UFC on FOX Tripleheader LIVE From Chicago Saturday Night

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

UFC on FOX Officially Begins Partnership with Tripleheader from Chicago Saturday Night

Strahan:  “This Year’s Patriots/Giants Super Bowl Could be Tighter Than Last One” 

UFC ON FOX TRIPLEHEADER LIVE FROM CHICAGO SATURDAY NIGHT – UFC on FOX officially kicks off  its partnership with a two-hour tripleheader broadcast on Saturday, Jan. 28 (8:00-10:00 PM ET), live from the United Center in Chicago.  In the night’s main event, former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans (21-1-1) takes on undefeated former national champion wrestler Phil Davis (9-0-0) to determine the next challenger to the 205-pound title currently held by Jon Jones. The co-main event features middleweight contender Chael Sonnen (27-11-1) battling British star Michael Bisping (23-3-0) for the right to fight champion Anderson Silva.  The action begins with dangerous Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master Demian Maia (15-3-0) taking on unbeaten Chris Weidman (7-0-0).  Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan call all the action inside the Octagon and versatile broadcaster Curt Menefee hosts pre- and postfight coverage with UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture and the aforementioned Jon Jones offering their insights on the action.  During prefight coverage, fans get a special behind-the-scenes look at preparation for their big night in Chicago, including a feature on Rashad Evans as he and his family balance the excitement of being part of the main event in Chicago with the stress and tension of his brother’s impending deployment.

“This is the show that officially starts our deal with FOX and we’re bringing what the fans want – a night packed with great fights,” UFC President Dana White said. “We’re kicking this thing off with an incredible tripleheader. Rashad Evans looked fantastic in his last fight against Tito Ortiz and he wants to get the belt back. But Phil Davis is no joke. He’s undefeated at 9-0 and has stormed through guys like Brian Stann, Alexander Gustafsson and Rogerio Nogueira. He wants the title shot just as bad as Rashad.”

The weekend’s action kicks off Friday, Jan. 27 (5:00 PM ET) with the live “UFC on FUEL TV: Weigh-in.” Jay Glazer hosts the show while UFC veteran and FUEL TV’s “UFC Tonight” host Kenny Florian steps in as the analyst, commenting on all the activities from Chicago. Two-time MMA Journalist of the Year Ariel Helwani interviews fighters backstage. FUEL TV coverage continues Saturday, Jan. 28 (5:00 PM ET) with three hours of live preliminary bouts. Glazer is joined by Florian to introduce the fight, while Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan call the action live inside the Octagon. Helwani will interview fighters live backstage.  Following these preliminary matchups on FUEL TV and three main events on FOX Sports, coverage returns to FUEL TV for the post-fight wrap-up show (10:00 PM ET).

History was made in November when the UFC made its broadcast television debut on FOX and a record audience tuned in as challenger Junior dos Santos defeated defending champion Cain Velasquez in a first round knockout to claim the coveted heavyweight crown.  More than 5.7 million viewers tuned in to make it the most-watched UFC event ever and the most-watched professional fight of any kind on any network since 2003.

FLORIAN:  IT’S TOO EARLY FOR DAVIS TO FIGHT EVANS – FUEL TV’s UFC analyst Kenny Florian doesn’t believe Phil Davis is ready to fight Rashad Evans in the UFC on FOX main event Saturday, Jan. 28 (8:00 PM ET) from the United Center in Chicago. “It’s one or two fights too early for Phil Davis to fight Rashad Evans,” said Florian. “Evans’ experience and his ability to put it all together will be the difference. He’s going to win and face [current Light Heavyweight Champ] Jon Jones later this year.” Florian also picks Chael Sonnen over Michael Bisping and Chris Weidman over Demian Maia in the other main card match-ups.

Follow the talent on Twitter at: @jayglazer; @kennyflorian; @arielhelwani

*All times Eastern

NATIONAL SIGNING DAY COUNTDOWN ON SCOUT.COM POWERED BY FOXSPORTSNEXT – College football National Signing Day is only a week away and Scout.com powered by FOXSportsNEXT is your source for all of the big stories leading up to February 1.  FOXSportsNEXT and Scout.com provide detailed player evaluation including the regional and national ratings and rankings of nearly 2,000 football prospects each year.  The recruiting coverage is powered by the most comprehensive content team in the business with 32 full-time, independent football recruiting analysts and reporters, and over 100 individual team sites and their content providers.  For videos and information on this year’s top college football recruits, visit the Scout 300 at http://tinyurl.com/3fhm6ob.  To find out where each school’s recruiting class ranks, visit http://tinyurl.com/3vetver. 

STRAHAN SAYS BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN ’07 GIANTS VS. THIS YEAR’S TEAM: “OFFENSIVE CONSISTENCY” – FOX NFL SUNDAY analyst Michael Strahan told fellow FOX Sports broadcaster and NFL on FOX insider Jay Glazer there’s nothing that special about just getting to the Super Bowl.  Glazer caught up with the Giants honorary captain for this week’s edition of ‘After Party,’ a weekly NFL recap show airing on FOXSports.com.  “There is nothing special about a Super Bowl unless you win it and get that ring,” said Strahan.  “You’ve just got to go out there and execute the game of football.”  When asked about the difference between this Giants team and the 2007 Giants, Strahan explained.  “Their offense is more consistent.  You pretty much know that they are going to score. It’s going to be a great game against the Patriots, they are very similar teams. This could be tighter than the first one.”

For the ‘After Party’ with Jay Glazer in its entirety please click here: http://tinyurl.com/7budbzq

HOW SERIOUS IS DANICA? ASK INDY – In what began as a part-time stint in 2010, now becomes a full-time commitment to the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2012 for Danica Patrick. FOXSports.com motorsports columnist Lee Spencer says Patrick’s commitment is illustrated by her recent decision to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and forgo an eighth-straight start in the Indianapolis 500. The two races are scheduled for May 27.  “She’s already balancing the NNS schedule with the 10 Sprint Cup races in the No. 10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet with Stewart-Haas Racing. Patrick added the Coca-Cola 600 as Race 9 in that allotment and intimated that running the Brickyard 400, NASCAR’s annual race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as Race 10 ‘sounds like a great idea.’” Spencer speculates a newfound confidence can be at the heart of Patrick’s decision: “Over the last two seasons while running IndyCar full-time, Patrick ran just a total of 25 events in the Nationwide Series. Considering that Patrick has top-of-the-line equipment from JR Motorsports, does she believe she can win the Nationwide title?”