TITLE FIGHT ON THE LINE AT UFC(R) FIGHT NIGHT: LAWLER vs. BROWN LIVE ON FOX SATURDAY, JULY 26
"Somebody Is Going To Get Knocked Out in This Fight," Says UFC On FOX Analyst Chris Lytle
FOX Features Four Hours of Main Card and Prelims Action For First Time Ever
Welterweight Champion Johny Hendricks Takes Over @UFCONFOX
Twitter Account During Main Card
LOS ANGELES - The Ultimate Fighting Championship(R) (UFC(R)) returns to the SAP Center in San Jose with an epic title elimination bout pitting two knockout artists against one another at UFC(R) FIGHT NIGHT: LAWLER vs. BROWN live on FOX on Saturday, July 26 (8:00 PM ET). In the exciting headliner, No. 1-ranked welterweight Robbie Lawler (23-10, 1 NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) takes on No. 5-ranked Matt Brown (21-11, fighting out of Columbus, Ohio), with the winner earning a shot at champion Johny Hendricks.
Coming off an impressive third-round finish over Jake Ellenberger, Lawler takes on the surging Brown in hopes of securing his second crack at UFC gold. Brown, who has put together one of the most impressive runs in mixed martial arts today, currently rides a seven-fight win streak, and looks to lock down the title shot he feels is long overdue.
It's often said that styles make fights, and UFC on FOX analyst Chris Lytle believes that's the case with this main event: "You've got two dynamic strikers. Robbie comes at you with one-punch knockout power, making it very exciting. And you've got Matt Brown, who is going to come at you and overwhelm you with a lot of different punches. I promise you one thing: this one is not going to go the distance. Somebody is going to get knocked out in this fight."
"These are two of the most exciting fighters in the UFC," says UFC on FOX analyst Kenny Florian. "Matt Brown is on an incredible run right now. I'm not sure if there are many guys who fight as well as he does in the clinch. And Lawler is as hot as any fighter in the UFC and has crazy knockout power. This is unbelievable matchmaking right here."
In addition to the exciting headliner, the main card features four fights total including No. 5-ranked light heavyweight Anthony Johnson (17-4, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla.) facing Brazilian star Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (21-5, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Also, No. 3-ranked lightweight Josh Thomson (22-6, 1 NC, fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) looks to put on a show in front of his hometown fans as he meets late replacement Bobby Green (22-5). The No. 13-ranked Green is currently riding a seven-fight win streak, with three of those coming since joining the UFC. Rounding out the main card, No.7-ranked featherweight Clay Guida (31-11) takes on four-time "Fight Night" bonus winner and eleventh-ranked Dennis Bermudez (14-3).
Veteran UFC announcers Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan call the fights live from the arena, while Curt Menefee gets things started with analysts Daniel Cormier and Brian Stann. Victor Dávila and Fabricio Werdum call the action on FOX Deportes. During the main card, welterweight champ Hendricks takes over the @UFConFOX twitter account and live tweets his thoughts on all the action.
For the first time ever, the two-hour UFC FIGHT NIGHT PRELIMS also air on FOX (6:00 PM ET), featuring four more thrilling fights including second degree taekwondo black belt Daron Cruickshank (15-4) versus #14th-ranked Jorge Masvidal (26-8) in a lightweight scrap. San Jose native Kyle Kingsbury (11-5, 1 NC) returns to action in the light heavyweight division against Patrick Cummins (5-1), while welterweight Tim Means (20-6-1) fights Rio de Janeiro's Hernani Perpetuo (17-4, 1 NC). Rounding out the PRELIMS, lightweights Mike De La Torre (12-4) and Brian Ortega (8-0) square off.
Saturday night coverage begins with the UFC FIGHT NIGHT PREFIGHT SHOW at 5:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 2, with Jon Anik hosting with analysts Cormier and Stann previewing the evening's action. Ariel Helwani interviews fighters backstage in San Jose. The crew also presents extended postfight coverage on FOX SPORTS LIVE immediately following the conclusion of UFC FIGHT NIGHT, with interviews of the fighters.
The UFC WEIGH-IN SHOW airs Friday, July 25 (7:00 PM ET) on FOX Sports 2 with Anik hosting, while Cormier and Stann offer analysis as the fighters attempt to make weight. Helwani reports from backstage.
The UFC FIGHT NIGHT preview begins Wednesday, July 23 (8:00 PM ET) on FOX Sports 2 with UFC TONIGHT, where host Kenny Florian and guest host Michael Bisping break down the fights. Karyn Bryant and Insider Ariel Helwani add additional reports.
In the week leading up to the main event, FOXSports.com features extended coverage of UFC FIGHT NIGHT, including interviews with the main fighters. Fans can use the hashtag #UFCFightNight for the latest updates and can also monitor the action with the live blog and keep score with FightTrax, the app that tracks all the fight action in real time.
Customers of participating video providers may access live streams of the UFC FIGHT NIGHT: LAWLER vs. BROWN through the FOX Sports GO app for iOS devices, as well as on desktops through FOXSportsGO.com.
Watch the UFC ON FOX analysts break down the Lawler vs. Brown matchup: http://foxs.pt/1jUBVrC, and for the fight promo, here: http://bit.ly/1oOzMd1
Following the fights in San Jose, FOX Sports heads to Maine for coverage of UFC FIGHT NIGHT: BADER vs. SAINT PREUX live on FOX on Saturday, August 16 (10:00 PM ET), with the UFC FIGHT NIGHT PRELIMS starting at 8:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 2.
FOX SPORTS UFC PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE
DATE TIME EVENT NET
Wednesday,
July 23 8:00
PM ET UFC TONIGHT FOX Sports 2
Friday,
July 25 7:00
PM ET UFC FIGHT NIGHT WEIGH-IN FOX Sports 2
Saturday,
July 26 5:00
PM ET UFC FIGHT NIGHT PREFIGHT SHOW FOX Sports 2
Saturday,
July 26 6:00
PM ET UFC FIGHT NIGHT PRELIMS FOX
Saturday,
July 26 8:00
PM ET UFC FIGHT NIGHT: LAWLER VS. BROWN FOX / FOX Deportes
Saturday,
July 26 10:00
PM ET FOX SPORTS LIVE FOX Sports 1
UFC FIGHT NIGHT: LAWLER vs. BROWN Fight Card
Fighter Record vs. Fighter Record Class
#1 Robbie Lawler 23-10, 1NC #5 Matt Brown 21-11 Welterweight
#5 Anthony Johnson 17-4 Antonio Rogerio Nogueira 21-5 Light Heavyweight
#7 Clay Guida 31-11 #11 Dennis Bermudez 14-3 Featherweight
#3 Josh Thomson 20-6, 1NC #13 Bobby Green 22-5 Lightweight
Daron Cruickshank 15-4 #14 Jorge Masvidal 26-8 Lightweight
Kyle Kingsbury 11-5, 1NC Patrick Cummins 5-1 Light Heavyweight
Hernani Perpetuo 17-4, 1NC Tim Means 20-6-1 Welterweight
Mike De La Torre 12-4 Brian Ortega 8-0 Lightweight
Akbarh Arreola 22-7-1 Tiago Trator 18-4-2, 1NC Lightweight
Steven Siler 23-12 Noad Lahat 7-1 Featherweight
Andreas Stahl 9-0 Gilbert Burns 7-0 Welterweight
Juliana Lima 6-1 Joanna Jedrzejczyk 6-0 Strawweight
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