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[Lu$tmolch]

FIRST EVER OPEN-AIR EVENT TAKES PLACE IN UAE APRIL 10
   
DOUBLE MAIN EVENT
ANDERSON SILVA DEFENDS MIDDLEWEIGHT CROWN
AGAINST VITOR BELFORT
AND
BJ PENN DEFENDS LIGHTWEIGHT BELT
AGAINST FRANKIE EDGAR

PLUS: MIXED MARTIAL ARTS ICONS MATT HUGHES AND RENZO GRACIE MEET WITH FAMILY PRIDE AT STAKE

Abu Dhabi, UAE – The world’s greatest indoor sporting event goes outdoors on April 10 as the Ultimate Fighting Championship® organisation lands in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates for the first time.

Some of the world’s greatest mixed martial artists will appear on the historic open-air UFC 11 event at the Concert Arena, Ferrari World, Yas Island.

Topped by a double main event, two UFC world titles will be on the line at UFC 112. First, UFC lightweight champion BJ ‘The Prodigy’ Penn puts his belt on the line against No.1 contender Frankie ‘The Answer’ Edgar and then UFC middleweight king Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva defends his crown against fellow Brazilian striker Vitor ‘The Phenom’ Belfort.

As well as two fascinating UFC title clashes, the UFC’s first venture into the region will also showcase an intriguing battle of legends as UFC icon Matt Hughes locks horns with MMA pioneer and Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend Renzo Gracie at welterweight.

UFC President Dana White said: “This is one of the biggest and most significant nights in the history of the UFC. UFC 112 is our first ever outdoor event and it is taking place in the hometown of our brand new partners, Flash Entertainment. We are very happy we could deliver what fans around the world will recognise as a stacked card featuring the sport’s biggest stars.”

“Anderson Silva is back in the Octagon(TM), and back at 185lbs to defend his belt against maybe the one guy he may want to take the fight to the ground with. Vitor Belfort has recaptured the form which saw him rip through heavyweights and light heavyweights a decade ago, and Silva vs Belfort is one of those fights where, if there was a roof for this event, it would come off just before the start of the first round.”

“BJ Penn is another UFC champion who is looking unstoppable right now, but Frankie Edgar is improving so quickly and has such an attacking style that he may be the guy to end BJ’s reign.

“Plus, Matt Hughes vs Renzo Gracie is a clash between two legends who each have a lot on the line in this fight. The winner adds another great name to his list of victims and gets right into the title hunt.”

John Lickrish, Managing Director of Flash Entertainment, said: “UFC 112 is going to be incredible. Flash and the UFC have been working very hard to bring this event to fruition, and we’re delighted to now announce what will truly be a great night of sport in Abu Dhabi.
 
“Abu Dhabi has a long tradition of mixed martial arts, and hosting UFC 112 continues the country’s love and passion for the sport. We really can’t wait to welcome these elite athletes, and showcase a truly magnificent sport to the people of the region.”

As far as elite athletes go, very few hit harder or can boast dominance like Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva (25-4). Considered by many to be the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world today, Silva is the reigning UFC middleweight champion and is currently unbeaten in a record shattering 10-bout UFC win streak.

Listed among his most notable victims are the names of Chris Leben, Rich Franklin (twice), Nate Marquardt, Dan Henderson and Forrest Griffin. Such is the striking quality of Curitiba’s Silva, only one man has managed to last the distance with ‘The Spider’ during his Octagon stint.

Enjoying a reign of terror on top of the middleweight division as well as showcasing his skills in breathtaking cameos at light-heavyweight, Silva now puts his belt on the line against one of the most dangerous strikers in the game.

Nicknamed ‘The Phenom’, Vitor Belfort, (19-8), is a natural talent, and one that has been knocking out opponents since his teenage years in the UFC. Having appeared at UFC 12 in 1997, this former light heavyweight champion now looks to become only the third man to win titles in two divisions by annexing the UFC middleweight title.

The Rio De Janeiro-native is renowned for his devastating, lightning-fast punch combinations. In a career spanning over 13 years, Belfort has dazzled in victories over Wanderlei Silva, Gilbert Yvel, Heath Herring, Randy Couture and, most recently, Rich Franklin.

Returning to the UFC after a four-year absence, Belfort made up for lost time with a stunning first-round knockout of Franklin last September to earn his title shot.

Current lightweight king BJ ‘The Prodigy’ Penn, 15-5-1, is a man who cuts a fearsome figure for any opponent. Now settled in the 155lbs lightweight division, Penn’s current form is ominous for a division chock-full of young and hungry contenders.

The 31-year-old Penn has already established himself as a UFC fan favourite and future Hall-of-Famer, having won UFC titles as both a lightweight and welterweight. He became only the second fighter in history to hold UFC belts in separate weight divisions.

En route to this amazing feat, Penn beat a variety of standout mixed martial artists, including Matt Hughes, Jens Pulver and Renzo Gracie. Since focusing his sights on the 155lbs division, Penn has added the scalps of top contenders Joe Stevenson, Sean Sherk, Kenny Florian and Diego Sanchez to his resume.

One man who hopes to have ‘The Answer’ to Penn’s recent air of invincibility is New Jersey challenger Frankie Edgar, 11-1. Considered one of the most exciting fighters in the game today, Edgar has won six UFC bouts so far in his career and appears to get better and better with each outing.

The 28-year-old number one-ranked contender started out his UFC career with an eye-catching decision win over Tyson Griffin in February 2007. As well as picking up his first UFC win, Edgar also walked away with a ‘Fight of the Night’ bonus that night.

Fight of the Night bonuses and Frankie Edgar became synonymous over the next two years as the talented American pitched more exciting brawls and victories over Hermes Franca and, most recently, Matt Veach. In climbing the lightweight ladder, Edgar also grabbed big wins over Spencer Fisher and Mark Bocek.

It was Edgar’s May 2009 victory over Sean Sherk that really caught the imagination of fight fans and displayed the extent of ‘The Answer’s improvements. Boxing cleverly on the back foot and countering whenever he got the chance, Edgar put on a striking clinic to diffuse the former UFC champion and set up his tilt at Penn’s belt.

Icons Matt Hughes and Renzo Gracie will battle for personal pride and family tradition in their UFC 112 welterweight clash.
   
Respected all around the world, Hughes is a former two-time UFC welterweight champion and one of the greatest fighters to ever compete inside the Octagon. In a career stretching 12 years, Hughes has etched his name in the history books, having been involved in some of the most exciting and inspiring Octagon battles of the modern era.

Born in Hillsboro, Illinois, Hughes, 44-7, first appeared in the Octagon at UFC 22 in September 1999. He went on to lift the UFC Welterweight Title on two separate occasions, defeating a who’s who of the best 170lbs fighters, including BJ Penn, Royce Gracie, Frank Trigg, Sean Sherk, Georges St-Pierre and, in his last UFC outing, bitter rival Matt Serra.

The first obstacle in Hughes’ quest for a third world title - and no stranger to the UFC’s finest ever welterweight - is Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert Renzo Gracie, cousin of the legendary Royce. A pioneer of the sport Renzo, 13-6-1, 1 NC, will finally take his UFC bow in Abu Dhabi, much to the delight of his legion of MMA fans throughout the world.

Famed for his world-class grappling ability and iconic family heritage, Renzo enters the UFC with the opportunity to avenge his cousin’s 2006 defeat to Hughes. With career wins over former UFC champions Pat Miletich, Carlos Newton, Frank Shamrock, and Maurice Smith, Renzo enters the UFC with his eyes firmly set on securing a title shot. In order to get there, Renzo must first restore family pride against Hughes at UFC 112.

Flash Entertainment, which has been behind some of Abu Dhabi’s biggest concerts and entertainment projects, will also confirm ticket details and further event information in the coming weeks.

For more information visit UFC.com.

About Flash Entertainment
Licensed by the Abu Dhabi Media Zone, and supported by the city, Flash Entertainment is a multi-faceted event management company with a global approach.  Flash Entertainment is based on a simple philosophy; to provide first class entertainment, and position Abu Dhabi as the entertainment hub in the region.  Specialising in concerts, cultural and sport events, theatrical productions and festivals, Flash Entertainment is dedicated to creating memorable events and experiences that surpass expectations, delivered with enthusiasm and expertise.

[Lu$tmolch]

Die weltweite Verbreitung der UFC nimmt kein Ende – am 10. April wird der Kampfsport-Marktführer sein berühmtes Octagon zum ersten Mal in Abu Dhabi aufstellen. Bei den Scheichs werden keine kleinen Brötchen gebacken und so will die UFC mit UFC 112 eine Veranstaltung der Extraklasse präsentieren. Austragungsort wird die hochmoderne Konzertlocation „Ferrari World“ – erstmals in der Geschichte der UFC findet also eine Veranstaltung unter freiem Himmel statt! Doch das ist längst nicht alles, denn auch das Kampfprogramm hat es in sich. Bereits offiziell bestätigt sind zwei Titelkämpfe sowie ein Duell zweier Legenden des Sports.

„Das ist einer der größten und bedeutendsten Abende in der Geschichte der UFC“, sagte UFC-Präsident Dana White. „UFC 112 ist unsere erste Veranstaltung unter freiem Himmel und findet in der Heimat unserer nagelneuen Partner statt, Flash Entertainment. Wir sind sehr glücklich, dass wir ein voll gepacktes Programm bieten konnten, das die Fans auf der ganzen Welt begeistern wird und bei dem einige der größten Stars des Sports dabei sind.“

„Anderson Silva ist zurück im Octagon, zurück im Mittelgewicht“, sagte White weiter. „Er wird seinen Gürtel gegen jemanden verteidigen müssen, mit dem er lieber auf den Boden gehen sollte. Vitor Belfort ist wieder in der Form, in der er vor einem Jahrzehnt über Schwergewichte und Halbschwergewichte hinweggefegt ist. Silva gegen Belfort ist einer der Kämpfe, bei dem es schon in der ersten Runde im Käfig zu Feuerwerken kommt.“

Anderson Silva, der zu den Gewichtsklassen übergreifend besten Kämpfern der Welt gezählt wird, hat sich im Octagon schon mit vielen starken Gegnern gemessen, unter anderem Dan Henderson, Rich Franklin und Nate Marquardt. Die einen waren Weltklassebodenkämpfer, die anderen großartige Ringer. Jedoch hat er in der UFC noch nie gegen einen so schnellen und so talentierten Boxer wie Vitor Belfort gekämpft.

Silva hält den Rekord für die meisten Siege im Octagon hintereinander (zehn) und machte dabei meist von seinen überlegenen Fähigkeiten im Stand Gebrauch. Gegen die Schnelligkeit und die enorme Schlagkraft muss er alle Register seines Könnens ziehen, sonst könnte er erstmals selbst derjenige sein, der sich auf der Matte schlafen legt.

„BJ Penn ist ein weiterer UFC Champion, der momentan unschlagbar wirkt, aber Frankie Edgar verbessert sich so rasant und hat so einen aggressiven Stil, dass er vielleicht derjenige ist, der Penns Regentschaft beendet“, meint White.

Seit seinem Titelgewinn im Januar 2008 hat BJ Penn einen Herausforderer nach dem anderen deklassiert – Sean Sherk, Kenny Florian und zuletzt Diego Sanchez. Keiner von ihnen hatte auch nur den Hauch einer Chance gegen den Hawaiianer. Frank Edgar geht dementsprechend als überdimensionaler Außenseiter in diesen Titelkampf. Aber wenn die Geschichte des MMA-Sports eines gezeigt hat, dann, dass es so etwas wie einen sicheren Sieg nicht gibt. Alles ist möglich und oftmals entscheidet der Bruchteil einer Sekunde über Erfolg und Misserfolg.

„Außerdem trifft Matt Hughes auf Renzo Gracie“, verkündete White. „Das ist ein Kampf zwischen zwei Legenden, bei dem viel auf dem Spiel steht. Der Sieger fügt einen weiteren großen Namen zu seiner Opferliste hinzu und ist wieder mitten im Titelgeschehen.“

Renzo Gracie ist der Cousin von Royce Gracie, welcher Mitte der Neunziger Jahre drei der ersten vier Turniere der UFC gewann. Renzo gilt als einer der besten Kämpfer aus dieser weltberühmten Familie und gibt sein UFC-Debüt erst im stolzen Alter von 43 Jahren. Besser spät als nie. Besondere Brisanz beinhaltet diese Auseinandersetzung, da sein Gegner Matt Hughes seinen Cousin Royce vor vier Jahren vernichtend geschlagen hat.