UFC 135 In Denver - Card Updates

[keithlewis]

UFC 135: Jones vs. Jackson
September 24, 2011
Pepsi Center
Denver, Colorado



UFC Light Heavyweight Championship:
Jon Jones vs. Quinton Jackson

Matt Hughes vs. Diego Sanchez
Damacio Page vs. Norifumi Yamamoto


Dana White confirmed today that Damacio Page and 'Kid' Yamamoto have verbally agreed to fight at UFC 135 in September. Expect fireworks - “These are two of the most aggressive sluggers in the always-exciting bantamweight division," said White.

Welterweight contender Diego Sanchez has never been shy in expressing his desire for a fight with UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes. This fall, Sanchez will get his wish, as he faces the legendary two-time welterweight champ on a date and at a venue to be announced.

“A matchup between two welterweight fan favorites has been verbally agreed to as Diego “The Dream” Sanchez will face former UFC welterweight champion and Hall of Famer Matt Hughes,” said UFC President Dana White. “Sanchez is coming off of a Fight of Night winning performance against Martin Kampmann and Hughes is looking to add another great victory to his incredible UFC career.”

[keithlewis]

Light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and former light heavyweight boss Rampage Jackson have verbally agreed to the clash, said UFC president Dana White. Both men are coming off successes at UFC 128 and UFC 130, respectively, and after treating possible injuries, both have been medically cleared to compete.

MMA’s breakout star, Jones stunned the world in March with his third round TKO of Mauricio “Shogun” Rua to win the 205-pound belt. Jackson, who owned the title from 2007 to 2008, has put together back-to-back wins over Lyoto Machida and Matt Hamill to earn his long-awaited shot at regaining the crown.

Another big-boy rumble in the Rockies has also been added to the event, with Travis "Hapa" Browne fighting Rob "The Bear" Broughton. “Undefeated heavyweight Browne has verbally agreed to face Broughton, who is on a five-fight win streak," said White. Browne is coming off a KO of the Night victory over Stefan Struve at UFC 130, while Broughton last competed at UFC 120.


Hunt Battles Rothwell at UFC 135 updated June 14

Fresh from his KO of the Night performance against Chris Tuchscherer in February, Mark Hunt returns to the Octagon to face Ben Rothwell at UFC 135 this September.

“Verbal agreements are in for a battle between heavyweights as devastating striker Mark ‘The Super Samoan’ Hunt faces the 6’ 4” powerhouse Ben Rothwell on September 24 in Denver, Colorado,” said UFC President Dana White.

[keithlewis]

September's big UFC 135 card in Denver just got bigger with the addition of a lightweight clash between former PRIDE champ Takanori Gomi and Nate Diaz, who is returning to the 155-pound weight class after a stint at welterweight.

“Verbal agreements are in for an explosive lightweight matchup, as the “Fireball Kid” Takanori Gomi takes on Nate Diaz at UFC 135," said UFC President Dana White. "Gomi had an amazing battle with Nick Diaz in PRIDE and is looking for some payback against his brother.”

[keithlewis]

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones is undoubtedly the fastest-rising star in the sport of mixed martial arts. Since bursting onto the scene in 2008, the 23-year-old New Yorker has steamrolled through the UFC’s talented 205-pound division, finishing opponents with his unmatched blend of unorthodox striking and vice-grip-like submissions. On Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo., Jones’ meteoric rise faces imminent danger, as “Bones” will makes his first title defense against former UFC and PRIDE champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced today the colossal 205-pound title bout, as well as an outstanding 170-pound clash between former welterweight champion and UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes and The Ultimate Fighter® season one winner Diego Sanchez. If that wasn’t enough, UFC’s return to the Mile High City will feature a tremendous heavyweight battle pitting knockout artist Travis Browne against British finisher Rob Broughton, as well as an electric lightweight bout between The Ultimate Fighter® season five winner Nate Diaz and Japanese standout Tanakori “The Fireball Kid” Gomi.

Jones, Jackson and UFC President Dana White will be in Denver on Tuesday, July 19 to discuss this epic card at a press conference to be held at the former BRAUNS Bar & Grill building at 1055 Auraria Pkwy at 10 a.m. MT. Media wishing to attend are asked to RSVP by emailing UFC Public Relations Events Manager Heidi Gerber (hgerber@ufc.com). The presser will also be open to the public.

“Many people think that Jon Jones should be considered one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the world, but I wouldn’t make that claim too fast,” UFC President Dana White said. “The 205-pound division is and always has been the most stacked division in MMA. Rampage Jackson has been one of the top five light heavyweights in the world since 2003. A win over Rampage Jackson will definitely put Jon Jones on the right track for becoming the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world.”

After capturing the UFC light heavyweight crown by stopping Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in March, Jon Jones (fighting out of Endicott, N.Y.) makes his first title defense in Denver when he meets Rampage Jackson. At 13-1, the 23-year-old Team Jackson fighter owns wins over the likes of Stephan Bonnar, Vladimir Matyushenko and Ryan Bader. Despite his impressive resume, “Bones” believes a win over Jackson would truly cement his place as one of the world’s most dominant fighters.

“Fighting Rampage Jackson is an awesome opportunity and a win is definitely something that could add to my legacy as champion,” Jones said. “I think he’s re-motivated and that makes him dangerous. He’s driving me to a different level of training right now. I’m training like a champion so that I can go in there on Sept. 24 and perform like a champion.”

With his bone-crushing power and seek-and-destroy mentality, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (fighting out of Irvine, Calif.) owns victories over some of the sport’s all-time greats, including Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson and Chuck Liddell. While his opponent on Sept. 24 appears to be heading toward a similarly historic career, Jackson (32-8) looks to end Jones’ surge when the two battle for the title at Pepsi Center. Simply put, Jackson believes it’s his time to once again reign over arguably the most stacked division in the UFC.

“I am planning on bringing the belt back to where it belongs,” Jackson said. “That belt is very serious and very dear to me. That belt should never have been taken off of me, and it’s been a long time coming to get my chance to get my belt back. The proudest thing I’ve done in my career is unify that title with the PRIDE FC title, and in the next fight it was taken off me despite me winning the fight. I’ve had to wait since 2008 to get my chance to get my belt back, but anything that comes easy isn’t worth having in the first place.”

UFC Hall of Famer and welterweight great Matt Hughes (fighting out of Hillsboro, Ill.) steps inside the Octagon® this fall in search of another signature win to add to his storied career. The 37-year-old former champion gets that opportunity when he meets the hard-charging Diego Sanchez (fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.). Winner of season one of The Ultimate Fighter®, the 29-year-old Sanchez has developed a reputation for being a gritty, hard-nosed fighter with deceiving power and high-level grappling. Riding back-to-back wins since returning to the welterweight division Sanchez (25-4) looks for his third consecutive victory when he meets the legendary Hughes (46-8).

Fresh off a Knockout of the Night performance at UFC 130 in May, undefeated heavyweight Travis “Hapa” Browne (fighting out of San Diego, Calif.) looks for his third victory in the UFC when he meets versatile English fighter Rob Broughton (fighting out of Liverpool, England). The 6’7” Browne (11-0-1) trains alongside UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and rising light heavyweight Phil Davis in San Diego and is considered a future heavyweight contender. He’ll face a stern test in Broughton (15-5-1), a Wolfslair product with 11 wins by way of stoppage.

UFC 135 features a sure-fire barnburner when The Ultimate Fighter® season five winner Nate Diaz (fighting out of Stockton, Calif.) takes on Japanese standout Tanakori “The Fireball Kid” Gomi (fighting out of Tokyo, Japan) in lightweight action. The 26-year-old Diaz (13-7), younger brother of welterweight standout Nick Diaz, has scored victories over Marcus Davis, Melvin Guillard and Kurt Pellegrino in his career. His opponent, former PRIDE star Gomi (32-7, 1 NC), is known for his stunning power and holds notable wins over the likes of Tyson Griffin, Tatsuya Kawijiri and Marcus Aurelio.

[keithlewis]

UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage
September 24, 2011
Pepsi Center
Denver, Colorado



UFC Light Heavyweight Championship:
Jon Jones vs. Quinton Jackson


Matt Hughes vs. Diego Sanchez
Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi
Damacio Page vs. Norifumi Yamamoto
Ben Rothwell vs. Mark Hunt
Travis Browne vs. Rob Broughton
Tony Ferguson vs. Aaron Riley
Ricardo Romero vs. James Te Huna

[keithlewis]

Nunes-Gamburyan, Escovedo-Mizugaki Slated for UFC 135

Four of the UFC's lighter weight warriors will be back in the Octagon for September 24th's UFC 135 card in Denver, as verbal agreements are in for a featherweight bout between Diego "The Gun" Nunes and Manny Gamburyan, and a bantamweight scrap pitting Cole Escovedo against Takeya Mizugaki.


Ring Faces "The Barbarian" on September 24

Unbeaten in two UFC bouts thus far, The Ultimate Fighter's Nick Ring will get his toughest Octagon test to date on September 24th when he squares off against "The Barbarian," Tim Boetsch, in a middleweight battle verbally agreed to on Tuesday.