The wait is over! One of the most highly anticipated fight weeks is finally upon us with three belts on the line this Saturday, 24 April. The main event will see a thrilling welterweight championship rematch as Kamaru Usman defends against No. 4 ranked contender Jorge Masvidal. Women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko goes for her fifth consecutive title defence against No. 1 ranked contender Jessica Andrade. In an eagerly awaited women’s strawweight championship bout, Zhang Weili faces former champion and No. 1 ranked contender Rose Namajunas.
In the lead up to UFC® 261, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization will be hosting a series of fight week events for the media and fans to enjoy, including Ultimate Media Day on Wednesday, 21 April, a press conference featuring the main event on Thursday, 22 April and official and ceremonial weigh-ins on Friday, 23 April.
Taking place later today, Ultimate Media Day features a host of UFC athletes, included below, speaking to media between 12.30pm–3.15pm (ET). Non credentialed media will be sent recordings of these interviews on Thursday. If you wish to receive these recordings, please email nmoran@ufc.com. This event will be closed to the public.
WHO: Uriah Hall, No. 9 UFC middleweight
Chris Weidman, No. 11 UFC middleweight
Anthony Smith, No. 6 UFC light heavyweight
Jimmy Crute, No. 13 UFC light heavyweight
Alex Oliveira, UFC welterweight
Randy Brown, UFC welterweight
Dwight Grant, UFC welterweight
Stefan Sekulic, UFC welterweight
Karl Roberson, UFC middleweight
Brendan Allen, UFC middleweight
Following that, UFC will host a press conference with all six of the athletes competing in the championship bouts on Thursday, 22 April at 4pm (ET) at Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena, in Jacksonville, Florida. Also attending the press conference will be Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, who will both provide opening remarks.
The press conference, which is free and open to the public, will also be streamed live on UFC’s digital pages on Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok and UFC.com.
WHO: Dana White, UFC President
Ron DeSantis, Florida Governor
Lenny Curry, Jacksonville Mayor
Kamaru Usman, UFC welterweight champion
Jorge Masvidal, No. 3 ranked UFC welterweight contender
Zhang Weili, UFC women’s strawweight champion
Rose Namajunas, No. 1 ranked UFC women’s strawweight contender
Valentina Shevchenko, UFC women’s flyweight champion
Jessica Andrade, No. 1 ranked UFC women’s flyweight contender
On Friday, 23 April, UFC athletes will participate in official and ceremonial weigh-ins. The official weigh-ins will take place between 9am-11am (ET). With the athletes taking centerstage for ceremonial weigh-ins at 4pm (ET) in front of fans.
Both events will be streamed live on Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok and UFC.com.
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