FOX UFC SATURDAY: World Flyweight Championship on the Line in Primetime

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

FOX UFC SATURDAY Features World Flyweight Championship Clash at 8:00 PM ET

Four-Bout Card Features Johnson/Dodson Title Match;

Rampage Jackson Battles Glover Teixeira

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER Season Premiere Re-Airs Saturday at 11 PM ET

WORLD FLYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP HEADLINES FOX UFC SATURDAY – FOX UFC SATURDAY invades primetime broadcast television this Saturday, Jan. 26 (8:00 PM ET) live from the United Center in Chicago, IL. FOX Sports Media Group’s FOX Sports, FUEL TV, FX, FOX Deportes, FOXSports.com and FOX Sports Radio get fans primed for an outstanding quadruple-header of fights on the broadcast network with preliminary bouts airing on FX.  UFC on FOX’s sixth installment is highlighted by Demetrious Johnson’s first title defense in the flyweight division against top contender John Dodson.

The Johnson versus Dodson main event is preceded by three thrilling matchups; former UFC champion Rampage Jackson against red hot light heavyweight fighter Glover Teixeira; former WEC champion Anthony Pettis taking on Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, the winner of which could get a title shot at lightweight champion Benson Henderson; and Erik Koch returning from injury to face Chicago native Ricardo Lamas in the featherweight division.

UFC announcers Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan call all bouts on FOX Sports as well as the preliminary matches airing live on FX.  Beginning at 5:00 PM ET, host Jon Anik, is joined by UFC light heavyweight contender Chael Sonnen and bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz who offer analysis for the preliminary bouts on FX.  When coverage shifts to FOX at 8:00 PM ET, host Curt Menefee is joined by Brian Stann and Sonnen to preview and breakdown the main event’s bouts. Both shows originate LIVE on-site from the United Center in Chicago.  Additionally, preliminary bouts and the main card fights air live on FSMG’s Spanish language network FOX Deportes. UFC announcer Larry Pepe hosts all coverage of matches for FOX Sports Radio.

On Friday, Jan. 25 (5:00 PM ET) FUEL TV carries the weigh-in LIVE from the Chicago Theater immediately following FOX UFC SATURDAY on Saturday, Jan. 26, FUEL TV offers live postfight coverage. Both programs are hosted by Anik with Sonnen and Cruz adding analysis. Three-time MMA Journalist of the Year Ariel Helwani interviews fighters backstage.

For instant updates during the week from the entire UFC on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/UFCONFOX. Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports.

JOHNSON’S SPEED AND FOOTWORK ARE EDGE IN UFC WORLD FLYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT – Saturday’s UFC World Flyweight Championship on FOX UFC SATURDAY features Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson defending his crown for the first time against THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER season 14 winner John “The Magician” Dodson. FUEL TV’s UFC TONIGHT analyst Kenny Florian believes Johnson’s speed and footwork give him the edge in the fight. “Demetrious Johnson has some of the best footwork in the game. It’s the most underrated aspect in all of mixed martial arts. When you want to hit him, he’s gone. When he wants to engage, he hits you with his tremendous hand speed and footwork speed. To make things worse, he has wrestling ability and can take you down when he wants and it all comes from his footwork.” However, Florian also sees Dodson as a formidable challenge to Johnson. “Dodson has some tremendous punching power. He can knock out anyone in the division. They say 125 pounders don’t have power, but John Dodson puts that myth to sleep. If he catches you, he can put you out for the count. He’s also one of the best athletes in the UFC, and at 5 foot 3, he can dunk a basketball. He has yet to be taken down in the UFC Octagon, which is amazing.”

Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson on a weakness in John Dodson: “You look at my last three fights and they’ve all been against high caliber guys and we’ve gone the distance each time. I know I can push my body five rounds, and keep the pressure on somebody and go the distance. I haven’t seen him do that yet, so we’ll see how he does that night.”

Full FUEL TV Video Interview with Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson: “Speed Kills”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE1yqEMQb_8&

John Dodson on how he’ll beat Johnson: “He wants to be the one to make sure he’s the aggressor. If he’s the fastest guy in the cage, he’ll have the most confidence. I’m going to make sure I can throw him off his game and throw him off that little act of his. I’m excited because I’ll get to have millions of fans out there who haven’t seen flyweights and appreciate it, and they’re going to see me knock out Demetrious Johnson.”

Full FUEL TV Video Interview with Flyweight Number One Contender John Dodson: “All The Fans Will See Me KO Demetrious Johnson”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fajWRJArY2g&

FUEL TV analyst Kenny Florian’s Undercard Picks:

Florian on Rampage Jackson vs. Glover Teixeira: “Both of these guys have serious knockout power. We know about Rampage’s ability to slam down people. You don’t want to get hit by his right hand or his left hand. Glover Teixeira is extremely well rounded. He can strike and submit you on the ground. He has no mercy when he faces you. He’s very aggressive, and it’s going to be fireworks in this one. Jackson looks like he’s in great shape and confident, but because of consistency, I’m going with Glover. His head is in this and he’s really hungry.”

Florian picks Anthony Pettis over Donald Cerrone: “This is a fight I’ve wanted to watch for a long time. I have to go with Pettis in it. He’s been a little more consistent lately. Plus, his athleticism separates him.”

Florian on Erik Koch vs. Ricardo Lamas: “I’m going with Lamas. He’s the underdog, but his style could create some real problems for Koch.”

TUF SEASON PREMIERE REBROADCAST ON FOX – The world’s longest running sports reality TV series is back as The Ultimate Fighter® returns for its exciting 17th season. At 11:00 PM ET on Saturday, Jan. 26, FOX Sports broadcasts a special edited edition of THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER which premiered Tuesday on FX. Featuring UFC® light heavyweight champion Jon ‘Bones’ Jones and Chael ‘the American Gangster’ Sonnen as coaches, the premiere sees several breathtaking fight finishes – including one of the fastest KOs in the history of the series – as 28 of the world’s best unsigned mixed martial artists collide in 14 fight-in eliminators. And, for the first time in the eight-year history of TUF™, the fighters’ families and friends will be in attendance for the fight-ins as the middleweights throwdown, desperate to earn a spot in the famed TUF House and pursue their dream of a six-figure UFC contract.

FOX UFC SATURDAY: FSMG PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE

LONG ON TIM BROWN’S “SABOTAGE” COMMENTS: “ODD WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT” FOX NFL SUNDAY analyst Howie Long appeared on FOX Sports Radio’s the Dan Patrick Show on Wednesday to discuss comments made by former Oakland Raiders player Tim Brown alleging that former Oakland Raiders coach Bill Callahan “sabotaged” his team in the 2003 Super Bowl.  “If it’s played out the way Tim [Brown] and Jerry Rice depicted it, odd would be an understatement,” said Long.  “Some of it is, of course, that Jon Gruden knew the system, knew the quarterback and knew the calls. Adjustments had to be made. There are two things: one; you’re talking about the calls, and two; you’re talking about the game plan. The calls are one issue, whether it’s run or pass, but I think philosophically, it was a really poorly called game. I was there, and it was a disappointing game.”

WALTRIP LIKES WHAT HE SEES FROM GEN-6 CAR – Lead NASCAR on FOX analyst and NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip weighs in on the Gen-6 car in his latest column for FOXSports.com, calling it the spark the sport needs. “Now we have a safe car that is back to a race car,” Waltrip wrote. “It looks great. It looks like what you could walk into your local car dealership and buy off the showroom floor. These new Gen-6 cars are a home run. These cars look great and they are fast.”

Click here to read the full column: http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/gen-6-car-reminds-darrell-waltrip-of-good-ol-days-012313