Zuffa, LLC Welcomes Genaro Hernandez as UFC(R) Spanish Language Commentator

Zuffa, LLC Welcomes Genaro Hernandez as UFC(R) Spanish Language Commentator

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ultimate Fighting Championship(R) (UFC(R)) today announced Genaro Hernandez has joined Zuffa, LLC to serve as its new UFC Spanish language commentator. He will broadcast live during UFC pay-per-view events, including the upcoming superfight UFC 57: LIDDELL vs. COUTURE 3 Saturday, Feb. 4, 2006.

"I am pleased to welcome Genaro Hernandez to the world of mixed martial arts," said Dana White, UFC President. "With his distinguished career in boxing and years of broadcast television experience, there is no one better than Genaro to bring the live action of the UFC to our Spanish-speaking fight fans around the world. I am honored to have Genaro on my team, and look forward to the many contributions he will make to our growing organization."

"It is an honor to be involved with the UFC, an organization that is clearly on the rise in the fight game," said Hernandez. "It will be exciting to be Octagon(TM)-side for all the fights, bringing the UFC experience to an audience..."

In addition to providing commentary for the UFC, Hernandez also serves as the Spanish language commentator for the highly-respected HBO Boxing program, and has worked in the past as a CompuBox, Inc. technician for HBO(R) Boxing and ESPN.

Hernandez entered a long and successful career in boxing at age nine when he first started training in downtown Los Angeles. As an amateur, he accelerated and earned a name for himself by winning several Golden Gloves and Junior Olympic titles. He turned professional at eighteen years of age, and racked up a record of 13-0 with 6 knockouts. In 1988, he fought Refugio Rojas (former world title challenger to Julio Cesar Chavez) and KOd him in the sixth round. This victory enabled Hernandez to enter the World Boxing Association (WBA) Junior Lightweight rankings.

Two years later, he fought for the world title against Daniel Londas, and knocked him out in the ninth round to become the new Junior Lightweight Champion. He went on to defend his title numerous times, then accepted a highly-anticipated fight with Oscar de la Hoya. For the first time in his career, Hernandez was knocked out, losing in the sixth round to the much heavier and younger de la Hoya.

In 1997 he captured the World Boxing Council (WBC) World Junior Lightweight crown from Azumah Nelson, and then defended his title against contenders Anatoly Alexandrov, Carlos Genera and Carlos Famoso Hernandez. In 1998, he fought eight rounds with Floyd Mayweather Jr. before the challenger ended the fight by knockout. Shortly thereafter, due to injuries, he announced his retirement from boxing.

Born in South Central Los Angeles, Hernandez attended Roosevelt High School and attended Platt College in Irvine, Calif. He currently resides in Mission Veijo, Orange County, Calif.

About The Ultimate Fighting Championship

The Ultimate Fighting Championship(R) brand is the world's leading professional mixed martial arts organization and offers the premier series of MMA sports events. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., the UFC(R) organization produces approximately eight live pay-per-view events annually that are distributed through cable and satellite providers. In addition to its U.S. distribution, UFC fight programs are distributed throughout the world including broadcast on WOWOW, Inc. in Japan, Globosat in Brazil and Bravo in the United Kingdom. Zuffa, LLC licenses the distribution of its fight show DVDs through Studioworks Entertainment, a Ventura Distribution company. For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit http://www.ufc.com/.

Ultimate Fighting Championship(R), Ultimate Fighting(R), UFC(R), The Ultimate Fighter(R), Submission(R), As Real As It Gets(R), The Octagon(TM) and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks, trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC or other respective owners.

Source: The Ultimate Fighting Championship

CONTACT: Jennifer Wenk of The Ultimate Fighting Championship,
+1-702-221-4790

Web site: http://www.ufc.com/
http://www.ufc.tv/

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