THQ Announces UFC Undisputed Fight Nation Sweepstakes For UFC 131 (Press Release)

LogoUFC_150_893.jpg

The following press release was sent to MMATorch this afternoon...

THQ ANNOUNCES UFC® UNDISPUTED? FIGHT NATION? CONSUMER SWEEPSTAKES FEATURING OPPORTUNITY TO WIN A UFC® 131 PAY-PER-VIEW WEEKEND PACKAGE

Official Interactive Facebook Game Provides Players with Chance To Win Multiple UFC-Themed Prizes

AGOURA HILLS, Calif. - April 20, 2011 - THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) and Zuffa, LLC today announced a consumer sweepstakes surrounding UFC® 131: LESNAR vs. DOS SANTOS via UFC® Undisputed Fight Nation?, the official Facebook game based on the world?s leading mixed martial arts (MMA) organization, the Ultimate Fighting Championship®. Available for download at http://apps.facebook.com/ufcfightnation, players may enter the sweepstakes through an on-screen pop-up display after training moves and competing against others with their virtual UFC fighters to reach Level 5 within the game. One grand prize winner will receive a trip for two to UFC 131, currently scheduled for June 11, 2011 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia. The trip includes two tickets to UFC 131, roundtrip airfare, hotel accommodations and a stipend for meals and/or spending money. One first prize winner will receive an autographed UFC poster and a $250 UFC gift certificate for use on ufcstore.com, while 10 second-prize winners will receive $50 UFC gift certificates for use on ufcstore.com.

THQ is sponsoring the UFC Undisputed Fight Nation sweepstakes, which is open to residents of the United States and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and over. Participants can enter the contest between now and 12:00 p.m. PT on May 6, 2011. There is no purchase necessary to participate, and the sweepstakes is void where prohibited. Further information regarding the sweepstakes, including rules and eligibility requirements, may be found at community.ufcundisputed.com.

?The launch of UFC Undisputed Fight Nation earlier this year provided us with an invaluable way to share the virtual UFC experience in a social networking environment,? said Danny Bilson, Executive Vice President, Core Games, THQ. ?Through announcement of the UFC 131 consumer sweepstakes, we look forward to engaging even more players on Facebook as they experience solid training tools, competitive gameplay and tremendous replay value.?

?We love connecting with our fans via social media, especially with Twitter, Facebook and UFC Undisputed Fight Nation,? UFC President Dana White said. ?UFC 131: LESNAR vs. DOS SANTOS is going to be a huge event and we are excited to partner with THQ to help bring two lucky fans to Vancouver this June.?

About UFC Undisputed Fight Nation

In UFC Undisputed Fight Nation, players train with guidance from UFC President Dana White to master moves from multiple mixed martial arts disciplines, compete against friends and other Fight Nation members inside the virtual Octagon? and share their results on Facebook as they progress from student to professional in their virtual careers. Players are given access to a number of mixed martial arts camps to build their arsenal of moves, including wrestling, kickboxing, Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, as well as the ability to decide which moves are taken into each fight.

Through successful management of fight experience and training, players will ?level up? their fighters to reach new career milestones, unlocking access to items such as new training camps and more skill points to build fighting and training needs, including energy, health and stamina. Players will also earn Cred for their achievements, enabling them to acquire items from the in-game store to train specific moves, access new camps, replenish health and increase stamina. A UFC Points system is available for those who wish to progress their careers faster and purchase the items through monetary transaction, while a Gifting option lets players show respect to their friends by sending them complimentary boosts of energy, stamina or health to aid their progress.

As part of the UFC Undisputed Fight Nation experience, the accomplished player will earn opportunities compete against and learn moves through Pro Fights from a number of today?s most prominent UFC fighters, including current champions Cain Velasquez, Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre and Frankie Edgar. As well, players will have access to a live Twitter feed, keeping them up to date on the latest UFC news and events.

For more information on UFC Undisputed Fight Nation, please visit community.ufcundisputed.com, facebook.com/UFCUndisputed and twitter.com/UFC_Undisputed.

About Ultimate Fighting Championship®

Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® produces over 12 UFC live Pay-Per-View events annually around the world. UFC programming is distributed in the United States on Viacom, Inc.?s Spike TV and on Comcast, Inc.?s VERSUS network. UFC content is distributed commercially through Joe Hand Promotions in the U.S. and Canadastar in Canada. Globally, UFC programming is broadcast in over 145 countries and territories, reaching 354 million homes worldwide, in 19 different languages.

UFC® also boasts a powerful presence online, with UFC.com attracting over six million unique visitors per month, while also possessing one of the most powerful social media followings in all of professional sports. To date, UFC has over five million fans on Facebook and nearly 250,000 followers on Twitter. In addition, UFC President Dana White is one of the most accessible and most followed executives in sports with nearly 1.4 million followers on Twitter. On January 22, 2011, UFC continued to set trends in social media, becoming the first major sports league to stream live, broadcast quality action on Facebook.

Ancillary businesses include the best-selling UFC ?Undisputed? videogame franchise distributed by THQ, UFC Gym?, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo? festivals, branded apparel, trading cards, articulated action figures and other media including best-selling DVDs and a bimonthly magazine.

About THQ Inc.

THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com. THQ and the THQ logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_9122.shtml

Tony DeSouza  Edwin Dewees  Nick Diaz  Tadhg Steamfist Dixon

Video: "UFC Primetime: St-Pierre vs. Shields" episode No. 2

Following this past week's continuation on Spike TV, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has made available the second episode of "UFC Primetime: St-Pierre vs. Shields" for online viewing.

It's the second of a three-part series that previews UFC 129's championship headliner between welterweight titleholder Georges St-Pierre and challenger Jake Shields.

Check out the full episode after the jump.


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmajunkie/~3/-qc2h1eEJJs/video-ufc-primetime-st-pierre-vs-shields-episode-no-2.mma

Matt Serra Jens Pulver Sean Sherk B J Penn

Scott Coker: Gilbert Melendez's next opponent to come from Strikeforce roster, not UFC

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

LogoStrikeforce2010_105_146.png

With Zuffa's purchase of Strikeforce in March and Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez's destruction of Tatsuya Kawajiri earlier this month on Showtime, it seemed the next logical move was for Melendez to fight one of the top lightweights on the UFC roster.

A rumor circulated that he was possibly going to meet top contender Jim Miller next, and Melendez even commented on the possibility of that matchup this week in an interview with Sherdog.com.

"With open arms, I welcome that fight," he said. "I know I have to do some tape studying on him, but I feel like I'm better in every aspect probably than he is. I am going to research tape a little. I've seen him fight quite a bit, but I'll take a closer look and we can revisit this when we do have a thumbs up on it."

For Melendez, who considers himself to be the number one lightweight in the world, it would be one step closer to a shot at the UFC Lightweight Champion and a chance to prove to everyone what he himself believes. But alas, it's not to be, as Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker was the bearer of bad news in an interview with MMAWeekly.com. According to Coker, Melendez's next opponent will come from the Strikeforce roster, not the UFC's.

"Absolutely [Melendez's next opponent will be from the Strikeforce roster]," Coker said when asked directly. "We have a great roster, we have a great television contract, we have our own contracts to fulfill with the athletes, and we're going to go do that."

As for who that opponent would be, Coker pointed to three names in the mix at the moment, but said they'd have to have an elimination fight or two to determine that challenger.

"We have some guys that are up-and-coming, we do some elimination fights," Coker said. "I think guys names like K.J. Noons; or maybe after a couple more fights a guy like Justin Wilcox, who is an amazing wrestler, could give Gilbert a hard time; or even Jorge Masvidal. There's three guys that I think after a couple more fights could get there."

That doesn't help determine who the immediate next challenger is, however, but though no crossover fights are coming just yet, Coker believes that they will happen in due time.

"There's not one fight out there that should not be made now," he said. "Every fight the fans want to see now will eventually be made."

Link to Original Source Article

Penick's Analysis: I'm going to hold out a little bit of hope that they're going to try to get a Melendez-Miller fight together, because I have no desire right now to see Melendez face any of the names Coker mentioned. They are all talented fighters, but the call is going to be for Melendez to fight the best of the best now. Especially with his comments after the Kawajiri win on Showtime and the poll wanting to see the crossover fights. Melendez should be fighting someone like Miller, which would then give him a chance to prove what he's been saying all along, that he's the best lightweight in the world. Beating Noons, Masvidal and Wilcox won't do that for him. Beating Jim Miller and getting a shot at Frankie Edgar or Gray Maynard will.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/Affliction2/article_9123.shtml

Lee Murray Gary Myers Chris The Pitbull Myra Jason MacDonald

Bellator 44, May 14

Bellator 44
Saturday May 14
Harrah's Resort
Atlantic City, NJ
Airing on MTV2

MAIN CARD

* Hector Lombard (#10 Ranked Middleweight) vs. Falaniko Vitale (non-title Middleweight fight)
* Michael Chandler vs. Patricky Freire (Lightweight tourney final)
* Dan Hornbuckle vs. Lyman Good
* Alexander Shlemenko vs. Brett Cooper

PRELIMINARY CARD

* Giedrius Karavackas vs. Sam Oropeza
* Anthony Morrison vs. Bryan Goldsby
* Jay Silva vs. Armand Mrkanovic
* Anthony Leone vs. Jeff Lentz
* Azunna Anyanwu vs. Randy Smith

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/Upcoming_Events_42/article_8552.shtml

Joe Lauzon Mo Lawal Ruthless Robbie Lawler Eric Lawson

Diaz defends belt with TKO of Daley at Strikeforce

Winning his 10th bout in a row, Nick Diaz defended his Strikeforce welterweight championship belt, winning a first-round TKO over Paul Daley in an action-packed bout in the main event in San Diego on Saturday.

After initial taunting from Diaz, Daley took the bait. He dropped Diaz with a series of strikes, then followed up with a kick to the body. Diaz survived and stood up, then came back and had Daley pinned against the cage. Diaz threw punch after punch, hurting Daley along the way. Daley tried for a takedown, which wasn't a bright move since Diaz is a jiu-jitsu whiz.

They returned to their feet, and neither fighter stopped throwing strikes for much of the first round. Daley dropped Diaz with a left hook and then jumped into Diaz's guard. Diaz kicked Daley off, and then was stood back up by referee John McCarthy. Diaz finally took over, using strikes to the body and head to knock Daley to the ground, then finished up with ground strikes. McCarthy jumped in and stopped the fight at 4:57, giving Diaz the win.

After the win, Diaz was noncommittal about who he would like to fight next.

"I don't know. We've got to see what's up," Diaz said.

Diaz didn't ask for the unification bout like his teammate Gilbert Melendez did. Diaz's teammate Jake Shields is fighting Georges St. Pierre for the UFC welterweight belt at the end of April. Though Diaz has said that he wants GSP, if Shields were to win, Diaz would be put in the awkward position of having to fight a teammate.

Daley is already in an awkward position, as he was released from his UFC contract for throwing a punch in his bout with Josh Koscheck. Now, with the UFC and Strikeforce having the same ownership, Daley's future is less sure. A win over Diaz could have strengthened it, but now he drops to 27-10-2.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Diaz-defends-belt-with-TKO-of-Daley-at-Strikefor?urn=mma-wp1079

Matt Lindland Liu Jinwen David The Crow Loiseau Hector Lombard

Vitor Belfort vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama slated for UFC 133

Former ufc light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort will be making his return to the cage state side come this August. The Brazilian was hoping to be added to the “UFC: Rio” card which will be taking place in his native country, however the UFC brass had other things in mind for “The Phenom”, as he [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/04/22/vitor-belfort-vs-yoshihiro-akiyama-slated-for-ufc-133

Ido Pariente Karo Parisyan Sherman Pendergarst B J Penn

Pat Curran moving back to featherweight, will compete in Bellator "Summer Series" Featherweight Tournament

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Logo_Bellator_150_284.jpg

Bellator season two lightweight tournament winner Pat Curran is making a drop back to the featherweight division, and will compete in a three event "Summer Series" tournament for Bellator beginning in June.

"I've fought at featherweight for most of my career, so I'm really excited to get back to a weight class where I can really do some damage," said Curran. "I had some great results as a lightweight, but I'm really going to make some noise in this summer featherweight tournament."

Curran won the season two tournament with a knockout victory over Mike Ricci and consecutive decision wins over Roger Huerta and Toby Imada. He then took Champ Eddie Alvarez through five rounds in their title fight earlier in the fourth season on MTV2.

The "Summer Series" tournament will take place during Bellator 46, 47 and 48 this summer, beginning on June 25 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

"Eddie Alvarez was right on target when he talked about Pat's heart, but Pat also has spectacular knockout power and a great all-around mixed martial arts arsenal. Pat Curran will be a beast at 145," said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney.

No opponent has yet been set, but Bellator's announcement of Curran's move stated possible participants in the "Summer Series" tournament could feature Ronnie Mann and Marlon Sandro as well.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/Bellator/article_9142.shtml

Sergei Kharitonov Min Soo Kim Dong Hyun Kim Kevin Knabjian