Las Vegas, NV (USA) – For the first-time ever, millions of action sports thrill-seekers will see the UFC^® and its matching event numbers racing around the ESPN X Games this weekend live on ESPN, all as part of a cross-promotional partnership with PMR Motorsports.

ESPN viewers and X Games fans packed inside the LA Coliseum won’t miss the trademark UFC logo and numbers “117” and “118” on the 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Rally Cars driven by Patrick Moro and Timothy Rooney of PMR Motorsports. 117 and 118 symbolize the next two blockbuster UFC events coming up in August.

“The UFC and the XGames are the perfect combination, and it’s an honor for UFC 117 and UFC 118 to be represented on the PMR Motorsports rally cars,” said Dana White, UFC President.

“I am very excited to have UFC on board with us for X Games 16,” said Moro. “I think we are opening new doors to our sport everyday and I’m glad that PMR is the company that has a chance to prove these relationships can absolutely work both ways. The competition is going to be very fast as every year is at the X Games, but I have faith that our freshly built cars will be able to closely compete with them. I still didn’t really have a chance to celebrate our Super Production Championship and we are off to the next event. It is going to be a great one!”

“It is an honor to be invited to X Games for a driver that competed in his first rally event just two years ago,” said Rooney. “This experience alone will be one of a kind for me, not to mention having UFC there with us. I can’t wait to step into our new cars and hit the gas pedal.”

UFC 117 takes place next Saturday, August 7^th, live from the Oracle Arena in Oakland, featuring UFC Middleweight Champion and the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Anderson “The Spider” Silva, vs. Chael Sonnen.

A pronounced fan of the X Games, Silva was in attendance last night for the Moto X Freestyle Final, Women’s Super X Final and Men’s Super X Final.

UFC 118, featuring reigning champion Frankie Edgar in a rematch with BJ Penn, and three-time boxing champion James Toney vs. five-time UFC champion Randy Couture, is taking place live from TD Garden in Boston on Saturday, August 28.

Fans can catch the live Rally Car Racing and SuperRally action LIVE on ESPN, Saturday, July 31st from 4:00pm – 7:00pm PT, and 7:15pm – 8:00pm PT.

This Sunday, August 1st, the UFC returns to the Versus channel with UFC Live on Versus: Jones vs Matyushenko.  This card is loaded with some very compelling matchups, especially considering that this is a free show.  The last UFC card on Versus was also pretty stacked, and it featured Jon Jones in the main event as well where he defeated Brandon Vera via TKO from his razer sharp elbows on the ground.  Jones will face a stern test against the veteran wrestler Vladimir Matyushenko in the main event.  As always, don’t throw away your hard earned cash based on these predictions, my analysis is usually a lot better than my actual winner selections.

The first fight of the night will be a lightweight battle between Tyson Griffin and “The Fireball Kid” Takanori Gomi.  Both fighters are coming off losses, but both were to fighters that neither should be ashamed of losing to.  Griffin lost to rising contender Evan Dunham at UFC 115 and Gomi lost his UFC debut to Kenny Florian in the main event of Ultimate Fight Night 21 back in March.  Both fighters are decent wrestlers, with Griffin having the advantage there, and both fighters have become proficient with their striking.  Gomi will have a sizable advantage in the power department, but Griffin will likely have a deeper gas tank.  This fight could go either way.  I highly doubt Griffin will be able to pick Gomi apart with his jab like Kenny Florian did, and I also highly doubt Gomi will stifle Griffin with his wrestling like Evan Dunham.

This is a match that Griffin needs to take to the ground.  Gomi is a very dangerous striker, who despite losing 3 of his last 5 fights is always dangerous on the feet and still carries that same power that made him Pride’s last lightweight champion.  Gomi will have to improve his takedown defense and keep this fight standing where he can hopefully land that big shot to end the fight.  If Gomi comes in well conditioned, this match has fight of the night written all over it.  In the end though, I think Griffin will outwork Gomi and could end the fight late or just ride out a decision.

Prediction – Tyson Griffin via unanimous decision

The next fight is a welterweight bout between two rising prospects in John “Doomsday” Howard and Jake Ellenberger.  Howard has quietly gone 4-0 in the UFC while Ellenberger has gone 1-1 against slightly stiffer opposition.  Both fighters pack some serious power in their strikes but it’s Ellenberger that has a significant grappling advantage.  Howard was put on his back for three straight rounds against the crafty veteran Dennis Hallman but knocked him out with 5 seconds left after a rather controversial standup, so I think if Ellenberger wants, he can smother Howard with his wrestling.  The opportunity is there for Ellenberger, but I have a feeling he’s going to stand toe to toe with Howard and see who’s the last man standing.  This fight has a very big chance of ending in the first round, and I think it’ll be the more well rounded Ellenberger who will still be standing when it’s over.

Prediction – Jake Ellenberger via 1st round knockout

Another very interesting fight is a middleweight bout between Mark “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” Munoz and Yushin “Thunder” Okami.  Both fighters have very similar bases in wrestling, and both are large middleweights who cut a significant amount of weight to make 185.  Munoz has developed into a takedown artist with some of the most viscous ground and pound in the UFC.  Okami is still a good wrestler, but he uses his more to grind out decisions than to end fights.  Okami has shown improvement in his striking recently, especially in his TKO victory over Lucio Linhares at Ultimate Fight Night 21.  Munoz was KO’d in highlight reel fashion against Matt Hammil back in 2009, but dropped down to middleweight and has since gone 3-0, most recently knocking out Kendell Grove at UFC 112 and taking home a fight of the night award in the process.

Munoz has been putting some time in with Anderson Silva in the last few months in a mutually beneficial partnership.  Munoz has been preparing Silva for the wrestling of Chael Sonnen while Silva has helped strengthen Munoz’s biggest weakness, his striking.  If Munoz has improved his striking enough, that would likely nullify Okami’s biggest advantage in this fight.  I’ve wavered on this pick a couple times now, but I’m gonna go with the Wrecking Machine.

Prediction – Mark Munoz via 2nd round TKO

Lastly, and most importantly is the battle of rising prospect against crafty veteran as Jon “Bones” Jones takes on Vladimir “The Janitor” Matyushenko.  Jones is an absolute stud, having blistered up the ranks in the UFC light heavyweight division by taking apart foes like Stephan Bonnar, Jake O’Brien and Brandon Vera.  The only “loss” of Jones’ career was a disqualification from illegal elbows against Matt Hamill in a fight that he was absolutely dominating.  The 39 year old Matyushenko, on the other hand, is not one to sleep on.  His only loss in the last 7 years was to fellow UFC contender Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

In the conference call last week, Jones admitted that he’s watched all of Matyushenko’s fights in preparation for this main event.  That must have been quite a film session because Matyushenko has fought a who’s who of light heavyweight and heavyweight opponents in his nearly 13 year professional career including a light heavyweight title fight with Tito Ortiz back in 2001.  Matyushenko may not have the name recognition that fans ask for in a main event fight, but he will likely be Jones’ toughest fight to date and he presents an opportunity to put Jones in a position he’s never been yet, on his back.

Matyushenko is a very accomplished wrestler and he grinds out decisions with top control and respectable striking.  He will not want to stand and trade with Jones however, who will hold a ridiculous 10″ reach advantage.  If Jones can get some space, we’ll likely see some of his very diverse array of spinning strikes like that spinning back elbow that floored Stephan Bonnar at UFC 94.  Jones will be bigger, faster and will likely have a deeper gas tank than Matyushenko, so it’s up to The Janitor to get this fight to the ground.  Putting Jones on his back for at least 2 rounds is the only way I can see him winning this fight, but Jones has already tossed around top wrestlers like Jake O’Brien and Matt Hamill, I just don’t see things going any differently here.

Prediction – Jon Jones via 1st round TKO

(LAS VEGAS, NV — July 28, 2010) – With the city of Boston buzzing about the arrival of the UFC Fan Expo™ at the John B. Hynes Convention Center on August 27 and 28, the Ultimate Fighting Championship turned up the heat today by announcing the list of fighters that will participate in the weekend of festivities.

The following fighters will participate in autograph sessions and a variety of other fan activities: UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell, UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, WEC lightweight champion Ben Henderson, WEC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin, former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz, Carlos Condit, Clay Guida, Cole Miller, Efrain Escudero, Gabriel Gonzaga, Jon Jones, Josh Grispi, Kurt Pellegrino, Matt Hamill, Martin Kampmann, Pat Barry, Roy Nelson, Thiago Alves, Anthony Johnson, Ricardo Almeida, Renzo Gracie, and former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber. Additional fighters added to the UFC Fan Expo will be announced in the coming weeks.

All the UFC Fan Expo activities will be planned in conjunction with UFC 118, which takes place at TD Garden on Saturday, Aug. 28. Headlined by a lightweight title rematch between champion Frankie Edgar and former division leader BJ Penn, UFC 118 also marks the mixed martial arts debut of three-time world champion boxer James Toney, who will take on UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture.

For more information on UFC Fan Expo and to purchase tickets, visit www.ufcfanexpo.com. To subscribe to the official UFC Fan Expo newsletter visitwww.ufcfanexpo.com/newsletter. For companies interested in reserving space at this premier event, contact Ed Gallo, Event Director at 1-203-840-5546 or email egallo@ufcfanexpo.com. Don’t wait, space is limited and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – The pound-for-pound greatest fighter in the world, UFC^® Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, is taking time out from his intense training schedule for his upcoming fight at UFC 117 to attend ESPN’s X Games 16 Thursday, July 29, 2010. “The Spider” will be in attendance at the LA Coliseum for the Moto X Freestyle Final, Women’s Super X Final and Men’s Super X Final, among other competitions televised live nationally on ESPN.

Two more fans of the X Games, UFC’s Octagon Girl Arianny Celeste, who recently graced the cover of Maxim Magazine, and Spike TV’s Best of PRIDE^® host Kenda Perez, who is featured in the August issue of UFC Magazine, will also be in attendance Thursday evening.

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – Just days before UFC’s Jon “Bones” Jones takes on Vladimir Matyushenko live on VERSUS, the San Diego Padres will honor the rising light heavyweight in the team’s Major League Baseball game this Friday, July 30 at 6:58 PM PT.

Jones, in town for his UFC fight at San Diego Sports Arena on Sunday, Aug. 1, will throw the ceremonial first pitch and kick off the Padres game against the Florida Marlins.

“I love San Diego and I’m excited to do the first pitch for the Padres,” Jones said.  “I’m going to try to throw a strike for the fans on Friday, and then give them a knockout Sunday.”

Today is the day of the conference call between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen in the buildup of their middleweight title fight for UFC 117.  I don’t know about you but I’m getting some serious MMA nerd chills about this one.  This call has potential to be epic, Rampage/Rashad like even especially with the amount of trash that Chael talks about Anderson.  It could be epic, or it could be very one sided with Anderson not responding to anything Chael says.  It’s all up to him what he’s going to do and say.  I’ve got some excellent questions prepared, the call begins at 2 pm eastern time and I’ll begin updating this post then.

1:55 pm – I’m getting antsy, I’ve got a feeling this call is going to be the craziest I’ve listened in on yet (yes nuttier than Nick Diaz).

2:00 pm – Still on hold, oh man I hope this doesn’t delay too much, I haven’t even had a chance to enter my confirmation code.

2:02 pm – Ok, the initial worries are over.  I’ve officially entered my code and identified myself.  Now it’s just time to wait until the call starts.

2:06 pm – Alright, we’re starting!  The delay could have been much worse.  They’re still saying Anderson Silva is the best pound for pound fighter in the world.

2:07 pm – Ed Soares will be translating for Anderson, hopefully everything goes through correctly.

2:08 pm – Anderson was asked if this was the most anticipated fight of his career, his answer “No”, haha.

2:09 pm – Chael says he’s only just now starting to look at tape on Silva this week or next week.  Chael says he’s the toughest guy in the company and no guy with earrings will out-tough him and Anderson won’t be the first.

2:11 pm – Chael says that all the attention has been a distraction, hell, this call is a distraction right now.  Everything is a hurdle, and if you’re gonna headline a main event, there should be added pressure.  Chael says he’s a partner with with the UFC and Anderson is just an employee, that’s why Chael’s getting all the questions.  Because he gives real answers to question instead of “Yes” and “No”

2:12 pm – Chael says he doesn’t go out and say ridiculous things.  He’s gonna put Anderson flat on his back.

2:13 pm – When asked what his thoughts are on his former Muay Thai coach training with Dan Henderson and Team Quest, Anderson Silva says he’s aware of it and he hopes that he does well out there and he wishes him the best of luck.

2:14 pm – I asked Anderson what he thought about Dana White saying he’d cut him if he had a bad performance even if he won.  Anderson said that Dana can say whatever he wants.

2:15 pm – I asked Chael if he was concerned about his future political career with some of the comments that he’s been saying in the prefight hype for this fight.  Chael said that he always has his political career in mind when he says anything and he’s received a good response in his home district.

2:19 pm - Silva says that Dan Henderson is one of the best fighters around and he has no problems with him.

2:21 pm – Chael says if he wins, Vitor is next in line.  It’s not the guy he’d want to fight, but Vitor is next.

2:22 pm – Chael says he’s not upset about Anderson’s antics in the ring, he doesn’t care about sportsmanship and honor.  It’s a fight, do whatever you want.  He just simply doesn’t like Anderson, that’s it.  No apology and no explanation.  They’re not friends and they’re gonna fight, that’s it.  He’s gonna take the belt from him on the 7th and Dana’s gonna fire Anderson on August 8th.  He also says Ed Soares is a smart man and a gentleman and he could consider him a friend.

2:24 pm – Anderson was asked about what his thoughts were about the US vs Brazil card that’s been lined up.  Anderson said yes he’s very excited.  Chael was asked the same thing, he said he anticipates it wouldn’t be too much different.  American fans aren’t biased and he really doesn’t know.  He hadn’t thought about it until it was asked to him.

2:26 pm - Chael says he doesn’t think Anderson has any fans.  No one sponsors him and no one wants to act like him dress like him or be like him.  Chael says he has excellent sponsors and merchendise and way more fans.

2:27 pm – Chael says he goes into this fight more to be the champion than to beat Anderson Silva.  Anderson is not on his mind at all right now.  Coming from a wrestling background, you just weigh in, not knowing who’ll show and you just show up and do your job, the opponents don’t matter.  Bullies like Anderson go out and pick their fights fighting one legged guys from Canada and math teachers from Ohio.

2:28 pm – Chael says his hometown gives him a sense of pride and a lot of motivation.

2:29 pm – Anderson was asked what his thoughts were on Chael’s trash talk since he said he was bothered by Demian Maia’s prefight talk in his last fight.  He says he thinks all of Chael’s trash talk is funny.

2:31 pm – Chael says he’s promoting the fight himself, he’s the only one that people cares about anyways.  The media are the only people who are fans of Anderson Silva, he doesn’t even know why Anderson is here on the call.

2:32 pm – Anderson was asked about his thoughts on Chael, since Chael has been very open about his thoughts for Anderson.  He says Chael is just being a funny guy.  Ed Soares says that we want them to engage in the call, Anderson just thinks it’s funny and nothing else, no epic arguments like Rampage/Rashad on this call.

2:34 pm – Back to back questions that Ed Soares answers before even asking to Anderson.  Now Anderson just says he just wants to go in there to do his job.  This is the way Chael is promoting the fight, he doesn’t want to mess around and talk crap about people.

2:36 pm – Anderson says that of course Chael deserves this title shot.

2:37 pm – Anderson says no, he hasn’t become bored.  He likes his sport and the weight division he fights in and he’s prepared to stay in his weight division.  Anderson wants to retire fighting in his weight class.

2:38 pm – Chael says he doesn’t rehearse his questions to hype a fight, he doesn’t shoot promos or ask himself questions.  We ask questions and he answers them.  He gives people a reason to watch the fight, he could drag Anderson behind the hotel and beat him whenever he wants but he made a commitment to do this fight on August 7th.

2:39 pm – Chael doesn’t want to disclose what he’s preparing for.  Anderson is a very scary fighter with sharp elbows and knees.  He’ll hurt Chael really bad on the 7th and he’s confident he’s gonna leave with the championship anyways.

2:41 pm – Anderson was asked a question from a reporter in Portuguese.  Anderson says if you want to face him, make weight and come fight him in his division which is 185 lbs.

2:42 pm – Chael says he’d never give Rich Franklin a title shot if he wins the title, Rich ducked him for 18 months and Anderson ducked him for 4 years.  The “Math teacher” wouldn’t fight him and neither would Anderson.  Anderson’s only here because “Uncle Dana” made him come here.

2:44 pm – Anderson was asked what his thoughts are on people saying he’s not doing enough to promote the fight.  He says he’s doing his job, he’s training every day.  Chael’s not promoting the fight the same way that Anderson does.  He’s going to do a great performance on August 7th and that’s why people should watch.

2:46 pm – Anderson feels everything he’s done in the past will help promote the fight.

2:48 pm – Anderson sounds pretty angry now when asked about Chael’s comments again.  He says people aren’t paying to hear people talk shit to each other back and forth, they are paying for the fight.

2:49 pm – Chael says he’s accomplished far more than Anderson Silva, Anderson has accomplished more in this company than him, but his accomplishments overall are much better.

2:49 pm – Anderson was asked what changes he’s made from his last two middleweight defenses in comparison to this fight with Chael.  He says he started training with Steven Segal (I think that’s a joke).  Chael interrupts and says you should expect a boring answer since you asked Anderson a question.  He says Anderson knows nothing about business, people want to know why they’re fighting.  Anderson couldn’t have this industry more backward.  He thinks people would want to pat Anderson on the back for saying “you’re training really hard” but he’s been training really hard since he was 9 years old.  Everyone does that.  (Just clarifying, yes I know Anderson actually trained with Segal, but I don’t think it helped him prepare for Chael in any way).

2:52 pm – Anderson was asked why he’s been giving so many short answers.  He sounds frustrated.  He says everyone promotes a fight in a different way.  He doesn’t have much to say because there really isn’t much to say.  Winning or losing he’s gonna do his job.  Chael’s talking a lot of shit and it’s not his job to talk shit before a fight.

2:53 pm – Damn only one more question allowed and I had another one for Chael, I’d punched in like 25 minutes ago.  Chael says a training cycle isn’t enough to adapt new skills, but he doesn’t believe that he can just command Anderson to his back.  He can’t think of any fight where Anderson got handled on the ground.  Chael’s fought 41 men and never been outstruck on his feet either.  This is going to be a fight that neither Anderson or Chael has been used to.  Chael says he’s dominated every fight he’s ever been including the ones he’s lost.

2:55 pm – Anderson was asked if he’s equally comfortable on the ground as standing against Chael.  Anderson says he’s an MMA fighter and you have to prepared to fight everywhere whether it’s on the feet or on his back.  He’s ready wherever the fight goes.

Ok, that’s the end of a pretty epic conference call.  Hope you enjoyed it!

EDIT: I came across a fantastic compilation of Chael’s craziest answers from the call today.

The UFC sent me an invite to their media conference call with the main event fighters for their 2nd show on the Versus channel, Jon Jones and Vladimir Matyushenko.  Below is an excerpt of their press release for the event.  I plan on posting a summary of the call, which starts at 2:00 pm eastern time after the jump.

About UFC on Versus:

Ultimate Fighting Championship sensation Jon “Bones” Jones will attempt to continue his rapid ascension in the light heavyweight division when he steps into the Octagon against veteran fighter Vladimir “The Janitor” Matyushenko live from the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, Calif. on August 1.  Both fighters are coming off victories on the premiere of UFC on Versus in March, highlighted by Jones who defeated Brandon “The Truth” Vera in the main event.  Also featured on the card is a middleweight matchup between Mark Munoz and Yushin Okami.

-Ouch, some disrespect for Matyushenko with the first question, talking about Matyushenko not being the right fighter for Jones as he moves forward with his career.

-Wow, the moderator of the call says there’s an emergency in their building and they had to disconnect, interesting.  Apparently a fire alarm went off and they had to evacuate.  The rest of the call is a different moderator taking our questions via e-mail and asking them to Jones and Matyushenko personally while we listen in.

-Matyushenko: “I can’t make my reach longer or get taller, but I can train as hard as I possibly can and I’ll be ready on August 1st

-Jones: “A real champion focuses on what they don’t know, not what they know.  Everyone is saying all these things about me, but I’m not saying them.  I think it’s really important to stay grounded.

-Matyushenko says he’s not concerned about all the hype surrounding Jones.  He says that with a victory over Jones, all that hype will transfer over to him so he appreciates it.

-Jones says Matyushenko is tougher than Brandon Vera and Matt Hamill.  He’s watched all of Matyushenko’s fights and he’s very impressed with his ability to grind guys down.  He’s not flashy, but he’s effective and he wins.

-Matyushenko says he got the nickname “The Janitor” because he helped clean up the mats at a big tournament, and people joked that he didn’t fight there, he just worked there.  Someone nicknamed him The Janitor and it stuck with him.

I asked Matyushenko: You fought for the UFC light heavyweight title nearly 9 years ago, but MMA has exploded in popularity since then.  Do you think this main event fight with Jon Jones is the most high profile fight of your career?

Matyushenko said that the Tito fight was really big for him personally, but yeah, this is probably the biggest fight of his career

I also asked Jon Jones whether he would be open to fighting his training partner Rashad Evans down the road.

Jones said “No, most certainly not, never.” Interesting

Matyushenko was asked about the biggest differences in the UFC and MMA since he came back.  He said that the media has really grown, fighters are celebrities now.  The public is more educated, there’s less people yelling and screaming for to kick each other in the balls, people understand the sport better now.  He’s learned how to train properly, how to recover properly and while it is getting harder since he’s getting older, he’s also getting smarter with his MMA knowledge.

-Jones says that Phil Nurse has trained him to diversify his striking.  He’s the one that embraces spinning techniques and flying techniques and he’s helped him out considerably.

-Jones said that no, he never turned down a fight with Lil Nog, that report was false, but if he was offered it at the time, he might have turned it down because he doesn’t think he’s ready.  He actually sat down with the reporter that made up the story.

-Jones says he wants to use Vladimir’s experience against him, by showing him something he’s never seen before.  ”He’s never fought anyone like me.”

-Matyushenko says Jones is very unpredictable, he might not even know what he’s going to do next.  He says that Jon Jones doesn’t remind him of any fighter he’s faced before.  He’s part of the new generation of fighters.

-Jones says he’s been working with an Olympic level wrestler to prepare his takedown defense.  He actually had him move into his house and live with him in preparation.

-Jones says he hasn’t gotten involved politically but to help get MMA legalized in his home state of New York, he has to continue being an honorable, respectable man.  He won’t swear, you’ll never see him in a bar fight and he wants to be a good roll model for people.

-Jones in closing “I’m honored to fight a guy that’s helped pave the way for me.  24 wins is nothing to laugh at, he’s a warrior.”

MAIN EVENT

JON “BONES” JONES vs. VLADIMIR “THE JANITOR” MATYUSHENKO

MARK MUNOZ vs. YUSHIN OKAMI

JOHN HOWARD vs. JAKE ELLENBERGER

TAKANORI GOMI vs. TYSON GRIFFIN

PAUL KELLY vs. JACOB VOLKMANN

DAMARQUES JOHNSON vs. MATTHEW RIDDLE

JAMES IRVIN vs. IGOR POKRAJAC

BRAIN STANN vs. MIKE MASSENZIO

THIAGO TAVARES vs. WILLAMY FREIRE

DARREN ELKINS vs. CHARLES OLIVEIRA

ROB KIMMONS vs. STEVE STEINBEISS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2010

Live from the San Diego Sports Arena– Tickets on Sale Now

Las Vegas, NV (USA) –Jon “Bones” Jones will attempt to continue his meteoric rise within the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s light heavyweight division when he steps into the Octagon^® to face veteran fighter Vladimir “The Janitor” Matyushenko at UFC LIVE on VERSUS, live from the San Diego Sports Arena. “Bones” Jones defeated Brandon Vera in March to improve his record to 10-1, while Matyushenko has been victorious in his last two fights since his return to the UFC. The main event will be supplemented by riveting matchups featuring various stars such as Mark Munoz, Yushin Okami, John Howard, Jake Ellenberger, Takanori Gomi and Tyson Griffin.  The fights will air live on VERSUS at 9 p.m. ET, marking the second time a UFC event will be televised on a national sports cable network.

UFC LIVE on VERSUS will feature the following matchups: Mark Munoz vs. Yushin Okami, John Howard vs. Jake Ellenberger, Takanori Gomi vs. Tyson Griffin, Paul Kelly vs. Jacob Volkmann, DaMarques Johnson vs. Matthew Riddle, James Irvin vs. Igor Pokrajac, Brian Stann vs. Mike Massenzio, Thiago Tavares vs. Willamy Freire, Darren Elkins vs. Charles Oliveira, Rob Kimmons vs. Steve Steinbeiss.

Tickets for UFC LIVE on VERSUS are on sale and are available for purchase at www.tickethorse.com and the Pepsi Center Box Office.

The prelude to the main event features Mark Munoz (fighting out of Vallejo, Calif./8-1), winner of five of his last six fights, including three in a row over the likes of Ryan Jensen and Kendall Grove. With a background in wrestling, the heavy-handed fighter also has knockout power to coincide with a well-versed ground game which could prove dangerous for his opponent Yushin “Thunder” Okami (fighting out of Kanagawa, Japan/25-5). The veteran fighter out of Japan has been victorious in eight of his ten fights within the UFC. One of the most physically imposing fighters at 185-pounds, Okami will be a true test for his latest opponent.

A boxing background has been beneficial for Boston native John Howard (fighting out of Boston, Mass./14-4) while in the UFC. His last two victories have come via knockout, most recently against Daniel Roberts at the first UFC on Versus. Overall, this welterweight fighter is undefeated in his UFC career, but Jake Ellenberger (fighting out of Omaha, Neb./22-5) will try to tarnish that record. A recent addition to the UFC, the native from the Cornhusker State scored a TKO over Mike Pyle at UFC 108, just 22 seconds into the second round. Ellenberger’s granite chin and heavy hands will guide him in this welterweight matchup.

Former PRIDE lightweight champion Takanori Gomi (fighting out of Tokyo, Japan/31-6) will make his second appearance in the UFC after his slugfest with Kenny Florian at UFC Fight Night in March of 2010. The accomplished wrestler has a terrific ground game, complemented by tremendous knockout power. Standing across the Octagon from Gomi will be Tyson Griffin (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev./14-3). The native of Sacramento, California employs an aggressive ground and pound attack, which should match up well with Gomi’s wrestling background. The winner of six of his last eight fights, Griffin looks to get back in the title race with a win over “The Fireball Kid”.

The toughness and conditioning of Paul Kelly (fighting out of Liverpool, England/11-2) has never been questioned, as half of his six fights within the UFC have gone the distance and each time, Kelly has been the unanimous victor. Kelly has excelled at the ground and pound, which will be tested against Jacob Volkmann (fighting out of White Bear Lake, Minn./10-2), who has a stellar wrestling background. The former Big Ten wrestling champion most recently won a split decision over Ronys Torres at UFC Fight Night in March, after consecutive battles with Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann.

The versatile DaMarques Johnson (fighting out of Salt Lake City, Utah/16-7) is on a two fight win streak within the UFC, defeating Edgar Garcia and Brad Blackburn via submission and TKO, respectively. The Utah native faces a tough matchup with Matthew Riddle (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev./4-1), who has had all of his professional fights within the UFC. A wrestling background, with a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, has helped this young fighter excel inside the Octagon.

A veteran fighter who has fought in both the UFC and WEC, James “The Sandman” Irvin (fighting out of Sacramento, Calif./14-6, 1 NC) doesn’t often spend much time in the Octagon during his fights. Of his 13 fights between the two organizations, nine have ended in the first round. His matchup against Igor Pokrajac (fighting out of Zagreb, Croatia/21-7) is important for both fighters, as they are both in need of a victory. A top-10 fighter on the European scene, Pokrajac is coming off hard-fought scraps against Vladimir Matyushenko and James Te Huna.

Former WEC light heavyweight champion Brian Stann (fighting out of Scranton, Pa./8-3) began developing his combative mindset as an Infantry Officer in the Marine Corps. Stann has won two of his last three fights within the UFC and plans to make it three out of four against former National junior college wrestling champion Mike Massenzio (fighting out of Paterson, N.J./11-3). The well-rounded New Jersey native has not fought in the UFC since 2008, but Massenzio will utilize his brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu to prolong his stay within the organization.

Brazil native Thiago Tavares (fighting out of Florianopolis, Brazil/18-3-1) has four wins in the UFC and has battled some of the elite names in lightweight division such as Tyson Griffin, Matt Wiman, and Kurt Pellegrino. On August 1^st, he battles Willamy “Chiquerim” Freire (fighting out of Fortaleza, Brazil/17-3). Making his UFC debut, the fighter out of Brazil has won eleven consecutive fights, five by submission. The young fighter has had twenty professional fights and he has finished 13 of them.

The first lightweight matchup for UFC on VERSUS features two rising stars as Darren Elkins (fighting out of Hobart, Ind./12-1) will face Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira (fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil/12-0). Elkins made his debut in March for the premiere of UFC on VERSUS and was victorious over Duane Ludwig via TKO stoppage. Oliveira will make his debut for the UFC after amassing a tremendous unbeaten professional record.

The first fight of the evening features Rob Kimmons (fighting out of Liberty, Mo./22-5) who is a 3^rd degree black belt in American jiu-jitsu. The Kansas City native has won two of his last four fights in the UFC and will be tested when he faces Steve Steinbeiss (fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz./4-3) on August 1^st. Steinbeiss is a durable fighter with speed and power who is seeking his first victory in the UFC.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2010

JON FITCH vs. THIAGO ALVES

MATT HUGHES vs. RICARDO ALMEIDA

CLAY GUIDA vs. RAFAEL DOS ANJOS

ROY NELSON vs. JUNIOR DOS SANTOS

THIAGO SILVA vs. TIM BOETSCH

DUSTIN HAZELETT vs. RICK STORY

STEFAN STRUVE vs. CHRISTIAN MORECRAFT

JOHNY HENDRICKS vs. CHARLIE BRENNEMAN

BEN SAUNDERS vs. DENNIS HALLMAN

RODNEY WALLACE vs. STANISLAV NEDKOV

Live from the Oracle Arena – Oakland, CA

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – The middleweight title fight at UFC 117 between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen will be accentuated by one of the most stacked cards in UFC history. The main card features the long-awaited rematch between welterweight contenders Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves, as well as such notable fighters such as recent UFC Hall of Fame inductee Matt Hughes, the electrifying Clay Guida, and a heavyweight matchup between two fast rising stars in the division Roy Nelson and Junior Dos Santos. With all of the intriguing fights lined up on the fight card, the championship ramifications in the main event will add the icing to the cake.

The undercard bouts feature the following matchups: Jon Fitch vs. Thiago Alves, Matt Hughes vs. Ricardo Almeida, Clay Guida vs. Rafael Dos Anjos, Roy Nelson vs. Junior Dos Santos, Thiago Silva vs. Tim Boetsch, Dustin Hazelett vs. Rick Story, Stefan Struve vs. Christian Morecraft, Johny Hendricks vs. Charlie Brenneman, Ben Saunders vs. Dennis Hallman, and Rodney Wallace vs. Stanislav Nedkov.

UFC 117 is available live on Pay-Per-View at 10pm ET/7pm PT on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$49.99 CAN for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available).

The co-main event of UFC 117 will be a showdown to elevate one fighter to the top of contention for the welterweight championship. UFC veteran Jon Fitch (fighting out of San Jose, Calif./ profesional record – 25-3, 1 NC) has had a remarkable career in the organization. One of the division’s most consistent fighters, Fitch has won four fights in a row and has an overall record of 12-1 in the UFC. His lone loss came at the hands of welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre via unanimous decision at UFC 87. The durable fighter from Indiana wrestled collegiately at Purdue University and has the endurance to battle until the end. This decisive battle will be a long awaited rematch as Thiago “The Pitbull” Alves (fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla./22-5) aims to seek revenge on Fitch. The 26-year old fighter has elevated himself to the top of the division by winning nine of his last eleven fights in the UFC. Alves believes he has improved as a fighter more than Fitch has since their last fight in 2006, which he hopes will lead him to victory. The ramifications of this fight extend beyond a statistic on their career record.

The “swing” bout of the evening is an early favorite to garner Fight of the Night honors. The always-exciting Clay “The Carpenter” Guida (fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M. by way of Johnsburg, Ill./26-8) is renowned for his memorable battles in the Octagon. Coming off a submission victory over Shannon Gugerty, Guida has won four of his last six fights. The former collegiate wrestler is set to lock up with the winner of three fights in a row,Rafael Dos Anjos (fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil/14-4). The Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion has entered the Octagon twice already in 2010, most recently for UFC 112 when he was able to submit Terry Etim with an armbar at the end of the second round. The young fighter has only had five fights in the UFC, but is steadily climbing the ladder in the lightweight division.

The context of the first welterweight matchup on the main card extends beyond a typical fight, as honor and history are on the line. Recent UFC Hall of Fame inductee Matt Hughes (fighting out of Hillsboro, Ill./45-7) is a legend of the UFC, with 22 fights and a UFC record 17 victories. The two-time UFC welterweight champion has defeated future champions in Georges St-Pierre and BJ Penn, but in the context of this fight, Hughes has defeated Royce Gracie, Matt Serra and Renzo Gracie. Both Serra and Ricardo “Big Dog” Almeida (fighting out of Hamilton, N.J./12-3) are coached by the legendary Renzo Gracie, which sets up the opportunity for Almeida to defend the honor of the Gracie clan. Almeida is on a three fight win streak and a winner of five of his last seven. The four-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu National Champion not only has his own reputation to defend, but the reputation of an entire legendary MMA family.

The Ultimate Fighter^® Heavyweights Finale winner Roy Nelson (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev./16-4) has only two UFC fights under his belt, but has scored a first-round knockout in both of them. A grappler with world-class experience and a black belt under Renzo Gracie, he has quickly elevated himself as a worthy heavyweight contender. His matchup with Junior Dos Santos (fighting out of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil/11-1) provides a glimpse into the exciting future of the heavyweight division. Dos Santos has been victorious in his five fights within the organization by way of four knockouts, and a submission victory over Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 103. The Brazilian native’s boxing and jiu-jitsu background have helped establish Dos Santos as a legitimate contender for the heavyweight title.

Thiago Silva (fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil/14-2) started his UFC career with a bang, winning his first four fights (three by TKO), dating back to UFC 71 in 2007. He has since battled the elite fighters in the light heavyweight division, including former champions Lyoto Machida and Rashad Evans. His latest opponent, Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch (fighting out of Lincolnville, Maine/11-3), makes a return to the UFC after a short hiatus. Previously, Boetsch had four fights in the UFC, establishing a record of 2-2.

Of the five victories that Dustin Hazelett (fighting out of Cincinnati, Ohio/14-5) has obtained in the UFC, four have come via submission. The submission specialist has a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and hopes to secure a win over Rick Story (fighting out of Vancouver, Wash./10-3).The young fighter out of Washington has been on a roll lately, winning his last three fights. Story’s supreme conditioning is exemplified by the fact three of his four fights have gone all three rounds.

In one of the tallest matchups in recent UFC history, the 6’11” Stefan Struve (fighting out of Beverwijk, Netherlands/23-4) is set to face the 6’5 ½Christian Morecraft (fighting out of Plymouth, Mass./6-0). Known for his height and length, the 22-year-old Struve has utilized his skills in kickboxing and submissions to secure three wins in his five fights in the UFC. Morecraft is making his UFC debut after establishing a solid professional record.

Two-time NCAA Division I national wrestling champion Johny Hendricks (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev./8-0) has split time between the UFC and World Extreme Cagefighting^®(WEC^®). After winning his first two fights in the WEC, Hendricks made a smooth transition to the UFC and continued his winning ways through his first three fights. His opponent, Charlie Brenneman (fighting out of Whippany, N.J. by way of Hollidaysburg, Pa./12-1), improved his already solid professional record after winning his UFC debut against Jason High last March at UFC Fight Night Live^®. Also a former Division I wrestler, this matchup could very well be decided on the ground.

Welterweight striker Ben Saunders (fighting out of Orlando, Fla./8-2-2) has been successful in his UFC career thus far. The aggressive fighter has won four of his six fights, and is the only man to knock out veteran contender Marcus Davis. Although Saunders has had a relatively short fighting career, his opponent Dennis Hallman (fighting out of Yelm, Wash./64-13-2, 1 NC) has had 80 professional fights. Hallman made a return to the UFC at The Ultimate Fighter Heavyweights Finale in December of 2009 after a four year hiatus. The gritty fighter has the experience and knowledge required to secure a longer stay in the UFC.

The opening fight for UFC 117 features two up-and-coming light heavyweights. Rodney Wallace (fighting out of Charlotte, N.C./9-2) made his debut against Brian Stann at The Ultimate Fighter Heavyweights Finale and has since fought Jared Hamman at UFC 111. On August 7^th, Wallace is seeking his first victory in the UFC against Stanislav Nedkov (fighting out of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria/11-0). Nedkov is an impressive light heavyweight fighter with a background in wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, who is making his UFC debut at UFC 117.

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

Main Event

DEMIAN MAIA vs. ALAN BELCHER

Featured Bout

MATT WIMAN vs. MAC DANZIG

Live from the Frank Erwin Center on Sept. 15 – Tickets on Sale Saturday, July 17 at 10AM CT

Las Vegas – The Ultimate Fighting Championship^® will feature two of the most dominant middleweight fighters in the world at UFC Fight Night Live^®, live from the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas on September 15. Submission specialist Demian Maia will step into the Octagon^® to face red-hot Alan Belcher in the evening’s main event. The records of these two fighters exemplify their elite caliber; however, both will try to prove their supremacy to each other as they attempt to improve their standing in the stacked 185-pound class.

UFC Fight Night Live also features a highly anticipated rematch in the lightweight division, as Mac Danzig seeks revenge against Matt Wiman. In the first fight between The Ultimate Fighter alumni at UFC^® 115, Wiman was declared the winner after an erroneous call by the referee as Danzig was caught in a submission hold near the end of the first round.

“The Frank Erwin Center is excited and honored to welcome UFC to Austin for the very first time, and only the third time in Texas! Austin has a sizeable UFC fan base and I’m sure they will come out in droves to support their favorite UFC fighters,” said Jimmy Earl, Associate Director of the Frank Erwin Center.

Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT LIVE at the Frank Erwin Center Wednesday, September 15 are $30, $50, $75, $125 and $185 and GO ON SALESaturday, July 17 at 10AM CT.  Tickets available at all Texas Box Office outlets including select H-E-B stores, Ft. Hood ITR and Renaissance Records in Killeen, by phone at 512-477-6060 or 1-800-982-2386 or online at TexasBoxOffice.com. Convenience charges may apply. All information is subject to change. Suites at the Frank Erwin Center provide a unique environment to entertain your clients, family and friends.  For more information, call 512-471-4713 or email suites@erwin.utexas.edu.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Thursday, July 15 starting at 10 a.m. CT viaUFCFightClub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers on Friday, July 16 starting at 10am CT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

In his last fight, Demian Maia (fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil/professional record 12-2) proved himself worthy of the number one contender’s slot, as he battled the reigning middleweight champion, Anderson “The Spider” Silva, for 25 minutes in their title bout. In eight fights with the UFC, Maia has also defeated some of the most recognizable names in the middleweight division, including Chael Sonnen, Dan Miller and Ryan Jensen. Maia’s greatest attribute is his ground game, as the Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion was able to submit his first five UFC opponents, but in the Miller and Silva fights, he has shown the ability and willingness to stand with anyone.

“Alan Belcher has a very exciting style and I think together we will put on a fight to remember for the fans,” said Maia. “I’m looking to get back to a title shot, and the first step for me is beating Alan impressively.”

With wins in four of his last five fights, Alan Belcher (fighting out of Biloxi, Miss./15-5) is quickly rising up the UFC ranks. Most recently, Belcher defeated Patrick Cote via submission at UFC 113, a Submission of the Night victory that set up his showdown with Maia. Add in his dynamic striking and exciting style, and Belcher is moving ever closer to a shot at Anderson Silva should he turn back the challenge of Maia.

“I am very appreciative of this opportunity to fight as the main event in the UFC,” Belcher said. “I have a ton of respect for Demian Maia and am excited to be fighting one of the top guys in the middleweight division. I will definitely bring it September 15th as I always do and I hope to gain more fans. I have my eye on the belt and can’t wait to get back in the Octagon. I feel like I will be fighting in my home town with Austin being so close to where I live in Biloxi, Mississippi.”

Before the controversial victory over Danzig at UFC 115, Matt Wiman (fighting out of San Francisco, Calif./12-5) had won five of his last seven fights, dating back to 2007. The native of Denver, Colorado has a background in jiu-jitsu and has an impressive standup game as well.

The highly experienced Mac Danzig (fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif./20-8-1) has endured battles with the best of the lightweight division in Jim Miller, Clay Guida and Kurt Pellegrino. After defeating Justin Buchholz at UFC 109, the matchup with Wiman at UFC 115 was important for him to gain momentum, and because of the controversial way the fight ended, the rematch has an increased value attached to it for Danzig’s career.

For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com, UK.UFC.com, GERMANY.UFC.com, UFCJapan.jp or UFCEspanol.com. All bouts live and subject to change.