Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to the APEX with a thrilling main event featuring No. 9 ranked middleweight contender Brendan Allen and No. 12 Paul Craig. In addition, a pivotal bout in the strawweight division is set as No. 9 Luana Pinheirotakes on No. 10 ranked Amanda Ribas. 

UFC FIGHT NIGHT: ALLEN vs. CRAIG takes place Saturday, November 18 in Las Vegas and will be available exclusively on ESPN+ (English and Spanish). The prelims will start at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT, followed by the main card at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT. 

Allen (22-5, fighting out of Delray Beach, Fla. by way of Covington, La.) looks to make the most of his first UFC main event. A black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the South Carolina native has delivered submission wins against Bruno Silva, Andre Muniz, and Krzysztof Jotko in his last three outings. Allen now sets out with intentions of securing a sixth straight victory and position himself for a massive 2024 season. 

Scotland’s Craig (23-4, fighting out of Coatbridge, Scotland) returns to action seeking a second consecutive win in emphatic fashion. A versatile competitor who can do it all, Craig has collected wins against Andre Muniz, Nikita Krylov, and former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill. The always exciting Craig steps back inside the Octagon with the intention to dispose of Allen and crack into the Top 10 rankings.  

Judo black belt Pinheiro (11-1, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico) sets out to claim her 10^th straight victory. The Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner has quickly risen through the division with strong wins against Michelle Waterson-Gomez, Sam Hughes, and Randa Markos. Pinheiro now aims to close out the year with a strong performance over Ribas. 

Ribas (12-4, fighting out of Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil) is determined to bounce back into the win column and find the path back to title contention. A fan favorite, Ribas has entertained with memorable wins against Mackenzie Dern, Viviane Araújo, and Paige VanZant. The Brazilian contender is more motivated than ever to claim a win against a formidable foe in Pinheiro.  

Additional bouts on the card include: 

• At bantamweight, Lucie Pudilová(14-8, fighting out of Pribram, Czech Republic) steps into the Octagon with Ailin Perez(8-2, fighting out of Buenos Aires, Argentina) 
• Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Cesar Almeida(4-0, fighting out of São Paulo, Brazil) takes on knockout specialist Christian Leroy Duncan(8-1, fighting out of Gloucester, England) in a middleweight matchup 
• Exciting welterweights Michael Morales(15-0, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico) and Jake Matthews(18-6, fighting out of Melbourne, Australia) square off 
• A lightweight tilt sees Dana White’s Contender Series standout Chase Hooper(16-6, fighting out of Enumclaw, Wash..) take on Jordan Leavitt (11-2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.)  
• Trey Ogden(16-6, fighting out of Kansas City, Miss.) and Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Nikolas Motta(16-6, fighting out of Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil) are scheduled for three five-minute rounds at lightweight 
• A high-stakes heavyweight scrap sees Dana White’s Contender Series signees Mick Parkin (7-0, fighting out of Castletown, England) and Caio Machado (8-1-1, fighting out of Vancouver, B.C., Canada) collide 
• Charles Johnson (13-5, fighting out of St. Louis, Miss.) and Rafael Estevam (11-0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) meet in an exciting clash of flyweights 
• Dana White’s Contender Series signee Payton Talbott (6-0, fighting out of Reno, Nev.) looks to stay undefeated as he faces fellow bantamweight Nick Aguirre (7-1, fighting out of Oswego, Ill.) 
• A Bantamweight contest pits John Castaneda(20-6, fighting out of Minneapolis, Minn.)against Kyung Ho Kang(19-9, 1 NC, fighting out of Busan, South Korea)  

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^® continues its run of shows at UFC APEX with an exciting featherweight clash, as No. 11 ranked contender Sodiq Yusuff collides with No. 13 Edson Barboza. Also on the card, No. 13 ranked bantamweight contender Jonathan Martinez faces off with fellow standout No. 14 Adrian Yanez.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: YUSUFF vs. BARBOZA will take place Saturday, October 14 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.

Yusuff (13-2, fighting out of Bladensburg, Md.) intends to deliver his best performance yet in his first UFC main event. A signee from season two of Dana White’s Contender Series, Yusuff has proven himself as one of the toughest outs in the stacked featherweight division with wins over Alex Caceres, Andre Fili and Gabriel Benitez. He now looks to secure the biggest victory of his career by taking out Barboza in his first Octagon appearance of 2023.

Barboza (23-11, fighting out of Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) returns to action planning to show that he can still compete with the best in the division. Owner of some of the greatest highlights in UFC history, he cemented himself as a devastating finisher in victories over Terry Etim, Beneil Dariush and Dan Hooker. Barboza now seeks to remain undefeated for the year and set himself up for a Top 10 bout in 2024.

Martinez (18-4, fighting out of Plainview, Texas) looks to defend his spot in the rankings and begin his run towards the bantamweight title. A rangy striker, he has quietly built an impressive five-fight win streak that includes victories over with Cub Swanson, Said Nurmagomedov and Vince Morales. Martinez now aims to extend his streak to six in his second UFC co-main event.

Always entertaining Yanez (16-4, fighting out of Houston, Texas) plans to make a statement with another signature KO. A top prospect since being signed from Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020, Yanez has secured a post-fight bonus in all five of his UFC wins, including those over Tony Kelly, Davey Grant and Randy Costa. He now has his sights set on snapping the win streak of Martinez in emphatic fashion.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 9 ranked flyweight contender Jennifer Maia (21-9-1, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil) looks to secure the longest win streak of her UFC career against No. 10 Viviane Araujo (11-5, fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil)
• Featherweight veteran Darren Elkins (27-11, fighting out of Portage, Ind.) takes on TJ Brown (17-10, fighting out of Little Rock, Ark.) in an all-action contest
• Entertaining middleweights collide as Marc-Andre Barriault (16-6 1NC, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla. by way of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada) faces Michel Pereira (28-11, fighting out of Tucuma, Para, Brazil)
• Bantamweight prospects Christian Rodriguez (9-1, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) and Cameron Saaiman (9-0, fighting out of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa) intend to make a statement in an early Fight of the Night contender
• Irina Alekseeva (5-1, fighting out of Chelyabinsk, Russia) aims to spoil the UFC debut of undefeated Melissa Dixon (5-0, fighting out of Coventry, England) in a bantamweight bout
• Terrance McKinney (14-6, fighting out of Spokane, Wash.) and Chris Duncan (11-1, fighting out of Alloa, Scotland, United Kingdom) lock horns in a battle of lightweight finishers
• Ashley Yoder (8-8, fighting out of Temecula, Calif.) and Emily Ducote (12-8, fighting out of Oklahoma City, Okla.) meet in a strawweight tilt

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+

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 thrilling bout in the lightweight division, as No. 10 ranked contender Grant Dawson takes on the always exciting Bobby Green. Also on the card, middleweights Joe Pyfer and Abdul Razak Alhassan lock horns.

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

Dawson (20-1-1, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) steps into his first UFC main event with high expectations of making the most out of the opportunity. Unbeaten in his last 12 fights, the Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus has quickly risen through the 155-pound rankings by delivering dominant wins against Damir Ismagulov, Jared Gordon, and Leonardo Santos. Dawson now sets his sights on fan-favorite Green with hopes of delivering a statement performance.

Veteran standout Green (30-14-1 1NC, fighting out of Fontana, Calif.) returns to action looking to steal the show. With an impressive decade-long resume, Green has collected wins against the likes of Nasrat Haqparast, Al Iaquinta, and Clay Guida. Fresh off a submission victory over former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson, Green aims on maintaining that momentum by spoiling Dawson’s night in emphatic fashion.

Dana White’s Contender Series breakout star Pyfer (11-2, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.) makes his second appearance of the year. After delivering stellar finishes against UFC middleweights Alen Amedovski and Gerald Meerschaert, the Philly striker has yet to have a boring moment inside the Octagon. Pyfer returns to where it all started at the UFC APEX to test himself against fellow knockout artist Alhassan.

Alhassan (11-5, fighting out of Denver, Colo. by way of Accra, Ghana) looks to keep his 100% finish rate intact and position himself for a big opportunity down the road. Proudly representing Ghana, Alhassan has made a name for himself by delivering highlight reel knockouts against formidable foes such as Claudio Ribeiro, Alessio Di Chirico, and Niko Price. He now aims on taking out Pyfer and securing back-to-back wins.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Alexander Hernandez (14-6, fighting out of Denver, Colo. by way of San Antonio, Texas) squares off with jiu-jitsu black belt Bill Algeo (17-7, fighting out ofKing of Prussia, Penn.)at featherweight
• Welterweights Alex Morono (23-8, 1 NC, fighting out of Houston, Texas) and Joaquin Buckley (16-6, fighting out of St. Louis, Miss.) look to make a statement
• Former strawweight title challenger Karolina Kowalkiewicz (16-7, fighting out of Lodz, Poland) looks for her fourth straight win as she battles Romanian prospect Diana Belbita (15-7, fighting out of Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada)
• Electric lightweights Drew Dober (26-12, 1 NC, Denver, Colo. by way of Omaha, Neb.) and Ricky Glenn (22-7-2, fighting out of Des Moines, Iowa) go toe-to-toe
• Brazil’s Philipe Lins (17-5, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil) takes on the heavy-handed Ion Cutelaba (17-9-1, 1 NC, fighting out of Chisinau, Republic of Moldova) in a light heavyweight bout guaranteed to deliver fireworks
• No. 15 ranked bantamweight contender Chris Gutierrez (19-4-2, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.) is scheduled to take on Montel Jackson (14-2, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) for three five-minute rounds
• At bantamweight, Aoriqileng (24-10, fighting out of Shanghai, China) faces Johnny Munoz (12-3, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico by way of Norco, Calif.)
• An action-packed flyweight contest sees Nate Maness (14-3, fighting out of Morganfield, Kentucky) battle Mateus Mendonca (10-1, fighting out of Pindare Mirim, Maranhao, Brazil)
• Vanessa Demopoulos (9-5, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) and Kanako Murata (12-2, fighting out of Tokyo, Japan) collide in a strawweight bout
• At flyweight Montana De La Rosa (12-8-1, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas) takes on Stephanie Egger (8-4, fighting out of St. Gallen, Switzerland)

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 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.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Madison Square Garden with the biggest heavyweight championship bout in company history when Jon Jones defends his newly-won belt against two-time titleholder and current No. 3 ranked contender Stipe Miocic.

UFC^® 295: JONES vs. MIOCIC takes place Sat., November 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York City with the main card at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on ESPN+ PPV. The prelims will be available on ESPNNEWS 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^® 295: JONES vs. MIOCIC tickets will go on sale Fri., September 8 at 10 a.m. ET and are available for purchase at ticketmaster.com and msg.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wed., September 6 at 10 a.m. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thurs., September 7 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.

Two-division champion Jones (27-1 1NC, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M. by way of Endicott, N.Y.) looks to secure his first heavyweight title defense. Among the best fighters ever, he has earned spectacular wins over former champions Rashad Evans, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Jones now aims to add to his legacy by stopping Miocic in emphatic fashion.

Greatest heavyweight of all time Miocic (20-4, fighting out of Independence, Ohio) plans to become the first fighter to finish Jones. A two-time champion, Miocic holds memorable victories against Daniel Cormier (twice), Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum. Miocic now intends to join Randy Couture in the history books by capturing the heavyweight title for a third time.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 7 ranked middleweight contender Derek Brunson (23-9, fighting out of Wilmington, N.C.) squares off with No. 8 Roman Dolidze (12-2, fighting out of Batumi, Georgia)
• Former strawweight champion and current No. 6 ranked contender Jessica Andrade (24-12, fighting out of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) faces No. 8 Mackenzie Dern (13-3, fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif.)
• No. 8 ranked flyweight contender Matt Schnell (16-7 1NC, fighting out of Shreveport, La.) locks horns with No. 14 Steve Erceg (10-1, fighting out of Perth, Western Australia)
• Joshua Van (8-1, fighting out of Houston, Texas) meets recent Dana White’s Contender Series signee Kevin Borjas (9-1, fighting out of Lima, Peru) in a clash of flyweight prospects

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 Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.

Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSG Entertainment) is a leader in live entertainment, delivering unforgettable experiences while forging deep connections with diverse and passionate audiences. The Company’s portfolio includes a collection of world-renowned venues – New York’s Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, and Beacon Theatre; and The Chicago Theatre – that showcase a broad array of sporting events, concerts, family shows, and special events for millions of guests annually. In addition, the Company features the original production, the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes, which has been a holiday tradition for 89 years. More information is available at www.msgentertainment.com.

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.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with a high stakes lightweight matchup as No. 6 ranked contender Rafael Fiziev takes on No. 7 Mateusz Gamrot. Also on the card, No. 12 ranked UFC featherweight contender Bryce Mitchell steps back into the Octagon against No. 13 Dan Ige. 

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: FIZIEV vs. GAMROT will take place Saturday, September 23 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The entire event will stream on ESPN+ (English and Spanish) with the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT. The prelims will begin at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

Elite striker Fiziev (12-2, Baku, Azerbaijan by way of Phuket, Thailand) looks to deliver another highlight reel performance in his second UFC main event. Among the most exciting fighters on the roster, Fiziev has collected a post-fight bonus in his last six bouts, including stoppage victories over Rafael Dos Anjos, Brad Riddell and Renato Moicano. He now plans to break into the Top 5 by becoming the first man to stop Gamrot. 

Gamrot (22-2, fighting out of Poznan, Poland) intends to prove that he is ready for title contention with a dominant showing against Fiziev. A multiple-time grappling champion, he has used his ground skills to secure impressive wins over Jeremy Stephens, Arman Tsarukyan and Diego Ferreira. Gamrot now plans to make a statement and catapult himself to the top of the stacked lightweight division.

Fan favorite Mitchell (15-2, fighting out of Searcy, Ark.) returns to action for the first time in 2023 seeking another signature submission. The owner of one of two ‘twister’ submissions in UFC history, Mitchell further proved his grappling prowess in victories over Edson Barboza, Charles Rosa and Bobby Moffett. He now has his sights set on beginning another run towards the featherweight Top 10 with a win over Ige.

Ige (17-6, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) aims to stay undefeated in 2023 as he heads into his third bout of the year. A well-rounded competitor, he holds notable victories over Damon Jackson, Gavin Tucker and Edson Barboza. Ige now looks to keep his momentum going by adding a win over Mitchell to his resume.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 8 ranked strawweight contender Marina Rodriguez (16-3-2, fighting out of Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil) takes on No. 13 Michelle Waterson-Gomez (18-11, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.)
• Flyweight action sees Bruno Silva (13-5-1 1NC, fighting out of Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil) battle Cody Durden (15-4-1, fighting out of Loganville, Ga.)
• UFC veteran Tim Means (32-15-1 1NC, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) and Andre Fialho (16-7 1NC, fighting out of Cascais, Portugal) collide in a striker’s delight at welterweight
• Mizuki  (14-6, fighting out of New York, N.Y. by way of Fukuoka, Japan) and Hannah Goldy (6-3, fighting out of Orlando, Fla.) clash in a strawweight showdown
• The Ultimate Fighterseason 30 heavyweight winner Mohammed Usman (10-2, fighting out of Auchi, Nigeria by way of Denver, Co.) faces Jake Collier (13-9, fighting out of Cuba, Mo.)
• The Ultimate Fighter season 29 middleweight winner Bryan Battle (10-2, fighting out of Charlotte, N.C.) seeks to land another highlight reel KO when he takes on AJ Fletcher (10-2, fighting out of Lafayette, La.)
• Aliaskhab Khizriev (14-0, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia) looks to maintain his undefeated record against Jacob Malkoun (7-2, fighting out of Sydney, Australia)
• Dan Argueta (9-1 1NC, fighting out of Albuquerque, NM by way of Orland Park, Ill.) and Miles Johns (13-2, fighting out of Kansas City, Mo.) lock horns in an all-action bout at bantamweight
• An exciting featherweight bout sees Ricardo Ramos (16-4, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) match up with Charles Jourdain (14-6-1, fighting out of Beloeil, Quebec, Canada)
• Montserrat Rendon (5-0, fighting out of Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico) aims to impress in her UFC debut against Tamires Vidal (7-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in a bantamweight bout

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 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 ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).   

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® brings an action-packed card to T-Mobile Arena to celebrate Mexican Independence Day with a thrilling flyweight championship rematch between champion Alexa Grasso and No. 1 contender Valentina Shevchenko. The co-main event will see No. 6 ranked welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov take on Kelvin Gastelum.

A great tradition in combat sports is to hold big fights on September 16th, and this year UFC is honoring its fans and fighters from Mexican communities with an inaugural Noche UFC event. In addition to the incredible fights, the fight week celebration will include a UFC Fan Experience, special appearances, community activities, commemorative merchandise, and much more.

“Mexican fans are some of the biggest and most passionate fans in all of combat sports,” said UFC President Dana White. “For years, I’ve wanted to truly honor their love for the athletes and the sport by bringing an incredible UFC event with Mexican athletes. It’s happening this year and we are bringing a MASSIVE Mexican card to Las Vegas on Mexican Independence Day. This card will be headlined by our Mexican champion in an insane rematch and it will be stacked from top to bottom with the best Mexican athletes in the world. Let me tell you something – I cannot wait for this event!”

NOCHE UFC: GRASSO vs. SHEVCHENKO 2 takes place Saturday, September 16 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.

NOCHE UFC: GRASSO vs. SHEVCHENKO 2 tickets go on sale Friday, July 21 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, July 19 at 10 a.m. PT via www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, July 20 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 NOCHE UFC: GRASSO vs. SHEVCHENKO 2 fight week credentials may sign up here.

Mexico’s own Grasso (16-3, fighting out of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico) sets out for her first title defense against the woman she took the belt from in March. The elite flyweight has secured notable wins against Maycee Barber, Viviane Araújo, and Joanne Wood and now intends to defeat former champion Shevchenko for a second time to cement her place as the best flyweight in the world.

Longtime resident of Peru, Shevchenko (23-4, fighting out of Bishkek, Chuy Province, Kyrgzstan) aims to recapture the flyweight title and become a two-time champion at 125 pounds. 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. The Kyrgyzstan fighter steps back inside the Octagon more motivated than ever as she looks for redemption against Grasso.

Undefeated welterweight Rakhmonov (17-0, fighting out of Kokshetau, Kazakhstan) looks to further his climb up the rankings by delivering another impressive performance. A Master of Sport in Combat Sambo and MMA, he has delivered memorable wins against Geoff Neal, Neil Magny, and Carlston Harris. Rakhmonov aims on keeping his 100% finish rate intact as he squares off with former middleweight title challenger Gastelum.

Mexican-American Gastelum (17-8 1NC, fighting out of Yuma, Ariz.) is determined to secure back-to-back wins as he takes on a rising contender. A decade-long Octagon veteran, Gastelum has defeated Chris Curtis, Ronaldo Souza, and UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping. The Arizona-native is determined to break Rakhmonov’s perfect record and insert his name in the title picture at 170 pounds.

Athletes of Mexican descent on the card include the following:

• Anthony Hernandez (11-2, 1 NC, fighting out of Dunnigan, Calif.) collides with Chris Curtis (30-10, 1 NC, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Cincinnati, Ohio) in a high-stakes bout set for the middleweight division
• Loopy Godinez (10-3, fighting out of Langley, B.C., Canada by way of Aguascalientes, Mexico)battles Sam Hughes (8-5, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) at strawweight
• Edgar Chairez (10-5, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico)squares off with Daniel Lacerda (11-5, fighting out of Valença, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) at flyweight
• Cynthia Calvillo (9-6-1, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) returns to the Octagon and faces Elise Reed (7-3, fighting out of Princeton, N.J.) at 115 pounds
• Tracy Cortez (10-1, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) faces Jasmine Jasudavicius (9-2, fighting out of Niagara, Ontario, Canada)in an exciting 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 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 T-Mobile Arena

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

About ESPN+  

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).      

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with an electrifying welterweight showdown as No. 10 ranked contender Vicente Luque takes on former UFC lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos. Also on the card, fan favorite Cub Swanson looks to deliver another exciting performance against Hakeem Dawodu.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: LUQUE vs. DOS ANJOS will take place Saturday, August 12 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The entire event will air on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ (English and Spanish) with the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT. The prelims will begin at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

The always exciting Luque (21-9-1, fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil) looks to secure the biggest win of his career with a signature performance. A well-rounded competitor who has finished 19 of his 21 victories, he has delighted fans with wins over Michael Chiesa, Tyron Woodley and Mike Perry. Luque now intends to defend his spot in the rankings by stopping Dos Anjos in emphatic fashion.

Former UFC lightweight champion Dos Anjos (32-14, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) plans to secure another memorable win in the 170-pound division. The record holder for the most fight time in UFC history with over eight hours spent in the Octagon, Dos Anjos has defeated some of the best to ever compete in MMA, including former UFC champions Robbie Lawler, Anthony Pettis and Benson Henderson. He now seeks to make another run up the welterweight ranks by taking out Luque.

A member of the UFC Hall of Fame’s Fight Wing for his epic battle with Dooho Choi, Swanson (28-13, fighting out of Palm Springs, Calif.) returns to action aiming to secure a record-breaking 10^th post-fight bonus at featherweight. A staple of the 145-pound division since 2011, he holds thrilling victories over Daniel Pineda, Darren Elkins and Kron Gracie. Swanson now seeks to start his 2023 campaign by becoming the first man to KO Dawodu.

Dawodu (13-3-1, fighting out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada) looks to steal the show and announce himself as the next contender to watch in the stacked featherweight division. A former Muay Thai champion, Dawodu has shown off his skills in victories over Michael Trizano, Zubaira Tukhugov and Yoshinori Horie. He now hopes to break into the Top 15 ranks and begin his run towards a title shot.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 13 ranked light heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree Jr. (12-5 1NC, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) aims for another signature KO against former heavyweight standout Chris Daukaus (12-6, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.)
• Lando Vannata (12-7-2, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) battles Mike Breeden (10-5, fighting out of Blue Springs, Mo.) in an exciting lightweight matchup
• Thrilling strawweights meet as Polyana Viana (13-5, fighting out of State of Para, Brazil) faces Iasmin Lucindo (14-5, fighting out of State of Bahia, Brazil)
• Heavyweights collide as Josh Parisian (15-6, fighting out of Howell, Mich.) returns against Martin Buday (12-1, fighting out of Nitra, Slovakia)
• Josh Fremd (10-4, fighting out of Westminster, Colo.) takes on Jamie Pickett (13-9, fighting out of Wilmington, N.C.) in a middleweight matchup
• The Ultimate Fighter season 30 flyweight winner Juliana Miller (4-2, fighting out of Lakeside, Calif.) seeks to spoil the UFC debut of Luana Santos (5-1, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil)
• AJ Dobson (6-2 1NC, fighting out of Columbus, Ohio) and Tafon Nchukwi (6-3, fighting out of Temple Hills, Md.) clash in a middleweight contest
• JP Buys (9-5, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) returns to bantamweight to face Marcus McGhee (7-1, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.)
• Featherweights Francis Marshall (7-1, fighting out of Freehold Township, N.J.) and Isaac Dulgarian (5-0, fighting out of Kansas City, Mo.) lock horns
• Jaqueline Amorim (6-1, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) intends to impress against Montserrat Conejo (10-2, fighting out of El Paso, Texas) at strawweight
• A gritty bantamweight matchup sees Da’Mon Blackshear (13-5-1, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) face off with Brady Hiestand (8-2, Spokane, Wash.)

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with a classic striker versus grappler matchup in the bantamweight division, as No. 3 ranked contender Holly Holmfaces off with No. 10 Mayra Bueno Silva.In the co-main event, middleweights look to steal the show as Albert Duraev locks horns with Junyong Park. 

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: HOLM vs. BUENO SILVA will take place Saturday, July 15 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The entire event will air on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ (English and Spanish) with the main card starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. The prelims will begin at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.

Former UFC bantamweight champion Holm (15-6, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) looks to build another win streak and earn her way back into the title conversation. Among the most credentialed strikers in UFC history, she holds dominant victories over Ronda Rousey, Irene Aldana and Raquel Pennington. Holm now has her sights set on defending her spot in the rankings by becoming the first person to stop Bueno Silva.

Bueno Silva (10-2-1, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) plans to earn the biggest victory of her career in her first UFC main event. An exciting submission specialist who isn’t afraid to mix it up, Bueno Silva has secured stoppages over Gillian Robertson, Lina Lansberg and Stephanie Egger. She now intends to keep her momentum going with a statement performance against Holm.

Duraev (16-4, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Grozny, Russia) returns to action determined to show he can compete with the top of the middleweight division. The winner of 11 of his last 12 bouts, he holds UFC victories over Roman Kopylov and Chidi Njokuani. Duraev now strives to snap Park’s hot streak and set himself up for a run up the rankings.

Always entertaining Park (16-5, fighting out of Seoul, South Korea) aims to earn the longest win streak of his UFC career with another signature finish. A well-rounded competitor, Park has impressed with wins over Eryk Anders, Marc-Andre Barriault and Denis Tiuliulin. He now looks to deliver another crowd-pleasing outing that will put the Top 15 on notice.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Walt Harris (13-10 1NC, fighting out of Birmingham, Ala.) returns to the Octagon to face Josh Parisian (15-6, fighting out of Howell, Mich.) at heavyweight
• A featherweight bout sees Norma Dumont (9-2, fighting out of Minas Gerais, Brazil) face Chelsea Chandler (5-1, fighting out of Stockton, Calif.)
• Ottman Azaitar (13-1, fighting out of Rabat, Morocco) aims for another finish when he battles Francisco Prado (11-1, fighting out of Santa Fe, Argentina) at lightweight
• Terrance McKinney (13-5, fighting out of Spokane, Wash.) seeks another highlight-reel finish when he locks horns with Nazim Sadykhov (8-1, fighting out of Brooklyn, N.Y.) in a lightweight tilt
• Exciting featherweights collide as Tucker Lutz (12-3, fighting out of Reisterstown, Md.) matches up with Melsik Baghdasaryan (7-2, fighting out of Glendale, Calif.)
• Strawweight action sees Viktoriia Dudakova (6-0, fighting out of Volgograd Oblast, Russia) face off with Istela Nunes (6-4 1NC, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
• Austin Lingo (9-2, fighting out of Mesquite, Texas) and Melquizael Costa (19-6, fighting out of Para, Brazil) look to return to the winner’s circle in a featherweight contest
• Evan Elder (7-2, fighting out of Hillsboro, Miss.) meets Genaro Valdez (10-2, fighting out of Baja California, Mexico) in a lightweight bout
• Tyson Nam (21-13-1, fighting out of Wahiawa, Hawaii) plans to spoil the UFC debut of undefeated Azat Maksum (16-0, fighting out of Almatinskaia Oblast, Kazakhstan) at flyweight
• Grappling specialist Alex Munoz (6-2, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) and Carl Deaton (17-6 2NC, fighting out of Mt. Pleasant, Mich.) clash at lightweight
• Ashlee Evans-Smith (6-5, fighting out of Santa Ana, Calif.) and Ailin Perez (7-2, fighting out of Entre Rios, Argentina) look to leave it all in the Octagon in a bantamweight bout

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+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).   

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – The 11^th Annual UFC International Fight Week^™ takes place from Monday, July 3, through Sunday, July 9, with numerous events taking place throughout Las Vegas, including in the Las Vegas Convention Center – South Hall, T-Mobile Arena, and Resorts World Las Vegas.

UFC International Fight Week is highlighted by the prestigious UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and its fully interactive, two-day fan experience, UFC X. The week-long celebration is anchored by the highly anticipated UFC^Ò 290: VOLKANOVSKI vs. RODRIGUEZ, presented by Modelo, which takes place on Saturday, July 8, at T-Mobile Arena. Tickets for UFC 290 are available via AXS.

On Thursday, July 6, UFC hosts the 2023 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Toyo Tires^Ò, at 7 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena. Hosted by Jon Anik, 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 $30.00 (not including fees), with all proceeds benefitting the UFC Foundation. Tickets are available via AXS. The ceremony will be streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS^Ò.

Spanning more than 200,000 square feet, UFC X, the organization’s fully immersive and easily accessible two-day fan experience, will be enhanced for UFC’s 30^th anniversary to include larger brand and partner activations, live stage programming, an esports tournament, expanded autograph sessions, and increased athlete participation – providing fans with unparalleled access to UFC champions and Hall of Famers, top-ranked contenders, and other UFC personalities.

UFC X takes place Friday, July 7 and Saturday, July 8, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on the second floor of the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, one of the premier meeting and conference venues in Las Vegas. 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 are available via AXS. UFC X is produced by global full-service cultural marketing agency 160over90.

Fans will have access to a mobile-friendly web-based platform that will enhance the UFC X consumer experience by delivering event-specific content such as autograph and meet & greet schedules, main stage programming, AR filters, access to sponsor offers, and a customizable UFC Journey digital scavenger hunt. The platform is being developed in collaboration with Digital Seat Media, a leader in mobile fan engagement solutions.

Fans who attend UFC X will also be able to purchase exclusive merchandise at the UFC Store, while also having the opportunity to participate in numerous activities with brand partners such as Modelo, Monster Energy, New Amsterdam Vodka, Cuervo, UFC Strike, Project Rock, Monaco, Air National Guard, KUDO, Culture Kings, UFC Gym, Panini, Howler Head, Twin Peaks, Dave and Busters and more! 

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, in partnership with UFC, hosts The Ultimates Invitational

amateur tournaments, on the first floor of the South Hall. This invitational will begin Thursday, July 6, and conclude Sunday, July 9, and features the following sports entities:

• International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (2023 American National Jiu-Jitsu Championship, July 6 – 8)
• USA Boxing (The Doc Doherty Classic; sanctioned by USA Boxing, July 6 – 9)

Fans who travel to Las Vegas from around the world for International Fight Week will also be able to enjoy ceremonial weigh-ins, press conferences and other activities of a traditional Fight Week, leading to the schedule’s culminating event, UFC^Ò 290: VOLKANOVSKI vs. RODRIGUEZ.

In addition, Resorts World Las Vegas, the 3,506-room luxury property and “Official Partner of UFC International Fight Week,” hosts three official parties during the week. On Saturday, July 8 the Official UFC 290 Viewing Party takes place at RedTail at 6 p.m., followed by the Official UFC 290 After Party at Zouk Nightclub beginning at 10 p.m. On Sunday, July 9, the Official UFC Pool Party takes place at AYU Dayclub beginning at 11 a.m.

For more information on all the week’s activities and events, please visit UFCFIGHTWEEK.COM.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Nashville with an intriguing bantamweight contenders’ bout that will see No. 4 ranked Cory Sandhagen take on undefeated No. 11 Umar Nurmagomedov. Also, former strawweight champion and No. 5 ranked contender Jessica Andrade plans to take out unbeaten No. 10 Tatiana Suarez.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: SANDHAGEN vs. NURMAGOMEDOV will take place at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday, Aug. 5. The main card airing on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ (English and Spanish) starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. The prelims will be available on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ beginning at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: SANDHAGEN vs. NURMAGOMEDOV tickets are set to go on sale to the public on Friday, June 23 at 10 a.m. CT and will be available through ticketmaster.com.Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, June 21 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, June 22 starting at 10 a.m. CT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Sandhagen (16-4, fighting out of Aurora, Colo.) plans to keep his momentum going by securing his third consecutive victory. A dynamic striker, he has secured highlight-reel KO wins over Frankie Edgar, Marlon Moraes and Iuri Alcantara. Sandhagen now intends to defend his spot in the rankings by handing Nurmagomedov his first professional loss.

Nurmagomedov (16-0, fighting out of Kizilyurt, Russia) looks to steal the show in his first UFC main event opportunity. A decorated Sambo fighter, he has secured memorable finishes against Raoni Barcelos, Brian Kelleher and Sergey Morozov. Nurmagomedov now has his sights set on cracking the bantamweight Top 5 with a statement performance.

Andrade (24-11, fighting out of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) vies to make another run towards UFC gold by stopping Suarez in emphatic fashion. A powerful striker and grappler, Andrade holds notable finishes over Rose Namajunas, Amanda Lemos and Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Andrade now plans to become the first fighter to defeat Suarez and remind the world she’s among the strawweight elite.

Suarez (10-0, fighting out of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) returns to the strawweight division following a dominant flyweight win against Montana De La Rosa in February. A decorated grappler, she has also delivered spectacular victories over Nina Nunes, Carla Esparza and Alexa Grasso. Suarez now looks to continue her ascent up the 115-pound ladder by stopping Andrade in impressive fashion.

Other bouts on the card include:

• Tanner Boser (20-10-1, fighting out of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) locks horns with Aleksa Camur (6-2, fighting out of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina) at light heavyweight
• Ignacio Bahamondes (14-4, fighting out of Chicago, Ill. by way of Santiago, Chile) squares off with Ludovit Klein (19-4-1, fighting out of Nove Zamky, Slovakia) at lightweight
• No. 15 ranked light heavyweight contender Dustin Jacoby (18-7-1, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.) squares off with rising Kennedy Nzechukwu (12-3, fighting out of Dallas, Texas)
• Exciting featherweights collide when Billy Quarantillo (17-5, fighting out of Tampa, Fla.) meets Damon Jackson (22-5-1 1NC, fighting out of Dallas, Texas)
• Tennessee’s own Ovince Saint Preux (26-17, fighting out of Knoxville, Tenn.) plans to steal the show against hard-hitting Ion Cutelaba (17-9-1 1NC, fighting out of Chisinau, Republic of Moldova) at light heavyweight
• No. 12 ranked flyweight contender Tagir Ulanbekov (14-2, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia) squares off with surging Jake Hadley (10-1, fighting out of Oldbury, Sandwell, England)
• Said Nurmagomedov (17-3, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia) faces Kyler Phillips (10-2, fighting out of Glendale, Ariz.) in an intriguing bantamweight tilt
• Ode’ Osbourne (12-5 1NC, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Milwaukee, Wisc.) looks to spoil the UFC debut of Assu Almabayev (17-2, fighting out of Almaty, Kazakhstan) in a flyweight bout
• Jeremiah Wells (12-2-1, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.) meets Carlston Harris (18-5, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil by way of Skeldon, Guyana) in a clash of welterweight prospects
• Sean Woodson (9-1-1, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) battles Steve Garcia (14-5, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) at featherweight

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

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts 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 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 Bridgestone Arena:

Serving as the home for numerous national and international events, Bridgestone Arena has the distinction of being one of the busiest venues in the United States since the doors first opened in 1996, hosting more than 27 million guests during that time. The NHL’s Nashville Predators have been the primary tenants of Bridgestone Arena since 1998 and boast one of the most unique game atmospheres in the NHL. The list of acts that have called the 2021 Pollstar Arena of the Decade nominee home is lengthy and includes the Country Music Association Awards, the Country Music Television Awards and the SEC Basketball Tournament through 2035. Bridgestone Arena has 15 consecutive and 18 overall nominations for the Pollstar Magazine Arena Year of the Award, winning the award in 2014, 2017 and 2023. To view a full Bridgestone Arena event schedule, visit BridgestoneArena.com.

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® makes its highly anticipated return to Boston with two compelling championship bouts. In the main event, UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling plans to silence No. 2 ranked contender Sean O’Malley. In the co-main event, UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili takes on

No. 4 Amanda Lemos.

UFC^® 292: STERLING vs. O’MALLEY will take place Saturday, Aug. 19 at TD Garden with the main card at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on ESPN+ PPV. The prelims will be seen on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT with the night’s action starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT with Early Prelims on ESPN+ (English and Spanish) and UFC Fight Pass.

UFC^® 292: STERLING vs. O’MALLEY tickets will go on sale Friday, June 16 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, June 14 at 10 a.m. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, June 15 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Sterling (23-3, fighting out of Uniondale, N.Y.) looks to make a statement and cement himself as the greatest bantamweight in UFC history. Sterling holds the record for the most consecutive title defenses in the 135-pound division, which he earned with wins over Petr Yan, TJ Dillashaw and Henry Cejudo. He now aims to leave no doubt with a shutout performance over O’Malley.

Rising star O’Malley (16-1 1NC, fighting out of Glendale, Ariz.) intends to make the most of his first title opportunity by landing another signature knockout. Among the most popular athletes in the UFC, he captivated fans with performances against Eddie Wineland, Thomas Almeida and Petr Yan. O’Malley now plans to snap Sterling’s streak and claim UFC gold in highlight-reel fashion.

Zhang (23-3, fighting out of Beijing, China) has her sights set on making her second reign as champion a dominant one. The first Chinese titleholder in UFC history, she cemented herself as the best in the world with victories over former champions Joanna Jedrzejczyk (twice), Carla Esparza and Jessica Andrade. Zhang now seeks to start her 2023 campaign with another bonus-winning finish.

Brazilian knockout artist Lemos (13-2-1, fighting out of Para, Brazil) strives to shock the world in the biggest opportunity of her MMA career. A member of the UFC roster since 2017, she owns wins over Marina Rodriguez, Michelle Waterson-Gomez and Angela Hill. Lemos now looks to add her name to the historic list of Brazilian champions with her third finish in a row.

Other bouts on the card include:

• No. 8 ranked UFC welterweight contender Geoff Neal (15-5, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) strives to derail the momentum of undefeated No. 13 Ian Machado Garry (12-0, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland)
• Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt (13-5, fighting out of Uhrichsville, Ohio) returns against Mario Bautista (12-2, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.)
• Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman (15-6, fighting out of Fort Mill, S.C. by way of Baldwin, N.Y.) begins his long-awaited comeback against fellow veteran Brad Tavares (19-9, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.)
• Middleweight grapplers collide as Andre Petroski (9-2, fighting out of Philadelphia, Pa.) faces Gerald Meerschaert (35-16, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.)
• An intriguing women’s flyweight bout sees No. 13 ranked Andrea Lee (13-7, fighting out of Shreveport, La.) battle Natalia Silva (15-5-1, fighting out of Pingo D’Agua, Minas Gerais, Brazil)
• Gregory Rodrigues (13-5, fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Fla. by way of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) meets Denis Tiuliulin (11-7, fighting out of Moscow, Russia) at middleweight
• Women’s flyweight standout Karine Silva (16-4, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil) looks to deliver another impressive performance in a matchup with Maryna Moroz (11-4, fighting out of Volnogorsk, Ukraine)

Media members wishing to apply for UFC^® 292: STERLING vs. O’MALLEYcredentials may sign up here.

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts 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 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 TD Garden

TD Garden, owned and operated by Delaware North, first opened its doors to the public on September 30, 1995. In the 25+ years since, the venue has generated more than $365 million in direct economic impact to the Greater Boston region from its major national events alone, not including its high-profile Bruins and Celtics tenants. The arena has played host to countless marquee events, including the Democratic National Convention, NHL All-Star Game, NCAA Frozen Fours, NCAA Women’s Final Four, U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Trials, U.S. Figure Skating Championships, and ISU World Figure Skating Championships among others.

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to the APEX with a high-stakes match in the middleweight division, as No. 7 ranked contender Sean Strickland takes on Abus Magomedov. In addition, we will see No. 12 lightweight Damir Ismagulov and No. 15 Grant Dawson square off in a pivotal 155-pound clash.

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

Strickland (26-5, fighting out of Corona, Calif.) steps into his fifth UFC main event as he looks to reinsert his name into the division’s Top 5 with a strong outing. The Octagon veteran holds victories over top contenders Nassourdine Imavov, Jack Hermansson, and Uriah Hall. Strickland now sets out with the intention of halting rising star Magomedov.

Magomedov (25-4-1, fighting out of Dusseldorf, Germany) aims on securing the biggest win of his career by defeating a Top 10 ranked opponent. Dangerous in all facets of MMA, Magomedov delivered a 20-second knockout of Dustin Stoltzfus in his UFC debut. He now looks to deliver a statement victory in his first UFC main event.

Top-ranked contender Ismagulov (24-2, fighting out of Orenburg, Russia by way of Almaty, Kazakhstan) intends on securing a strong win and position himself for a big second half of 2023. Ismagulov’s elite skills have led him to victories against the likes of Guram Kutateladze, Rafael Alves, and Thiago Moisés thus far, and he plans on sending a message to the division by stopping Dawson in impressive fashion.

Dawson (19-1-1, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) returns to action looking to secure his first victory of the year. A versatile competitor, he has delivered highlight reel finishes against formidable opponents such as Mark Madsen, Jared Gordon, and Leonardo Santos. Dawson now looks to display a show stealing performance against Ismagulov.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• At flyweight Ariane Lipski (15-8, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil) steps into the Octagon with Melissa Gatto (8-1-2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
• Kevin Lee (19-7, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Detroit, Mich.) makes his return and meets Rinat Fakhretdinov (20-1, fighting out of Saransk, Russia) in a thrilling welterweight bout
• Max Griffin (19-9, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) looks for back-to-back wins as he faces undefeated Dana White’s Contender Series signee Michael Morales (14-0, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico)
• An exciting lightweight matchup pitsIsmael Bonfim (19-3, fighting out of Brasília, Brazil) against Benoît Saint Denis (10-1, 1 NC, fighting out of Paris, France)
• Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus Jordan Leavitt (11-2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) squares off with Elves Brener (14-3, fighting out of São Paulo, Brazil) at lightweight
• At flyweight,Ivana Petrovic (6-0, fighting out of Tonsberg, Norway) looks to keep her perfect record intact as she faces veteran Luana Carolina (8-4, fighting out of São Paulo, Brazil)
• Hard-hitting middleweights meet as Abdul Razak Alhassan (12-5, fighting out of Denver, Colo. by way of Accra, Ghana) takes on undefeated Brunno Ferreira (10-0, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil)
• No. 6 ranked bantamweight Yana Santos (14-7, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Saint Petersburg, Russia) and No. 8 Macy Chiasson (8-3, fighting out of Dallas, Texas by way of New Orleans, Loui.) meet at bantamweight
• Heavyweights Alexandr Romanov (16-2, fighting out of Comrat City, Republic of Moldova) and Blagoy Ivanov (19-5, fighting out of Sofia, Bulgaria) 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 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+  

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).      

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® makes its highly anticipated return to Salt Lake City, Utah on Sat., July 29 with a Fight of the Year candidate that will see No. 2 ranked lightweight contender Dustin Poirier run it back with No. 3 Justin Gaethje for the vacant BMF title. The co-main event will see former UFC light heavyweight champion and current No. 3 ranked contender Jan Blachowicz look to spoil the 205-pound debut of former middleweight titleholder Alex Pereira.

The event is the result of a partnership with Utah Sports Commission and Smith Entertainment Group.

“I’m excited to return to Salt Lake City, which has one of the nicest arenas in the world,” UFC President Dana White said. “The fan response last year was incredible and this time we’re bringing one of the most anticipated cards of the year with two of the baddest fighters in the world for the BMF title. I want to thank the Utah Sports Commission and Smith Entertainment Group for their continued support. UFC 291 will be one of the biggest events of the year.”

“Last year’s epic UFC 278 Pay-Per-View event brought huge economic impact and tremendous global media exposure to Utah: The State of Sport,” said Jeff Robbins, president and CEO of the Utah Sports Commission. “With that success we are excited to partner again with the UFC, Smith Entertainment Group and welcome some of the top MMA fighters in the world as we play host to UFC 291: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to have UFC back to Salt Lake City. UFC 291 will be one of the most anticipated sporting events of 2023, and we’re all in on hosting it at the Delta Center,” said Ryan Smith, chairman of Smith Entertainment Group. “Utah is a premier sports and entertainment destination, and SEG is committed to bringing world-class events to the state and providing exceptional experiences to fans, talent, and organizations while they are here. We’re thrilled about our continued partnership with UFC and Utah Sports Commission. We look forward to hosting another successful fight night.”

UFC^® 291: POIRIER vs. GAETHJE 2 will take place at Delta Center with the main card at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT exclusively on ESPN+ PPV. The prelims will be available on ABC, ESPN ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (English and Spanish), 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^® 291: POIRIER vs. GAETHJE 2 tickets are set to go on sale to the public on Friday, June 2 at 10 a.m. MT and will be available through ticketmaster.com.Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, May 31 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, June 1 starting at 10 a.m. MT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

No. 13 men’s pound-for-pound fighter Poirier (29-7 1NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Lafayette, La.) is coming off his thrilling submission win over Michael Chandler last year. A dynamic striker and grappler, the former interim lightweight champion also holds spectacular victories against Conor McGregor (twice), Max Holloway (twice) and Eddie Alvarez. Poirier now looks to stop Gaethje once again and take home the BMF belt.

Former interim lightweight champion Gaethje (25-4, fighting out of Denver, Colo. by way of Safford, Ariz.) has long established himself among the most exciting fighters in MMA. A heavy-handed striker and wrestler, he has earned memorable wins over Michael Chandler, Donald Cerrone and Rafael Fiziev. Gaethje now plans to even the score with Poirier by delivering another highlight-reel KO.

Blachowicz (29-9-1, fighting out of Warsaw, Poland) intends to take out another former champion in impressive fashion. Known for his “legendary Polish power,” he holds notable victories against Israel Adesanya, Luke Rockhold and Dominick Reyes. Blachowicz now hopes for a show-stopping performance to stake his claim for a title shot.

Pereira (7-2, fighting out of Danbury, Conn. by way of Sao Paulo, Brazil) looks to turn heads at light heavyweight by stopping one of the division’s most decorated athletes. A former kickboxing standout, he holds thrilling KO wins over Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland and Andreas Michailidis. Pereira now intends to make a statement against Blachowicz to enter the light heavyweight Top 5.

Other bouts on the card include:

• Fan favorites collide when Tony Ferguson (26-8, fighting out of Orange County, Calif.) battles Bobby Green (29-14-1 1NC, fighting out of Fontana, Calif.) in a lightweight bout guaranteed to deliver fireworks
• Former middleweight title challenger and No. 5 ranked contender Paulo Costa (14-2, fighting out of Contagem, MG, Brazil) returns to Salt Lake City to face surging Ikram Aliskerov (14-1, fighting out of Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia)
• No. 7 ranked welterweight contender Stephen Thompson (17-6-1, fighting out of Simpsonville, S.C.) faces No. 15 Michel Pereira (28-11 2NC, fighting out of Tucuma, Para, Brazil) in a battle of exciting strikers
• No. 11 ranked heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis (26-11 1NC, fighting out of Houston, Texas) aims to take back the UFC knockout record all for himself when he meets Marcos Rogerio de Lima (21-9-1, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil)
• No. 12 ranked welterweight contender Michael Chiesa (18-6, fighting out of Spokane Valley, Wash.) locks horns with Kevin Holland (24-9 1NC, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas) in an intriguing matchup
• Matthew Semelsberger (11-5, fighting out of Frederick, Md.) squares off with Yohan Lainesse (9-2, fighting out of St-Bruno, Quebec, Canada) in an all-action welterweight bout
• Roman Kopylov (10-2, fighting out of Bachatsky, Kemerovo, Russia) meets Claudio Ribeiro (11-3, fighting out of Jundiaí, São Paulo, Brazil) at middleweight
• Trevin Giles (16-4, fighting out of Houston, Texas) battles undefeated Gabriel Bonfim (14-0, fighting out of Brasília, Brazil) in a welterweight tilt
• CJ Vergara (11-4-1, fighting out of San Antonio, Texas) takes on Vinicius Salvador (14-5, fighting out of Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil) at flyweight
• Joanne Wood (16-8, fighting out of Glasgow, Scotland) faces Priscila Cachoeira (12-4, fighting out of Bangu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in a flyweight bout

Media members wishing to apply for UFC^® 291: POIRIER vs. GAETHJE 2 credentials may sign up here.

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts 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 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 Utah Sports Commission

The Utah Sports Commission was created to be a catalyst for Utah in its Olympic legacy efforts and to help enhance Utah’s economy, image, and quality of life through the attraction, promotion, and development of national and international sports. Since the 2002 Olympics and Paralympics, the Utah Sports Commission has attracted over 1000 major events to the state. The Sports Commission works closely with communities, sports entities, and organizations to provide event services ranging from the bid process, on-site logistics, volunteer coordination, sponsorships and promotional opportunities, and other related services. It is a not-for-profit 501(c)6 business league and Utah Sports Commission Foundation, a not-for-profit 501c3 charitable organization, is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees consisting of statewide sports, business, community, and government leaders. For more information, visit www.utahsportscommission.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

About Smith Entertainment Group

Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) is a sports, technology, and entertainment investment group focused primarily on the state of Utah. SEG’s portfolio includes the Utah Jazz (NBA), Real Salt Lake (MLS), the Delta Center, America First Field, the Salt Lake City Stars (NBA G League), Utah Jazz Gaming (NBA 2K League), Real Monarchs (MLS NEXT Pro), the Zone Sports Radio Network, the Utah Royals (NWSL – coming in 2024), and other Utah-centric business ventures.

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with a marquee matchup in the middleweight division, as No. 3 ranked contender Marvin Vettori collides with No. 4 Jared Cannonier. Also on the card, No. 8 ranked lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan battles Brazilian finisher Joaquim Silva.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: VETTORI vs. CANNONIER will take place Saturday, June 17 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ (English and Spanish) starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. The prelims will be available on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ beginning at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.

Vettori (19-6-1, fighting out of Mezzocorona, Italy) looks to build another win streak and earn his way back into the title conversation. Among the toughest matchups at middleweight, he holds victories over Paulo Costa, Roman Dolidze and Jack Hermansson. Vettori now aims to defend his spot in the rankings by becoming the first middleweight to stop Cannonier.

Former heavyweight and light heavyweight Cannonier (16-6, fighting out of Anchorage, Alaska) plans to start his 2023 campaign with another statement performance. Known for his knockout power, Cannonier climbed to the Top 5 with notable finishes of Anderson Silva, Derek Brunson and Jack Hermansson. He now seeks to cement his place in line for the belt by taking out Vettori in dominant fashion.

Tsarukyan (19-3, fighting out of Yerevan, Armenia) returns to action determined to prove why he is considered a top contender in the lightweight division. After bursting onto the UFC scene with an impressive performance against Islam Makhachev, Tsarukyan earned wins over Damir Ismagulov, Joel Alvarez and Christos Giagos. He now intends to earn a quick victory over Silva and turn his attention to the top of the division.

Silva (12-4, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil) has his sights set on making the most of the biggest opportunity of his MMA career. A well-rounded finisher, he has delivered highlight reel stoppages against Jared Gordon, Jesse Ronson and Andrew Holbrook. Silva now looks to shock the world and break into the rankings for the first time.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• An exciting middleweight bout sees Armen Petrosyan (8-2, fighting out of Yerevan, Armenia) match up against Christian Leroy Duncan (8-0, fighting out of Gloucester, England)
• Raoni Barcelos (17-4, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) meets Miles Johns (13-2, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) in an intriguing bantamweight bout
• Manuel Torres (13-2, fighting out of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico) battles Nikolas Motta (13-4, fighting out of Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil ) at lightweight
• Pat Sabatini (17-4, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.) looks to secure another signature submission against Lucas Almeida (14-1, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazl) at featherweight
• The Ultimate Fighter season 30 finalist Zac Pauga (7-1, fighting out of Lakewood, Colo.) and Modestas Bukauskas (14-5, fighting out of London, England by way of Klaipeda, Lithuania) compete in a light heavyweight tilt
• Zhalgas Zhumagulov (14-8, fighting out of Aktobe, Kazakhstan) aims to spoil the UFC debut of Felipe Bunes (13-6, fighting out of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil)
• Flyweights Jimmy Flick (16-6, fighting out of Tulsa, Ok.) and Alessandro Costa (12-3, fighting out of Puebla, Mexico) plan to steal the show
• Welterweight strikers collide as Nicolas Dalby (21-4-1 2NC, fighting out of Copenhagen, Denmark) faces Muslim Salikhov (19-3, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia)
• Carlos Hernandez (8-2, fighting out of Cicero, Ill.) locks horns with Denys Bondar (16-4, fighting out of Kharkiv, Ukraine) at flyweight
• A tough bantamweight contest sees Dan Argueta (9-1, fighting out of Orland Park, Ill.) take on Ronnie Lawrence (8-2, fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
• Kyung Ho Kang (18-9 1NC, fighting out of Busan, South Korea) and Cristian Quinonez (18-3, fighting out of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico) meet at bantamweight
• Tereza Bleda (6-1, fighting out of Prague, Czech Republic) and Gabriella Fernandes (8-2, fighting out of Natal, Brazil) vie for their first UFC wins at flyweight

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+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).   

About ESPN

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

Sydney, Australia – UFC is set to return to Sydney for the first time since 2017 after securing a four-year, multi-event agreement with the New South Wales (NSW) Government.

The landmark Australian deal will bring the world’s greatest MMA athletes to the Harbour City for three massive UFC Pay Per View events between 2023 and 2027, the first of which will be held this year on September 10, when UFC 293 takes centre stage.

UFC President Dana White said of the deal: “Australians are some of the most passionate fight fans in the world and we know these Sydney events are going to be massive.

“Sydney was the first Australian city to host a UFC Pay Per View, and we are going to bring incredible events every time we come back over the next four years.”

UFC Vice President Australia & New Zealand Peter Kloczko was joined today by NSW Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Sport Steve Kamper to announce the significant partnership.

“UFC is thrilled to be partnering with the NSW Government to bring the world-famous Octagon back to Australia’s iconic Harbour City, and it all starts with UFC 293 on September 10,” said Kloczko.

“Our events drive strong economic outcomes through industry-high visitation and marketing value by showcasing host cities like Sydney to millions of engaged fans worldwide. This commitment will also provide opportunity for our talented, world-class local athletes of New South Wales to finally compete on home turf, having proudly represented Australia across the globe.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns said: “UFC is a massive sport. This is a big win for UFC fans and the state’s economy.

“Thousands of people will fly into our state to see the biggest UFC events in Sydney in more than a decade.

“Some of the best Aussie UFC fighters were born and bred right here in NSW.

“It’s about time that we have a major UFC event back in Sydney, so local fans can watch our home-grown talent.

“We are delivering on another election commitment – one that is a major coup for NSW.”

Australia has produced some of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighters including current UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski and former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker.

UFC’s popularity has been soaring globally since Sydney hosted its first event, UFC 110: NOGUEIRA VS. VELASQUEZ, at Qudos Bank Arena (then Acer Arena) in 2010.

There are now more than 700 million UFC fans across the globe, including a combined 233 million followers across UFC’s social media channels. In Australia and New Zealand combined, UFC counts more than 4.3 million fans and 6 million social media followers.

Since 2010, UFC has presented 16 live events in Australia, including sold-out shows at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, Perth Arena, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Entertainment Centre and Gold Coast Convention Centre. These events have had a combined attendance of over 280,000 fans and millions more watching on Pay Per View and broadcast television globally.

Further event information, including registration for pre-sale tickets for UFC 293 will be made available to fans at ufc.com/Sydney.

Fans intending to travel to Sydney for UFC 293 can secure their place at the event by purchasing a travel package, available now via Sportsnet Holidays at sportsnetholidays.com/ufc-293-sydney.

UFC 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 more information, visit ufcvip.com to view package details.

The three events are supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.

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

Las Vegas – UFC International Fight WeekÔ returns to Las Vegas and will feature a blockbuster world championship doubleheader, capped off by a title unification bout that will see featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski battle interim titleholder Yair Rodriguez. Also, two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno defends his belt against long-time rival Alexandre Pantoja.

UFC^® 290: VOLKANOVSKI vs. RODRIGUEZ takes place Saturday, July 8 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 ABC and 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^® 290: VOLKANOVSKI vs. RODRIGUEZ tickets will go on sale Friday, May 19 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, May 17 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, May 18 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

No. 2 men’s pound-for-pound fighter Volkanovski (25-2, fighting out of Windang, NSW, Australia) returns to featherweight looking to secure his fifth successful title defense. A well-rounded grappler and striker, he holds spectacular wins against Max Holloway (thrice), Brian Ortega and Jose Aldo. Volkanovski now plans to prove he is the undisputed champion by stopping Rodriguez.

Rodriguez (16-3 1NC, fighting out of Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico) is coming off his incredible submission win over Josh Emmett in February to capture the interim title. A dynamic finisher, he also holds memorable stoppage victories over Brian Ortega, Chan Sung Jung and BJ Penn. Rodriguez now plans to dethrone Volkanovski and begin his reign atop the featherweight ladder.

Moreno (21-6-2, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico) plans to defend his newly won title by securing his first career victory over Pantoja. Throughout his UFC run, he has secured notable victories against Deiveson Figueiredo (twice), Kai Kara-France (twice) and Brandon Royval. Moreno now plans to stop Pantoja in impressive fashion to retain his championship.

Pantoja (25-5, fighting out of Arraial Do Cabo, Brazil) hopes to repeat his past success against Moreno and achieve his dream of UFC gold. In addition to his professional and exhibition wins against the current champion, he also holds victories over Alex Perez, Brandon Royval and Matt Schnell. Pantoja now looks to put Moreno away to earn his first world championship.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Former UFC middleweight champion and current No. 2 ranked contender Robert Whittaker (25-6, fighting out of Sydney, Australia) takes on No. 6 Dricus Du Plessis (19-2, fighting out of Pretoria, South Africa) in a bout with title implications
• Exciting lightweight contenders collide when No. 10 ranked Jalin Turner (14-6, fighting out of Fontana, Calif.) meets No. 11 Dan Hooker (22-12, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand)
• Dana White’s Contender Series signee Bo Nickal (4-0, fighting out of State College, Penn.) looks to remain undefeated when he faces The Ultimate Fighter veteran Tresean Gore (5-2, fighting out of Lawrenceville, Ga.) at middleweight
• Former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler (29-16 1NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) faces Niko Price (15-6 2NC, fighting out of Cape Coral, Fla.) in a bout guaranteed to deliver fireworks
• No. 9 ranked welterweight contender Sean Brady (15-1, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.) looks to halt the momentum of No. 13 Jack Della Maddalena (14-2, fighting out of Perth, Western Australia)
• Unbeaten Yazmin Jauregui (10-0, fighting out of Guadalajara, Mexico) takes on Denise Gomes (7-2, fighting out of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in an intriguing strawweight tilt
• No. 13 ranked light heavyweight contender Jimmy Crute (12-3-1, fighting out of Bendigo, Victoria, Australia) rematches Alonzo Menifield (13-3-1, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) following their majority draw in February
• Shannon Ross (13-7, fighting out of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia) locks horns with Jesus Aguilar (8-2, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico) at flyweight
• Vitor Petrino (8-0, fighting out of Santa Luzia, Minas Gerais, Brazil) looks to remain undefeated when he meets Marcin Prachnio (16-6, fighting out of Warsaw, Poland) in a light heavyweight bout
• Kamuela Kirk (12-5, fighting out of Peoria, Ariz.) squares off with Esteban Ribovics (11-1, fighting out of Cordoba, Argentina) at lightweight
• Christian Rodriguez (9-1, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) takes on unbeaten Cameron Saaiman (8-0, fighting out of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa) in a bantamweight tilt

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

###

About UFC^®

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

About T-Mobile Arena

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

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® makes its highly anticipated return to Salt Lake City, Utah with a Fight of the Year candidate that will see No. 2 ranked lightweight contender Dustin Poirier run it back with No. 3 Justin Gaethje for the vacant BMF title. The co-main event will see former UFC light heavyweight champion and current No. 3 ranked contender Jan Blachowicz look to spoil the 205-pound debut of former middleweight titleholder Alex Pereira.

UFC^® 291: PORIER vs. GAETHJE 2 will take place Sat., July 29 at Delta Center (currently known as Vivint Arena) and will be available live on ESPN+ PPV. Tickets are set to go on sale to the public on Friday, June 2 and will be available through ticketmaster.com.The event is the result of a partnership with Smith Entertainment Group, the parent company of the Utah Jazz and the Delta Center, among other Utah-centric business entities, and Utah Sports Commission.

No. 13 men’s pound-for-pound fighter Poirier (29-7 1NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Lafayette, La.) is coming off his thrilling submission win over Michael Chandler last year. A dynamic striker and grappler, he also holds spectacular victories against Conor McGregor (twice), Max Holloway (twice) and Eddie Alvarez. Poirier now looks to stop Gaethje once again and take home the BMF belt.

Former interim lightweight champion Gaethje (25-4, fighting out of Denver, Colo. by way of Safford, Ariz.) has long established himself among the most exciting fighters in MMA. A heavy-handed striker and wrestler, he has earned memorable wins over Michael Chandler, Donald Cerrone and Rafael Fiziev. Gaethje now plans to even the score with Poirier by delivering another highlight-reel KO.

Blachowicz (29-9-1, fighting out of Warsaw, Poland) intends take out another former champion in impressive fashion. Known for his “legendary Polish power,” he holds notable victories against Israel Adesanya, Luke Rockhold and Dominick Reyes. Blachowicz now hopes for a show-stopping performance to stake his claim for a title shot.

Pereira (7-2, fighting out of Danbury, Conn. by way of Sao Paulo, Brazil) looks to turn heads at light heavyweight by stopping one of the division’s most decorated athletes. A former kickboxing standout, he holds thrilling KO wins over Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland and Andreas Michailidis. Pereira now intends to make a statement against Blachowicz to enter the light heavyweight Top 5.

Other bouts on the card include:

• Fan favorites collide when Tony Ferguson (26-8, fighting out of Orange County, Calif.) battles Bobby Green (29-14-1 1NC, fighting out of Fontana, Calif.) in lightweight bout guaranteed to deliver fireworks
• No. 12 ranked welterweight contender Michael Chiesa (18-6, fighting out of Spokane Valley, Wash.) locks horns with Kevin Holland (24-9 1NC, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas) in an intriguing matchup
• Former middleweight title challenger and No. 5 ranked contender Paulo Costa (14-2, fighting out of Contagem, MG, Brazil) returns to Salt Lake City to face surging Ikram Aliskerov (14-1, fighting out of Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia)
• No. 7 ranked welterweight contender Stephen Thompson (17-6-1, fighting out of Simpsonville, S.C.) faces No. 15 Michel Pereira (28-11 2NC, fighting out of Tucuma, Para, Brazil) in a battle of exciting strikers
• No. 11 ranked heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis (26-11 1NC, fighting out of Houston, Texas) aims to take back the UFC knockout record when he meets Marcos Rogerio de Lima (21-9-1, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil)

Media members wishing to apply for UFC^® 291: PORIER vs. GAETHJE 2 credentials may sign up here.

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts 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 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 Smith Entertainment Group

Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) is a sports, technology, and entertainment investment group focused primarily on the state of Utah. SEG’s portfolio includes the Utah Jazz (NBA), Real Salt Lake (MLS), Delta Center, America First Credit Union Field, the Salt Lake City Stars (NBA G League), Utah Jazz Gaming (NBA 2K League), Real Monarchs (MLS NEXT Pro), the Zone Sports Radio Network, the Utah Royals (NWSL – coming in 2024), and other Utah-centric business ventures

About Utah Sports Commission

The Utah Sports Commission was created to be a catalyst for Utah in its Olympic legacy efforts and to help enhance Utah’s economy, image, and quality of life through the attraction, promotion, and development of national and international sports. Since the 2002 Olympics and Paralympics, the Utah Sports Commission has attracted nearly 900 major events to the state. The Sports Commission works closely with communities, sports entities, and organizations to provide event services ranging from the bid process, on-site logistics, volunteer coordination, sponsorships and promotional opportunities, and other related services. It is a not-for-profit 501(c)6 business league and Utah Sports Commission Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization, is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees consisting of statewide sports, business, community, and government leaders. For more information, visit www.utahsportscommission.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with a high stakes matchup in the flyweight division, as No. 3 ranked contender Kai Kara-France faces rising No. 7 Amir Albazi. Also on the card, No. 10 ranked bantamweight contender Mayra Bueno Silva battles women’s MMA pioneer and No. 11 ranked Miesha Tate.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: KARA-FRANCE vs. ALBAZI will take place Saturday, June 3 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ (English and Spanish) starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, with the prelims exclusively ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT.

Kara-France (24-10 1 NC, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand) looks to cement himself as a title threat in the flyweight division in his UFC main event debut. A City Kickboxing product, Kara-France earned a shot at the 125-pound strap following victories over Cody Garbrandt, Rogerio Bontorin and Askar Askarov. He now intends to defend his spot in the rankings against Albazi in his first Octagon appearance of 2023.

Surging prospect Albazi (16-1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Baghdad, Iraq) aims to make the most of the biggest opportunity of his MMA career by taking out Kara-France. Undefeated in the UFC, he has secured victories over Malcolm Gordon, Francisco Figueiredo and Alessando Costa. Albazi now plans to leave no doubt that he can compete with the best in the world and vault to the top of the flyweight ranks.

Silva (10-2-1, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) makes her second Octagon appearance of 2023 seeking another post-fight bonus. A submission specialist, Silva owns notable finishes over Lina Lansberg, Stephanie Egger and Mara Romero Borella. She now looks to add Tate’s legendary name to her resume and make a run towards the top of the division.

Former UFC bantamweight champion Tate (19-9, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) returns to the 135-pound division intending to make a statement. Among the top names in MMA, she holds wins over Holly Holm, Sara McMann and Liz Carmouche. Tate now is determined to get her hand raised once again by handing Silva her first loss in two years.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• An exciting featherweight bout sees No. 15 ranked contender Alex Caceres (20-13 1 NC, fighting out of Miami, Fla.) match up against Daniel Pineda (28-14 3 NC, fighting out of Houston, Texas)
• Lightweight veteran Jim Miller (35-17 1 NC, fighting out of Sparta, N.J.) returns against Ludovit Klein (19-4-1, fighting out of Nove Zamky, Slovakia)
• Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski (34-21 2 NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) faces Don’Tale Mayes (9-5 1 NC, fighting out of Louisville, Ky.)
• No. 11 ranked flyweight Tim Elliott (19-12-1, fighting out of Lee’s Summit, Mo.) defends his spot in the rankings against Victor Altamirano (12-2, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas by way of Mexico City, Mexico)
• Elizeu Zaleski Dos Santos (23-7, fighting out of Parana, Brazil) and Abubakar Nurmagomedov (17-3-1, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia) clash at welterweight
• Philipe Lins (16-5, fighting out of Coconut Creek, FL by way of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil) and Maxim Grishin (32-9-2, fighting out of Moscow, Russia) collide in a light heavyweight bout
• Strawweight action sees Elise Reed (6-3, fighting out of Princeton, N.J.) lock horns with Jinh Yu Frey (11-8, fighting out of Arlington, Texas)
• Jamie Mullarkey (16-5, fighting out of Holgate, NSW, Australia) and Guram Kutateladze (12-3, fighting out of Stockholm, Sweden by way of Tbilisi, Georgia) meet in an early Fight of the Night contender at lightweight
• Bantamweights Da’Mon Blackshear (12-5-1, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) and Luan Lacerda (12-2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) look to steal the show
• Dana White’s Contender Series signee Karine Silva (15-4, fighting out of Curitiba, Parana, Brazil) looks to spoil the UFC debut of Ketlen Souza (13-3, fighting out of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil) at flyweight
• John Castaneda (19-6, fighting out of Minneapolis, Minn.) and Mateus Mendonca (10-1, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) vie to return to the winner’s circle in a bantamweight tilt

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+

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

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Florida with another action-packed card at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, headlined by a thrilling featherweight contenders’ bout between No. 5 ranked Josh Emmett and surging No. 9 Ilia Topuria.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: EMMETT vs. TOPURIA takes place Saturday, June 24 in Jacksonville, with the entire card available on ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes. The main card will also air on ABC and the Prelims on ESPN.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: EMMETT vs. TOPURIA tickets will go on sale Friday, May 5 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, May 3 at 10 a.m. ET via www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, May 4 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^®: EMMETT vs. TOPURIA fight week credentials may sign up here.

“We are excited to welcome Dana White and UFC back to Jacksonville. This is always a major event for our city,” said Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry.  

“Jacksonville was proud to host the first major indoor sporting event during the coronavirus pandemic. We look forward to welcoming fans from around the world to our downtown and demonstrating that we are a premier destination for live sports and entertainment.”

During the pandemic, Jacksonville hosted three consecutive empty venue shows at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. UFC returned in 2021 and 2022 for sold out fights. In 2021, UFC 261 earned an arena-record $3.3 million in ticket revenue and generated $17.6 million in economic impact for the area. 

Top ranked contender Emmett (18-3, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) embarks on his journey back to title contention. The California-based Octagon veteran has secured impressive wins against Calvin Kattar, Dan Ige, and Shane Burgos. Emmett now looks to add a rising contender in Topuria to his resume with a statement performance.

Topuria (13-0, fighting out of Alicante, Spain) intends to make the most of his first UFC main event by defeating a former title challenger in Emmett. A versatile finisher and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, Topuria has claimed victories over Bryce Mitchell, Jai Herbert, and Ryan Hall. The Georgian-Spanish fighter sets out to keep his perfect record intact and find his way into the Top 5.

Current official bouts on the card include:

• Undefeated prospect Tatsuro Taira (13-0, fighting out of Okinawa, Japan) takes on Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus Kleidison Rodrigues (8-2, fighting out of Laranjal do Jari, Brazil) in a stylistic thriller at flyweight
• Exciting middleweights Gregory Rodrigues (13-5, fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Fla. by way of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Denis Tiuliulin (11-7, fighting out of Moscow, Russia) clash
• Dana White’s Contender Series signees Punahele Soriano (9-3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) and Sedriques Dumas (7-1, fighting out of Pensacola, Fla.) lock horns in an intriguing middleweight tilt
• Dana White’s Contender Series alumni Mateusz Rebecki (17-1, fighting out of Szczecin, Poland) goes toe-to-toe with Loik Radzhabov (17-4-1, fighting out of Dushanbe, Tajikistan) at lightweight
• Strawweights aim to steal the show as Tabatha Ricci (8-1, fighting out of Birigui, Sao Paulo, Brazil) takes on Gillian Robertson (12-7, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Niagara Falls, Canada)
• Fireworks are set for the heavyweight division as Dana White’s Contender Series signee Austen Lane (12-3, fighting out of Jacksonville, Fla.) makes his Octagon debut against knockout artist Justin Tafa (6-3, fighting out of Brisbane, Australia)
• Amanda Ribas (12-3, fighting out of Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil) takes on Maycee Barber (12-2, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) 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 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 VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena

VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena is North Florida’s premier showplace of such entertainment greats as Celine Dion, Jimmy Buffett, Luke Bryan, Elton John and is home to the Jacksonville Icemen and the Arena Bowl Champions Jacksonville Sharks. VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena is managed by ASM Global, the world’s leading producer of entertainment experiences. It is the global leader in venue and event strategy and management – delivering locally tailored solutions and cutting-edge technologies to achieve maximum results for venue owners. The company’s elite venue network spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 325 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention, and exhibition centers, and performing arts venues.

About ESPN+

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

About ESPN

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

UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell is out of his UFC 288 fight against Movsar Evloev this Saturday night in Newark, New Jersey.

The injury is undisclosed at this time.

Vancouver – UFC^®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts promotion, confirmed today its return to Canada for the first time in almost four years when it hosts UFC^® 289: NUNES vs. PEÑA 3 at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena on Saturday, June 10.

The event will be headlined by a highly anticipated rubber match that will see women’s featherweight and bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes defend her 135-pound belt against former titleholder and No. 1 contender Julianna Peña. Stay tuned for future bout announcements soon.

“I’m so pumped to return to Canada,” UFC President Dana White said. “Some of the greatest events in my life were up in Canada. The fans are awesome and I love every city up in Canada. I can’t wait to deliver an awesome Pay-Per-View in Vancouver. We’re back!”

UFC^® 289: NUNES vs. PEÑA 3 tickets will go on sale Friday, April 21 at 12 p.m. PT and are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.ca. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, April 20 starting at 12 p.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

UFC^® 289: NUNES vs. PEÑA 3 main card will air live on Pay-Per-View starting at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Televised prelims will broadcast at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on TSN and RDS channels, with the night’s early prelims kicking off exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

Media members wishing to apply for fight week credentials may sign up here.

The greatest female fighter of all time, Nunes (22-5, fighting out of Coral Springs, Fla. by way of Bahia, Brazil) looks to set a new record for combined UFC women’s title defenses. A future UFC Hall of Fame inductee, she holds legendary KO wins over former champions Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm and Cris Cyborg. Nunes now aims to get the last laugh by stopping Pena in emphatic fashion.

Peña (12-5, fighting out of Chicago, Ill. by way of Spokane, Wash.) intends to once again stun the MMA world by finishing Nunes. The winner of The Ultimate Fighter season 18, she has also earned impressive victories against Sara McMann, Cat Zingano and Jessica Eye. Peña now has her sights set on reclaiming her spot atop the bantamweight division with a show-stealing performance.

Announced bouts on the card include:

• Ranked middleweight contenders collide when No. 12 Nassourdine Imavov (12-4, fighting out of Paris, France) meets No. 15 Chris Curtis (30-10, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA)
• No. 13 ranked featherweight contender Dan Ige (16-6, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Haleiwa, Hawaii) looks to halt the momentum of rising Nate Landwehr (17-4, fighting out of Clarksville, Tenn.)
• No. 13 ranked light heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree Jr. (12-5 1NC, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev., USA) aims to spoil the 205-pound debut of No. 13 heavyweight Chris Daukaus (12-6, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn., USA)
• Kyle Nelson (13-5-1, fighting out of Stoney Creek, Ont.) battles unbeaten Blake Bilder (8-0-1, fighting out of Costa Mesa, Calif., USA) in a featherweight tilt
• Marc-Andre Barriault (15-6 1NC, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla., USA by way of Gatineau, Que.) locks horns with Eryk Anders (15-7 1NC, fighting out of Scottsdale, Ariz., USA by way of Birmingham, Ala., USA) in a hard-hitting middleweight bout
• No. 8 ranked flyweight contender Matt Schnell (16-7, fighting out of Shreveport, La., USA) takes on No. 10 David Dvorak (20-5, fighting out of Horice, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic)
• Hakeem Dawodu (13-3-1, fighting out of Calgary, Alta.) returns to action against Lucas Almeida (14-1, fighting out of Sorocaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil) in an entertaining featherweight bout
• Miranda Maverick (13-4, fighting out of Denver, Colo., USA by way of Buffalo, Mo., USA) faces Jasmine Jasudavicius (8-2, fighting out of Niagara, Ont.) at flyweight
• Aiemann Zahabi (9-2, fighting out of Montreal, Que.) goes for his third consecutive win when he meets Aoriqileng (24-9, fighting out of Shanghai, China) in a bantamweight matchup
• Diana Belbita (14-7, fighting out of Stoney Creek, Ont.) meets Maria Oliveira (13-6, fighting out of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, 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.

###

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.

Canucks Sports & Entertainment

Canucks Sports & Entertainment is Western Canada’s sports & entertainment leader providing world class entertainment in multiple venues in British Columbia. CSE owns and operates the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League, the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League, the Vancouver Warriors of the National Lacrosse League, the Vancouver Titans of the Overwatch League, the Seattle Surge of the Call of Duty League and Rogers Arena. From watching one’s first NHL game to singing along with a favourite artist, Canucks Sports & Entertainment strives to create unforgettable moments that inspire, excite and unite us all.  Regardless of the score, the event or the night, our goal is to provide a world class experience for you and your guests from the moment you arrive, to the end of the event.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with a high-stakes rematch in the women’s bantamweight division, as No. 2 ranked contender Raquel Pennington takes on No. 5 Irene Aldana. In addition, will see exciting middleweights Edmen Shahbazyan and Anthony Hernandez lock horns.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: PENNINGTON vs. ALDANA will take place Saturday, May 20 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The entire card will be available on ESPN+ in English and Spanish, with the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT and the prelims beginning at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

Bantamweight veteran Pennington (15-8, fighting out of Colorado Springs, Colo.) sets out to collect her sixth consecutive win. The Colorado native has secured dominant victories against former UFC champions Miesha Tate and Jéssica Andrade, as well as Ketlen Vieira. Pennington is determined to lock down a second win over Aldana and leave no doubt that she’s next in line for a shot at the title.

Aldana (14-6, fighting out of Guadalajara, Mexico) looks to even the score and deliver an impressive win over Pennington. Always game to keep it standing, Aldana has delivered impressive knockout finishes over Macy Chiasson, Yana Santos, and Ketlen Vieira. The Mexican-born striker now looks to deliver a statement victory by adding Pennington to her highlight reel.

Shotokan Karateblack belt Shahbazyan (12-3, fighting out of Glendale, Calif.) looks to capture the first win of his 2023 season. Shahbazyan’s elite striking has led him to knockouts against the likes of Dalcha Lungiambula, Brad Tavares, and Jack Marshman. He now plans to repeat that same success against Hernandez.

Hernandez (10-2, fighting out of Eldorado, Calif.) returns to the Octagon to put the middleweight division on notice. A submission specialist, he’s delivered impressive wins over formidable opponents such as Marc-André Barriault, Josh Fremd and Brendan Allen. Hernandez sets out with the intention of finishing Shahbazyan and climbing his way closer to challenging the Top 15.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• UFC veteranIlir Latifi (17-8, fighting out of Malmo, Sweden) and Rodrigo Nascimento (9-1, fighting out of Belo Horizonte, Brazil) are set to deliver fireworks in the heavyweight division
• Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Orion Cosce (8-1, fighting out of Arcata, Calif.)faces Gilbert Urbina (6-2, fighting out of The Rio Grande Valley, Texas) at welterweight
• An intriguing matchup in the welterweight division pits Andre Fialho (16-6 1 NC, fighting out of Cascais, Portugual)against Joaquin Buckley (15-6, fighting out of St. Louis, Miss.)
• Lightweights Diego Ferreira (17-5, fighting out of Pharr, Texas) and The Ultimate Fighter season 12 finalistMichael Johnson (22-18, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) go toe-to-toe at 155 pounds
• China’s Maheshate (9-2, fighting out of Sichaun, China) meets Dana White’s Contender Series alum Viacheslav Borshchev (6-3, fighting out of Volgograd, Russia) in an exciting lightweight tilt
• Dana White’s Contender Series signee Chase Hooper (11-3-1, fighting out of Enumclaw, Wash.)and Nick Fiore (6-1, fighting out of Derry, N.H.)square off at lightweight
• Karolina Kowalkiewicz (14-7, fighting out of Lodz, Poland) and Vanessa Demopoulos (9-4, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) clash in a thrilling battle of strawweights
• Flyweights Natalia Silva (14-5-1, fighting out of Pingo D’agua, Brazil) and Victoria Leonardo (9-5, fighting out of Shreveport, La.) start the night’s action

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

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 688 million fans and 198 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+

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

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas ­– UFC^® today announced that the classic 2015 fight between welterweights Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s ‘Fight Wing’ as a part of the class of 2023. The 2023 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Toyo Tires^®, will take place on Thursday, July 6, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The event will be streamed live an exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS^®.

“The fight between Robbie Lawler and Rory McDonald at UFC 189 was one of the most exciting fights in UFC history,” UFC President Dana White said. “This was an absolute war and a complete display of heart, grit, determination, and the will to win from both athletes. This five-round classic will always be remembered as one of the best and I can’t wait to induct this fight into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.”

As the co-main event of UFC^® 189: MENDES vs. McGREGOR, which took place on July 11, 2015, at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, both Lawler and MacDonald entered the event on three-fight winning streaks.

Lawler entered the Octagon as UFC welterweight champion with a 25-10 (1 NC) record that included wins over UFC Hall of Famer Frank Trigg, former UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks, former WEC lightweight champion Scott Smith, and a previous victory over MacDonald in 2013.

Rory came into his rematch against Robbie as the top ranked welterweight contender with an 18-2 record and previous wins over UFC Hall of Famer BJ Penn, former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, former Strikeforce welterweight champion Tarec Saffiedine, former WEC and Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz and Demian Maia.

Both athletes quickly advanced to the center of the Octagon at the opening bell to establish their positions, with MacDonald striking first with a barrage of jabs. Lawler, normally a fast starter, patiently measured Rory during the first round, cautiously matching leg kicks and responding to MacDonald’s jabs and straight right punches. Rory attempted one takedown during the first, with Robbie defending his attempt and countering with a right knee. The first round ended with both fighters exchanging punches.

Lawler took control of the pace early in round two, striking first and checking MacDonald’s leg kicks as the pair circled the center of the Octagon. Rory, connecting on more significant strikes, used his arm reach and leg kicks to stay on the outside of Robbie’s range. Both fighters began to open with multiple combinations midway through the round, opening and pushing forward with each exchange. With one minute left in the round, an exchange from Lawler broke MacDonald’s nose, causing a noticeable flow of blood over his chest. The round ended with one final combination from Robbie, evening the match with one round for each fighter.

Lawler, uncharacteristically patient to this point of the match, continued his strategic approach against Rory in the third, throwing measured strikes, blocking MacDonald’s counters, and throwing periodic leg kicks. Robbie defended Rory’s second takedown attempt in the third, answering with a three-punch combination that opened two additional cuts on MacDonald’s face to accompany his broken nose. With 35 seconds left in the round, MacDonald connected on a right head kick, stunning Lawler, and driving him back to the fence. Rory would take advantage by administering a series of punches, head kicks and a flying knee in his attempt to finish the fight with less than 10 seconds left, but Robbie would survive the round, although the momentum had clearly swung in MacDonald’s favor as he won the frame.

Rory opened the fourth in control as Lawler was not fully recovered from the end of the third. MacDonald connected on another right head kick and straight left punch combination 15 seconds into the round, forcing Robbie to backpedal to the fence as Rory unleashed several punches and two flying knees as Lawler raised his guard to minimize the damage. Robbie repeatedly assured referee John McCarthy that he was fine as MacDonald pushed forward with his attack of punches, head kicks and standing elbows. Lawler, still dazed and not fully recovered, would continue to counter Rory’s advances, with neither fighter, although both heavily bloodied willing to back down as they continue to exchange combinations through the end of a round that was punctuated by a stare down in the middle the of the Octagon. 

As both athletes stood for the fifth and final round, the sold-out crowd gave them a standing ovation. Lawler took control of the pace from the bell, connecting with a left hook and right jab to MacDonald’s nose 56 seconds into the round, which sent Rory to the canvas. Robbie would take advantage of the opening and connect with two more punches before McCarthy stopped the fight one minute into the fifth.

The slugfest would leave both athletes bloodied, with Lawler’s lip visibly split in two pieces and MacDonald’s face battered, as well. The fight won the Fight of the Night performance award and would be acknowledged by the Fighters Only World MMA Awards, Sherdog.com, MMA Fighting, Bleacher Report and Wrestling Observer as the “2015 Fight of the Year.”

Lawler won two of his next three fights following this event. Although he lost his title to Woodley in the main event of UFC 201 in July of 2016, he has continued to fight top contenders in the welterweight and middleweight divisions, earning a victory over Nick Diaz at UFC 266 in 2021. MacDonald would lose his next fight to Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson in June 2016 before leaving UFC shortly afterwards. He would continue to compete in Bellator and PFL before retiring in 2022.

To view the fight on UFC FIGHT PASS for free, please visit: https://ufcfightpass.com/video/39984

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

Vancouver – UFC^®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts promotion, confirmed today its return to Canada for the first time in almost four years when it hosts UFC^® 289 at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena on Saturday, June 10. Stay tuned for fight announcements.

UFC^® 289 tickets will go on sale Friday, April 21 at 12 p.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, April 19 at 12 p.m. PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, April 20 starting at 12 p.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Fight fans wanting to keep up to date with all further bout and ticketing information for UFC^® 289 can register their interest at http://www.ufc.com/vancouver.

UFC^® 289 main card will air live on Pay-Per-View starting at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Televised prelims will broadcast at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on TSN and RDS channels, with the night’s early prelims kicking off exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

Media members wishing to apply for fight week credentials may sign up here.

UFC^® 289 marks the first UFC event in Canada since UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: COWBOY vs. GAETHJE in Vancouver in September 2019. Since debuting with UFC^® 83: SERRA vs. ST-PIERRE 2 in 2008, UFC has held a total of 31 premiere sporting events in Canada, across 11 cities and which featured 19 world championship bouts.

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Charlotte, North Carolina for the first time since 2018 with an all-action main event between heavyweight finishers as No. 9 ranked contender Jairzinho Rozenstruik aims to land another signature KO when he takes on surging No. 12 contender Jailton Almeida. Also on the card, No. 5 ranked light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith faces No. 7 Johnny Walker in a bout guaranteed to deliver fireworks. 

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: ROZENSTRUIK vs. ALMEIDA will take place Saturday, May 13 at Spectrum Center. The main card will air on ABC and ESPN Deportes kicking off at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT, with the prelims airing on ESPN and ESPN Deportes beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT. The entire card will be simulcast in English and Spanish on ESPN+. The same ESPN+ English audio call will also be available on SiriusXM Fight Nation (Channel 156).

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: ROZENSTRUIK vs. ALMEIDA tickets will go on sale Friday, April 7 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 5 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 6 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^®: ROZENSTRUIK vs. ALMEIDA fight week credentials may sign up here.

Heavyweight knockout artist Rozenstruik (13-4, fighting out of Paramaribo, Suriname) intends on making his first bout of 2023 a memorable one. A former professional kickboxer with 12 of his 13 MMA wins coming via KO, he holds emphatic victories over former UFC heavyweight champions Junior Dos Santos and Andrei Arlovski, as well as Alistair Overeem. Rozenstruik now seeks to halt Almeida’s climb up the rankings and make a run towards the title.

Almeida (18-2, fighting out of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil) is considered by many to be among the top prospects in the UFC today. A freak athlete who has never had a victory go to the judges, Almeida burst onto the scene with decisive wins over Danilo Marques, Parker Porter and Shamil Abdurakhimov. He now looks to maintain his undefeated UFC record in the most important bout of his MMA career.

Fan favorite Smith (36-17, fighting out of Omaha, Neb.) returns to the Octagon looking to secure another highlight reel finish. The owner of an impressive 94 percent finishing rate, Smith has cemented himself as one of the most entertaining athletes on the UFC roster with stoppages of Rashad Evans, Mauricio Rua and Alexander Gustafsson. He now aims to add to his notable resume by taking out Walker.

Walker (20-7, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland by way of Rio das Ostras, Brazil) plans to continue his momentum with another explosive performance. With 16 KOs and three submissions to his name, Walker holds his own extraordinary finishing rate of 95 percent, which includes a remarkable 17 first-round finishes. He now has his sights set on making it another quick night in the Octagon and ascend past Smith in the rankings.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• An intriguing welterweight matchup sees Ian Machado Garry (11-0, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland) take on his toughest test yet in Daniel Rodriguez (17-3, fighting out of San Gabriel, Calif.)
• No. 7 ranked women’s strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern (12-3, fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif.) tests her submission skills against No. 13 Angela Hill (15-12, fighting out of San Diego, Calif.)
• Carlos Ulberg (8-1, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand) and Ihor Potieria (20-3, fighting out of Kiev, Ukraine) clash in a light heavyweight bout
• Veterans Tim Means (32-14-1 1NC, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) and Alex Morono (22-8 1NC, fighting out of Houston, Texas) aim to put on a show at welterweight
• The Ultimate Fighter Season 29 winner Bryan Battle (9-2, fighting out of Matthews, N.C.) returns to action against Gabe Green (11-4, fighting out of Downey, Calif.) at welterweight
• Another welterweight battle sees Matt Brown (25-19, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) lock horns with Court McGee (22-11, fighting out of Orem, Utah)
• Cody Stamann (21-5-1, fighting out of Sparta, Mich.) and Douglas Silva De Andrade (28-5 1NC, fighting out of Castanhal, Para, Brazil) face off in a bantamweight tilt
• Jessica-Rose Clark (11-8 1NC, fighting out of Innisfail, Australia) plans to spoil the UFC debut of Tainara Lisboa (5-2, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil)
• Flyweights Ji Yeon Kim (9-6-2, fighting out of Incheon, South Korea) and Mandy Bohm (7-2 1 NC, fighting out of Gelsenkirchen, Germany) look to make a statement

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

###

About UFC^®

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

About Hornets Sports & Entertainment

Hornets Sports & Entertainment owns the Charlotte Hornets, Greensboro Swarm and Hornets Venom GT, and operates Charlotte’s Spectrum Center.  The Charlotte Hornets are a member of the NBA’s Southeast Division.  Owned by NBA Legend Michael Jordan, the Hornets organization strives to deliver a relentless attack on the court, an unmatched experience in the stands and a positive impact throughout the community.  The name of the city’s original NBA team from 1988-2002, the Hornets moniker returned to Charlotte in May 2014, uniting the rich history of NBA basketball in the Carolinas.  The Greensboro Swarm are the NBA G League affiliate of the Charlotte Hornets and play at the Novant Health Fieldhouse at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex.  Hornets Venom GT is the organization’s esports team affiliate that joined the NBA 2K League in 2020.  Spectrum Center is the premier destination for sports and entertainment in the Carolinas, hosting over 150 sporting events, concerts and family shows annually.  For more information, please visit hornets.com, gsoswarm.com, HornetsVenomGT.com or spectrumcentercharlotte.com.

About ESPN+

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

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® continues its run of events at UFC APEX with an exciting lightweight contenders’ tilt that will see No. 8 ranked contender Arman Tsarukyan battle No. 13 Renato Moicano. Also, Dana White’s Contender Series signee Caio Borralho looks to push his unbeaten streak to 14 bouts when he takes on hard-hitting Michal Oleksiejczuk in an intriguing middleweight bout.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: TSARUKYAN vs. MOICANO will take place Saturday, April 29 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The main card will be available on ESPN+ in English and Spanish starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT. The prelims will be seen on ESPN2 and ESPN+ beginning at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

Tsarukyan (19-3, fighting out of Krasnodar, Russia, by way of Yerevan, Armenia) aims to kick off his 2023 campaign with a show-stealing performance. A Master of Sports in MMA and wrestling, he holds impressive wins against Damir Ismagulov, Joel Alvarez and Olivier Aubin-Mercier. Tsarukyan now plans to defend his spot in the rankings to earn a shot at the division’s Top 5.

The always entertaining Moicano (17-5-1, fighting out of Brasília, Brazil) intends to continue his ascent up the lightweight ladder with a highlight-reel finish. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, he has earned exciting submission victories over Brad Riddell, Alexander Hernandez, and Cub Swanson. Moicano now looks to turn heads by becoming the first fighter to submit Tsarukyan.

Talented grappler Borralho (13-1 1NC, fighting out of São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil) hopes to extend his hot streak with another dominant showing. Since joining the UFC roster in 2021, he has secured notable wins over Makhmud Muradov, Armen Petrosyan, and Gadzhi Omargadzhiev. Borralho now has his sights set on netting his first UFC finish to set up a future opportunity against the division’s Top 15.

Knockout artist Oleksiejczuk (18-5 1NC, fighting out of Barki, Poland) plans to continue the momentum he’s gathered since moving down to middleweight last year. A powerful striker, he has delivered memorable KO victories over Sam Alvey, Gian Villante, and Shamil Gamzatov. Oleksiejczuk now looks to earn another thrilling finish by stopping Borralho in emphatic fashion.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Rodolfo Vieira (9-2, fighting out of Orlando, Fla. by way of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) locks horns with Cody Brundage (8-3, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.) at middleweight
• Emily Ducote (12-7, fighting out of Oklahoma City, Okla.) faces Polyana Viana (13-5, fighting out of São Geraldo do Araguaia, Pará, Brazil) in a strawweight bout
• Marcos Rogerio de Lima (20-9-1, fighting out of Ribeirâo Pires, Brazil) battles undefeated Dana White’s Contender Seriescontract winnerWaldo Cortes Acosta (9-0, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz. by way of Fundacion, Barahona, Dominican Republic) in an intriguing heavyweight bout
• Josh Quinlan (6-0 1NC, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) squares off with Ange Loosa (9-3, fighting out of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland by way of Kinshasa, DR Congo) in a welterweight matchup
• Heavyweights collide when Martin Buday (11-1, fighting out of Trnava, Slovakia) takes on Jake Collier (13-8, fighting out of Cuba, Mo.)
• Julian Erosa (28-11, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) meets UFC newcomer Fernando Padilla (14-4, fighting out of Chihuahua, Mexico) at featherweight
• Natan Levy (8-1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Herzliya, Israel) goes for his third consecutive win when he faces Pete Rodriguez (5-1, fighting out of Green Valley, Ariz.) at lightweight
• Cody Durden (14-4-1, fighting out of Covington, Ga.) squares off with Charles Johnson (13-4, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) in a flyweight bout
• Stephanie Egger (8-3, fighting out of St. Gallen, Switzerland) welcomes UFC newcomer Irina Alekseeva (4-1, fighting out of Ekaterinburg, Russia) at bantamweight
• Brian Kelleher (24-14, fighting out of Selden, N.Y.) faces Journey Newson (10-4 1NC, fighting out of Portland, Ore.) at bantamweight
• Hailey Cowan (7-2, fighting out of Robinson, Texas) looks to spoil the debut of Jamey-Lyn Horth (5-0, fighting out of Squamish, B.C., Canada) in a bantamweight bout

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

###

About UFC^®

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

About ESPN+

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

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas – UFC^® today announced that former WEC^® and UFC lightweight Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s ‘Modern Wing’ as a member of the Class of 2023. The 2023 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Toyo Tires^®, will take place on Thursday, July 6, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The event will be streamed live an exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS^®.

“Cowboy Cerrone is one of the best lightweights in UFC history,” UFC President Dana White said. “Cowboy consistently fought the best of the best for over a decade inside the Octagon and set a ton of records in the process. He was also a complete savage who would fight anyone at any time. He is a true legend, and it will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame as part of International Fight Week.”

Cerrone 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) and Jose Aldo (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 55 fights during his 16-year professional MMA career, Cowboy compiled a record of 36-17 (2 NC), securing victories over UFC veterans Jim Miller and Edson Barboza, former WEC lightweight champions Rob McCullough and Jamie Varner, former UFC lightweight champions Charles Oliveira and Eddie Alvarez, and former WEC and UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson.

Cerrone made his professional MMA debut on February 11, 2006, as part of Ring of Fire 21, submitting his opponent, former UFC lightweight Nate Mohr, via triangle choke in the first round. Cowboy would win his next six fights across three MMA promotions, before joining World Extreme Cagefighting as an undefeated lightweight with a 7-0 record.

Donald made his WEC debut on September 5, 2007, on the prelims of WEC^® 30: McCULLOUGH vs. CRUNKILTON, which took place at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Cowboy’s 56-second submission victory (triangle choke) over Kenneth Alexander would be overturned and recategorized as a no contest, but he would secure victories in his next two fights over Danny Castillo and Rob McCullough to earn a shot to win the WEC lightweight title against Jamie Varner in the main event of WEC 38.

WEC^® 38: VARNER vs. CERRONE took place on January 25, 2009, at the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, Calif., and served as Cowboy’s first headlining event as a professional mixed martial artist. Jamie and Donald put on an amazing fight that would go the distance, with Varner winning via split decision.

Although that was his first loss under the WEC banner, Cowboy would bounce back by winning four of his next six bouts, including his rematch with Varner, before the organization was absorbed by Zuffa.

Over the next five years, Cerrone would win 19 of his next 23 fights, becoming one of the most consistently active and beloved contenders in the UFC lightweight division. He would continue to fight the biggest names in both the lightweight and welterweight divisions during the final six years of his career. He retired in July 2022 after a loss to Jim Miller at UFC 276.

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

UFC / WEC:

• Most finishes in UFC / WEC history combined – 20

• Most wins in UFC / WEC history combined – 29

UFC:

• Most KO / TKO by kick in UFC history – 7

• Most knockdowns in UFC history – 20

• Tied for second-most finishes in UFC history – 16

• Tied for second-most wins in UFC history – 23

• Third most fights in UFC history – 38

UFC lightweight division:

• Second-most wins in UFC lightweight history – 17

• Tied for second-most knockdowns in UFC lightweight history – 11

• Tied for fourth-most finishes in UFC lightweight history – 10

• Fifth-most significant strikes landed in UFC lightweight history – 1,127

Outside the Octagon, Cerrone has been honored with several awards during his career, including being recognized by the Fighters Only World MMA Awards as the Breakthrough Fighter of the Year in 2011, and receiving Fight of the Year honors by Sports Illustrated and Sherdog.com for his 2009 fight against Benson Henderson for the interim WEC lightweight title.

A native of Denver, Colo., Cowboy began his martial arts career by training in kickboxing and Muay Thai. Cerrone holds an undefeated 28-0-1 record as a professional Muay Thai artist and competed in professional boxing. He currently resides in Edgewood, New Mexico, with his wife, Lindsay, and three sons.

To view Cerrone’s UFC FIGHT PASS collection please visit: https://ufcfightpass.com/playlist/13235/donald-cerrone-ufc-hall-of-fame. To see a complete list of UFC athletes and fights enshrined in the UFC Hall of Fame, as well as details regarding the UFC Hall of Fame format, please visit UFC.com/HOF. For additional information, please visit UFC.com.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to the APEX with a pivotal clash in the heavyweight division that will see No. 3 ranked Sergei Pavlovich take on No. 4 Curtis Blaydes. The co-main event will see bantamweight contenders No. 8 Song Yadong and No. 10 Ricky Simon square off.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: PAVLOVICH vs. BLAYDES will take place Saturday, April 22 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The entire card will be available on ESPN+ in English and Spanish, with the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT and the prelims beginning at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

The hard-hitting Pavlovich (17-1, fighting out of Moscow, Russia) sets out to deliver a sixth consecutive first-round knockout in his first UFC main event. The Russian-born striker has delivered devastating finishes against formidable foes Tai Tuivasa, Derrick Lewis, and Shamil Abdurakhimov, and now has his sights set on putting away Blaydes and becoming a viable title contender.

Heavyweight veteran Blaydes (17-3 1NC, fighting out of Chicago, Ill.) aims to showcase another dominant performance. Throughout his UFC run, Blaydes has scored numerous memorable victories, including wins over Tom Aspinall, Chris Daukaus, and former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos. Blaydes now intends on extinguishing Pavlovich’s win streak and proving that he deserves a shot at the heavyweight throne.

China’s Song (19-7-1 1NC, fighting out of Heilongjiang, China) looks to regain momentum with a decisive win over a surging contender. An unrelenting force in the bantamweight division, he holds wins over Marlon Moraes, Marlon Vera, and Casey Kenney. Song now plans to defeat another ranked contender in Simon.

Simon (20-3, fighting out of Vancouver, Wash.) looks to start 2023 with a bang by handing out a show-stealing win. A versatile finisher, he has delivered impressive wins over elite competition such as Merab Dvalishvili, Raphael Assunção, and Jack Shore. Simon is now gunning to deliver a highlight-reel performance against Song to inch his way closer to the Top 5 rankings.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• UFC veteranBrad Tavares (19-7, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) looks to deliver a stellar showing against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Bruno Silva (13-5-2, fighting out of Bauru, Sao Paulo, Brazil) at middleweight
• An electrifying welterweight bout sees Jeremiah Wells (11-2, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.) lock horns with the always entertaining Matthew Semeslberger (11-4, fighting out of Frederick, Md.)
• Exciting lightweights Bobby Green (29-14-1, fighting out of Fontana, Calif.) and Jared Gordon (19-6, fighting out of Astoria, N.Y.) look to steal the show
• Iasmin Lucindo (13-5, fighting out Fortaleza, Brazil) meets The Ultimate Fighter season 30 finalist Brogan Walker (8-3, fighting out of Hagåtña, Guam) at flyweight
• Dana White’s Contender Series signee Caio Borralho (13-1, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) goes toe-to-toe with Michal Oleksiejczuk (18-5, fighting out of Barki, Poland) in an exciting middleweight matchup
• Rick Glenn (22-6-2, fighting out of Des Moines, Iowa) battles Christos Giagos (19-10, fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Fla.) at lightweight
• At bantamweight, Rani Yahya (28-10-1, fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil) looks to break the three-fight win streak of Montel Jackson (13-2, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.)
• A stylistic thriller pits No. 9 ranked bantamweight Karol Rosa (16-4, fighting out of Niteroi, Brazil) against Sanda black belt Norma Dumont (8-2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) at featherweight
• A fiery flyweight contest sees undefeated Rafael Estevam (11-0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) make his UFC debut against fellow Dana White’s Contender Series signee Carlos Candelario (8-3, fighting out of Springfield, Wash.)
• Guaranteed fireworks are set for the heavyweight division as The Ultimate Fighter season 30winner Mohammed Usman (9-2, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) takes onundefeated UFC newcomer Junior Tafa (4-0, fighting out of Queensland, Australia)
• An exciting featherweight tilt will see Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Francis Marshall (7-0, fighting out of N.J.) put his perfect record on the line against William Gomis (11-2, fighting out of Paris, France)
• Heavy-handed striker Priscila Cachoeira (12-4, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Karine Silva (15-4, fighting out of Curitiba, Parana, Brazil) square off at flyweight
• Bantamweights start the night’s action as The Ultimate Fighter season 30 finalist Brady Hiestand (7-2, fighting out of Spokane Valley, Wash.)meets Batgerel Danaa (12-4, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.)

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

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 688 million fans and 198 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+

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

About ESPN

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

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

“Anderson Silva is one of the greatest athletes of all time,” UFC President Dana White said. “Anderson’s 16-fight winning streak in the UFC, 10 successful title defenses and almost seven years as middleweight champion were one of the most remarkable things we’ve ever seen in professional sports. He was an absolute artist inside the Octagon, 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 46 fights during his 23-year professional MMA career, Silva compiled a record of 34-11, 1 NC (21-8, 1 NC UFC / PRIDE), notching victories over future UFC Hall of Famers Forrest Griffin, Stephan Bonnar, Dan Henderson and Rich Franklin. He also secured wins over former UFC light heavyweight champion and UFC^Ò 12: JUDGEMENT DAY heavyweight tournament champion Vitor Belfort, former UFC welterweight champion Carlos Newton, former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nate Marquardt, former WEC middleweight champion Chris Leben, and former WEC heavyweight champion James Irvin. 

Silva made his professional MMA debut in Brazil in 1997, winning his two matches as part of BFC 1. He would then compete across numerous MMA platforms over the next nine years, capturing middleweight titles in Shooto (2-0) and Cage Rage (4-0), while also fighting top ranked talent in PRIDE (4-1).

An international star, but virtually unknown to UFC’s fanbase, Anderson made his UFC debut against Chris Leben in the main event of UFC ULTIMATE FIGHT NIGHT 5 on June 28, 2006. Silva defeated the former WEC champion via first round knockout that earned him a title shot against UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin.

UFC^Ò 64: UNSTOPPABLE took place on October 14, 2006, at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Franklin entered the bout on a seven-fight winning streak and was unbeaten inside the Octagon. Anderson took control of the fight early, defeating Franklin via KO in the first round. He repeated his victory over Rich a year later in Franklin’s hometown of Cincinnati.

Silva’s two wins over Franklin, sandwiched around stoppages of Travis Lutter and Marquardt, launched one of the most dominant title reigns in professional sports history. Anderson ruled the middleweight division for 2,457 days – nearly seven years – defeating a host of top contenders including Chael Sonnen (twice), Demian Maia, and Belfort in the process. He also competed outside of the middleweight division, moving up to light heavyweight and defeating future Hall of Famers Griffin and Bonnar, as well as James Irwin.

After setting a then-record number of successful title defenses (10) with his second victory over Sonnen in 2012, Silva lost the middleweight crown to Chris Weidman in the main event of UFC^Ò 162: SILVA vs. WEIDMAN on July 6, 2013. Following his second consecutive loss to Weidman in the rematch at UFC 168, Anderson continued to provide fans with memorable moments inside the Octagon, returning from a serious leg injury suffered in the rematch to face top athletes such as Nick Diaz, future Hall of Famers Daniel Cormier and Michael Bisping, and former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya before retiring in October 2020 after a loss to Uriah Hall.

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

• Longest winning streak in UFC history – 16

• Longest title reign in UFC history – 2,457 days

• Most wins in UFC middleweight history – 11

• Most knockdowns in UFC middleweight history – 13

• Tied for most knockouts in UFC middleweight history – 8

• Tied for second-most wins in UFC middleweight history – 14

• Second-most consecutive title defenses in UFC history – 10

• Second-most knockdowns in UFC history – 18

• Fourth-most title fight wins in UFC history – 11

• Tied for fourth-most knockouts in UFC history – 11

• Tied for fourth-most finishes in UFC history – 14

Outside the Octagon, Silva has been honored with numerous awards during his career, such as being acknowledged by World MMA Awards Fighter of the Year (2008), Sports Illustrated Fighter of the Year (2008), ESPN.com Knockout of the Year (2011), and Wrestling Observer Most Outstanding Fighter and MMA Most Valuable Fighter (2012).

A native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Silva trained in multiple combat sports disciplines, beginning with jiu-jitsu, and expanding to taekwondo, capoeira, and muay thai during his teenage years. An accomplished lifelong martial arts practitioner, Anderson holds a 3^rd degree black belt in jiu-jitsu and a 5^th dan black belt in taekwondo. In addition to MMA, he has also competed in five professional boxing matches, securing a 3-2 record. Silva currently resides in Los Angeles, Calif., with his wife, Dayane, and five children.

To view Silva’s UFC FIGHT PASS collection please visit: https://ufcfightpass.com/playlist/13232/anderson-silva-ufc-hall-of-fame

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

Las Vegas – The 31^st season of The Ultimate Fighter^®could be the biggest in the show’s history, as former UFC^® featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor and No. 5 ranked lightweight contender Michael Chandler go head-to-head as coaches. Following the series, which exclusively debuts Tuesday, May 30 on ESPN, the two coaches will prepare to square off at a date that will be determined in the near future. 

The Ultimate Fighter Season 31: Team McGregor vs. Team Chandler will feature a dynamic cast consisting of both returning veterans and up and coming prospects in the men’s bantamweight (135 lbs.) and lightweight (155 lbs.) divisions, who have put everything else in their lives aside for the chance to pursue their UFC dreams.

The entire 12-episode season of TUF 31 will be available exclusively on ESPN, with one episode dropping each Tuesday beginning May 30at 10pm ET/7pm PT. Episodes will be available to stream on demand on ESPN+ at 11 p.m. ET, following the conclusion of their network debut. In addition, UFC fans can re-watch all 30 previous seasons of TUF on ESPN+.

Produced by Lionsgate’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.

Former UFC double champion McGregor (22-6, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland), considered by many the sport’s biggest star, returns to The Ultimate Fighter after previously serving as a coach on TUF 22. He will look to impart the skills and experience that have earned him victories over former UFC champions Eddie Alvarez, Jose Aldo and Max Holloway. McGregor now has his sights set on beating Chandler as a coach and building momentum towards their inevitable match later this year.

Chandler (23-8, fighting out of Nashville, Tenn. ) is a favorite amongst fight fans for his dynamicfighting style and captivating personality. No stranger to a highlight reel finish, Chandler stunned fans with spectacular stoppages over Dan Hooker and Tony Ferguson. He now plans on adding a successful TUF coaching season to his resume on the way to defeating McGregor.  

Below is a full list of competitors scheduled to compete in The Ultimate Fighter 31: Team McGregor vs. Team Chandler (name, age, professional record and fighting out of):

MEN’S BATAMWEIGHT (135)

Mando Gutierrez | 26 | 8-2 | East Lansing, Mich.

Trevor Wells | 27 | 8-3 | Temecula, Calif.

Carlos Vera | 35 | 12-3 | Falls Church, Vir.

Rico DiSciullo | 36 | 11-2 | Somerville, Mass.

Cody Gibson | 35 | 19-8 | San Luis Obispo County, Calif.

Timur Valiev | 32 | 18-3 | Moscow, Russia

Hunter Azure | 30 | 10-3 | Phoenix, Ariz.

Brad Katona | 31 | 12-2 | Dublin, Ireland

MEN’S LIGHTWEIGHT (155)

Landon Quiñones | 27 | 7-1-1 | Sunrise, Fla.

Aaron McKenzie | 26 | 11-2-1 | Oklahoma City, Okla.

Nate Jennerman | 30 | 16-5 | Sheboygan, Wis.

Lee Hammond | 26 | 5-0 | Dublin, Ireland

Austin Hubbard | 31 | 15-6 | Denver, Colo.

Roosevelt Roberts | 29 | 12-3 | Lathrop, Calif.

Kurt Holobaugh | 36 | 19-7 | Franklinton, La.

Jason Knight | 30 | 22-7 | Lucedale, Miss.

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

About ESPN+?? ??

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

About ESPN

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

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 18,000-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.