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Monday, March 16, 2009 | 1 p.m.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced today that it is hosting its first mixed martial arts exposition this summer to coincide with the promotion’s historic UFC 100 event.
The UFC is teaming up with Reed Exhibitions for the two-day “UFC Fan Expo” to be held Friday and Saturday July 10-11 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, which will feature meet-and-greet sessions with UFC and WEC fighters, MMA demonstrations, fan-inspired special events, training sessions, and other activities leading up to UFC 100 — which is expected to be one of the company’s biggest cards ever.
The milestone event will likely include two title fights when welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre takes on Thiago Alves, and Frank Mir and Brock Lesnar unify the heavyweight title. “The Ultimate Fighter” Season No. 9 coaches Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping are also scheduled to fight on the yet-to-be finalized card.
“We are pleased to work with Reed Exhibitions to present UFC Fan Expo in conjunction with UFC 100,” said UFC President Dana White.
“The UFC 100 event is a milestone for us, for the sport of mixed martial arts, and for fight fans around the world, this will be an amazing weekend for UFC fans.”
The organization expects the expo to attract more than 100 companies and brands ranging from apparel to electronic gaming vendors to sports equipment and nutritional supplements sellers as well as other MMA-related companies.
Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading events organizer, putting on more than 470 events in 37 countries. In 2008, Reed brought together more than seven million industry professionals from around the world, generating billions of dollars in business through events held in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.
“Reed Exhibitions is the largest global producer of high-profile and highly targeted events,” said Ed Gallo, event director of the UFC Fan Expo. “Drawing on our experience in pop-culture inspired events such as New York Comic Con and New York Anime Festival, the UFC Fan Expo will deliver an unprecedented all-access pass to loyal UFC fans around the world, and new fans discovering their passion for mixed martial arts.”
For more UFC Fan Expo information and to purchase tickets, visit UFCfanexpo.com. For companies interested in reserving space at the event, contact Ed Gallo at 1-203-840-5546 or email egallo@ufcfanexpo.com.
Andy Samuelson can be reached at andy.samuelson@lasvegassun.com or 702-948-7837.
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