Robert Guerrero : Camp Notes

ROBERT 'THE GHOST' GUERRERO Press Release For Immediate Release CAMP NOTES ROBERT "THE GHOST" GUERRERO  IS DEEP INTO TRAINING CAMP IN LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. WHILE  SELCUK "MINI TYSON" AYDIN SETTLES INTO LAST MONTH OF TRAINING CAMP IN SAN JOSE, CALIF. FOR THEIR JULY 28 SHOWTIME TELEVISED WORLD TITLE FIGHT AT HP PAVILION IN SAN JOSE, CALIF.     GUERRERO: CALIFORNIA LIVING IN LAKE TAHOE MOUNTAINS A former three-division world champion, the talented Guerrero is ready for the difficult challenge of moving up in weight to face number one rated WBC welterweight contender Aydin in hopes of winning a world championship in a fourth weight class. "It's been a grueling training camp since I arrived four weeks ago," said Guerrero.  "There's no cable TV, no busy streets, nothing, just a whole lot of forest and mountains." Guerrero continued, "I get up at 5:00 a.m. every morning to start my road work.  I follow that by a hard workout in the middle of the day, then end with push-ups and sit-ups at night.  I'm getting the proper sparring and amount of rounds to get me ready for Aydin, who I know is coming to rip my head off.  I'm expecting a rough, rugged fight and the fans will not want to miss it, I can guarantee that!" When asked about Aydin and his come-forward style, Guerrero said, "My team and I have been studying all of Aydin's fights and we know where we can take advantage of his flaws.  Aydin is very strong and puts a tremendous amount of pressure on all of his opponents.  I can see why he's been avoided, but I'm ready to take him on even though nobody else wants to." Guerrero's father, Ruben Guerrero, who also is his trainer, said, "Robert is looking sharp and I'm confident we will win this fight.  We've been studying Aydin and we have the perfect game plans for him.  I know my son is hungry to take care of his family and believe me; he's going to leave it all in the ring on fight night.  This training camp has been very productive." "I can see Robert's body getting stronger and stronger as each day goes by," manager and nutritionist Bob Santos said.  "I think people will be surprised at how Robert's body will look on fight night.  We took this risky fight because we believe Robert is on the level of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.  A win against Aydin puts us in a wonderful position to challenge the best fighters in boxing." Guerrero went on to say, "I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for getting me to this point in my career.  I have tremendous support from my wife Casey, who's been through a lot.  I also want to say that no man in boxing is hungrier than I am.  On July 28, everyone is going to see a man that will be fighting to take care of his family, a wife who has battled cancer and is now healthy, a tremendous team who's stuck by my side through thick and thin and a hometown crowd that will be cheering for me to bring it home.  Aydin is going to give it absolutely everything he has, just like me, so this fight will most likely be a 'Fight Of The Year' type fight, because neither of us is going to back down.  Everyone is in for a treat when we battle at HP Pavilion on SHOWTIME!" AYDIN: FROM GERMANY TO CALIFORNIA The offensive-minded, hard-hitting Aydin, who hails from Trabzon, Turkey, has been the WBC's number one rated welterweight contender and mandatory challenger for the 147-pound title for almost three years and is eager to showcase his skills and ability to fans and experts all over the world. "This is the big chance and the big fight I have been waiting and working for," Aydin said.  "I will not let this opportunity pass.  I give my respect to Robert Guerrero for fighting me when so many other so-called champions have ducked me for years.  Unfortunately, Guerrero will find out the hard way why nobody wants to fight me.  I will walk right through "The Ghost" and take the belt back home to Turkey! " To achieve a lifelong goal, Aydin and his team left nothing to chance.  The former European champion started training on May 1 in Stuttgart, Germany and moved his training camp to San Jose, Calif., on July 1.  He'll spend the last couple weeks winding down his preparation while continuing to acclimate himself. "When we have to go to the lion's den, we go all the way, " Aydin's promoter Ahmet Oner said.  "By coming to San Jose so early, Selcuk wanted to make a statement and show everybody that he is not afraid of Guerrero's hometown advantage.  Of course, we know that it is always tough to win in your opponent's backyard, but Selcuk is a true warrior.  It doesn't matter where he's fighting, he is always ready for war. " "Moving training camp from Germany to the United States had different benefits for us, " Aydin's head coach Conny Mittermeier said.  "Of course, we wanted to get adjusted to the time difference and the weather conditions over here, but it's also easier to find high-quality sparring partners in the United States than it is in Europe.  Especially when you're looking for slick, fast welterweight southpaws." Aydin has already completed more than 50 rounds of sparring and will end up having done about 100 rounds before wrapping up training camp. "I had no problems adjusting to everything here in California," Aydin said.  "I have trained and fought in the United States before and it feels natural to be here.  Boxing is an international sport and the United States is the place to be for big fights and big money.  Of course, Turkey is my home country and Trabzon is my hometown, which I am very proud of, but I am also happy and proud to be here.  Not many fighters get the chance to prove themselves on the big stage and I thank everybody for giving me this opportunity." "Thanks to our wonderful hosts at San Jose Boxing & Fitness," added Mittermeier.  "We've had ideal conditions for our training.  The sparring partners are doing a great job.  We have some guys over here who worked with Miguel Cotto for his fight against Floyd Mayweather and with Timothy Bradley for when he prepared for Manny Pacquiao.  It doesn't get much better than this.  Selcuk is in great shape.  Sometimes I have to stop him a little to make sure that he doesn't tear somebody's head off.  I have never seen him as focused and as fired up for a fight." "The Thunderstorm from the Black Sea" ("Karadeniz Firtinasi"), as Selcuk is called in his hometown of Trabzon, knows that it could be difficult to win a decision. "I am not planning to leave the decision to the judges," Aydin said.  "I didn't come to California to outbox or outscore Guerrero.  I am on a very simple mission...seek and destroy!  Every other day I read somewhere that Guerrero is dreaming of fights against Mayweather and Pacquiao.  He can dream whatever he wants when I put him to sleep.  'The Ghost' has no idea what's coming to him.  He may have been featherweight and junior lightweight champion, but now he's playing with the big boys.  The first time I hit him, he will regret moving up in weight and accepting to fight me." ### Guerrero vs. Aydin, a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC Interim Welterweight World Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Arena-Box Promotion and sponsored by Corona, DeWalt Tools and AT&T.  The SHOWTIME Championship Boxing telecast will air live at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) with co-featured events to be announced and preliminary fights to air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT Tickets, priced at $252, $127, $62 and $26, are available for purchase at the HP Pavilion box office, by calling 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Grapplers Quest:Stevenson vs. Pellegrino Superfight

Stevenson vs. Pellegrino Superfight Plus $14,250 in Prizes at Grapplers Quest U.S. Nationals July 21-22 in New Jersey MORRISTOWN, NJ (July 16, 2012) - Grapplers Quest® is proud to announce its official Superfight, featuring New Jersey native and veteran of the Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Kurt "Batman" Pellegrino versus Ultimate Fighter® Season 2 winner, Joe "Daddy" Stevenson, as well as $14,250 in cash and prizes for the 2012 U.S. National Championships, sponsored by Gaspari Nutrition®, on Saturday, July 21 and Sunday, July 22 at the William G. Mennen Sports Arena (located at 161 E. Hanover Avenue) in Morristown, New Jersey. The July 21-22 event begins each day at 10:00 a.m. / ET. Discounted spectator tickets and Fighter Registration are available online at http://GrapplersQuest.com. All Advanced Division Champions (including Children, Teen, Men, Women, Executive and Masters Advanced Divisions) and All Absolute Divisions will be awarded custom made Championship Belts, in addition to the largest medallions in the sport of grappling, sponsored by Gaspari Nutrition, Zebra Mats and TapouT, plus a full color Champion Certificate. Grapplers Quest's massive event growth, especially in the Youth Grappling, has expanded Children and Teen Divisions to include Beginner (less than 9 months training), Intermediate (9-18 months of training) and Advanced (18 months or more of training) skill levels to allow for fairer matches.  In 2010, Grapplers Quest added age categories for Grappling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to include Under 6 years, 7-9 years, 10-12 years and Teens separately into two groups, as well 13-15 years and 16-17 years, plus any divisions that have two or more girls will branch out and become a Bonus division to allow female athletes extra matches as well.  The two-day tournament will feature all Adult (18+) No-Gi Submission Grappling and Wrestling divisions on Sat., (July 21), doors open at 8:00 a.m. / ET, followed Sunday (July 22) with the U.S. Nationals for All Children and Teens Divisions, plus All Adult Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Judo Divisions. The mega-Superfight on Sat., an exciting Submission-Only rematch from UFC® 74 between Pelligrino and Stevenson, starts at 1:00 p/m. / ET. All featured Superfights will now showcase new "Grapplers Quest Professional Rules," which include a 10-minute Submission Only Round, if necessary, followed by a five-minute overtime round using Grapplers Quest rules. "This is the evolution of the sport of grappling and I'm honored to have two UFC veterans take the stage," Grapplers Quest owner Brian Cimins commented. "We just debuted this at UFC Fan Expo ® in Las Vegas and it yielded the most exciting superfights in grappling history.  Grappling is now ready for the highest sports television.     More than 10 million fans on YouTube at LiveGrappling.com want more submissions and this event nearly guarantees that. It's going to be the best Superfight tournament, featuring the highest level of exciting talent to date." $14,250 in Cash and Prizes:    Special Championship Awards for All Advanced & All Absolute divisions:    ● All Men, Women, Teen, Children and Executive and Masters No-Gi Advanced Weight Classes receive these and Custom Medallions for 1st-3rd Place for All other Divisions ● $3,000 Prize Package Value for No-Gi Men's Advanced Absolute: $1,000 cash Absolute plus Compete Free for Life ● $2,750 Prize Package Value for No-Gi Women's No-Gi Advanced Absolute: $250 cash plus plus Compete Free for Life ● $2,750 Prize Package Value for No-Gi Men's Intermediate Absolute: $250 cash plus Compete Free for Life ● $2,650 Prize Package Value for No-Gi Men's Beginner Absolute: $150 cash plus Compete Free for Life ● $2,600 Prize Package Value for No-Gi Men's Novice Absolute: $100 cash plus Compete Free for Life Discount Competitor registration starting at just $99 (ends Wednesday, July 18 includes:    ● Free Seminar with Joe "Daddy" Stevenson (Sunday, July 22 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. / ET - $100.00 value) ● Full Access to U.S. National Championships and Superfight ($15.00 value) ● Free Grapplers Quest at UFC Fan Expo Fighter T-Shirt by TapouT ($35.00) ● $20.00 off at-the-door pricing ● $1.00 donated to http://AutismRadio.org per Pre-Registered Competitor ● Free XBOX Kinect Raffle for ALL Children and Teen Competitors Registration Savings End: Wednesday, July 18 at 11:59 p.m. / PST. Space is limited - register today at http://www.grapplersquest.com/products/fighter-registration-2012-grapplers-quest-us-national-championships-free-tapout-shirt-and-s   - Fighter Registration and tickets will also be available at the door. Two-Day Passes are now available for only $15.00 ($7.50 per day). Spectators may save $25.00 off at-the-door ticket prices ($20.00 per day) for the Grapplers Quest® U.S. National Championships, featuring the Joe Stevenson vs. Kurt Pellegrino Submission Superfight, and are on sale NOW athttp://www.grapplersquest.com/products/2-day-pass-2012-grapplers-quest-usa-grappling-championships-save-5-door-pricing

Rigondeaux calls out Donaire

Rigondeaux labels Donaire 'The Filipino Phony' CORK, Ireland (July 11, 2012) - A frustrated World Boxing Association ("WBA") Super Bantamweight Champion Guillermo "El Chacal" Rigondeaux (10-0, 8 KOs), upon learning that Nonito Donaire plans to move up to the featherweight division after his next fight, has labeled Donaire, "The Filipino Phony." "Donaire is running scared of any super bantamweights with power," Rigondeaux said from his Miami training camp. "He hasn't knocked out anybody at 122 pounds. One thing is for sure, though, he will get knocked out if he has the guts to fight me." Rigondeaux trained at Wild Card Gym with one of his favorite fighters, Manny Pacquiao, who may be wondering at this point exactly why his fellow countryman, Donaire, doesn't fight Rigondeaux to determine the contemporary King of the Super Bantamweights. "Manny fought the best fighters around when he was moving up through weight classes but this phony, Donaire, is disappointing fans all over the world, especially Filipino people, by running scared from the best fighter at 122 pounds," Rigondeaux continued. "I competed against more than 250 amateur boxers from every continent and none of those guys were paid to fight me. 'The Filipino Phony' will be paid a king's ransom to fight me, but he's scared enough to move up to 126 just to avoid fighting me. The problem he faces, though, is I will also move up to featherweight once I've cleaned out the super bantamweight division. What's he going to do then, move up to super featherweight?"   Guillermo "El Chacal" Rigondeaux (Photo by Kevin Finn / Boxing Ireland) Arguably the greatest amateur boxer of all-time, Rigo is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, as well as a 7-time Cuban national champion who captured a pair of World Championship titles during his incredible amateur career. "It's beyond belief that the so-called No. 3 pound-for-pound fighter in the world is scared to fight Rigo," Rigondeaux's manager Gary Hyde added. "There can be no doubt in anyone's mind that this is what's happening now with Donaire. When a member of our team, Paddy Cronan, approached Donaire at Rigo's June 9th fight to ask him if he would step-up to the plate and fight Rigondeaux, Donaire clearly indicated that he had no intention of fighting Rigo." A lethal puncher, particularly to the body, Rigondeaux looked sensational in his most recent fight last month against Teon Kennedy (17-1-2), who was decked five times before the fight was mercifully stopped in the fifth round. Rigondeaux, a savvy southpaw, is trained by Cuban coach Jorge Rubio and working with conditioning coach DJ Montanocordoba. Rigondeaux's promotional contract with Top Rank expires July 15 and discussions are ongoing with Hyde and Rigondeaux's team to determine what path to take from here on.

HBO: Garcia vs Khan undercard full of rising stars.

THE RISING STARS LOOK TO SHINE ON AMIR KHAN VS. DANNY GARCIA UNDERCARD ON SATURDAY NIGHT FERNANDO GUERRERO AND FIVE UNBEATENS FEATURED AT THE MANDALAY BAY EVENTS CENTER IN LAS VEGAS Plus Stakes Rise For Khan-Garcia As the Ring Magazine World Title Belt Is Now Up For Grabs LOS ANGELES, July 11 - With five unbeaten prospects and one of boxing's most exciting young competitors making up the undercard for Saturday night's world championship showdown at the Mandalay Bay Events Center between Amir Khan and Danny Garcia, attendees will be treated to a one of the best collections of rising stars seen in one place this year, making it a must see event for all fight fans.             Also, the stakes will be even higher in the main event as with Khan and Garcia now rated numbers one and two respectively by Ring Magazine, their fight will be waged for the prestigious Ring Magazine World Championship in addition to Garcia's WBC title. Heading up this talented undercard lineup will be Maryland action hero Fernando Guerrero, who meets New Hampshire's Jose Medina in a 10 round super middleweight fight. Also hitting the ring this weekend will be unbeatens Phil Lo Greco, Daquan Arnett, Jamie Kavanagh, Abner Cotto and J'Leon Love. Khan vs. Garcia,a 12-round fight for Garcia's WBC Super Lightweight World Championship and for the vacant Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight World Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Khan Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. Doors open at 3:00 p.m. and the first bell rings at 3:30 p.m. The main event will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing ® at 11:00 p.m. ET/ PT in the United States and live on Sky Sports 1HD in the United Kingdom at 2:00 a.m. BST on July 15. Tickets priced at $250, $200, $150, $100 and $50, not including applicable service charges, are available for purchase at the Mandalay Bay box office and all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith's Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase atwww.mandaylaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com. The East Coast's best-kept secret for many years, Salisbury, Maryland's Fernando Guerrero (23-1, 18 KO's) is on everyone's radar now thanks to his all-action style and impressive punching power. The winner of two in a row over Robert Kliewer (TKO5) and Jason Naugler (TKO4), the 25-year-old Guerrero is prepared to put on a show in Vegas against always-tough Jose "The Stinger" Medina (17-10-1, 7 KO's), a Mexico native now residing in Tilton, New Hampshire whose recent 5-1-1 stretch has shown that he's ready for anyone who steps in his way. Already an international star both in Italy and Canada, Toronto's 28-year-old Phil "The Italian Sensation" Lo Greco (23-0, 12 KO's) is one of Golden Boy Promotions' most highly-touted new signees and for good reason. Fresh off of his Golden Boy Promotions debut win, a decision victory over Hector Orozco in April, Lo Greco's next challenge will be an eight round junior welterweight showdown with fellow prospect Brandon Hoskins (16-1-1, 8 KO's). Hannibal, Missouri's Hoskins is looking to bounce back from the lone loss of his career in May against hot prospect Keith Thurman, and knows he has the skill and determination to do just that on Saturday. Fighting out of Hollywood, California, Ireland native Jamie "The Nuisance" Kavanagh (10-0-1, 5 KO's) has been in impressive form in 2012 thus far, stopping Cesar Cisneros and Jorge Ibarra in back-to-back fights. In an eight round lightweight contest this weekend, Dublin's finest will meet up with Orange, California's Paul Velarde (3-1-3). An eight round middleweight fight sure to get the fans on their feet and cheering will pit Dearborn Heights, Michigan's J'Leon Love (11-0, 7 KO's) against Caguas, Puerto Rico's Joseph De Los Santos (10-9-3, 4 KO's). The 24-year old Love has ended seven of his fights in three rounds or less, but the rugged De Los Santos, the winner of seven of his last eight fights, with his only loss coming via a split decision loss to unbeaten Eddie Gomez, has no intention of leaving Las Vegas with anything less than a victory. In a six round junior middleweight battle, Orlando's Daquan Arnett (4-0, 2 KO's) will look to build on the impressive start he's had to his professional career when he faces Clearfield, Utah's Eddie Cordova (3-2-1, 1 KO). The 19-year old Arnett is coming off of a four round victory over Yosmani Abreu last month will look to continue his winning ways. Also representing the boxing-rich island of Puerto Rico will be Caguas prospect Abner Cotto (13-0, 5 KO's). The cousin of fistic heroes Miguel and Jose Cotto, the 24-year-old is currently the WBC Fecarbox and Puerto Rican lightweight champion. He will meet Mexico City's Juan Manuel Montiel (7-5-3, 2 KO's) in an eight round bout.

UFC: First ever card in China.

FIRST-EVER UFC^® EVENT ANNOUNCED FOR CHINA

 

Macau to host Fight Night in November 2012

 

Beijing, China – The Ultimate Fighting Championship^® organization continued its foray into new territories today, officially announcing its first-ever event in the People’s Republic of China, and its second event in Asia this year. Macau, a Special Administrative Region of China located off the mainland’s southern coast, will host a UFC event on November 10, 2012.

 

The event will take place at The Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel’s CotaiArena, a 15,000-seat venue which has established itself as the top live-entertainment location in southern China.  The fight will be broadcast by FUEL TV in the US market, and by numerous UFC television partners around Asia and globally.

 

“Breaking into a market with a population of over 1.3 billion is both a testament to the growth of our sport and a long-term challenge we are excited to undertake,” said Lorenzo Fertitta, UFC Chairman and CEO. “This is just the first of many world-class fights we plan to hold over the coming years in China, one of the birthplaces of martial arts.  The world-class CotaiArena in Macau is an ideal place to start this journey.”

 

"Sands China is thrilled to introduce UFC to Macau forthe first time," said Edward Tracy, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sands China Ltd. "Our continuing mission is to bring the best entertainment events to the region, cementing Macau's place as Asia's entertainment hub. It's our pleasure to be working with the UFC organization to bring such a major sporting event for the enjoyment of Macau's visitors andlocals alike."

 

Over the last several years, the UFC has built its broadcast reach in China to more than 450 million television viewers via a dozen provincial broadcasters, and more than 500 million unique viewers through the nation’s leading internet portals. UFC fighter Zhang Tiequan leads a growing group of professional MMA fighters in mainland China, several of whom are candidates to make their UFC debut in Macau.

 

“This event is a major step in the development of the UFC brand in this region of the world, and China in particular,” noted Mark Fischer, UFC Managing Director of Asia. “We are delighted by this opportunity to build on the media growth and attention we have received and to finally bring a live event in prime time to the millions of fans in this area, and especially to those lucky enough to come and experience all the excitement of the UFC in person.”

 

Ticket information and fight card announcements to be made at a later date. For more information or current fight news, visit http://ufc.cn/.

 

Photo credit: The Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel

About the Ultimate Fighting Championship^®

Universally recognized for its action-packed, can’t-miss events that have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across the globe, the UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas and with offices in London, Toronto and Beijing, UFC produces more than 30 live events annually and is the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. In 2011, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group. The agreement includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network annually, with additional fight cards and thousands of hours of programming broadcast on FOX properties FX and FUEL TV. This also includes the longest-running sports reality show on television, The Ultimate Fighter^®, which now airs on FX.

 

In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 149 countries and territories, tonearly one billion homes worldwide, in 20 different languages. UFC content is also distributed commercially in the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions, in English throughout Canada via Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc. and in French throughout Quebec via Interbox. The UFC also connects with tens of millions of fans through its website, UFC.com, as well as social media sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with over twomillion followers on Twitter. Ancillary UFC businesses include best-sellingDVDs, an internationally distributed magazine, UFC.TV offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, the best-selling UFC Undisputed^® video game franchise distributed by THQ and a new franchise in development with EA, UFC GYM^®, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo^® festivals, branded apparel and trading cards.

 

About the CotaiArena™

Since opening in 2007, the 15,000-seat CotaiArena has established itself as the top live-entertainmentvenue in southern China. It is the only venue in Asia ranked in Pollstar’s Top 100 Worldwide Arena Venues based on ticket sales. It hosts the world’s and the region’s biggest names in music, sports and awards shows. Superstars frequently choose the venue as the starting point of their Asian tours.

UFC 148: Sonnen vs Silva

UFC 148 MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE MAIN EVENT

REMATCH TOO CLOSE TO CALL

 

Las Vegas, Nevada – When Chael Sonnen challenged Anderson Silva for the UFC^® middleweight title on August 7, 2010 at UFC 117, he started the fight as a 4-1 underdog. He is the underdog once again for Saturday’s eagerly-awaited UFC 148 rematch, but the odds this time are significantly closer due to Sonnen’s incredible success in the first fight.

Chael Sonnen said: “To say this guy is superior to me is a joke. Look at the statistics from the first fight. I out-landed him by over 200 punches, I took him down at will, I passed his guard at will and I beat him on the feet too.”

Sonnen’s boasts are supported by hard data. According to FightMetric, the challenger landed 252 more strikes than Silva, with a total of 320 punches, kicks, elbows and knees finding the mark; Sonnen completed three takedowns in the fight, and kept Silva on his back for a combined 20 minutes of the fight – twice as much as “The Spider” had been on his back in his entire UFC career; Sonnen passed Silva’s guard into side-control six times and swept him as well; Sonnen also out-struck Silva during the three minutes the fight was contested standing up.

However, the champion said the only statistic that really counts is who won the fight.

Anderson Silva said: “He took me down, he is good at wrestling. Okay. Good. But I punch him in the face ‘BAP! BAP! BAP! BOOM!’ and that is it. I win. That’s it. No different from the first fight on Saturday. I win!”

UFC^® 148: SILVA vs. SONNEN 2 will be available live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN, and in Canada on BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$49.99 CAN for Standard Definition and $54.99 US/$59.99 CAN for High Definition.

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

About the Ultimate Fighting Championship^®

Universally recognized for its action-packed, can’t-miss events that have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across the globe, the UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas and with offices in London, Toronto and Beijing, UFC produces more than 30 live events annually and is the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. In 2011, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group. The agreement includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network annually, with additional fight cards and thousands of hours of programming broadcast on FOX properties FX and FUEL TV. This also includes the longest-running sports reality show on television, The Ultimate Fighter^®, which now airs on FX.

In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 149 countries and territories, to nearly one billion homes worldwide, in 20 different languages. UFC content is also distributed commercially in the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions, in English throughout Canada via Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc. and in French throughout Quebec via Interbox. The UFC also connects with tens of millions of fans through its website,UFC.com, as well as social media sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with over two million followers on Twitter. Ancillary UFC businesses include best-selling DVDs, an internationally distributed magazine, UFC.TV offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, the best-selling UFC Undisputed^® video game franchise distributed by THQ, UFC GYM^®, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo^® festivals, branded apparel and trading cards.

UFC Fan Expo Las Vegas:Grapplers Quest Mega-Superfight

Grapplers Quest Mega-Superfight, 4-Man Pro Tournaments & $17,300 in Prizes this Friday & Saturday at UFC Fan Expo Las Vegas Dean Lister vs Ricardo "Dimente" Abreu plus Two 4-Man Tournaments featuring Cooper, Paxiao, Watson, Cocco, Shapiro, Vaughan, Milos & more LAS VEGAS (July 2, 2012) - The Ultimate Fighting Championship® and Grapplers Quest are proud to announce the official Superfights and 4-Man Pro Tournaments at the UFC Fan Expo® this Friday and Saturday, July 6 & 7, at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Advanced Division Champions and All Absolute Divisions will be awarded Custom Glass Octagon Awards and the largest medallion in the sport of grappling, The Grapplers Quest Octagon Medal, exclusively for UFC Fan Expo Champions. The two-day tournament will feature adult No-Gi submission grappling divisions on Friday, July 6. The 2-Day Grapplers Quest event will showcase two separate 4-Man Tournaments and some mega-superfights. All featured matches will showcase the new "Grapplers Quest Professional Rules" which include a 10-minute Submission Only Round, Followed by a Five-Minute Overtime with Grapplers Quest rules, only if necessary. "It's the evolution of the sport of grappling," Grapplers Quest owner, Brian Cimins commented. "Eddie Bravo inspired me to open my mind towards Submission only and I've never been more excited. Everything geared for television and more than 10 million fans on YouTube want more submissions. This event nearly guarantees it!  Our event this weekend is going to be the best superfight tournament, featuring the highest level of exciting talent to date." The first 4-Man Tournament (under 165 lbs.) features Marcelo "Lapela" Mafra (Cobra Kai/CheckMat) taking on Kyle Watson, a UFC Veteran & TUF Finalist. Miami submission hunter, Enrico Cocco (2-Time UFC Fan Expo Advanced Champion, #1 Lightweight in Southeast), takes on Las Vegas local, Jerry Shapiro of Cobra Kai Jiu Jitsu under Sim Go. Alternate in tournament is Younes Jemni (Amilcar Cipilli "Mica" - Gracie Humaita). The 2nd 4-Man Tournament (under 165 lbs.) features Bill Cooper (Strikeforce & 2-Time UFC Fan Expo Superfight Champion) challenging Andre Vaughan (Mica - Gracie Humaita) and on the other side of the bracket, local standout, Fredson Paxiao (4-Time World Jiu Jitsu Champion, UFC and WEC Veteran) takes on Justin Milos (10th Planet, Eddie Bravo, Undefeated in MMA) with Alternate: Daniel Aguilar (Multiple Time Grapplers Quest U.S. National and Brazilian Champion).  Then, on Saturday, July 7, the tournament will feature all-youth No-Gi grappling and all-adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo Divisions. The Two four-man superfight tournaments featuring will be prequel to the grappling Superfight featuring two titans of grappling, including reigning Abu Dhabi World No-Gi Absolute Champion, Dean Lister taking on Ricardo "Demente" Abreu, South American and European Jiu Jitsu Champion plus 2-Time Grapplers Quest UFC Fan Expo Advanced Division and Absolute Division Pro Champion. The Superfight will also be a 10 minute Submission Only match with 5 minute Overtime, if necessary.    BONUS SUPERFIGHT: If time permits and injuries barred, we will have the winners of each 4-Man Tournament compete for a $1,000 impromptu Superfight Bonus match! $17,300 in Cash and Prize Packages for UFC Fan Expo Las Vegas: $1,500 Men's No-Gi Submission Grappling Advanced Absolute ($500 cash plus 2012 sponsorship) $1,500 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt Absolute ($500 cash plus 2012 sponsorship) $1,100 Men's No-Gi Intermediate Absolute Package ($100 cash + 2012 sponsorship) $1,100 Men's No-Gi Beginner Absolute Package ($100 cash + 2012 sponsorship) $1,100 Men's No-Gi Novice Absolute Package ($100 cash + 2012 sponsorship) $1,100 Men's Brown Belt Absolute Package ($100 cash + 2012 sponsorship) $1,100 Men's Purple Absolute Package ($100 cash + 2012 sponsorship) $1,100 Men's Blue Belt Absolute Package ($100 cash + 2012 sponsorship) $1,100 Men's White Belt Absolute Package ($100 cash + 2012 sponsorship) $1,100 Women's Purple/Brown/Black Absolute ($100 cash + 2012 sponsorship) $1,100 Women's Blue Belt Absolute ($100 cash + 2012 sponsorship) $1,100 Women's BJJ White Belt Absolute Package ($100 cash + 2012 sponsorship) $1,100 Women's No-Gi Advanced Absolute Package ($100 cash + 2012 sponsorship) $1,100 Women's No-Gi Intermediate ($100 cash + 2012 sponsorship) $1,100 Women's No-Gi Beginner Absolute Package ($100 cash + 2012 sponsorship) The grappling tournament is limited to 1,500 competitor slots. Competitor registration starting at just $99 includes:          ● Full Access to the UFC Fan Expo both days ($50 value)          ● Free Grapplers Quest at UFC Fan Expo Fighter T-Shirt by TapouT ($30)          ● $20 off at-the-door pricing          ● Free Entry into UFC Fan Expo Judo Throwdown Tournament ($60 value) Registration Savings: end on Wednesday, July 4 at 11:59 p.m. PST - Space is limited, so register today athttp://www.grapplersquest.com/products/competitor-registration-grapplers-quest-ufc-fan-expo-july-6-7-las-vegas. Tickets for the UFC Fan Expo® are on sale NOW at http://ufcexpo-GQ.eventbrite.com. Tickets for Friday, July 6 are priced at $40 and tickets for Saturday, July 7 are $45. A two-day pass is also available for only$60. Fans are encouraged to buy tickets now and save because prices are higher at the door. The UFC Fan Expo® in July will feature more than 300,000 gross square feet of activities for UFC fans, including meet and greets and autograph sessions with top UFC and STRIKEFORCE® fighters, Q&A sessions with top UFC personalities, as well as grappling tournaments and other special events. More than 100 exhibitors will also be on hand, giving fans the opportunity to purchase and experience some of the best sports and lifestyle products on the market today. This marks the third UFC Fan Expo® held in Las Vegas since its inception in 2009, with additional UFC Fan Expos being held in Boston, London, Toronto and Houston. On top of all the great fan activities, the UFC Fan Expo® will be held in conjunction with a major UFC Pay-Per-View event scheduled for July 7 in Las Vegas. For more information on UFC Fan Expo® and to purchase tickets, visit http://ufcexpo-GQ.eventbrite.com. Go to http://www.ufcfanexpo.com/newsletter to subscribe for the official UFC Fan Expo® newsletter. For companies interested in reserving space at this premier event, contact Brian Bernstein, Sales Executive at 203-840-5474 or email bbernstein@ufcfanexpo.com. Don't wait, space is limited and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.