Confused about the difference between Randy Couture’s interim light heavyweight championship and Tito Ortiz’s still-current light heavyweight championship status? Check out the latest Zuffa/UFC press release talking about the post-UFC 43 light heavyweight title picture.ÿ Click on READ MORE to see the full release.
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LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION HEATS UP IN THE ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP
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ÿOrtiz Is Light Heavyweight Champion; Couture Is Interim Light Heavyweight Champ
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ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Las Vegas, June 13, 2003.The light heavyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship is heating up.ÿ After Randy Couture (8-4-0 in mixed martial arts) of Portland, Ore., won the interim light heavyweight championship with a technical knockout victory over Chuck Liddell (11-2-0) of San Luis Obispo, Calif., at 2:40 of the third round last Friday in the main event of UFC 43: Meltdown, the division instantly became one of the best in mixed martial arts.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ When light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz (13-2-0) of Huntington Beach, Calif., told the UFC he was injured and unable to fight in the last two events, UFC officials scheduled the Liddell-Couture fight because Liddell was the number one light heavyweight contender.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Ortiz continues as the light heavyweight champion and UFC officials said they are working to schedule a fight between Ortiz and Couture for the undisputed UFC light heavyweight championship.
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ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ “The UFC light heavyweight division is jam packed with some of the toughest fighters in the world.ÿ With Tito as the champion, Randy now the interim champ and with Chuck, Vitor Belfort and Rich Franklin as top contenders, fans should get ready for some amazing fights in our upcoming events,” said Dana White, UFC president.
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Encore pay-per-view replays of UFC 43: Meltdown are continuing throughout June and early July on DirecTV, TVN, Dish Network, Echostar and Viewers Choice Canada.ÿ The suggested retail price is $29.95.ÿ DirecTV replays are scheduled on it All Day Ticket Service on June 19, 21, 24, 27 and July 2, 5.ÿ Dish Network will replay the show on its All Day Ticket service on June 14, 19, 21, 25 and 26.ÿ Replays on Echostar will be on its All Day Ticket service June 14, 19, 21, 25 and 26.ÿ TVN will replay it at 4:30 p.m. EDT/1:30 p.m. PDT, June 14; 1:30 p.m. EDT/10:30 a.m. PDT, June 19; 9 p.m. EDT/6 p.m. PDT, June 21; 6 p.m. EDT/3 p.m. PDT, June 22; 11:30 a.m. EDT/8:30 a.m. PDT, June 24, and 7 a.m. EDT/4 a.m. PDT, June 28.ÿ Viewers Choice Canadas remaining schedule is 2 a.m. EDT/11 p.m. PDT, June 14 and 22.
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The Ultimate Fighting Championship, headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., is the worlds leading mixed martial arts sports association.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 U.S. distribution on iNDemand, DirecTV, TVN, Echostar, Dish Network, Bell ExpressVu and Viewers Choice Canada.ÿ In addition to its U.S. distribution on iNDemand, DirecTV, TVN, Echostar, Dish Network, Bell ExpressVu and Viewers Choice Canada, UFC events are distributed internationally through WOWOW, Inc., in Japan, Globosat in Brazil, Main Event Television in Australia and Sky Network Television in New Zealand.ÿ Zuffa licenses the distribution of UFC video games through Crave Entertainment and TDK Mediactive.