Toronto, Ontario – The world’s top 125-pound fighters will square off on Saturday, Sept. 22 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto as Joseph Benavidez meets Demetrious Johnson in a bout that will crown the first-ever UFC flyweight champion. The Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that tickets for the inaugural and historic flyweight championship fight will go on sale to the general public on Friday, July 27.
UFC® 152: BENAVIDEZ vs. JOHNSON also features an outstanding co-main event between middleweight title contenders Michael Bisping and Brian Stann, as well as the return of UFC legend BJ Penn, as he takes on rising Canadian star Rory MacDonald in welterweight action. In addition, Calgary’s TJ Grant looks to extend his winning streak to three when he meets Evan Dunham in a lightweight contest. Additional fights will be announced at www.ufc.com in the weeks to come.
The September 22 event marks the second of three UFC® events taking place in Canada in 2012, following UFC®149: FABER vs. BARAO in Calgary this Saturday and before UFC® 154 in Montreal on November 17.
“Everyone knows how much I love Canada and it’s going to be great to have the first-ever UFC flyweight title fight between Joseph Benavidez and Demetrious Johnson in Toronto on Sept. 22,” UFC President Dana White said. “Both Michael Bisping and Brian Stann want to prove that they deserve a shot at Anderson Silva, so I expect them to go out and put on an incredible fight for the fans.
“BJ Penn called out Rory MacDonald and Rory accepted!” White continued. “BJ is a former two-division champion and he loves having the chance to knock off the welterweight division’s fastest-rising star.”
