– Sportsnet primes fans forGeorges St-Pierre’s return to Montreal with a replay of UFC 154: St-Pierre vs. Condit-
–Exclusive Canadian coverage of UFC 158 preliminary fights on Saturday, March 16 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT –
-Showdown Joe and Mark Hominick provide coverage from Montreal, including pre-fight press conference and official weigh-ins –
-Sportsnet presents Google+ Hangout with UFC president Dana White, Friday, March 15 at 3 p.m. ET/Noon PT –
TORONTO (March 11, 2013) Get ready for the fireworks. Sportsnet, Canada’s official home of the Ultimate Fighting Championship®, amps fans for UFC 158: St-Pierre vs. Diaz Presented by Pizza Pizza – one of the most-anticipated grudge matches in UFC history – with comprehensive, multiplatform coverage from today though to fight night and beyond. Sportsnet covers every angle of UFC 158 across TV, radio, print and digital, including three full hours of preliminary fights on Saturday, March 16 beginning at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on Sportsnet East, Ontario, West, and Pacific, and available on RogersAnyplaceTV.com.
Sparks will fly when Canada’s UFC king and hometown favourite, Georges St-Pierre, looks to defend his welterweight title for the eighth straight time against outspoken rival and former Strikeforce champ Nick Diaz in Montreal. The star-studded UFC 158 card showcases seven Canadian fighters, with the preliminary fights featuring Rimoulski, Quebec’s Patrick Cote taking on Strikeforce veteran Bobby Voelker, and Ajax, Ontario’s Antonio Carvalho looking to put a stop to Darren Elkins’ current five-fight win streak.
Below are the key details for Sportsnet’s jam-packed slate of UFC 158 coverage:
TV – Sportsnet
Sportsnet’s week-long coverage of UFC 158 includes:
- A replay of the entire UFC 154: St-Pierre vs. Condit card, tonight at 7:30 p.m. local time on Sportsnet Ontario and Pacific. Click here for broadcast schedule of encore presentations
- Daily UFC 158 news and updates from Montreal with UFC Central host “Showdown” Joe Ferraro and retired Canadian UFC fighter Mark Hominick on Connected beginning March 13, with a special GSP interview airing March 14. Click here for broadcast schedule
- Live coverage of the UFC 158 pre-fight press conference, featuring interviews with GSP, Nick Diaz and UFC president Dana White on Thursday, March 14 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on Sportsnet East, Ontario, West, and Pacific
- Live coverage of the official UFC 158 weigh-ins on Friday, March 15 at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT on Sportsnet East, Ontario, West, and Pacific. Nine-time UFC welterweight champion and GSP rival Matt Hughes will join Ferarro and Hominick from the Bell Centre in Montreal
- Exclusive Canadian coverage of the UFC 158 preliminary fights on Saturday, March 16 at 7 p.m. ET/4p.m. PT on Sportsnet East, Ontario, West & Pacific. Host Sarah Davis helms the coverage from Sportsnet’s Toronto studio, with live updates from Ferraro and Hominick at the Bell Centre in Montreal
- Following fight night, Ferraro and Hominick host UFC Central from Montreal, providing full recaps and highlights from the event on Monday, March 18. Click here for broadcast schedule
Digital – sportsnet.ca, RogersAnyPlaceTV.com and Rogers Live app
- Fans can get up close with UFC president Dana White when he joins sportsnet.ca for a live Google+ Hangout to chat with fans just prior to weigh-ins for UFC 158 in Montreal on Friday, March 15 at 3 p.m. ET/Noon PT
sportsnet.ca will provide live streaming of the following:
- UFC 158 pre-fight press conference on Thursday, March 14 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
- UFC 158 weigh-ins on Friday, March 15 at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT
- Exclusive coverage of UFC 158 preliminary fights starting at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT
- Post-fight press conference immediately following UFC 158 on Saturday, March 16
- sportsnet.ca will provide blog features, previews and analysis all week long, including insider content from Ferraro, James Brydon, Mike Johnston and Adam Martin, who will be in Montreal all week.
- Rogers digital television customers can live stream Sportsnet’s television coverage of UFC 158 on their computer with RogersAnyplaceTV.com
- Rogers wireless customers will have access to live streaming of Sportsnet’s television coverage of UFC 158 and additional sports content on their smartphones with the Rogers Anyplace TV Live mobile app, available through the Apple App Store, Google Play and BlackBerry App World
Radio – Sportsnet 590 The FAN
- On this week’s episode of UFC Central Radio, host Ferraro will be joined by Hominick to preview the entire UFC 158 card on Saturday, March 16 at 2 a.m. ET, and available for streaming at sportsnet.ca/590
Print – Sportsnet magazine
- In the latest issue of Sportsnet magazine, on newsstands now, Brydon provides an overview of the main card, explaining why many fans want to see GSP dominate his mouthy rival
Talent Quotes, Videos and Interviews
- To see Ferraro break down UFC 158, click here
- Ferraro on GSP vs. Nick Diaz (Main Event):
“This is more than just a grudge match and title fight. It represents two contrasting fan bases that have long been battling one another based on ‘what if’ scenarios. And the two leaders despise each other so much, that I for one am glad there will be a referee in the Octagon to keep them somewhat safe.”
- Ferraro on Canadians participating in UFC 158:
“Cote is in fantastic shape, while Carvalho will be looking to prove a point. Makdessi is fully aware he is a potential fight of the night candidate, while the MMA world could see a new Canadian contender emerge on Saturday night: Lethbridge, Alberta’s Jordan Mein.”
- Showdown Joe Ferraro and Mark Hominick are available for interviews to discuss all things UFC 158
Social Media Links
Official website, Sportsnetwww.sportsnet.ca
Like Sportsnet onFacebook http://www.facebook.com/sportsnet
Follow Sportsnet@Sportsnet
Follow Joe Ferraro@ShowdownJoe
Follow Mark Hominick @MarkHominick
Follow Matt Hughes @matthughes9x
Follow Sarah Davis @sarnicoledavis
Follow Dwight Wakabayashi @wakafightermma
Follow Perry Lefko @PerryLefko
Follow E. Spencer Kyte @spencerkyte
Follow James Brydon @James_Brydon
Follow Adam Martin @MMAdamMartin
Follow Official Sportsnet PR @SportsnetPR
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 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, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Grand Slam of Curling, IndyCar, 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.