UFC RETURNS TO NEWARK WITH TWO TITLE FIGHTS ON BIGGEST SPORTS WEEKEND OF 2014

Las Vegas, Nev. – Two world title fights headline UFC’s return to Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014. In the night’s main event, the undisputed UFC bantamweight champion will be crowned when reigning champion Dominick Cruz (19-1, fighting out of San Diego, Calif.) returns to action after two years away from competition due to injury to meet red-hot interim champion Renan Barao (33-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).

Then, in the night’s co-main event, UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo (23-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) returns to the Octagon^® to face proven finisher Ricardo Lamas (13-2, fighting out of Chicago, Ill.), a winner of four straight.

If that wasn’t enough, two former heavyweight champions collide when former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mirbattles former Strikeforce^® champion Alistair Overeem.

“We put together a fight worthy of Super Bowl weekend,” UFC president Dana White said. “It’s the fight that everyone has been waiting for – champion vs. champion – Dominick Cruz vs. Renan Barao for the 135-pound title. Dominick Cruz is the reigning champion and hasn’t lost a fight in six years. He takes on the interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao, who’s been on a tear with a 30-fight win streak and hasn’t lost in eight years. Two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, two of the best 135-pounders on earth: the world is finally going to find out who is the undisputed 135-pound champion!

“Plus, the unstoppable Jose Aldo takes on the man everyone has been waiting to see him fight, Ricardo Lamas. Aldo has been the 145-pound champion since 2009 and he’s torn through the featherweight division. But Ricardo Lamas has heavy hands, great wrestling and will be the toughest test of Aldo’s career.”

Tickets for UFC^® 169: CRUZ VS. BARAO go on sale Friday, Nov. 22 at 10 a.m. ET and are priced at $400, $250, $175, $100, $80, $65, and $50. Tickets will be available at all Ticketmaster locations and the Prudential Center Box Office. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.

UFC^® Fight Club^™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 10 a.m. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Nov. 21 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com.  All bouts live and subject to change.