Attached is the full release for UFC 40: Vendetta, received the other day from Josh Hedges.ÿ Read More for full details on the event, featuring the long awaited Tito vs. Ken Shamrock matchup.
Contact: Josh Hedges, 702-221-4791, UFC, jhedges@ufc.tv
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Jack Taylor, 702-221-4790, UFC, jtaylor@ufc.tv
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Jim Byrne, 516-496-9191, ext. 224, Team Services, jbyrne@team-services.net
ÿTITO ORTIZ vs. KEN SHAMROCK AT UFC 40: VENDETTA;
LIVE FROM THE MGM GRAND, NOVEMBER 22
Shamrock Returns To Face Ortiz In A Super-Fight Between
Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Old Guard Against New
Live Event Tickets To Go On Sale This Saturday, August 24
ÿÿÿÿÿÿLAS VEGAS, AUGUST 19, 2002…The much anticipated fight that will pit Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz and UFC legend Ken Shamrock has finally arrived.ÿ Fight fans know Ortiz and Shamrock have a major score to settle based on long-standing hostilities between each other, although the two have never fought. They will finally do just that in the main event of UFC 40: Vendetta, live on pay-per-view at 10 p.m., EDT, Friday, November 22 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.ÿ Live event tickets for the eight-fight card go on sale at Noon this Saturday, August 24, with prices ranging from $30 to $300.ÿ Tickets can be purchased at the MGM Grand Garden Arena box office and all Ticketmaster locations, by calling Ticketmaster at 1-877-632-7400 and (702) 474-4000, or at www.ticketmaster.com.ÿ
UFC 40: Vendetta will be available live at 10 p.m.EDT/7 p.m. PDT, Friday, November 22, on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, TVN, Dish Network, BellExpressVu and Viewers Choice Canada.ÿ The suggested retail price is $29.95.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Fight fans have been anticipating Shamrock’s return to the UFC ever since he defeated Brian Johnston by forearm choke submission Dec. 7, 1996, at Ultimate Ultimate ’96 in Birmingham, Ala.ÿ Shamrock vs. Ortiz will pit the UFC’s old guard against the new.
ÿThe hostility between the two fighters was building for years, but reached a boiling point March 5, 1999, at UFC 19: Young Guns in Bay St. Louis, Miss., after Ortiz battered Shamrock prot‚g‚ Guy Mesger forcing stoppage of the fight.ÿ In the post-fight celebration, Tito donned a T-shirt parodying Mesger’s name.ÿ Shamrock attempted to vault the Octagon fence and has since vowed to teach Ortiz some humility.ÿ “I cannot leave the game without fighting him,” Shamrock said.
Ortiz, of course, has risen to become the light heavyweight champion and is now fully recovered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee suffered in a training mishap in February.ÿ In his last title defense, he won a unanimous decision over Vladimir Matyushenko September 28, 2001, at UFC 33: Victory In Vegas.ÿ His response to Shamrock’s return is typical Tito.ÿ “I can’t wait to welcome him back to the new UFC.”
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., is the world’s leading mixed martial arts sports event.ÿ Owned and operated by Zuffa LLC, the UFC programs six live pay-per-view events yearly through cable and satellite providers.ÿ In addition to its US distribution on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, TVN and Dish Network, UFC events are distributed internationally through British Sky Broadcasting, WOWOW, Inc., in Japan, Globosat in Brazil and Modern Sports and Entertainment in Scandinavia.ÿ UFC licenses video games for all major playing platforms through Crave Entertainment.
The UFC’s next PPV event will be at 10 p.m.EDT/7 p.m. PDT on Friday, Sept. 27, live from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.ÿ Locate Ultimate Fighting Championship on the internet at www.ufc.tv.
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Editor’s Note:ÿ
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz’ mixed martial arts record is 10-2-0.ÿ He lives in Huntington Beach, Calif.
ÿKen Shamrock’s mixed martial arts record is 8-4-2.ÿ He lives in San Diego, Calif.
ÿThe remainder of the card for UFC 40: Vendetta will be announced.
