FORMER UFC CHAMPIONS DOMINICK CRUZ AND RASHAD EVANS JOIN HOST KARYN BRYANT ON FOX SPORTS DESK FOR
FS1 UFC FIGHT NIGHT: VOLKAN VS. SMITH SATURDAY
Today, FOX Sports announces former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans serve as analysts with lead UFC host Karyn Bryant for FS1 UFC FIGHT NIGHT: VOLKAN VS. SMITH programming on Friday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Oct. 27, while John Gooden reports and interviews fighters.
Former title contender Dan Hardy and veteran MMA analyst Jimmy Smith join blow-by-blow announcer Brendan Fitzgerald to call FS1 UFC FIGHT NIGHT: VOLKAN VS. SMITH live from Moncton, Canada on Saturday, Oct. 26 on FS1, FS2 and the FOX Sports app. Victor Davila and Mario Delgado call the fights in Spanish on FOX Deportes.
The exciting five-round main event features a light heavyweight showdown between No. 2 Volkan Oezdemir (15-2) and No. 10 Anthony “Lionheart” Smith (30-13). Eager to stamp his ticket for another shot at the 205-pound title, Switzerland’s Oezdemir has the power and accuracy to stop any opponent in his tracks. But, Nebraska’s Smith has knocked out MMA legends Rashad Evans and Shogun Rua in his past two bouts, proving that in his new weight class, he has the tools and the determination to be a champion.
FOX Sports UFC programming begins Wednesday, Oct. 24 with UFC TONIGHT at 8:00 PM ET on FS1, when host Kenny Florian and guest host Michael Bisping preview FS1 UFC FIGHT NIGHT.
The weekend’s coverage kicks off Friday, Oct. 26 with the UFC FIGHT NIGHT WEIGH-IN SHOW on FS1 and streaming on the FOX Sports app at 7:00 PM ET, with Evans, Cruz and Bryant on the desk, previewing the fights. Gooden interviews fighters onsite.
Action continues Saturday at 7:00 PM ET on FS2 and the FOX Sports app with the UFC FIGHT NIGHT PREFIGHT SHOW, as the same desk crew breaks down the upcoming battles. The UFC FIGHT NIGHT PRELIMS, begin at 8:00 PM ET on FS2, FOX Deportes and the FOX Sports app, with Fitzgerald, Hardy and Smith calling the four exciting bouts. Nordine Taleb (14-5) takes on Sean Strickland (19-3-1) in a welterweight bout, while Thibault Gouti (12-4) and Nasrat Haqparast (9-2) square off in a lightweight clash. Calvin Kattar (18-3) faces Chris Fishgold (17-1-1) in a featherweight bout, while Sarah Moras (5-4) and Talita Bernardo (5-2) open the PRELIMS with a bantamweight bout.
The main card continues at 10:00 PM ET on FS1 and FOX Deportes, featuring six more thrilling bouts, including the headliner between Oezdemir and Smith. Late replacement Michael Johnson (19-12) faces Artem Lobov (14-14-1, 1NC). No. 11 light heavyweight Misha Cirkunov (13-4) takes on No. 14 Patrick Cummins (10-4). Andre Soukhamthath (12-6) and Jonathan Martinez (9-1) square off at bantamweight, while Gian Villante (16-10) and Ed Herman (24-13, 1NC) battle at 205 pounds. Alex Garcia (15-4) and Court McGee (19-6-1) begin the main card with an exciting welterweight scrap.
The weekend wraps with the FS1 UFC FIGHT NIGHT POSTFIGHT SHOW at 1:00 AM ET, as Cruz, Evans and Bryant recap the fights and Gooden interviews the winners.
Leading up to the fights, UFC fighters offer unique, behind-the-scenes clips on FOX Sports PROcast and on the FOX UFC social pages. Follow @UFConFOX on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all updates throughout the #UFCMoncton fights Saturday.
Viewers can live stream the UFC shows on the FOX Sports app, through the FS1, FS2 and FOX Deportes streams. The shows are available on desktop at FOXSports.com and through the app store or on connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.
