LAST SHOT AT REDEMPTION: ELIMINATED CONTESTANTS OF THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER® LIVE ON FX TO PARTICIPATE IN JUNE 1 FINALE

Semifinals this Friday on FX at 10 p.m. ET/PT

LAS VEGAS (May 24, 2012) – UFC President Dana White made it official this week, announcing that all but two of THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER^® LIVE fighters, pending commission approval after the semifinals, will get one more opportunity for redemption and appear on national television during the three-hour season finale on FX, Friday, June 1, from the Pearl Concert Theater at the Palms in Las Vegas.

In addition, the winners of the semifinal bouts this Friday, May 25, live on FX (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) between James Vick (4-0), of Fort Worth, Texas, and Michael Chiesa 7-0), ofSpokane Valley, Wash., and Vinc Pichel (7-0), of Sherman Oaks, Calif., and Al Iaquinta (5-1-1), Wantagh, N.Y., will clash in the final fight of the season to crown the ULTIMATE FIGHTER LIVE winner. The winner will earn a lucrative contract from the UFC and a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Confirmed June 1 matchups include: Jeremy Larsen, Phoenix, Ariz., vs. Joe Proctor, Pembroke, Mass.; Sam Sicilia, Spokane Valley, Wash., vs. Cristiano Marcello, Curitiba, Brazil; Chris Tickle, Bloomington, Ill., vs. Daron Cruickshank, Wayne, Mich.; Myles Jury, San Diego, Calif., vs. Chris Saunders, Long Beach, Calif.; and Justin Lawrence, Villa Ridge, Mo., vs. John Cofer, Hull, Ga.

Regretfully, two of the fighters who have spent the last three months in the TUF House will be unable to participate in the season finale on FX. Mike Rio, of Miami, Fla., suffered a rib injury in training whileAndy Ogle was medically suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after being knocked out by Iaquinta in the quarterfinals. 

Not surprisingly, the House was buzzing with excitement after the fighters learned they would be getting another shot on FX. Here’s what they had to say:

Jeremy Larsen

“I'm super thrilled about fighting Proctor. He's a tough guy who likes to fight, and that's what I like to do. I think we're going to go out there and put on a fantastic show for the fans."

Joe Proctor

"Train hard. Win easy. It's time for a war!”

Sam Sicilia

“I think this is a huge opportunity for me. He's a legend. We'll see if I belong in the UFC right now or not.”

Cristiano Marcello

“It's a great opportunity. He's a great opponent. Let's do what we need to do.”

Chris Tickle

“It's going to be a great fight, fast-paced and I'm ready to bang.”

Daron Cruickshank

“Hands up. Chin down. Let's bang. It's play time.”

Myles Jury

“I think it's a tough fight, but it's just another chance for me to live my dream."

Chris Saunders

“I’m looking forward to this test. It should be a good fight. Tune in!”

Justin Lawrence

“I think it's a good matchup for me. I think I'm more well-rounded. This is a huge opportunity and me and I'm not going to let it slip through my fingers."

John Cofer

“I’m excited for this fight and the chance at redemption after my last loss on the show. More importantly, though, is winning and landing a job fighting in the UFC.”

Don’t miss the opportunity to catch behind the scenes action by following the fighters on Facebook and Twitter. Find all these links and more on www.ultimatefighter.com.

Photo credits: Zuffa LLC

About Ultimate Fighting Championship^®

Universally recognized for its action-packed, can’t-miss events that have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across the globe, the UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas and with offices in London, Torontoand Beijing, UFC produces more than 30 live events annually and is the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. In 2011, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group. The agreement includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network annually, with additional fight cards and thousands of hours of programming broadcast on FOX properties FX and FUEL TV. This includes the longest-running sports reality show on television,The Ultimate Fighter^®, which now air on FX in an exciting new live format.

In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 149 countries and territories, to nearly one billion homes worldwide, in 20 different languages. UFC content is also distributed commercially in the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions and in English throughout Canada via Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc. and in Quebec through Interbox. The UFC also connects with tens of millions of fans through its website, UFC.com, as well as social media sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with over two million followers on Twitter. Ancillary UFC businesses include best-selling DVDs, an internationally distributed magazine, UFC.TV offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, the best-selling UFC Undisputed^® video game franchise distributed by THQ, UFC GYM^®, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo^® festivals, branded apparel and trading cards.

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER® LIVE ON FX WRAPS UP FIRST ROUND WITH “BECOME THAT HERO” TEAM CRUZ’S MIKE RIO vs. TEAM FABER’S ANDY OGLE

Friday, May 4, LIVE on FX at 10 p.m. ET/PT

The Ultimate Fighter^® Live on FX wraps up the preliminary round of competitiontomorrow/Friday, May 4, live on FX at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) when Team Cruz’s Mike Rio (8-1), of Miami, Fla., takes on Team Faber’s Andy Ogle (8-1), of Tynemouth, England, for the last spot in the quarterfinals. 

Team Faber’s Chris Saunders scored an upset victory over Team Cruz’s Sam Sicilia as a massive underdog last week.  Now, Faber’s squad holds a 4-3 lead over his bitter rival with just one fight to go until the quarterfinals. 

Rio and Ogle are looking to advance and move one step closer to a six-figure UFC contract alongside previous winners James Vick, Justin Lawrence, Al Iaquinta, Michael Chiesa, Joe Proctor, Vinc Pichel and Saunders. 

Below is a description of the upcoming “BECOME THAT HERO” episode:

 “Both teams head to a desert shooting range for an explosive Coaches Challenge.  Andy Ogle takes on Mike Rio in the last preliminary fight, then Dana announces the first two quarterfinal matchups.”

The 13-week season will culminate with a championship fight and three-hour finale on June 1 at the Pearl Palms Concert Theater in Las Vegas.  The coaches will then meet on July 7 at UFC 148, when Cruz defends his title against Faber in the rubber match of their epic rivalry.  

Below are select quotes from Rio and Ogle. 

MIKE RIO:

It's the final preliminary fight this Friday. Team Cruz is down 4-3. Is there any added pressure to even the series? Or is it just another fight?

“There's always pressure in a situation like this but the wonderful thing about our sport is that we don't have to worry about the teams. You just focus on yourself and the better you do, the team just ends up benefitting from it. So as long as I just focus on what I have to do and not worry about the team or what's best for the team, everyone will benefit. That takes a lot of the pressure off when you focus on what you're supposed to focus on and not the outside distractions.”

What is your mood going into the fight and what do you have to do to win? 

“I'm always relaxed. I'm one of those guys that never gets over-anxious, nervous or gets butterflies. I've been in competition a long time. I'm very relaxed until the time of the fight and then I get very energetic and very aggressive.

“What I need to do to win the fight? I need to push the pace. Ogle is by no means an easy fight. He's not just going to lay down for me. I just have to make sure I stay focused and take the fight to him and do what I need to do to win. I'm not going to focus on what he's going to do to me, just what I'm going to do to him.”

How difficult is it to sit and watch during the weeks you weren't fighting? Is it a relief to actually be fighting?

 “That was a double-edged sword. First off, I'm sitting there watching and waiting, seeing all my teammates fight, watching everybody fight. I came here to fight, and was just sitting on the sidelines every week, waiting, waiting, waiting. On the positive side of this though, I literally just got a month and a half training camp with the champ, Dominick Cruz, and the champ's personal coaching squad. I've gotten in the best shape of my life for my first preliminary fight. “

Is there anything that's happened in the first seven weeks that's surprised you?

“Every fight has been a war. I've been really impressed by the level of talent in our season. We're a great group of 16 guys and we deserve to be here. Everyone is serious as hell and there's really no one who is here just to be a TV star.”

ANDY OGLE:

It's the final preliminary fight this Friday. Team Faber is up 4-3. Is there any added pressure to keep the series lead? Or is it just another fight?

“It's not a fight for the Team, it's a fight for myself. Because at the end of the day, I'm the one who's trying to get that glass plate. I'm the one that is trying to get that W. It's all about me thinking about myself.  At the end of the day, two guys are going to go in there and the cage door is going to close and for 10, possibly 15, minutes I've got to kick somebody's ass to secure myself into the next round.”

What is your mood going into the fight and what do you have to do to win? 

 “I feel confident. I feel strong. I feel as if I've trained a long time for this fight and I've developed as a fighter as well as a person and become a hell of a lot more patient. In this fight, I'm going to have to be very patient and defend his takedowns a lot. I feel as if I can kill his spirit by doing so and lighting him up with my shoots and hitting him a lot in the face. Basically, just not making him want to come in and attempt a takedown.”

How difficult is it to sit and watch during the weeks you weren't fighting? Is it a relief to actually be fighting?

 “Since I've been in the house, I've had to think about everything in two ways. It was killing me not fighting for the first seven fights. But at the same time, I'm getting more time to develop as a fighter, which means [Rio]'s going to get the best version of me because I'm last. I've now built up a relationship with the coaching staff and a great relationship with my team and gotten a whole lot stronger.”

Is there anything that's happened in the first eight weeks that's surprised you?

“I did not expect to get ill! I very rarely get ill. I'm the 'one more round' guy. I'm always happy to keep pushing. If I'm done training but someone wants to go another round, I'll jump up, I'll do that round. When my lungs were closing up and I felt as if I couldn't breathe, I didn't feel like the 'one more round' guy. But when I went to the doctor and they did an X-ray, the doctor said, ‘Wow, you've got a large heart’ and I said tell me something I don't know.  That's something that Rio, or any opponent, won't ever have larger than me.  It's impossible, I want it too much.”

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER® LIVE ON FX CONTINUES WITH “WEATHER THE STORM”

TEAM FABER’S JOHN COFER vs. TEAM CRUZ’S VINC PICHEL

Friday, April 20, LIVE on FX at 10 p.m. ET/PT

The Ultimate Fighter® Live on FX continues tomorrow/Friday, live on FX at 10 p.m. ET/PT (Delayed on the West Coast) when Team Faber’s John Cofer (7-1), of Hull, Ga., takes on Team Cruz’s Vinc Pichel (7-0), of Sherman Oaks, Calif., for a spot in the quarterfinals.

With Team Faber’s Joe Proctor notching a victory over Team Cruz’s Chris Tickle last week, Faber’s squad now leads that of his bitter rival 3-2. Down 0-2 at one point, Team Faber has won three in a row.

Below is a description of the upcoming “Weather the Storm” episode:

“Cruz gives Chris Tickle an earful following his loss. After Faber comes to his defense, the coaches get into a heated exchange. With the tensions at the house taking a toll on him, Andy Ogle has an emotional breakdown during practice. Then Vinc Pichel and John Cofer face off in the sixth preliminary fight.”

Cofer and Pichel are looking to move into the quarterfinals along with previous winners James Vick, Justin Lawrence, Al Iaquinta, Michael Chiesa and Proctor.

The 13-week season will culminate with a championship fight and three-hour finale on June 1 at the Pearl Palms Concert Theater in Las Vegas. The coaches will then meet on July 7 at UFC 148, when Cruz defends his title against Faber in the rubber match of their epic rivalry.

Below are select quotes from Cofer and Pichel. Please let us know if you’d like to have the fighters answer any more questions.

JOHN COFER:
Through five weeks, it has been a season of streaks. Team Cruz won the first two, Team Faber the last three? What's the mood of your team, and how has it changed, etc?

“The mood throughout the season has been pretty good, even when we were down, we never felt like we were out. It is an individual sport but when your teammates win, it boosts moral. For the most part, I think we've done really well cohesively to stay positive.”

Do you feel pressure to keep the streak going?

“There's pressure, but it's not from wanting to keep a win streak going. There's pressure from wanting myself to move onto the next round. I also want to win to try and help my teammates get their next pick in the last two fights. So there's some pressure either way.”

What is your mood going into the fight and what do you have to do to win? Is it important just to win, or do you want to win impressively?

“I'm definitely happy to be fighting, I'm glad that my time is now. I'm confident and feel like it's my fight to win. I just have to fight, push the pace, not get desperate, be patient and if there's an opportunity to finish him with a [submission] or if I end up getting a knockout, great. If not, then I just need to continue to push that pace through the 10 minutes.”

How difficult is it to sit and watch during the weeks you weren't fighting? Is it a relief to actually be fighting?
“I wouldn't really say it was difficult to sit and watch. There's always that monkey on your back to get out there and do it yourself. I'm sure once you actually go in there and win it's actually quite a relief. I'm anticipating having that relief!”

Is there anything that's happened in the first five weeks that's surprised you?

“Not really [laugh]. I'm really enjoying my time here. It's definitely a blessing and I'm thankful to have this opportunity. That doesn't mean I don't miss home and I'm not ready to go home but at the same time I'm here to do work and I'm here for a purpose. I'm thankful not just to be here but to have this opportunity, and hopefully I'll make the best of it.”

VINC PICHEL:

Through five weeks, it has been a season of streaks. Team Cruz won the first two, Team Faber the last three? What's the mood of your team, and how has it changed, etc?

“The mood on our team hasn't really changed too much. We're definitely a little bummed that we lost the last three, but in fighting you win some and you lose some. We're not dwelling on it; we're looking ahead and focusing on the next fight. It's one fight at a time. It does bother us but we're not letting it drag us down. We're concentrating on our training and what we have to do to get the hammer back.”

Do you feel pressure to reverse the trend?

“Enormous pressure [laugh]. We had it in our minds that we were going to sweep these guys. Then they came back and won the last three fights and surprised the hell out of us. You know in the back of your head that you could lose a fight, it's always there. It actually happening though kind of 'kicks you in the pants' you could say. There is a lot of pressure on me to get the hammer back and to win a fight for us. I'm trying not to think about it and just to think about my fight that's ahead of me.”

What is your mood going into the fight and what do you have to do to win? Is it important just to win, or do you want to win impressively?

“I'm extremely focused. I feel really good. What I have to do to win is honestly just finish him, either knock him out or submit him. I'm not looking to let the judges decide my fate, I never have and I never will. I'm going to go out there and win or get knocked out trying. That's the way I see it.”

How difficult is it to sit and watch during the weeks you weren't fighting? Is it a relief to actually be fighting?
“It's very difficult to sit and watch people fight. You watch your teammates fight and you see things while they're fighting that you don't see when you're in there. That's why you have coaches, because they see what you don't. That's why they're in the corner yelling stuff at you because they see what's open. I feel the same way when I'm watching my teammates. When they win, it's great and you're winning with them. When they lose, you feel like crap because you lose with them. It feels good and it hurts at the same time.”

Is there anything that's happened in the first five weeks that's surprised you?

“What I have been surprised about is the pranks. There hasn't been that many… yet. Just little stuff like that. It has been a great experience and I can't wait to add a win to that.”

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER LIVE ON FX CONTINUES WITH “DOGS WITH NO BARK”

TEAM FABER’S JOE PROCTOR vs. TEAM CRUZ’S CHRIS TICKLE

Friday, April 13, LIVE on FX at 10 p.m. ET/PT

The Ultimate Fighter Live on FX continues this Friday, live on FX at 10 p.m. ET/PT (Delayed on the West Coast) when Team Faber’s Joe Proctor (8-1), of Pembroke, Mass., takes on Team Cruz’s Chris Tickle (8-4), of Bloomington, Ill., for a spot in the quarterfinals.

With Team Faber’s Michael Chiesa notching a victory over Team Cruz’s Jeremy Larsen last week, the two coaches and bitter rivals’ squads are tied at two wins apiece.

Below is a description of the upcoming “Dogs With No Bark” episode:

“Tempers flare between Mike Rio and Justin Lawrence during sparring. Both teams enjoy a relaxing Easter Sunday. Then, house loudmouth Chris Tickle faces tough guy Joe Proctor in the fifth preliminary fight."

Proctor and Tickle are looking to move into the quarterfinals along with previous winners James Vick, Justin Lawrence, Al Iaquinta and Chiesa.

The 13-week season will culminate with a championship fight and three-hour finale on June 1. The coaches will then meet on July 7 when Cruz defends his title against Faber in the rubber match of their epic rivalry.

Below are select quotes from Proctor and Tickle.
JOE PROCTOR:

Q: How did it feel when your name was called on to fight Friday?

A: When my name was called on Friday I was excited. I’ve been waiting four or five weeks to get in there and show everybody what I’ve been training for.


Q: What have you been doing since then to prepare for the fight?

A: Since my name was called, I’ve just been taking it light by hitting a lot of mitts, working my strength, and critiquing everything for a good game plan.


Q: How has the support of the Team Faber coaching staff been?

A: The Team Faber coaching staff is unbelievable. They’re behind me a hundred percent and constantly motivating me and constantly pushing me. They’ve got me ready for this fight and I can’t wait for it.


Q: What do you think your strength is going into this fight?

A: I think my strength going into this fight is everything. I’m well rounded. If it goes to the ground I’m good, and I’m more than happy to stand up too. I can finish anyway I feel like.


Q: How’s life in the house?

A: Life in the house is hectic. As much as I love being here and having this great opportunity, I really can’t wait to get back home and see all my friends and my family.


Q: What’s the first thing you’re going to do when you get home?

A: The first thing I’m going to do when I leave the show is hug my girlfriend.



CHRIS TICKLE


Q: How is everything going so far?

A: Training’s going great. Dom’s been busting our butts pretty hard every day. I’m happy and in good shape so I’m ready to fight.


Q: How did it feel when your name was called on to fight Friday?

A: I was happy when Faber called me out. I get to shut his mouth and whoop some ass, so I’m ready to go.


Q: What do you think about your opponent Joe Proctor?

A: Proctor is a tough guy. I think he’s the best fighter on Team Faber. He’s well rounded and we’ll see what he can do.


Q: Do you think you’ve improved since joining the show?

A: Definitely, my cardio is up and I’ve learned a lot-- I’m the best fighter I’ve ever been.


Q: What’s the first thing you’re going to do when you get home?

A: I’m going to go home and cuddle with my fiancé.