The Ultimate Fight Night 29: Maia vs. Shields event has officially announced with tickets going on sale Wednesday, August 21. The event is set to take place on October 9 in Barueri, Brazil, at the Jose Correa Arena.
The main card is set to start at 8 p.m., with the first bout scheduled to begin at 4.30 p.m. Doors will be open to the public at 3:30 pm. The event will air live on FOX Sports 1 in the US.
Maia (18-4) is coming off a dominant unanimous decision win over former number one contender Jon Fitch at UFC 156 in February. He has won three consecutive bouts since dropping down to the UFC welterweight division. The former middleweight title contender speaks on the opportunity to main event in his home country.
“I am very happy and proud to be the main event,” said Maia. “I’ve always wanted to fight for the UFC in São Paulo, were I was born and raised. I have a special connection with the Jose Correa arena in Barueri, where I had my first major MMA milestone in 2006. My big goal is to get a title shot and become world champion. I know Jake Shields is a great opponent, with wins over names such as Dan Henderson and Carlos Condit, and beating him is sure to get me within title contention.”
“The Brazilian audience is intimidating and enthusiastic, and it makes for an excellent atmosphere,” said Jake Shields. “But once I get in the Octagon, I’ll be focused and ready. Fighting Demian on his home turf will not be an issue. His strengths are obvious: he’s the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu martial artist in my division. His weakness is his standup. I want to beat him at what he’s best at.”
The co-main event will feature a welterweight bout between rising contender Erick Silva (15-3, 1NC) and Dong Hyun Kim (17-2-1, 1NC). Silva is coming off a “Submission of the Night” performance against Jason High in his last outing which also took place in Brazil. Silva was coming off a loss to Jon Fitch in the fight before that in which he earned “Fight of the Night” honors.
Kim is coming off a unanimous decision win over Siyar Bahadurzada in March, and has won back-to-back fights since losing to Demian Maia via TKO (injury) at UFC 148.
Tickets for UFC® FIGHT NIGHT no COMBATE: MAIA vs. SHIELDS go on sale Wednesday, August 21, at 10 a.m. BRT and are priced at R$950, $750, $350 and $150. Tickets will be available online at www.ticketsforfun.com.br, at T4F sales locations or by calling +55 21 4003-5588.
“The UFC is happy to bring yet another great card, with top Brazilian and international talent, to its sixth Brazilian city,² said Marshall Zelaznik, UFC Managing Director of International Development. ³In addition to São Paulo native Demian Maia, who is headlining against dangerous welterweight Jake Shields, we also have top Brazilians Erick Silva, Thiago Silva and Rony Jason, who are known to put on exciting fights. It is sure to be another unforgettable night for UFC fans in the Jose Correa arena.”
Stay tuned to ProMMAnow.com for more UFC Fight Night 29 news and coverage.