FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: John Stouffer Monday, June 4, 2018 [email protected]

TOP-RANKED UFC STRAWWEIGHT JOINS ANALYSTS BISPING, FLORIAN AND HOST BRYANT ON THE FOX SPORTS DESK FOR UFC 225: WHITTAKER VS. ROMERO 2

Anik, Rogan and Smith Call Prelims on FS1 and FOX Sports GO

LOS ANGELES – Today, FOX Sports announces No. 7-ranked UFC contender Michelle Waterson joins retired UFC champion , retired title contender Kenny Florian and lead UFC host Karyn Bryant for UFC 225: WITTAKER VS. ROMERO 2 programming on Friday, June 8 and Saturday, June 9.

Blow-by-blow announcer Jon Anik and veteran MMA analysts Joe Rogan and Jimmy Smith call the bouts live Octagon-side in . Megan Olivi adds reports and interviews fighters on-site. In addition, former champion Fabricio Werdum, top-ranked Santiago Ponzinibbio and Victor Davila call the fights in Spanish on FOX Deportes.

The undisputed championship is on the line at UFC 225 on June 9 when Robert Whittaker (20-4) defends his belt against No. 1-contender (13-2) in an anticipated rematch. Revisiting their 2017 Fight of the Night battle that earned ’s Whittaker the 185- pound title, ’s Romero earned a second shot at UFC gold with a devastating of in February. In the co-headliner event, a grudge will be settled when former champion and No. 1-ranked welterweight (28-9) faces No. 4 (13-1) for the UFC interim welterweight title. Covington has used his swarming ground attack to win five straight bouts, but he will face the stiffest challenge of his career in the form of ’s Dos Anjos, who’s on a three-fight win streak.

FOX Sports UFC programming begins Wednesday, June 6 with UFC TONIGHT on FS1 (8:00 PM ET), when host Florian and guest host Bisping preview the UFC 225. In addition, they interview Whittaker and Covington prior to their title fights, and also catch up with CM Punk, who’s making his second Octagon appearance. Plus, NFL Hall of Famer and FS1’s SKIP AND SHANNON: UNDISPUTED co-host Shannon Sharpe joins the show.

Coverage continues live Friday, June 8 (7:00 PM ET), with the UFC 225 WEIGH-IN SHOW on FS2 and FOX Sports GO with Bryant, Bisping, Florian and Waterson in studio discussing the fights, while Olivi reports onsite. The same crew hosts the FS1 UFC FIGHT NIGHT PREFIGHT SHOW on FS2 and FOX Sports GO (7:00 PM ET), previewing the evening’s fights.

The two-hour UFC 225 PRELIMS begin at 8:00 PM ET on FS1, FOX Deportes and FOX Sports GO with four exciting bouts. No. 2-ranked heavyweight (43-16, 1NC) battles No. 4 (9-1, 1NC), while No. 3 strawweight Claudia Gadelha (15-3) and No. 6 (14-4) tangle. No. 7 (18-6) and No. 11 Mirsad Bektic (12- 1) square off. Plus, Rashad Coulter (8-3) and Chris De La Rocha (4-2) open the PRELIMS with a heavyweight clash.

The action wraps up immediately following the main event with the FS1 UFC 225 POSTFIGHT SHOW, where Bryant, Bisping, Waterson and Florian recap the event, while Olivi interviews fighters.

Leading up to the fights, UFC fighters offer unique, behind-the-scenes clips on FOX Sports PROcast and on the FOX UFC social pages. In addition, all programs are also available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radio and on the SiriusXM app.

MEDIA/SOCIAL RESOURCES Web Page: www.FOXSports.com

Mobile viewing: www.FOXSportsGO.com

Twitter: Jon Anik @Jon_Anik Megan Olivi @MeganOlivi

Jimmy Smith @JimmySmithMMA Fabricio Werdum @FabricioWerdum

Joe Rogan @JoeRogan Santiago Ponzinibbio @SPonzinibbioMMA

Karyn Bryant @KarynBryant Victor Davila @mastervic10

Michael Bisping @Bisping #UFC225

Kenny Florian @KennyFlorian @UFConFOX

Michelle Waterson @karatehottiemma @FOXDeportes

Facebook: www.facebook.com/UFConFOX/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ufconfox/

For notes, coverage, bios, photography and more, visit the FOX UFC page on FOX Sports Press Pass.

FOX SPORTS UFC PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE

DATE TIME (ET) EVENT NETWORK* Wednesday, 8:00 PM UFC TONIGHT FS1 June 6 Wednesday, 10:00 PM FS1 June 6 Wednesday, 11:00 PM TUF TALK FS1 June 6 Friday, 7:00 PM FS1 UFC 225 WEIGH-IN SHOW FS2 June 8 Saturday, 7:00 PM FS1 UFC 225 PREFIGHT SHOW FS2 June 9 Saturday, 8:00 PM FS1 UFC 225 PRELIMS FS1 / FOX June 9 Deportes Saturday, 1:00 AM FS1 UFC 225 POSTFIGHT SHOW FS1 June 9 *All programs available on FOX Sports GO and FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83

--FOX SPORTS--