THE UFC HEADS TO THE HOOSIER STATE AND SPORTSNET HAS ALL THE PRE-FIGHT COVERAGE

Sportsnet will be the exclusive HD broadcaster of the preliminary fights for UFC 119

TORONTO (September 23, 2010) – The UFC makes its Indianapolis debut with UFC 119 and Rogers Sportsnet has exclusive HD broadcasts of the preliminary fights on Saturday, September 25 at 9 p.m. (ET)/6 p.m. (PT) on Sportsnet East, Sportsnet East HD, Sportsnet Ontario and Sportsnet Ontario HD.

The main card will feature a heavyweight match-up between Frank Mir and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic. Mir, a former two-time UFC heavyweight champion, is looking to move back up the ranks after losing his title to Brock Lesnar at UFC 100 in July of 2009. In his two fights since, Mir defeated Cheick Kongo at UFC 107 but was knocked out by Shane Carwin at UFC 111. Cro Cop returned to the UFC after a two-year absence at UFC 99 in June 2009. He has won his last two fights, a TKO over Anthony Perosh at UFC 110 and a rear naked choke submission of Pat Berry at UFC 115. The preliminary fights will include Canadian middleweight contender Joe “El Dirte” Doerksen fighting C.B. “The Doberman” Dolloway, the Ultimate Fighter season seven finalist. There will also be a heavyweight battle between undefeated former NFL-er Matt “Meathead” Mitrione and Joey “The Mexicutioner” Beltran. Both fighters are coming off wins at UFC 113 in Montreal. Mitrione defeated Kimbo Slice by TKO while Beltran won a unanimous decision over Canadian Tim Hague.

Sportsnet Connected will also be providing coverage leading up to UFC 119 with nightly reports during the evening and prime editions starting on Thursday, September 23.

For even more UFC 119 coverage, Sportsnet.ca will have live streaming of the UFC 119 official weigh-in starting Friday, September 24 at 3 p.m. (ET)/12 p.m. (PT) and Post Fight Press Conference after the event ends on Saturday night.

Monday’s edition of MMA Connected will feature all the highlights and post-fight reactions from UFC 119.

For all the highlights, breaking news and inside stories from the MMA, tune into MMA Connected with “Showdown” Joe Ferraro every Monday night and log on to sportsnet.ca. “Sports. Your style.”

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