Las Vegas, Nevada–Four of the most dangerous contenders in
the light heavyweight division each have the chance to secure a shot at the UFC
world title by putting on a devastating performance at UFC On FOX Saturday
night (live at 8pm ET/5pm PT).
First, in the co-main event from Los Angeles’ STAPLES
Center, former light heavyweight champion and karate expert Lyoto “The Dragon”
Machida battles Ryan “Darth” Bader, a thunderous puncher and former NCAA
All-American wrestler.
Then, in the five round main event, one of the greatest of
all time, former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, fights
on free TV when he throws down with a resurging Brandon “The Truth” Vera.
UFC President Dana White confirmed whichever contender looks
the most impressive in victory this Saturday will face the winner of the
September 1 Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson UFC title showdown.
Dana White said: “When the fans speak, we listen. So whoever
scores the best win, whoever gets the fans excited by going out there on
Saturday and looking the most impressive, he will get the winner of Jones vs. Henderson . It is down to
what these four guys do Saturday night in the Octagon. Winning isn’t enough,
they’ve got to win impressively. Any one of these four fighters can take things
into their own hands and make a title shot happen.”
“Shogun” Rua said: “I think this fight with Vera is going to
be a great fight while it lasts. Vera is a very good striker, and I think this
fight will take place standing up and will be a great war for the fans. I know
winning isn’t enough; I have to look very impressive and I am planning on a
fast knockout like I did against Forrest Griffin. I am not underestimating
Vera, he has skills and has a lot to prove, but I have skills and want my title
back.
“I want the winner of Jones vs. Henderson . The fight I had with Henderson was a great
fight, the fight of the year, and it was a very close fight. I am okay with
that, it was a great fight. But the loss to Jones I can’t live with. I could
have done so much better and I want to fight him again. First, though, I have
to beat Brandon Vera and winning isn’t good enough. I have to be very
impressive, but that it what I have trained to do.”
Brandon Vera said: “I’m so ready for this. This is ‘The
Truth’ resurging. I feel like I have won the lottery twice, not just fighting a
legend like Shogun on FOX, but having the chance to get a title shot. ‘The
Truth’ is going to shine though. Shogun is the one who has everything to lose.
This is Shogun’s showcase, his spotlight, his time and I’m going to take all
that off him. I’m taking his name, his title runs, everything he is, and I’m
taking it all for myself.
“The guy is a legend, man. When you fight this guy you’re
not just fighting some of the best skills in the world, some champion who can
mess you up bad with kicks and knees, you are fighting a sick guy who
absolutely will not stop coming after you. Beating Shogun – and beating him the
way I want – corrects all the mistakes I’ve made and wipes away all the bad
performances. Beating Frank Mir is probably my best performance, but people
don’t realize that was nothing compared to what I do all the time in the gym.
I’m going to show off what ‘The Truth’ really is on FOX.”
Lyoto Machida: “I respect Ryan Bader very much as a fighter.
He will pose some great problems but I believe my training camp has been one of
the best of my career. My striking is very sharp, and I’ve worked on my
wrestling because Bader is a strong wrestler. I’ve made some radical changes in
my training, although karate will always be my main focus. I am getting back on
the road to the title. I know what I have to do, and I am ready for this
opportunity.”
Ryan Bader: “This is it, time to show what I can do. I’m
better than ever; I used to be just a wrestler with a big overhand right, but
I’ve added many more skills to my game now. Fights against Rampage and Brilz
have shown my stand-up is a lot more technical and smooth. The win over Rampage
felt like the start of a new chapter. After dominating Rampage my confidence
went through the roof and I’m now more than happy to face anybody in the light
heavyweight division.
“Machida
is a former champion but so were three out of my last four opponents. I’m no
longer looking at these guys as fighters I used to watch on TV– they’re now my
peers, my rivals. Machida
is no different. No one is invincible and it is now my time to beat him and go
on to a title shot.”
Tickets for UFC® on FOX: SHOGUN vs. VERA are on sale now are
priced at $200, $150, $100, $85, $70, $45 and $30. Tickets will be available at
the STAPLES Center
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, and a new
franchise in development with EA, UFC GYM®, UFC Fight Club affinity program,
UFC Fan Expo® festivals, branded apparel and trading cards.
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