Fox has a live UFC card this Saturday and the Flyweight Title is on the line. Champion Demetrious Johnson will take on the top contender Joseph Benavidez in rematch of their 2012 battle that gave Johnson the belt.
In addition, Urijah Faber will fight in a bantamweight bout against Michael McDonald. Two other fights will round out the live Fox card.
Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan will be on the call live from Sacramento, CA. Curt Menefee will host the studio portion of the show with Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann as his analysts.
Fox Sports 1 airs the prelims starting at 5 p.m. ET with Fox hitting the air at 8 p.m. Fox Sports 2 will have a live postfight show immediately following the action.
Here’s the Fox Sports press release.
JOHNSON FACES BENAVIDEZ FOR FLYWEIGHT TITLE ON FOX UFC SATURDAY
Goldberg, Rogan, Menefee, Sonnen and Stann Call Action
LOS ANGELES, CA – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) flyweight title is on the line during FOX UFC SATURDAY: JOHNSON VS. BENAVIDEZ 2 as champion Demetrious Johnson (18-2-1) faces No. 1 contender Joseph Benavidez (19-3) live and in prime time on FOX on Saturday, Dec. 14 (8:00 PM ET). The two made history in September 2012 as they fought for the first-ever UFC flyweight title, with Johnson prevailing in the epic five-round battle. Since that bout, Johnson has defended his title twice, both times on FOX, while Benavidez has gone on a three-fight win streak and looks to avenge his last loss to Johnson in that original title fight.
The two-hour main card features three more fights including No. 2 ranked bantamweight “The California Kid” Urijah Faber (29-6) returning to his hometown of Sacramento, CA to meet No. 3-ranked Michael “Mayday” McDonald (16-2), from nearby Fresno. Lightweight No. 1 contender Chad Mendes (15-1) rides a four-fight win streak into his match against No. 8-ranked Nik Lentz (26-5-2, 1NC). Rounding out the main card, Joe Lauzon (22-9) faces Mac Danzig (22-11-1) in a lightweight clash.
Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan call the matchups live from the Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento. Host Curt Menefee opens the show on FOX, with UFC light heavyweight Chael Sonnen and retired UFC middleweight Brian Stann adding analysis. Three-time MMA Journalist of the year Ariel Helwani provides reports and interviews fighters backstage.
The FOX UFC SATURDAY PRELIMS begin on FOX Sports 1 at 5:00 PM ET with six exciting fights including Court McGee (16-3) facing the undefeated Ryan LaFlare (9-0) in a welterweight clash. Lightweights Danny Castillo (16-5) and Edson Barboza (12-1) square off. Bobby Green (21-5) faces Pat Healy (31-16, 1NC) in another lightweight encounter. Scott Jorgensen (14-7) makes his flyweight debut against Zach Makovsky (16-4). A pair of lightweight match-ups featuring Sam Stout (20-9-1) against Cody McKenzie (14-3) and Abel Trujillo (10-5, 1NC) versus Roger Bowling (11-4, 1NC) round out the Prelims. Jon Anik hosts the show with Sonnen and Stann adding analysis.
Fans can catch the UFC POSTFIGHT SHOW on FOX Sports 2 at 10:00 PM ET on Saturday night, with fight analysis and interviews of the winners by Anik, Sonnen, Stann and Helwani.
Coverage of FOX UFC SATURDAY begins Friday, Dec. 13 (7:00 PM ET) on FOX Sports 1 with the live UFC WEIGH-IN SHOW. Anik hosts, with Stann and Sonnen analyzing the 22 fighters as they tip the scales.
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 on Twitter and use the hashtag #UFCFightNight for the latest updates.
UFC commentators Jon Anik and Kenny Florian break down the upcoming FOX UFC SATURDAY: http://foxs.pt/1cljZMJ
FOX UFC SATURDAY PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE
DATE
TIME
EVENT
NET
Friday, Dec. 13
7:00 PM ET
UFC WEIGH-IN
FOX Sports 1
Saturday, Dec. 14
4:30 PM ET
UFC FIGHT NIGHT ONLINE PRELIMS
FOXSports.com
Saturday, Dec. 14
5:00 PM ET
UFC FIGHT NIGHT PRELIMS
FOX Sports 1/FOX Deportes
Saturday, Dec. 14
8:00 PM ET
FOX UFC SATURDAY: JOHNSON vs. BENAVIDEZ 2
FOX/FOX Deportes
Saturday, Dec. 14
10:00 PM ET
UFC POSTFIGHT SHOW
FOX Sports 2
FOX UFC SATURDAY: JOHNSON vs. BENAVIDEZ 2 Fight Card
Fighter Record vs. Fighter Record Class C Demetrious Johnson 18-2-1 #1 Joseph Benavidez 19-3 Flyweight #2 Urijah Faber 29-6 #3 Michael McDonald 16-2 Bantamweight #1 Chad Mendes 15-1 #8 Nik Lentz 26-5-2, 1NC Featherweight Joe Lauzon 22-9 Mac Danzig 22-11-1 Lightweight Court McGee 16-3 Ryan LaFlare 9-0 Welterweight Danny Castillo 16-5 Edson Barboza 12-1 Lightweight Bobby Green 21-5 Pat Healy 31-16, 1NC Lightweight Scott Jorgensen 14-7 Zach Makovsky 16-4 Flyweight Sam Stout 20-9-1 Cody McKenzie 14-3 Lightweight Abel Trujillo 10-5, 1NC Roger Bowling 11-4, 1NC Lightweight Darren Uyenoyama 8-4 Alptekin Ozkilic 8-1 Flyweight
That will do it.
