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UFC announces return to KeyArena on July 27 - Ultimate Fighting Championship will return to Seattle for the third consecutive year with a KeyArena fight card to air live on FOX.

http://seattletimes.com/html/othersport ... 23.html?hl

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced Friday that it will return to KeyArena in Seattle on Saturday, July 27 with a nationally televised fight card that will air live on FOX.

It will be the organization's third consecutive annual event at KeyArena. After hosting a sold-out event in March 2011, UFC returned to Seattle in December and again drew a sellout crowd. UFC estimated its gate at $1.5 million.

UFC officials will announce fights for the card and ticket information within the next few weeks.

Two Seattle-area fighters own UFC championships. Demetrious Johnson of Parkland is the flyweight (125 pounds) champion, while Benson Henderson of Federal Way holds the lightweight (155) title.

The UFC will return to Seattle's KeyArena on July 27, and the event already has its first bout. Hard-hitting lightweight Melvin "The Young Assassin" Guillard will look to get back on track when he faces TUF 6 winner Mac Danzig.

The July 27 event in Seattle gets a little homegrown talent, as TUF Live winner Michael Chiesa has agreed to put his undefeated record on the line against fellow submission artist Reza Madadi. Both men will be looking to make headway in the crowded 155-pound division. Also, Battle-tested lightweights Spencer Fisher and Yves Edwards have agreed to face each other at UFC on FOX 8. The always-entertaining veterans, winners of a combined 67 bouts, will both look to rebound from losses in their most recent outings.


UFC on Fox 8
July 27, 2013
KeyArena
Seattle, Washington


Melvin Guillard (30-12-2) vs. Mac Danzig (21-10-1)
Rory MacDonald (14-1) vs. Jake Ellenberger (29-6)
Tarec Saffiedine (14-3) vs. Robbie Lawler (20-9-1)
Danny Castillo (15-5) vs. Bobby Green (20-5)
Julie Kedzie (16-11) vs. Germain de Randamie (3-2)
Spencer Fisher (24-9) vs. Yves Edwards (42-19-1)
Michael Chiesa (9-0) vs. Reza Madadi (13-3)

and more fights were announced tonight!





The stacked UFC on FOX 8 card finally has its main event, with UFC flyweight champion Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson defending his title against hard-hitting wrestler John Moraga. The bout was originally scheduled to be contested at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale, but a Johnson injury forced the fight to be postponed. Also added to the card, Washington native Miesha Tate will take on former UFC women's bantamweight title challenger Liz Carmouche in a battle between two of the toughest fighters in their division. Plus, heavyweight knockout artists Matt Mitrione and Brendan Schaub will meet in a battle of TUF 10 alumni.


UFC on Fox 8: Johnson vs. Moraga
July 27, 2013
KeyArena
Seattle, Washington


Demetrious Johnson (17-2-1) vs. John Moraga (13-1) - UFC flyweight title bout
Liz Carmouche (8-3) vs. Miesha Tate (12-3)
Brendan Schaub (9-3) vs. Matt Mitrione (6-2)
Melvin Guillard (30-12-2) vs. Mac Danzig (21-10-1)
Rory MacDonald (14-1) vs. Jake Ellenberger (29-6)
Tarec Saffiedine (14-3) vs. Robbie Lawler (20-9-1)
Danny Castillo (15-5) vs. Bobby Green (20-5)
Julie Kedzie (16-11) vs. Germain de Randamie (3-2)
Spencer Fisher (24-9) vs. Yves Edwards (42-19-1)
Michael Chiesa (9-0) vs. Reza Madadi (13-3)

UFC RETURNS TO KEYARENA AS SEATTLE’S ‘MIGHTY MOUSE’ JOHNSON DEFENDS HIS TITLE ON SATURDAY, JULY 27


Inaugural UFC flyweight champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson will make his second title defense against surging contender John Moraga on Saturday, July 27 when the UFC heads back to KeyArena in Seattle, Wash.

At only 26 years old, Johnson earned the division’s title last September with a win over Joseph Benavidez. Following a unanimous decision victory over John Dodson in January, he’s now set to take on Moraga, a two-time NCAA wrestling All-American at Arizona State University. The 29-year-old is currently riding a seven-fight win streak.

“Demetrious Johnson will defend the flyweight title in front of his hometown fans in Seattle, as he battles 12-1 contender John Moraga on July 27 at KeyArena,” UFC President Dana White said. “DJ has incredible speed and powerful takedowns, while Moraga is slick on the ground and was a standout wrestler at Arizona State. In addition to the main event, we’ve got Rory MacDonald vs. Jake Ellenberger, Robbie Lawler vs. Tarec Saffiedine and Miesha Tate vs. Liz Carmouche. This is a great card!”


Additional bouts:


Canadian welterweight contender Rory MacDonald (3) vs. heavy-handed knockout artist Jake Ellenberger (4)
Longtime MMA veteran Robbie Lawler (9) battling former Strikeforce welterweight champ Tarec Saffiedine (8)
Former Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champ and Washington’s own Miesha Tate (3) taking on former title contender Liz Carmouche (5)


*Rankings in parentheses as of 5/6/13


The evening’s action also includes five lightweight bouts featuring Spokane’s Michael Chiesa against Reza Madadi, Strikeforce veteran Bobby Green vs. Team Alpha Male’s Danny Castillo, The Ultimate Fighter season six winner Mac Danzig taking on crowd-favorite Melvin Guillard, a clash of UFC mainstays between Yves Edwards and Spencer Fisher and Aaron Riley vs. Justin Salas. Also on the card, Brendan Schaub meets Matt Mitrione in a heavyweight tilt, while Julie Kedzie and Germaine de Randamie square off in a women’s bantamweight bout. Tukwila’s Trevor Smith is also set to make his UFC middleweight debut against veteran Ed Herman.

The UFC on FOX card is now complete, with TUF 14 alum John "Prince" Albert facing Yaotzin Meza in an exciting bantamweight scrap. Albert most recently fought on last December's FOX event, while Meza, a training partner of light champion Benson Henderson, made his UFC debut at the TUF Smashes Finale.


UFC on Fox 8: Johnson vs. Moraga
July 27, 2013
KeyArena
Seattle, Washington


Demetrious Johnson (17-2-1) vs. John Moraga (13-1) - UFC flyweight championship bout
Liz Carmouche (8-3) vs. Miesha Tate (12-3)
Brendan Schaub (9-3) vs. Matt Mitrione (6-2)
Melvin Guillard (30-12-2) vs. Mac Danzig (21-10-1)
Rory MacDonald (14-1) vs. Jake Ellenberger (29-6)
Tarec Saffiedine (14-3) vs. Robbie Lawler (20-9-1)
Danny Castillo (15-5) vs. Bobby Green (20-5)
Julie Kedzie (16-11) vs. Germain de Randamie (3-2)
Spencer Fisher (24-9) vs. Yves Edwards (42-19-1)
Michael Chiesa (9-0) vs. Reza Madadi (13-3)
Ed Herman (20-9) vs. Trevor Smith (10-3)
Aaron Riley (30-13-1) vs. Justin Salas (10-4)
Yaotzin Meza (19-8) vs. John Albert (7-4)