TORONTO (May 16, 2013) Sportsnet, Canada’s official home of the Ultimate Fighting Championship®, heads south to Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil, to bring fans more than five hours of live fight coverage from UFC on Sportsnet: Belfort vs. Rockhold. Sportsnet’s knockout coverage of preliminary and main card fights begins on Saturday, May 18 at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on Sportsnet ONE. Additionally, sportsnet.ca will deliver live streaming of three early preliminary fights at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT.
The main card promises to be nothing short of explosive with middleweight Vitor “the Phenom” Belfort coming off the 15th knockout victory of his career this past January. Belfort’s opponent, Luke Rockhold, is making his UFC debut following an undefeated 9-0 career in Strikeforce. Stakes are high, as a win could mean a title shot for Belfort.
The first fight of the televised action on Sportsnet ONE includes Halifax, N.S.’s Roger Hollett taking on Brazilian Fabio Maldonado. Hollett is looking to rebound from a loss in his octagon debut, when he dropped a unanimous decision to Matt Hamill at UFC 152.
Sportsnet’s additional coverage of UFC on Sportsnet: Belfort vs. Rockhold includes:
- On this week’s episode of UFC Central Radio, host “Showdown” Joe Ferraro previews the UFC on Sportsnet fight card, providing predictions and insights. Thursday, May 16 at 9 p.m. ET on Sportsnet 590 The FAN
- sportsnet.ca presents live streaming ofthe officialweigh-ins on Friday, May 17 at 3 p.m. ET/Noon PT
- Ferraro recaps the entire UFC on Sportsnet fight card from top to bottom next week’s edition of UFC Central, Monday, May 20 at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT on Sportsnet ONE
Talent Quotes and Interviews:
- Joe “Showdown” Ferraro on the UFC on Sportsnet: Belfort vs. Rockhold main card:
“If you don’t know who Luke Rockhold is, I’m confident you will by the end of Saturday night’s main event. Many of his own peers don’t know who he is, but if things go as planned for Rockhold up against Belfort, he could have a date with Anderson Silva later this year.”
- Ferraro is available for interviews to discuss UFC on Sportsnet
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About Sportsnet
Sportsnet connects Canadian sports fans to their favourite teams and athletes, using five platforms: TV, Radio, Print, Online and Mobile. Sportsnet is Fuelled By Fans, and delivers storytelling on a local, regional, national and global level. The multiplatform brand consists of Sportsnet, sportsnet.ca, Sportsnet 590 The FAN, Sportsnet 960 The FAN, Sportsnet magazine, Sportsnet Mobile and the Hockey Central app on iPad and Playbook. Sportsnet consists of four regional channels (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific), and the nationally-distributed Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet World, and The Score. Sportsnet is the Canadian leader in NHL and MLB television broadcasts and is home to 162 Toronto Blue Jays games, plus MLB Playoffs and the World Series. Sportsnet is an official licensed broadcaster of the 2014 FIFA World Cup BrazilTM and also offers an exciting sports lineup including the NFL, the Memorial Cup, CIS Vanier Cup, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Grand Slam of Curling, IZOD IndyCar Series, the Rogers Cup tennis tournament, and extensive soccer programming including Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, MLS Vancouver Whitecaps FC, CONCACAF and Canadian national team matches for men and women. Connected is the network’s nightly news program, providing regional and national coverage of the day’s events in the world of sports.