Rousey returns to challenge Nunes for world title

Las Vegas – UFC® is bringing the heat to close out 2016 with two world title fights and a card filled with some of the biggest names in mixed martial arts. Women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes will defend her 135-pound crown for the first time against arguably the most dominant champion in history, Ronda Rousey, in the main event. The co-main event will see the men’s bantamweight world title on the line in a grudge match between division kingpin Dominick Cruz and one of the sport’s fastest rising stars, Cody Garbrandt. UFC® 207: NUNES vs. ROUSEY takes place Friday, Dec. 30 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

With all eyes on the Octagon® for the return of Rousey (12-1, fighting out of Venice, Calif.) the stage is set for champion Nunes (13-4, fighting out of Miami, Fla.) to put on the performance of a lifetime and catapult herself into superstardom by defeating the biggest name in the sport. The 28-year-old Brazilian shocked the world with her first round submission of Miesha Tate to win the title earlier this year. Nunes’ explosive finishing power and ability to submit or knock out any opponent, makes her one of the most dangerous and complete fighters in the women’s 135-pound division. Rousey is the sport’s first true crossover star, having elevated MMA to the next level with her dominance, dynamic finishing ability and confidence. As the only athlete to successfully defend the women’s bantamweight title more than once, Rousey hopes to begin her second reign over the division.

No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Cruz (22-1, fighting out of San Diego, Calif.) knows a thing or two about crushing the dreams of Team Alpha Male standouts and he has developed one of the most intense rivalries in MMA with the members of Urijah Faber’s powerhouse gym. Next in his sights is No. 6 Garbrandt (10-0, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.), perhaps the most talented and powerful of Cruz’s challengers yet. Cruz will need to rely on his timing, accuracy and unparalleled footwork to counter Garbrandt’s power and speed if he hopes to dispose of another of Sacramento’s finest. Meanwhile, Garbrandt looks to remain undefeated and prove the time is now for him to take over as the 135-pound king.

In a rematch 18 months in the making, two of the greatest heavyweights of all-time, No. 1 ranked Fabricio Werdum (21-6-1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif.) and No. 2 Cain Velasquez (14-2, fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) battle it out for a potential shot at heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. Werdum is a three-time world jiu jitsu champion in addition to being a former UFC heavyweight champion. He holds wins over the likes of Velasquez, Mark Hunt, Fedor Emilianenko and Minotauro Nogueira and has finished 16 of his 21 professional victories. Velasquez is a two-time UFC heavyweight champion who holds the record for most knockouts in UFC heavyweight history and hopes to avenge his UFC 188 loss to Werdum, the same as he did in his epic trilogy with Junior Dos Santos.

Additional Bouts:
· Former welterweight champion, No. 7 Johny Hendricks (17-5, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas) looks to get back on track against the always dangerous No. 9 Neil Magny (18-6, fighting out of Denver, Colo.)
· Belgian striking sensation, No. 13 Tarec Saffiedine (16-5, fighting out of Brussels, Belgium) takes on relentless No. 14 Matt Brown (22-15, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) in a 170-pound showdown
· Las Vegas’ own Mike Pyle (27-12-1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) meets lethal finisher Alex Garcia (13-3, fighting out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada) at welterweight
· In a battle of 170-pound finishers, Tim Means (26-7-1, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) clashes with Alex Oliveira (15-3-1, 1 NC, fighting out of Tres Rios, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
· Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Antonio Carlos Junior (7-2, 1 NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) meets fellow submission specialist Marvin Vettori (11-2, fighting out of Mezzocorona, Italy) in a middleweight bout

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

Visit the UFC® Press Portal for information and content to support your UFC coverage.

Tickets for UFC® 207: NUNES vs. ROUSEY go on sale Friday, Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $600, $300, $200, $150, $90 and $75 (prices do not include applicable service charges and handling fees). Tickets are available for purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com and by phone at (800) 745-3000. Ticket sales are limited to four (4) per person.

UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 10 a.m. PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Nov. 3 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

UFC® 207: NUNES vs. ROUSEY will be available live on Pay-Per-View on Friday, Dec. 30 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Vubiquity, and in Canada on BellTV, Rogers, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Canal Indigo for a suggested retail price of $49.99 US/CAN for Standard Definition and $59.99 US/CAN for High-Definition.