UFC® Announces UFC® FIGHT NIGHT Sold Out

Courtesy of the Ultimate Fighting Championship:

ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP ANNOUNCES FIGHT NIGHT IS SOLD OUT; SPIKE TV TO EXPAND SHOW TO THREE HOURS

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – 02/26/2008 – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) organization today announced that UFC® Fight Night™ – the event marking UFC’s long-awaited return to Colorado, the state where UFC debuted more than 15 years ago – is officially sold out. The UFC and Spike TV also announced the April 2 card will expand to three hours, the first time in three years for a UFC Fight Night, because of the stacked card and lineup of prominent fighters I knew that bringing the UFC back to the state of Colorado would be big,” said Dana White, UFC President. “But thanks to our fight fans in Broomfield and Denver and all across Colorado, this is going to be one of our best UFC Fight Night events ever. Not only is it going to air as a three-hour special on Spike TV, it will also be a house packed with UFC fans ready for great fights. I’m looking forward to April 2, and can’t wait to bring this great fight card to Mile High City.”

“We are pleased to be the site of this major sporting event and know that the Colorado fight fans are in for a great time,” said Gene Felling, Executive Vice President of Broomfield Sports and Entertainment and General Manager of Broomfield Event Center.

“Expanding to three hours reaffirms our commitment to our viewers to present the best UFC programming on television," said Brian J. Diamond, Senior Vice President, Sports & Specials, Spike TV. “We're excited for a great night of fights.”

Due to the increased number of bouts on the UFC Fight Night card, Doors for UFC Fight Night will open earlier at 2:00pm MST; the first bout will now begin at 2:45pm MST. UFC Fight Night will televise live nationally on Spike TV starting at 7:00pm EST.

Tickets for UFC Fight Night went on sale Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 10am MST and were priced at $250, $150, $75 and $40 (plus any additional box office or service fees). The fight sold out in less than 30 days, and six full weeks ahead of the April 2 event. More than 6,700 fight fans will pack Broomfield Event Center in Broomfield, Colorado on April 2 to watch Kenny Florian and Joe Lauzon battle as the featured main event, and millions more will watch the three-hour special live on Spike TV.

In addition to the featured main event, UFC Fight Night also includes a battle of top UFC welterweight contenders, Karo Parisyan (25-4) and Thiago Alves (18-4). Parisyan, fighting out of North Hollywood, CA, has won seven of his last eight UFC bouts including a recent unanimous decision over the dangerous Japanese fighter Ryo Chonan at UFC 78 last November. A victory for Parisyan would draw him closer to a title shot and a potential rematch with either Matt Serra or Georges St-Pierre. Hard-hitting Brazilian native Alves is also among the best welterweight fighters in the UFC, winning six of his last seven fights including a hard-fought victory against Chris “Lights Out” Lytle at UFC 78.

Featured on the undercard:

The Ultimate Fighter 3 alumni Matt Hamill (Season 3) takes on UFC newcomer and former high school All-American wrestler, Tim Boetsch (7-1). Hamill (5-1) is a world class wrestling talent whose ground and pound style resulted in three straight UFC wins before dropping a controversial decision against Michael Bisping at UFC 75. Boetsch, a native of Camden, Maine and graduate of NCAA wrestling powerhouse, Lock Haven University, made his UFC debut at UFC 81 in February with an impressive first round TKO over David Heath.

Omaha-native Houston Alexander (8-1) battles former World Extreme Cagefighting™ champion James Irvin (13-4-1). Alexander was a relative unknown in MMA before making a resounding statement in his UFC debut by knocking out heralded light heavyweight Keith Jardine last May at UFC 71. Alexander’s meteoric rise was curtailed by a loss to Thiago Silva at UFC 78 in November. Now, the power-punching Alexander looks to prove his recent success was no fluke against the equally hard-hitting Irvin.

The Ultimate Fighter 5 victor, Nate Diaz (8-2) faces Kurt Pellegrino. Diaz, fighting out of Stockton, Calif. with the renowned Cesar Gracie Fight Team, has emerged as one of the top young guns in the 155 lb. division. Standing in his way of a fourth straight UFC victory is Pellegrino, a former Pan American gold medal winning wrestler who has won three of his last four UFC fights, including a TKO over Alberto Crane in January.

Frankie Edgar (7-0) vs. Gray Maynard (5-0-1). In the scheduled swing bout, a battle of former NCAA All American wrestlers ensues when Edgar, a graduate of Clarion University and native of Tom’s River, New Jersey, takes on Maynard, Michigan State alumni now fighting out of Las Vegas. Edgar is undefeated in three UFC bouts including his most recent victory over Spencer “The King” Fisher at UFC 78 in November. Maynard gained national acclaim as a standout performer on The Ultimate Fighter 5 and has won his last two UFC contests.

The action-packed card also features:

Spencer “The King” Fisher vs. Marcus Aurelio
Roman Mitichiyan vs. George Sotiropoulos
Din Thomas vs. Josh Neer
Clay Guida vs. Samy Schiavo
Tommy Speer vs. Anthony Johnson
Manny Gamburyan vs. Jeff Cox

For more information about UFC® Fight Night™ UFC 82, UFC 83 or any upcoming UFC event, visit www.ufc.com or uk.ufc.com. All bouts are live and subject to change.