First Fox Main Event? Heavyweight Championship Bout

If the UFC’s intention was to make an unforgettable first impression in its initial outing on Fox, the organization has certainly done its part, with UFC President Dana White announcing today that the November 12th event on the network will be a world heavyweight title fight between champion Cain Velasquez and number one contender Junior dos Santos.

“This is our Forrest Griffin-Stephan Bonnar, now on a huge, massive platform, and we need to deliver, and there’s no doubt in my mind, and I will bet anything and everything and am betting that these guys (Velasquez and dos Santos) are going to deliver,” said White, referring to the classic Ultimate Fighter season one finale bout in 2005 that kicked off the mixed martial arts explosion that has turned the sport into the fastest growing one in the world.

Six years after Griffin-Bonnar I, the UFC signed a major deal with Fox Sports Media Group in August of 2011, a seven year deal that will put the best fighters and fights from the UFC on network television, and there is no better way to kick off the relationship than with the unbeaten Velasquez and the hard-hitting dos Santos, two athletes who epitomize the new breed of mixed martial artist.

“It’s the most prestigious championship in all of sports, the heavyweight title, and there’s nothing more exciting than when you know it’s gonna be a great heavyweight fight,” said White, and Fox is just as excited for the November battle, as they’re pulling out all the stops to make this not just a fight, but an event.

“We’ll be launching the UFC on Fox with a Super Bowl style red carpet and tailgate party with every star in Hollywood and every dignitary that we need to get out there to launch this,” said Fox Sports President Eric Shanks.

The highly-anticipated clash between the two best heavyweights in the world will take place at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The five round championship bout between Velasquez-dos Santos will occupy the one hour time slot on Fox, with the rest of the card airing in a method to be determined.

Tickets for the event go on sale on Friday, September 16th.