UFC® RETURNS TO CHICAGO WITH
TITLE FIGHT ON SATURDAY, JAN. 26
Plus:
Rampage vs. Teixeira, Pettis vs. Cerrone and three
prominent local Chicago fighters on the card
TICKETS FOR UFC® on FOX: JOHNSON vs. DODSON
ON SALE FRIDAY, NOV. 30
Las Vegas, Nevada – UFC® flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson makes his first ever title defense against current number one contender and The Ultimate Fighter® season 14 winner John Dodson on Saturday, Jan. 26 when the Ultimate Fighting Championship® returns to United Center in Chicago, Ill.
Unbeaten in his last three performances, Johnson defeated Joseph Benavidez at UFC 152 in September to earn the inaugural UFC flyweight championship, while Dodson earned his shot at the title following a TKO victory over Jussier Formiga in October.
In the night’s co-main event, former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson takes on the heavy-handed Glover Teixeira, while final WEC® lightweight champion and Milwaukee’s own Anthony Pettismeets the always exciting Donald Cerrone in an explosive matchup.
In addition, UFC® on FOX: JOHNSON vs. DODSON also features three prominent Chicago-based UFC stars and an exciting lightweight contest between surging contenders:
- Chicago native and Elmhurst College grad Ricardo Lamas vs. Erik Koch in a featherweight fight that could earn the winner a title shot.
- Chicago’s Clay Guida making his featherweight debut against Japanese star Hatsu Hioki.
- Chicago police officer Mike Russow vs. Shawn Jordan in a hard-hitting heavyweight bout.
- T.J. Grant vs. Matt Wiman in a fight between surging lightweights.
All of the main card action airs live on FOX at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
“Chicago is a great fight town and we’re excited to come back to the United Center on Jan. 26,” UFC President Dana White said. “This will be our first big event on FOX for 2013 and we’ve lined up an incredible card, including the flyweight title fight. I can’t wait to get back to Chicago for this event!”
Tickets for UFC® on FOX: JOHNSON vs. DODSON will be available Friday, Nov. 30 at 10 a.m. CT and are priced at $250, $150, $100, $75, $50 and $40. Tickets will be available at the United Center Box Office, Ticketmaster Outlets, online at Ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.
UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 10 a.m. CT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Nov. 29, starting at 10 a.m. CT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.
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.TVoffering 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 United Center
The United Center is a state-of-the-art, 960,000 square-foot multi-use entertainment facility that has welcomed over 40 million fans since opening in 1994. Home of the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League and the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association, the United Center hosts over 200 events each year, including the best musical performers, sporting events, family shows, and special events in the industry. A commitment to superior service makes the United Center one of the top venues in the world.
For more information, visit www.unitedcenter.com.