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FORMER UFC BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPION CRUZ JOINS ROGAN AND ANIK TO CALL UFC 209: WOODLEY VS. THOMPSON 2

Retired Contenders Florian and Stann Serve As FS1 Desk Analysts

LOS ANGELES – Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz (@DominickCruz) joins analyst Joe Rogan (@JoeRogan) and blow-by-blow announcer Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) to call UFC 209: WOODLEY VS. THOMPSON 2 on Saturday, March 4 (8:00 PM ET) live from . UFC bantamweight Erik "Goyito" Perez (@Goyito_Perez), Mario Delgado (@mariodelgadorzm) and Victor Davila (@mastervic10) have the call in Spanish on FOX Deportes.

In addition, retired UFC contenders Kenny Florian (@KennyFlorian) and Brian Stann (@BrianStann) work as desk analysts with host Karyn Bryant (@KarynBryant) for the FS1 UFC 209 WEIGH-IN, PREFIGHT and POSTFIGHT SHOWS from FOX Sports’ Los Angeles studios. Reporter Megan Olivi (@MeganOlivi) interviews fighters on-site in Las Vegas.

Following their instant classic last November, UFC champion Tyron Woodley (16- 3-1) and No. 1 contender Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (13-1-1) meet again to settle the score in the main event of UFC 209. In their first encounter, Woodley and Thompson engaged in a memorable Fight of the Night battle that left fans at Madison Square Garden on their feet and judges unable to determine a winner. After calling for a rematch, former star Thompson gets his wish as he puts his eight-fight unbeaten streak on the line against a champion hungry to close this chapter of his career in victorious fashion. Plus, the interim lightweight title is up for grabs when 24-0 Khabib Nurmagomedov squares off with surging former winner Tony Ferguson, who has won nine straight bouts in his quest for 155-pound gold.

Cruz believes the Woodley and Thompson headliner could resemble the last one: “I love this matchup because it was so close the first time. I think it’ll look pretty identical to the last fight. Woodley will be backing up, waiting for Thompson to come to him, and looking to use his big power punches and . In the first fight, he was able to land the much bigger shots to really hurt Stephen. Wonderboy has got to overload Tyron. That’s how he can win.” Watch Cruz’s UFC 209 preview from last week’s FS1 UFC FIGHT NIGHT POSTFIGHT SHOW here.

The two-hour UFC 209 PRELIMS on FS1 and FOX Deportes begin at 8:00 PM ET and feature four exciting bouts. Marcin Tybura (14-2) takes on Luis Henrique (10-2, 1 NC) in a heavyweight bout, while No. 13-ranked Mirsad Bektic (11-0) and No. 14-ranked Darren Elkins (22-5) go head to head. The No. 15-ranked bantamweight Iuri Alcantara (33-7, 1 NC) faces undefeated Luke Sanders (11-0). Mark Godbeer (11-3) squares off with UFC newcomer Daniel Spitz (5-0) to open the PRELIMS with a heavyweight bout.

Saturday’s coverage begins on FS1 (7:00 PM ET) with the FS1 UFC 209 PREFIGHT SHOW hosted by Bryant, with analysts Florian and Stann. The action wraps up after the main event with the FS1 UFC 209 POSTFIGHT SHOW. The FS1 UFC 209 WEIGH-IN SHOW takes place on Friday, March 3 (7:00 PM ET) on FS1 with the same studio crew.

On Wednesday (8:00 PM ET, FS2), UFC TONIGHT host Florian and guest host Michael Bisping preview UFC 209 and interview headliners Woodley and Thompson.

FOXSports.com features UFC 209 preview articles leading up to the fight, and senior UFC writer Damon Martin interviews Woodley and Thompson about their title bout on FOX Sports’ popular podcast Fight Society. He also catches up with Tony Ferguson about his interim title bout and lightweight Lando Vannata. The podcast is available on iTunes and Soundcloud. @TheBuzzer’s Andy Nesbitt (@anezbitt) is in Vegas providing all-access coverage in the lead-up to UFC 209, as well as post-fight interviews backstage on the night of the fight. Follow @UFConFOX on Facebook and Twitter to get a look at fight week and throughout the #UFC209 fights Saturday.

Fans can live stream the UFC shows on FOX Sports GO, available in English or Spanish through the FS1 or FOX Deportes feeds. The shows are available on desktop at FOXSportsGO.com and through the app store, or connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku. In addition, all programs are also available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

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

FOX SPORTS UFC PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE

DATE TIME EVENT NET* Wednesday, 8:00 PM ET UFC TONIGHT FS2 March 1 Friday, 7:00 PM ET FS1 UFC 209 WEIGH-IN SHOW FS1 March 3 Saturday, 7:00 PM ET FS1 UFC 209 PREFIGHT SHOW FS1 March 4 Saturday, 8:00 PM ET FS1 UFC 209 PRELIMS FS1 / FOX March 4 Deportes Saturday, 1:00 AM ET FS1 UFC 209 POSTFIGHT SHOW FS1 March 4 *All programs also available on FOX Sports GO and FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83.

--FOX SPORTS--