UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz 2 Highlights New Year's Weekend at MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday, Dec. 30
UFC 66: LIDDELL vs. ORTIZ 2 TO HIGHLIGHT
NEW YEAR’S WEEKEND AT MGM GRAND SATURDAY, DEC. 30
Tickets Now On Sale
Las Vegas - In his tenure as UFC® World Light Heavyweight Champion, Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell has sent a legend into retirement (Randy Couture), avenged a defeat (Jeremy Horn) and annihilated his No. 1 challenger (Renato “Babalu” Sobral). However, when the man standing across the Octagon™ from Liddell is his former training partner and friend Tito Ortiz, all bets are off. When these two 205-pound stalwarts collide Saturday, Dec. 30 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the New Year’s weekend fireworks will begin.
Tickets priced at $1,000, $750, $500, $200 and $100, not including applicable service charges or taxes, are now on sale and are available at any MGM Grand box office outlet. Tickets also will be sold at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Macy’s stores and Ritmo Latino) and ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.ufc.com, www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
A special auction for Octagon-side floor seats will be available only via www.ticketmaster.com through Monday, Nov. 20 at 4 p.m. In addition, an exclusive New Year’s weekend VIP package including front row seats to the fight and accommodations for the entire weekend’s festivities will be auctioned online.
“The fans demanded it, the fighters demanded it and I’m excited to finally announce the rematch between Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz,” said UFC President Dana White. “A lot has changed since Liddell and Ortiz first fought in 2004, and not only in the Octagon, where both fighters have looked unbeatable in compiling a combined 10-0 record. These are two fighters who went from being MMA standouts to becoming worldwide superstars in the space of two years and I can’t think of any fight anywhere in the world that has more heat behind it than this one. I have no doubt that this will be the most watched UFC pay-per-view of all-time.”
UFC 66: LIDDELL vs. ORTIZ 2 is available live on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, Bell ExpressVu, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $39.95 ($39.99 CAD).
UFC 66: LIDDELL vs. ORTIZ 2 features the championship bout between Liddell and Ortiz, the No. 1 Contender. Liddell, (19-3-0) fighting out of San Luis Obispo, Calif., is a devastating striker with an incredible takedown defense. He is the reigning UFC World Light Heavyweight Champion and has knocked out his last six opponents including Ortiz, Couture twice, Horn, Vernon White and most recently Sobral (in August). Liddell is considered by many to be the most recognized mixed martial arts fighter in the world, earning the reputation by delivering incredible knockouts and dominating the UFC light heavyweight division. He has no fears of facing Ortiz a second time stating that he will fight the Huntington Beach native anytime, anywhere and walk away with his title intact.
“I’ll fight whoever the UFC puts in front of me,” said Liddell. “They decided it’s time for a rematch with Ortiz. I’ll knock him out just like I did last time, except this time I’ll probably do it in the first round. It will be fun beating him up again.”
Ortiz, (16-4-0) fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif., is known for his strength and tenacity as a submission fighter. He returned to the UFC last April to take on rising star Forrest Griffin, winning by split decision in one of the best three-round fights ever to take place in the Octagon. Ortiz has made a swift comeback, defeating Griffin and then facing Ken Shamrock in back-to-back fights. He scored a first-round KO over the veteran fighter on both occasions. Ortiz has earned another attempt to capture the light heavyweight crown and has stated publicly that he will be new the champion after he faces Liddell.
Ortiz said, “I see Liddell putting up a good fight, but at the end of the night, it will be my hand raised in the Octagon. I can’t wait to get my belt back.”
The remaining bouts for UFC 66: LIDDELL vs. ORTIZ 2 will be announced in the near future. All bouts are subject to change. For room packages and availability as well as event ticket information, call (800) 929-1111 or (702) 891-7777 or log onto the World Wide Web at www.mgmgrand.com.
The MGM Grand Garden Arena is home to concerts, championship boxing and premier sporting and special events. The Arena offers comfortable seating for as many as 16,800 with excellent sightlines and state-of-the-art acoustics, lighting and sound. Prominent events to date have included world championship fights between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson as well as Oscar De La Hoya vs. Bernard Hopkins and George Foreman vs. Michael Moorer; and concerts by The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Bette Midler, Gloria Estefan, Janet Jackson, Phil Collins, Billy Joel, Backstreet Boys, ‘N Sync, Sting, Jimmy Buffett and the Barbra Streisand Millennium Concert. The MGM Grand Garden Arena is also home to the annual FOX Billboard Music Awards, the annual Andre Agassi Grand Slam for Children Benefit and the Academy of Country Music Awards (ACMA).
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