Press Release: UFC 91 – Couture vs Lesnar

Official Press Release from UFC regarding the media conference call today (You can listen to the call here):

RANDY “THE NATURAL” COUTURE vs. BROCK LESNAR

UFC(r) WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

SATURDAY, NOV. 15, 2008

LIVE FROM MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – On November 15th, the champ is back.

Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White today announced that
after a year away from the game, UFC(r) heavyweight champion Randy “The
Natural” Couture will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon to
defend his title against rising star Brock Lesnar in a clash of titans
destined to shake the foundations of the sport. This championship bout,
the biggest heavyweight title fight in years, will headline UFC 91:
COUTURE vs. LESNAR, live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on
Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008.

“I am happy to announce that UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture will
be returning to action in the Octagon,” said Dana White, UFC President.
“He’s a legend in the UFC, and one of the fighters that helped build
this sport.  I have always said that wrestling is one of the best bases
you can have in MMA and not only is Randy a top level wrestler but his
opponent is as well. Brock Lesnar showed the MMA world that he is for
real in his last fight, dismantling the far more experienced Heath
Herring.  His combination of speed and power was absolutely devastating.
It is a fascinating matchup: the crafty, multiple-time heavyweight
champion versus the younger, bigger, and stronger challenger. This is
one that will go down in the history books.”

Ticket information for UFC 91: COUTURE vs. LESNAR will be announced
shortly.

UFC 91: COUTURE vs. LESNAR will be available live on pay-per-view at 10
p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, Bell
ExpressVu, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a
suggested retail price of $44.95 for standard definition or
high-definition broadcasts (where available).

A UFC Hall of Famer whose name is synonymous with mixed martial arts,
Randy ‘The Natural’ Couture (16-8) is the only fighter in history to win
the UFC world heavyweight title three times, and that’s not even
mentioning his two UFC light heavyweight titles. Owner of heavyweight
wins over the likes of Maurice Smith, Vitor Belfort, Kevin Randleman,
and Pedro Rizzo (twice), the 45-year old Las Vegas resident turned back
the clock in 2007 with a stirring win over Tim Sylvia at UFC 68 that
netted him his third heavyweight crown.  Couture defended his title for
the first time at UFC 74 with a third round TKO of number one contender
Gabriel Gonzaga, and now the man often referred to as “Captain America”
will look to prove once again that he should never be counted out in a
fight when he takes on Brock Lesnar.

“I have a lot of respect for Brock as an athlete and a collegiate
wrestler, but I know exactly where he’s at, he’s trying to make the
transition from a wrestler to mixed martials arts. I’ve been there, done
that, and I know where the pitfalls are. This will be an interesting
matchup, and it will be very nice to be home in the Octagon for this
fight.”

A physically gifted athlete with the size, speed, and power to impose
his will on any opponent, Brock Lesnar (2-1) made an immediate impact in
the UFC when he debuted here in February of 2008, and he has his sights
set on shocking the world on November 15th. A four-time All-American,
two-time Big Ten Champion, and 2000 NCAA Division I National Champion in
wrestling, Lesnar made a name for himself internationally after college
as a professional wrestler, but he soon found his true love in mixed
martial arts in 2006.  After a 69 second win in his pro debut a year
later, Lesnar entered the UFC and made a positive impression in a loss
to former heavyweight champion Frank Mir at UFC 81, but at UFC 87 in
August, the Minneapolis-St. Paul resident showed why he is rapidly
becoming one of the most feared fighters in the sport today and an
immediate threat to the heavyweight throne.

“It’s an honor to fight Randy Couture, he’s a legend in this sport, and
to get the chance to test myself against him is a gift,” said Lesnar.
“A lot guys would love to have this opportunity, Randy is the UFC
heavyweight champion.  There is one goal that I’ve had since I started
training in MMA and that is to capture the title.  Now that I’m getting
the chance, nothing is going to stop me.  I’m walking out of the Octagon
with the belt around my waist.”

About The Ultimate Fighting Championship

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the world’s leading professional
mixed martial arts organization and offers the premier series of MMA
sports events. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in
Las Vegas, Nev., UFC produces over twelve live pay-per-view events
annually that are distributed residentially through North American cable
and satellite providers including iNDEMAND Networks, DIRECTV, DISH
Network, TVN Entertainment, Shaw Pay-Per-View, Bell ExpressVU, Viewers
Choice, SaskTel Max(tm) and via the Internet worldwide on Yahoo! Sports,
and commercially through Joe Hand Promotions in the U.S. and Canadastar
in Canada.  In addition to its North American distribution, UFC
programming is distributed in over 100 countries and territories
throughout the world. For more information, or current UFC fight news,
visit ufc.com or uk.ufc.com or ufcespanol.com.

Ultimate Fighting Championship, Ultimate Fighting, UFC, The Ultimate
Fighter(r), Submission(r), As Real As It Gets(r), Zuffa(tm), The
Octagon(tm) and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are
registered trademarks, trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned
exclusively by Zuffa, LLC in the United States and other jurisdictions.
All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC or
other respective owners.

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