UFC will return to New Orleans for the first time since 2011 on Saturday, June 6th. The headlining bout will be a light heavyweight showdown between third-ranked Daniel Cormier and fifth-ranked Ryan Bader at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
Born and raised in the heart of Cajun Country, third-ranked UFC light heavyweight Cormier (15-1, fighting out of San Jose, Calif.), comes home to face rising contender Bader in hopes of getting another shot at the 205-pound world title.
The former two-time U.S. Olympian makes his return to the Octagon after losing a decision to UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones at UFC 182 in January.
Since winning The Ultimate Fighter® Season eight, Bader (20-4, fighting out of Tempe, Ariz.) has made a steady climb through the 205-pound rankings by besting top-ranked opponents Phil Davis, Ovince Saint Preux, former UFC light heavyweight champion Rampage Jackson and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. After rattling off four consecutive wins, the former two-time Division I All-American wrestler at Arizona State University has earned a shot against one of the UFC’s elite in Cormier.
UFC partners with amateur International Mixed Martial Arts Federation
UFC today announced a partnership with the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) in a move to champion the growth of safe, clean mixed martial arts (MMA) at the amateur level. UFC will work closely with the IMMAF and provide vital financial and administrative backing, while also leveraging the vast global platform the UFC has built for communication and education initiatives.
Formed in 2012, the IMMAF has undertaken a number of important initiatives including athlete safety, regulatory work and grass roots development of the sport as well as being the global governing body of amateur MMA with 40 national federation members.
Additionally, UFC will again play host to the IMMAF World Championships as part of International Fight Week, which in 2014 saw 110 male and female athletes represent 22 countries in over 100 fights. The tournament, which runs from July 6 through 11, will culminate at the UFC Fan Expo at the Sands Expo & Convention Center, July 10-11, 2015 in Las Vegas and will be broadcast live on UFC Fight Pass.
The IMMAF World Championships of MMA is the first international competition for amateur MMA to be organized by a non-profit, democratic governing body in accordance with Olympic values.
By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services
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