FOX Sports 1 to Launch 8/17 with Six Hours of UFC Programming

America's new sports network, FOX Sports 1, launches on Saturday, Aug. 17 with an unprecedented six hours of Ultimate Fighting Championship(R) (UFC(R)) programming including the UFC FIGHT NIGHT: SHOGUN VS. SONNEN live in prime time from TD Garden in Boston, MA. The headline bout features former UFC champion and Brazilian superstar Shogun Rua (21-7) against three-time world title challenger Chael Sonnen (28-13-1) in an Epic light heavyweight showdown.

In addition to the five-round headliner, the evening's three-hour main card includes five additional bouts. Number-five ranked heavyweight Alistair Overeem (36-12, 1NC) takes on number-eight ranked Travis Browne (14-1-1); number-two ranked bantamweight Urijah Faber (28-6) fights Iuri Alcantara (27-4, 1NC); and Matt Brown (19-11) takes on Mike Pyle (25-8-1) in a battle of resurgent welterweights. The Ultimate Fighter finalist Uriah Hall (8-3) clashes with Boston veteran John Howard (20-8) in a middleweight match, while another local favorite, Joe Lauzon (22-8), opens the main card against Michael Johnson (13-8) in a skirmish of 155ers.

The prelims, also on FOX Sports 1, kick off at 6:00 PM ET with four exciting fights including number-five ranked bantamweight Brad Pickett (24-7) versus number-three ranked Michael McDonald (15-2); Ireland's highly anticipated prospect Conor McGregor (13-2) takes on Max Holloway (7-2) in a featherweight clash; Mike Brown (26-8) fights Steven Siler (22-10) in another featherweight bout; and Diego Brandao (21-8) opens up the Prelims against Daniel Pineda (18-9) in a featherweight showdown. UFC announcers Jon Anik and Joe Rogan call all the fights live on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 6:00 PM ET.

The network's UFC coverage begins at 4:30 PM ET Saturday with UFC ULTIMATE INSIDER, the 30-minute program that goes behind-the-scenes to deliver an insightful preview of the UFC Fight Night fighters, including Browne, Lauzon and McGregor.

The one-hour live UFC Fight Night PREFIGHT SHOW begins at 5:00 PM ET with host Jay Glazer and analysts Kenny Florian and Brian Stann previewing UFC Fight Night from FOX Sports' Los Angeles studio. Three-time MMA Journalist of the Year Ariel Helwani interviews fighters live in Boston.

Additionally, FOX Sports' Spanish-language network FOX Deportes joins the preliminary bouts in-progress after the conclusion of Major League Baseball coverage and continues with live coverage of the main card fights. UFC announcer Larry Pepe hosts all matches for FOX Sports Radio.

Prefight coverage of UFC FIGHT NIGHT: SHOGUN VS. SONNEN begins Tuesday, August 12 (10:00 PM ET), when Fuel TV airs UFC TONIGHT, the official news and information show of the UFC, with host Kenny Florian and guest analyst Daniel Cormier breaking down UFC FIGHT NIGHT's biggest fights.

On Friday, August 16 (4:00 PM ET) Fuel TV carries the weigh-in LIVE from Boston. The program is hosted by Molly Qerim, with Florian and Stann adding analysis. Helwani interviews fighters backstage.

In the week leading up to fight night, FOX Sports' digital arm, FOXSports.com, features extended coverage of UFC FIGHT NIGHT, including an exclusive Joe Lauzon Fight Vlog, plus fight breakdowns, predictions and live reporting on fight night.

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