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HENDERSON FACES THOMSON IN BATTLE OF TOP-5 RANKED LIGHTWEIGHTS ON FOX UFC SATURDAY
UFC Lightweight Champ Pettis Joins Cormier and Stann
as Analyst on FOX Sports 1
LOS ANGELES, CA - The Ultimate Fighting Championship(R) (UFC(R)) heats up FOX UFC SATURDAY: HENDERSON VS. THOMSON as two of the top lightweight fighters of this era finally meet in the Octagon(R) live and in prime time on FOX and FOX Deportes on Saturday, January 25 (8:00 PM ET), when former UFC lightweight champion and No. 1-ranked "Smooth" Benson Henderson (19-3) battles former Strikeforce titleholder and No. 4-ranked Josh "The Punk" Thomson (20-5, 1NC).
Henderson, who defended his championship belt two times on FOX, is looking to set up another title run and has all the skills to do it, says UFC on FOX analyst and No. 2-ranked lightweight Gilbert Melendez. "I had 25 minutes in the cage with him. Henderson is so tactical. He makes a lot of adjustments in a fight. Just when I thought it was going my way, he gets you thinking. You think he's going to kick and he comes with a strike. He's hard to hit, uses the cage to his advantage and is an amazing athlete."
Thomson earned this fight with a second-round knockout of Nate Diaz at FOX UFC SATURDAY: HENDERSON VS. MELENDEZ in April. "Josh Thomson is a fantastic athlete," says UFC on FOX analyst Brian Stann. "This is going to be an explosive fight."
The two-hour main card features three more exciting matchups, including No. 8-ranked Stipe Miocic (10-1) against resurgent heavyweight contender and No. 12-ranked Gabriel Gonzaga. No. 8-ranked lightweight Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone (21-6, 1NC) takes on Brazilian standout Adriano Martins (25-6), while No. 10-ranked featherweight Darren Elkins (18-3) rounds out the card against Jeremy Stephens (22-9).
Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan call the matchups live on FOX from the United Center in Chicago, IL. Host Curt Menefee opens the show on FOX, with Stann and UFC light heavyweight Daniel Cormier adding analysis. Megan Olivi provides reports and interviews fighters backstage. Víctor Dávila and Fabricio Werdum call the fights on FOX Deportes.
The FOX UFC SATURDAY PRELIMS begin on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes at 5:00 PM ET with six exciting fights, including four tough bantamweight matchups. Undefeated Sergio Pettis (10-0) faces Alex Caceres (9-5, 1NC) and No. 4-ranked bantamweight Eddie Wineland (20-9-1) takes on Yves Jabouin (19-8). Chico Camus (13-4) clashes with Yaotzin Meza (19-8) and Junior Hernandez (14-5) battles Hugo Viana (7-2) in another 135-pound scrap. Rounding out the prelims, Daron Cruickshank (13-4) encounters Mike Rio (9-3) in a lightweight fight. The prelims are hosted by veteran combat sports journalist Karyn Bryant, with UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis joining Cormier and Stann as an analyst.
The FOX UFC SATURDAY PREFIGHT SHOW kicks off the action at 4:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 1, with Bryant, Cormier, Stann and Pettis previewing the evening's fights, and Olivi interviewing fighters backstage.
Coverage of FOX UFC SATURDAY begins Friday, Jan. 24 (5:00 PM ET) on FOX Sports 2 with the live FOX UFC SATURDAY WEIGH-IN. Bryant hosts, with Cormier, Stann and Pettis analyzing the 22 fighters as they tip the scales. Olivi conducts interviews backstage.
UFC TONIGHT, the official news and information show of the UFC, offers full previews and breakdowns of FOX UFC SATURDAY on Wednesday, Jan. 22 (7:00 PM ET). Host Kenny Florian is joined by guest host Cormier for the one-hour show.
In the week leading up to fight night, FOXSports.com features extended coverage of FOX UFC SATURDAY, including interviews with the main fighters and a live blog during the fights. Follow @UFConFOX for live Tweet commentary from our FOX Sports talent as they breakdown all the fights on Vine. Use the hashtag #UFConFOX for the latest updates.
Watch Stann and Melendez preview FOX UFC SATURDAY: http://foxs.pt/1eFvhOe
FOX UFC SATURDAY PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE
DATE TIME EVENT NET
Wednesday,
Jan. 22 7:00 PM ET UFC TONIGHT FOX Sports 1
Friday,
Jan. 24 5:00 PM ET FOX UFC SATURDAY WEIGH-IN FOX Sports 2
Saturday,
Jan. 25 4:00
PM ET FOX UFC SATURDAY PREFIGHT SHOW FOX Sports 1
Saturday,
Jan. 25 5:00
PM ET FOX UFC SATURDAY PRELIMS FOX Sports 1 / FOX Deportes
Saturday,
Jan. 25 8:00
PM ET FOX UFC SATURDAY: HENDERSON VS. THOMSON FOX /
FOX Deportes
FOX UFC SATURDAY: HENDERSON VS. THOMSON Fight Card
Fighter Record vs. Fighter Record Class
#1 Benson Henderson 19-3 #4 Josh Thomson 20-5, 1NC Lightweight
#8 Stipe Miocic 10-1 #12 Gabriel Gonzaga 16-7 Heavyweight
#8 Donald Cerrone 21-6, 1NC Adriano Martins 25-6 Lightweight
#10 Darren Elkins 18-3 Jeremy Stephens 22-9 Featherweight
Alex Caceres 9-5, 1NC Sergio Pettis 10-0 Bantamweight
#4 Eddie Wineland 20-9-1 Yves Jabouin 19-8 Bantamweight
Chico Camus 13-4 Yaotzin Meza 19-8 Bantamweight
Junior Hernandez 14-5 Hugo Viana 7-2 Bantamweight
Daron Cruickshank 13-4 Mike Rio 9-3 Lightweight
George Sullivan 14-3, 1NC Mike Rhodes 6-1 Welterweight
Walt Harris 6-2 Nikita Krylov 15-3 Heavyweight
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