UFC’s full archive of programming, including historic events, classic bouts, and original programming

· Additional UFC-branded content, including “UFC Countdown” shows, press conferences, weigh-ins and pre-and post-shows

In addition to the live events and content included in the ESPN+ subscription, fight fans will be able to purchase and watch UFC FIGHT PASS® (UFC’s DTC streaming offering) and UFC PPV events via ESPN+, for a separate cost.

ESPN will also bring fans a variety of UFC content across ESPN’s widely consumed linear and digital platforms, including an exclusive, 30-minute special on ESPN’s linear networks previewing upcoming bouts and breaking down match ups leading up to each UFC PPV; hundreds of hours of UFC library programming on linear networks; and re-airs of current UFC PPV events.

The ESPN App and ESPN+ are available on mobile and TV-connected devices and on ESPN.com. The new ESPN App with ESPN+ are available on devices and platforms including Amazon (Fire TV, Fire Stick, Fire Smart TVs, Fire tablets), Android (Android phones, Android TV), Apple (iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and supported in the Apple TV App), Chromecast and Roku.

–30–

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the first-ever multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International segment, in partnership with ESPN. It offers fans thousands of additional live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks. This includes hundreds of MLB, NHL and MLS games, Grand Slam tennis, Top Rank boxing, PGA Tour golf, college sports, international rugby, cricket, the full library of ESPN Films (including 30 for 30) and more. Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) and cancel at any time.

ESPN+ is an integrated part of a completely redesigned ESPN App. Already the leading sports app, the new ESPN App is the premier all-in-one digital sports platform for fans and a showcase of the company’s culture of innovation. With a richer, increasingly more personalized experience, the new ESPN App curates all of ESPN’s incredible content into an experience unique to each fan’s individual tastes. ESPN+ is also available through ESPN.com.

About Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International

Comprised of Disney’s international media businesses and the Company’s various streaming services, the Direct-to-Consumer and International segment aligns technology, content and distribution platforms to expand the Company’s global footprint and deliver world-class, personalized entertainment experiences to consumers around the world. The recently announced segment is responsible for The Walt Disney Company’s direct-to-consumer businesses globally, including the ESPN+ sports streaming service, programmed in partnership with ESPN; the upcoming Disney-branded direct-to-consumer streaming service; and the Company’s ownership stake in Hulu. As part of the Direct-to-Consumer and International segment, BAMTECH Media, developer of the ESPN+ and Disney-branded streaming platforms, oversees all consumer-facing digital technology and products across the Company.

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

Karolina Kowalkiewicz won a split decision over Felice Herrig in a strawweight bout.

Kowalkiewicz won on two cards by 29-28 cards, while Herrig took a card 29-28.

Kowalkiewicz, 115 lbs of Lodz, POL is 12-2.  Herrig, 115.5 lbs of Crystal Lake, IL is 14-7.

Olivier Aubin-Mercier stopped Evan Dunham in the 1st round of their lightweight bout.

Mercier landed a body shot wih his knee that hurt Dunham, and six strikes later the bout was called at 53 seconds.

Mercier, 155 lbs of Montreal is now 12-2.  Dunham, 156 lbs of Las Vegas is 18-7-1.

Ashlee Evans-Smith defeated Bec Rawlings via unanimous decision ina flyweight bout.

In round two, Evans-Smith was bleeding from her forehead.

Evans-Smith, 126 lbs of Santa Ana, CA won by scores of 30-27 on all cards and is now 6-3. Rawlings, 126 lbs of Brisbane, AUS is 7-8.

Devin Clark won a unanimous decision over Mike Rodriguez in a light heavyweight bout.

Clark, 205 lbs of Sioux Falls, SD won by scores by 30-27 twice and 29-28 and is now 9-2. Rodriguez, 203 lbs of South Easton, MA is 9-3.

Rumors abound the UFC could be pursuing Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua to sign a boxing contract, according to reports from Gareth Davies of the Morning Telegraph.

Dana White is making a bid to sign Joshua to a multi-fight deal that could be worth upward of $500 million, according to a report Wednesday in the United Kingdom’s Daily Telegraph.

“Listen, I’m riding with Eddie (Hearn). I’ve been riding with Eddie. He got me from the get-go,” Joshua said. “I’m not into the UFC, so I don’t know what their plans are. … I’m interested because we can all work together. Remember, mine and Eddie’s relationship is a really good working relationship. And I’m sure Eddie has an interest in working with Dana White. If it’s good business, it makes sense.

“We’ll listen and 100 percent, if it makes sense we’re all ears, man. I’m happy that Dana is coming into the game. Hopefully, he can add some excitement and we can progress forward and make some good money and make some good fights.”

“If Dana White wants to speak to us, obviously Anthony is with us, we’re willing to talk to anybody,” Hearn said on Wednesday night’s media call. “We do great business with everyone — Bernd Boente, Duco Events. I work with Top Rank, Golden Boy, Al Haymon. We work with anyone if the business is right.”

Then Hearn drew a big laugh when he added, “In the meantime, I’ll sign [UFC top draw] Conor McGregor and it will all be fair.”